Chloe spent the entire day trying to push thoughts of Damien out of her mind.
It wasn't easy, not after what happened at the auction.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the way he had kissed her. The way he had looked at her like he had done something terrible.
She had buried herself in work, hoping that if she kept herself busy enough, she wouldn't have the time to dwell on it.
Chloe leaned back in her chair as she stared at her desktop screen.
12:36 pm, she jolted up, like the time sent electric waves through her body.
"Oh shit….Nina's gonna kill me" she groaned.
She stepped out of her office building. The weather was hot and the air was thick with the scent of coffee and freshly baked bread from the café across the street.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, her phone pressed against her ear as she navigated through the lunchtime crowd.
"I'm literally on my way, Nina," she said, dodging a man carrying an overstuffed briefcase. "Just order me the usual. I should be there in five—"
She stopped abruptly as a figure blocked her path, tall and imposing.
Ethan Graves.
The moment she recognized him, a look of irritation crossed her face. His posture and blank expression made it impossible to gauge his intent, but Chloe already had a good idea of why he was there.
"Mr Graves" she sighed.
"Miss Bennett," he greeted her, his tone polite yet distant.
"What do you want?"
Ethan reached into his suit jacket, producing a sleek gold and black envelope. He extended it toward her.
"From Mr. Cross."
Chloe glanced at the envelope, then back at Ethan. She made no move to take it.
"And what exactly is this?" she asked, lowering her phone from her ear.
Ethan didn't elaborate, he didn't push. He simply held it out, unwavering.
Chloe exhaled sharply, snatching the envelope from his grasp. She turned it over in her hands, noting the crisp quality of the paper, the embossed initials—D.C.
Chloe scoffed, lifting a brow. "Do you always do his bidding like this?"
Ethan's expression remained blank. "Have a good afternoon, Miss Bennett."
And just like that he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd like he had never been there.
Chloe hissed, slipping the envelope into her bag before lifting her phone back to her ear.
"Nina, you are not going to believe this."
____
Chloe didn't think much about the envelope until she was sitting across from Nina at their usual lunch spot. She stirred her iced coffee with her fingers, eyes flicking toward her bag where the envelope lay untouched.
Curiosity gnawed at her and with a sigh, she pulled it out, sliding a manicured nail under the seal.
"What is that?" Nina asked, popping a fry into her mouth.
Chloe unfolded the elegant piece of paper inside. Her eyes skimmed over the words, a sly grin spread across her face.
It was an invitation. To dinner. With Damien Cross.
She let out a grunt and tossed the invitation onto the table in front of Nina.
"Guess who just invited me to dinner," she muttered.
Nina picked it up, her eyes widened as she read it.
"No. Freaking. Way." She squealed.
"Chloe, the hottest man in Atlanta is after you!" She said folding the paper to a close.
Chloe rolled her eyes as she sipped her coffee.
"That's not what this is."
"Oh, come on," Nina leaned in, waggling her brows. "If I got an invitation like this, I'd be halfway into a dress already."
"Well then, you can go in my place," Chloe said dryly.
"Nina sadly curved her lips. "Don't be like that Chloe."
Before Chloe could argue, Her phone vibrated against the table. She picked it up without checking the caller ID.
"Hello?"
There was silence on the other end before a voice she wasn't prepared to hear.
"Chloe."
A tremor ran through her. She pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at the name on the screen.
'Damien Enzo Cross.'
"Who is it?" Nina mouthed.
Chloe waved the invitation, indicating who it was.
"
Chloe put her phone on speaker. The veins in her neck shot out as she asked him firmly. "What do you want?"
There was a pause before he spoke again.
"Dinner."
"Excuse me?"
"I want you to have dinner with me."
"What?" She blurted. Her fingers pressed against her forehead.
"I'm guessing you got my invitation."
Chloe let out a short laugh. "You can't be serious."
"I am."
"No." She snapped.
"Chloe—"
"I don't want to talk to you."
Another silence passed before his voice got softer this time. "Please."
That made her pause. Damien didn't beg. He didn't ask. What was he doing?
She inhaled sharply as she asked. Why?"
"Because I owe you an apology."
That alone made her hesitate. Against her better judgment, her curiosity was winning.
"And why do you need to apologise?"
"Because I believe I've told you….I'm a gentleman. So….dinner, Chloe?"
Nina looked at her, her eyes lit up with excitement.
She nodded rapidly, urging Chloe to say yes.
"I'll send a car," Damien said as if he already knew her answer.
Chloe sighed, "I didn't answer."
"I'll be waiting," Damien said.
"And If I don't come?"
"I'll still be waiting." He said, hanging up the phone.
"Yes! Nina shrieked.Do you know how many people would kill to have dinner with Damien?"
"People who love narcissistic assholes?" Chloe said sipping her drink.
"Come on, let's go get you a new dress" she grinned, dragging Chloe from her chair.
_____
Hours later, Chloe sat in her apartment, her bare feet crossed as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.
She had told herself she wouldn't go. She had convinced herself she would ignore the invitation and stay home.
But the car Damien had sent remained parked outside her building, its presence unwavering.
In annoyance, she had drawn her curtains. But an hour later, she peeked outside and it was still there.
With a frustrated groan, she opened the box where the dress Nina bought her lay.
It was a sleek red dress, with an open back and side slits, Chloe slowly wore the dress, complementing it with a pair of gold heels, and she smoothened the dress in the mirror.
She wasn't dressing for him. She was dressing for herself.
At least that's what she told herself.
She grabbed a gold glittering purse as she stepped outside her apartment.
Chloe took a deep breath as she approached the car. The driver quickly came out, opening the door for her, when she stepped into the waiting car, she ignored the way her heart pounded fast.
The drive to the restaurant was quiet, almost too quiet. The driver didn't say a word and the radio wasn't on.
Chloe sat in the back of the sleek black car Damien had sent for her, her hands resting stiffly on her lap. She wasn't sure why she had agreed to this—curiosity, maybe, or the need for some sort of explanation.
Either way, here she was, heading toward a dinner with a man she still couldn't quite figure out.
When the car pulled up to the restaurant, her brows shot up. It wasn't the kind of place she had expected. No flashing signs, and no heavy foot traffic. Just a discreet, elegant entrance with dark-tinted glass that offered no view of the inside.
The driver opened the door for her, and Chloe stepped out, straightening her dress.
She read the name of the restaurant written in gold and black.
The Lucent Royale.
The moment she stepped inside, the atmosphere changed.
The restaurant was empty—no murmuring conversations, no clinking glasses. Just silence and an air of exclusivity that made her stomach twist.
Of course, he had reserved the entire place.
Damien sat at a table in the centre of the room, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His sharp suit, his effortless confidence.
"You came," he said smoothly, standing as she approached.
You look stunning."
She strutted slowly toward him, ignoring his compliment "You said you wanted to apologise."
"Then let's not waste time. "He pulled out her chair and gestured for her to sit.
She hesitated before sitting, watching him carefully as he took his seat across from her.
A waiter approached, pouring wine into her glass.
"You didn't have to do all this," she muttered, glancing around. "The whole private restaurant thing."
Damien leaned back, his fingers grazing the rim of his glass. "I didn't want distractions."
Chloe scoffed. "Or you're just a man who likes solitude…..control."
Damien's eyes lightened up. "That too."
There was a beat of silence before he spoke again, his tone losing its usual sharp edge.
"About the other night," he started… "I may have been reckless."
She raised an eyebrow. "You may have been?"
He sighed, sitting upright. "Fine. I was. I shouldn't have kissed you, that was….unprofessional."
Chloe studied him. "And why exactly are you telling me this?"
Damien met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "Because you intrigue me, Chloe. He took a sip from his glass. And I don't want you to fear me."
Something in his words made her heart skip a beat, but she refused to let it show.
"You think that's what this is about?" she challenged. "Damien, I don't fear you. I just don't trust you."
His smirk was slow, almost amused. "And that's smart. You shouldn't."
Chloe batted her lashes. She took a sip from her champagne refusing eye contact with Damien.
"Apology accepted," Chloe said.
But Damien could tell she was shy, maybe even disappointed that he apologised for doing what he did.
"You can't avoid me all night you know."
"What do you mean? I'm sitting in front of you." She said.
"And yet, you can't even look me in the eye."
Chloe summoned enough courage to sit up, her gentle brown eyes met his and for a moment neither of them pulled away.
"Ehem" Damien cleared his throat as he tugged at his collar, signalling at a waiter.
"Were you born in a suit?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" Damien said tilting his head.
"I mean, you're always in one."
"But you've seen me without one." He said teasingly, throwing her a wink.
Chloe's expression shifted. He was still making jokes. As her lips parted to say a word, their food arrived, but the tension remained. Charged and unspoken.
"Shall we?" He grinned, opening his platter, but before they could start, there was a bust through the door.
A voice was blunt and unimpressed by what was happening.
"Well, isn't this cozy?"
Chloe turned her head sharply. Her stomach sank.
Sienna.
Dressed to perfection, her eyes sharp as daggers, standing just a few feet away with a frown that sent warning bells through Chloe's mind.
And just like that, the night took a dangerous turn.