Damian's POV The next day dawned gray. I was at Winter Group's headquarters, surrounded by stacks of reports. Tablets and computer screens glowed with numbers and graphs, and the office seemed to breathe the same rigid discipline I demanded from everyone who worked there. I leaned back in my chair, massaging my temples. Stella's kiss kept intruding at the worst possible moments, irritating me at myself for the distraction. I tried bargaining with my own patience, reminding myself that I'd see her later that afternoon. It didn't work. The door to my office opened without so much as a knock. Lizzy walked in, her heels scraping the floor, an exhausted smile on her face even though the day had barely started. She dropped into the armchair across from my desk like she was in the family living room, not the heart of a billion-dollar company. "You know…" I began, lifting an eyebrow at her, "a marketing team leader probably shouldn't show up with green hair." She ran a hand t

Damian's POV I dropped the paper onto the coffee table. I didn't need it anymore. The proof was right in front of me. Stella was shaking. Her face was pale, her breathing uneven. For a moment, I simply watched her, savoring the silence, before moving closer. She tried to step back, but there was nowhere to go. I reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from her face. Then I wrapped my fingers around her chin and lifted it firmly, forcing her to meet my eyes. "It's all right, my love," I murmured, with a calm I knew scared her more than any raised voice ever could. "I'm not going to punish you this time for trying to run." I saw a flicker of relief cross her face. But the fear was still there. She didn't trust my words. And she was right not to. I brushed my thumb slowly over her skin before letting her go. "You can go back to that house you were staying in," I continued, already focused on explaining how things would work from now on. "In the meantime, I'l

Stella's POV Alexander left not long after having dinner with the boys, and the tension between us hadn't eased at all. He couldn't understand that none of this was my fault. Damian had drawn his own conclusions. I had denied the truth as fiercely as I could, but he hadn't believed me. The next morning, I dropped the boys off at school, but something felt different. Across the street, a black car was parked with the engine off and darkened windows. When Jonas glanced at me through the rearview mirror, I knew better than to ask. Guards. From now on, there would always be guards. The boys didn't notice a thing. They jumped out of the car, backpacks swinging so low they nearly brushed the ground. They didn't ask why Jonas had driven us or why strange men were nearby. It didn't seem to matter to them at all. "Bye, Mommy! Bye, Uncle Jonas!" they shouted in unison as they ran toward the gate. I stayed there watching until they disappeared into the crowd of children, swallow

Stella's POV "What are you wearing right now, Miss Harper?" "That's none of your business," I shot back. But my voice came out weak. Barely more than a whisper. "Ah… Stella." He let my name slip out like a restrained moan, and the sound echoed inside me. "It's just an innocent question." My chest rose and fell too fast. Before I could stop myself, I murmured, "A T-shirt… and panties." There was a heavy silence on the other end of the line. Then his voice came back, deeper and rougher. "I can picture it. You lying there, that loose T-shirt… showing more than it should." There was a short pause and slow exhale. "I'm hard just hearing your voice, Stella." My whole body burned, like an electric current had rushed through my skin. "You shouldn't…" I whispered. I wanted to tell him he couldn't say things like that. But I didn't have the strength to stop him. "I probably won't be able to sleep unless I masturbate thinking about you." I squeezed my thighs together wit

Stella's POV His kiss consumed me, stealing all the air from my lungs. It felt like being caught in a wave with no way back. Every time I thought about pushing him away, my mouth only opened wider for him. My tongue answered his like it had been trained for this. Like it knew exactly what to do. And I let myself sink into his hands. As if the kiss weren't enough, I felt Damian begin to guide me backward, his steps slow but determined, steering us toward the bed. The room seemed to shrink around us. Every move he made closed me in more. Trapped me more. Confused me more. When the backs of my legs hit the mattress, he took advantage and pressed me down against the white sheets. His mouth never left mine. The weight of his strong body over mine left me defenseless. I could feel every muscle, even through our clothes. I could feel his heat. And most of all, I could feel the hard length between his legs rubbing against me. The friction was torture. My hips lifted o