Ellaine returned the next morning, her heels clicking against the marble floor of Blackwood Tower. The building seemed colder in daylight, its glass walls reflecting the city's pulse, but inside it felt like a fortress. Every step reminded her she was walking deeper into Damian's world — a world she had once fled.
Damian was already waiting when she entered his office. He stood by the window, hands in his pockets, the skyline stretching behind him like a kingdom he ruled. His presence was commanding, but it was the silence that unnerved her most.
You're on time, he said, his voice calm but edged with authority.
I said I would be.
He turned, his gaze sweeping over her, sharp and assessing. Promises are easy, Ellaine. Keeping them is harder.
She forced herself not to flinch. Then let me prove I can keep mine.
Damian moved toward his desk, gesturing for her to sit. We'll see.
The meeting began with contracts and proposals, Ellaine laying out her firm's plans, her voice steady even as her pulse raced. Damian listened, expression unreadable, occasionally asking questions that cut straight to the heart of her arguments. He was testing her — not just her business, but her resolve.
You speak as if you've built yourself from the ground up, he said finally. But I remember the girl who ran when things got difficult.
Ellaine met his gaze, refusing to look away. That girl doesn't exist anymore.
Damian leaned back, studying her. Then show me. Convince me you're not just here to play another game.
The tension between them was palpable, a storm pressing against the walls of the office. Ellaine felt the weight of his scrutiny, the way he seemed to see past every word, every gesture. He wasn't just questioning her competence — he was questioning her right to stand in front of him at all.
I didn't come here to play, Damian. I came to build.
His lips curved slightly, though it wasn't a smile. Build? Or rebuild what you destroyed?
Her chest tightened. Both.
For a moment, silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating. Then Damian rose, circling the desk slowly, his presence pressing against her like a cage.
You broke me once, Ellaine. Do you understand what that means?
She swallowed hard. I do. And I regret it every day.
Damian stopped behind her, his voice low, dangerous. Regret doesn't change the past. But maybe it can change the future.
Ellaine turned slightly, her breath catching as she realized how close he was. Then let me try.
His eyes burned into hers, unreadable yet intense. You want to prove yourself? Fine. But know this — once you step back into my world, there's no leaving it again.
The words sent a shiver down her spine. They were a warning, but also something darker, something that hinted at the desire he kept buried. Damian wasn't just testing her loyalty — he was staking a claim.
I'm not here to run, she said firmly. Not anymore.
Damian's gaze lingered on her, heavy with unspoken meaning. Good. Because I don't intend to let you.
The statement hung in the air, sharp and possessive. Ellaine's heart raced, torn between fear and something she didn't want to name. She had come here to prove herself, to rebuild what she had broken, but Damian's words revealed a truth she hadn't expected — he wanted her close, bound to him, unable to escape.
The meeting continued, but the atmosphere had shifted. Every question he asked, every glance he gave carried an undertone of control, of ownership. Ellaine felt it pressing against her, subtle but undeniable.
When the discussion ended, Damian stood once more, his presence filling the room. You've made your case. But this is only the beginning. If you want to stay, you'll have to prove yourself every day.
Ellaine nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. I will.
Damian stepped closer, his voice low, almost a whisper. And remember, Ellaine — once you're mine, I don't let go.
Her breath caught, the words striking deeper than she expected. They weren't about business. They were about her. About them.
As she left the office, the city lights seemed dimmer, the air heavier. She had wanted a chance to prove herself, and Damian had given it to her. But beneath his tests and his warnings, she sensed something darker — a desire not just to see her succeed, but to keep her, to cage her, to make sure she never slipped away again.
And Ellaine knew, with a mix of dread and longing, that Damian Blackwood's desire was only beginning to unfold.