Chapter 3 3

The weight of Damien's words pressed down on Elena long after she left his office. The city stretched out before her as she stepped into the elevator, the skyline a blur of lights and shadows. The glass walls seemed to trap her, as if she were locked in a glass cage, watching the world spin just beyond her reach. She felt small, insignificant, adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

She didn't want to admit it, but the decision felt impossible. Every part of her rebelled against the idea of working for Damien. She had always prided herself on her independence, on building a life from nothing. The thought of surrendering even a piece of that to someone like him made her stomach turn. But the stakes had changed, hadn't they? The auction had already begun to dismantle her father's legacy. The damage was done, and she was standing on the edge of an abyss.

As the elevator doors opened to the street level, she found herself facing the reality of the decision ahead. She could walk away, but what then? Veronica's words echoed in her head: Damien doesn't love anyone. He's incapable of it. Could that be true? Could she really be just another pawn in a game he was playing?

Her phone buzzed again, interrupting her thoughts.

Mia: What happened? What did he say?

Elena's fingers hovered over the screen. How could she explain? How could she explain the growing sense of helplessness that had crept into her heart?

Elena: He wants me to work for him. And he's giving me a week to decide.

She stared at the words for a long moment before pressing send. The reply came almost immediately.

Mia: What? That's insane! You can't just work for him. You don't know what he's really after.

Elena sighed. I don't have much of a choice. He owns everything now. I'm running out of time, Mia.

She didn't expect an answer right away, but Mia's reply came quickly.

Mia: You have to think about this carefully. I know it's hard, but don't let him control you. You deserve more than that.

Elena leaned against the cool glass of the building's entrance, feeling the chill seep into her bones. She wasn't sure if Mia's words were meant to reassure her or make her feel more trapped. The truth was, she didn't know what she deserved anymore.

The next few days passed in a blur of meetings and decisions. Damien's presence in her life was unavoidable. His company had already started restructuring her father's business, and he had made it clear that she was expected to take an active role. Each time she saw him, the tension between them seemed to grow. His confidence was unwavering, his control absolute. But there was something beneath it-a vulnerability that Elena couldn't quite decipher.

At times, it felt like he was watching her, waiting for her to break. And sometimes, when their eyes met across a crowded room or in the midst of a conversation, she almost felt as though he could see right through her.

One afternoon, as Elena sat in the company's sleek conference room, reviewing some of the financial documents Damien had sent over, she felt a presence behind her. She looked up to find him standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

"Mind if I join you?" he asked, his voice low but steady.

Elena didn't answer immediately. Her first instinct was to dismiss him, to send him away as she had done in the past. But there was something in the way he looked at her-an intensity that unsettled her, even as it drew her in.

"Fine," she said, closing the document she'd been reviewing. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms defensively.

Damien took a seat across from her, folding his hands in front of him. "You've been avoiding me," he said, his tone neutral but with an edge of curiosity.

"I'm not avoiding you," Elena replied quickly. "I've just been busy."

He raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

She didn't respond, not sure how to explain the overwhelming swirl of emotions that had consumed her in the last few days. The truth was, she didn't know what she was feeling anymore.

Damien's gaze softened for a brief moment, a flicker of something that almost looked like understanding. "You're thinking about the offer."

Elena nodded slowly, her stomach tightening. "I don't know what you expect from me, Damien. I'm not just going to roll over because you bought my father's business."

"I never said you had to roll over," he replied, his voice calm but firm. "But I need you, Elena. Not just for the company, but because you're the only one who understands the potential here."

She shook her head, frustration building inside her. "And what does that have to do with me?"

"I need someone I can trust," Damien said, leaning forward slightly. His eyes locked onto hers, intense and unwavering. "Someone who understands what's at stake. You're not just some hired hand, Elena. You're a part of this."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, but she quickly masked it with a sarcastic laugh. "I'm a part of this? You mean I'm a cog in your machine. That's all this is to you, isn't it? A business deal."

His jaw clenched, and for a moment, there was something almost dangerous in the way he looked at her. But then, just as quickly, the edge softened, and he sighed.

"You don't get it, do you?" he said quietly. "This isn't just about business. It's about survival."

Elena's brow furrowed. "Survival? What are you talking about?"

Damien paused, the weight of his words hanging in the air. "You think I'm doing this because I want more power, more money? I've already got that. What I need is someone who can help me keep this business afloat. Your father left me with a legacy that could either make me a fortune or destroy me. And you're the key to making sure it doesn't all fall apart."

Elena stared at him, stunned by the raw honesty in his voice. He had always been so guarded, so controlled. But in that moment, it was as if he was laying himself bare in front of her.

She wanted to pull away, to retreat to the safety of her own world. But she couldn't. Not now.

"I don't know if I can do this," she whispered.

Damien reached out, his hand hovering near hers. For a brief moment, she thought he might touch her, but he didn't.

"You don't have to decide right away," he said softly. "But think about it, Elena. You're stronger than you realize. And you're not in this alone."

She wanted to believe him. She really did. But the more she tried to understand Damien Blackwood, the more she realized how little she actually knew about him. And the more she wondered-what was he really after?

With a sigh, she pulled her hand back and stood, breaking the moment between them. "I'll think about it," she said again, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Damien didn't push. He simply nodded, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer than necessary. Then, as if nothing had changed, he stood and walked out of the room, leaving Elena to face the growing storm inside her own mind.