Chapter 6
677words
I woke up the next morning. Isabella was still asleep beside me.
Her arm was draped over my chest. Her breathing was steady.
I used to like this.
Now, it just pissed me off.
I gently moved her arm and got up.
"Damien, where are you going?" Isabella asked, her eyes half-open.
"Business," I said flatly.
"I'll come with you." She sat up immediately. "I want to see where you work."
"No." My voice was colder than I intended. "Stay here and rest."
Isabella froze. A flash of hurt crossed her eyes.
"Damien, are you still mad about yesterday?" She looked at me, her voice small. "I really didn't mean to hurt her…"
"I'm not mad," I lied. "Get some rest. I'll be back tonight."
I left without another word.
I didn't even look back.
I used to kiss her forehead before I left. Whisper some bullshit in her ear.
Now, I just wanted to get away.
The drive to HQ was a blur of anger.
I pushed open my office door. My eyes went straight to my desk.
It was empty.
No fresh-ground coffee. Elara always made it for me.
No restorative tonic she mixed based on how I was feeling.
No painkillers she’d secretly leave in my drawer for my headaches.
"Boss?" My right-hand man, Marco, came in. He saw my face and tread carefully. "Anything you need?"
"Coffee," I grunted.
"Right away." Marco turned to leave.
"Wait." I stopped him. "When is Elara coming back for the handover?"
Marco just stared at me, confused.
"Boss, you forgot?" he asked carefully. "You kicked Dr. Rossi out yesterday. And... she's marrying a Moretti now."
Marrying.
The word hit me like a bullet.
"Marrying?" My voice shook.
"Yes," Marco nodded. "The wedding is tomorrow at Trinity Church. Every family in Chicago got a goddamn invitation."
Tomorrow?
So soon?
My heart pounded against my ribs, trying to break free.
"Boss, you okay?" Marco looked worried. "You look pale."
Just then, a knock at the door.
"In," I forced myself to say.
Leo walked in. He was holding a fancy envelope.
"Damien." His tone was formal. "I have something for you."
He placed the envelope on my desk.
Gold lettering. Expensive paper.
A wedding invitation.
My hands trembled as I opened it.
You are cordially invited to the wedding of Elara Rossi and Julian Moretti…
Time: Tomorrow, 2 PM.
Place: Trinity Church.
My vision went dark for a second.
Elara was really getting married.
To Julian Moretti.
That handsome, smooth bastard. Younger than me.
"Congratulations, Leo," I forced the words out. "Julian's a good man."
Leo let out a cold laugh. "Yeah, a hell of a lot better than some. At least he knows how to protect his woman. Not let her get hurt."
His words were knives in my gut.
"Leo..."
"Don't." Leo cut me off. "I'm just here to inform you. You're an ally. It would be rude not to invite you."
He turned to leave, then stopped.
"By the way, Damien," his voice was flat. "Starting today, my sister will never be hurt again. Julian will give her the respect and love she deserves."
Leo left. The office was dead silent.
I held the invitation. The whole world was spinning.
Elara was going to be someone else's wife.
Another man was going to hold her. Kiss her. Be inside her.
"No..." I whispered.
Marco watched me nervously. "Boss, you..."
"Get out," my voice was a raw whisper. "Everyone, get out."
Marco scrambled out and shut the door.
I sat there alone, clutching that piece of paper.
Elara's face filled my head.
The way her eyes curved into crescents when she smiled. The way she bit her lip when she was angry. The way her cheeks flushed when she was shy.
Every expression. Every moan she made under me.
Now all of that would belong to someone else.
And then the truth hit me, hard.
Elara was gone. For good.
And I was only just now figuring it out.
I was in love with her.
