Chapter 3 The Deal

Aurora had barely stepped into her apartment before she felt the exhaustion crash over her like a tidal wave. The day had been too much-too much thinking, too much worrying, too much pretending that she wasn't carrying a billionaire's baby.

She dropped her purse on the counter and leaned against the kitchen island, exhaling slowly. The city hummed outside her window, the distant sound of honking cabs and murmuring pedestrians filling the silence.

Her fingers instinctively brushed over her still-flat stomach.

"What am I going to do?" she whispered to herself.

Her phone buzzed on the counter.

She sighed, expecting Lena to check in again.

But when she picked it up, her heart stopped.

Unknown Number.

Her fingers hovered over the screen. A chill crept down her spine.

Somehow, she already knew.

She answered, pressing the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

A pause. Then-

"You have something to tell me."

The deep, unmistakable voice sent a bolt of ice through her veins.

Damien.

Aurora's grip on the phone tightened. Her breath hitched.

She hadn't heard that voice in weeks-hadn't expected to hear it ever again. But there he was, invading her space with just a few words.

Her stomach twisted. He knows.

"I-" she started, but her throat was suddenly too dry.

Another beat of silence.

"I'll be at your place in twenty minutes."

"What? No, you can't-"

The line went dead.

Aurora stared at the phone, her heart pounding out of her chest.

This wasn't happening.

It couldn't be happening.

But it was.

And she had exactly twenty minutes before Damien Lexington walked back into her life.

Twenty Minutes Later – Aurora's Apartment

Aurora had tried to convince herself that he wouldn't actually show up. That he was just bluffing, trying to rattle her.

But when the firm, authoritative knock sounded at her door, all hope vanished.

She froze in place, her breath catching.

He was here.

Slowly, she forced her legs to move, each step toward the door feeling heavier than the last. When she finally reached it, she hesitated.

She could pretend she wasn't home. Maybe he'd go away.

Except Damien Lexington wasn't the kind of man who just went away.

Bracing herself, she unlocked the door and pulled it open.

And there he was.

Damien.

Standing tall in the dim hallway, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, his powerful frame dominating the space. His piercing gray eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

He looked exactly the same. Except for one thing.

He was furious.

He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, the crisp scent of his cologne trailing behind him.

Aurora swallowed hard and shut the door, her back pressing against the wood as she turned to face him.

Damien's gaze swept over her, sharp and assessing. "You're pregnant."

It wasn't a question.

Aurora's heart thumped painfully against her ribs. She should deny it.

She should tell him the rumors were wrong.

But what was the point?

She straightened her spine, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Yes."

The muscle in Damien's jaw ticked. His fingers curled into fists at his sides.

"How long were you planning on keeping this from me?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Aurora bristled. "I don't owe you anything, Damien."

His eyes darkened. He took a slow step closer, and she swore the temperature in the room dropped.

"You don't think I have a right to know that I'm about to be a father?"

Aurora's nails dug into her palms. "You left me a note." Her voice shook, but she refused to let herself back down. "You made it clear what that night was. No second rounds, remember? No attachments?"

Damien's eyes flashed. "That night wasn't supposed to lead to a child."

Aurora let out a sharp, bitter laugh. "Well, guess what? Life doesn't always go according to your plan."

Silence stretched between them. Thick. Tense.

Damien stared at her for a long moment before exhaling slowly. He raked a hand through his dark hair, looking less furious and more... something else.

Something unreadable.

When he finally spoke again, his voice was quieter.

"I need to know everything."

Aurora's stomach tightened.

"Damien..."

"Everything, Aurora." His tone softened just slightly. "How far along are you?"

She hesitated, then sighed. "About seven weeks."

Damien's gaze flickered to her stomach. There was nothing visible yet, but it didn't seem to matter. His expression hardened with determination.

"And the doctor?" he asked. "Is everything okay?"

Aurora hesitated. This was weird. She had expected anger. Yelling. Maybe even threats.

Not this level of concern.

She nodded slowly. "Everything is fine so far."

Damien exhaled, then looked around her apartment, his sharp gaze taking in the modest space.

His lips pressed into a thin line. "You can't stay here."

Aurora's eyes snapped to him. "Excuse me?"

"You're pregnant with my child." His voice was firm. Unshakable. "And I take care of what's mine."

Aurora's pulse pounded. "I'm not yours, Damien."

His eyes darkened. "The baby is."

She sucked in a breath, her body going rigid.

He took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. "Come stay with me."

Aurora's jaw dropped. "What?"

"You heard me," Damien said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You're carrying my child. That means I'm going to make sure you're safe. That you have everything you need."

Aurora let out a dry, humorless laugh. "You're insane."

"I'm a businessman," he corrected. "And when there's a problem, I handle it."

Aurora's fists clenched. "I'm not a problem that needs to be handled."

For a second, Damien didn't respond. He just watched her. Studied her.

Then, to her absolute shock, he smirked.

A slow, knowing smirk.

"I forgot how stubborn you are."

Aurora's breath caught. Because that smirk? That arrogant, infuriating expression?

It reminded her exactly why she had fallen into bed with him in the first place.

Why she had been so reckless that night.

And now?

Now she was stuck with him.

Because Damien Lexington wasn't going anywhere.