The concern in his eyes was the same as always, but I didn't miss the red mark on his neck, the kind left behind by passion.
Damien didn't wait for my answer before hurrying into the study.
After a while, he came back out, crouched in front of me, and took both my hands in his.
“Zoe, take care of yourself, okay? Remember to take your medicine.”
“I should be able to wrap things up today, no more overtime. I'll come home early to be with you.”
When he saw me nod, his expression softened, and he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
I watched him close the door and leave. Then I got up and went into the study.
The USB drive from the desk drawer was gone, and the most recent activity on my computer was a file copy.
My fists clenched. I stood, grabbed my coat off the sofa, and walked out the door.
Damien was still downstairs on a phone call. He hadn't left yet.
I followed him quietly, staying far enough behind that he wouldn't notice. He didn't take the car, and he wasn't heading toward the office. Instead, he walked to a 24-hour karaoke bar near our neighborhood.
He glanced around, checking both directions, then slipped into a private room.
I stood outside the door and watched through the small window.
The moment Damien walked in, he handed a USB drive to Christine.
“This is the jade necklace Zoe designed specifically for Mrs. Gray. Take a look.”
“If your own design really can't cut it, use this one.”
A few other people were in the room, friends Damien and Christine shared from college. They were already chiming in, grinning.
“So we've got this in the bag, right?”
“Zoe Payne is the gold standard in this industry. Entering her work in the competition? That's not even a fair fight. Championship's locked down!”
“Once Christine takes home the title and you dump that old hag, the two of you jump ship to our firm, and we'll have Riverside City on lock!”
Christine clutched the USB drive, barely able to contain herself. She leapt up and planted a hard kiss on Damien's lips.
“Damien, you're so good to me. I honestly don't know what I'd do without you.”
“But this design won't cause any problems, will it? There won't be any trouble?”
“If anyone finds out I stole someone else's work, my career is over. Permanently.”
Damien's brow creased slightly. He shook his head.
“There won't be any problems. Mrs. Gray specifically requested Zoe to design it herself. Zoe did all the work at home. Only she and I have ever seen the design. Nobody else.”
“But Christine, your own design is solid too. When the time comes, I'll deliberately hold back on my entry, and you'll still be a shoo-in for the championship.”
“Zoe has a contract with Mrs. Gray. If anything goes wrong with this design, she won't just owe a breach-of-contract penalty. Her reputation in the industry will be destroyed.”
Christine frowned when she heard that.
“Damien, what are you saying? Don't tell me you've actually fallen for that old woman. Are you taking her side now?”
“Even if my own design wins the championship, it won't make the same splash as Zoe's would. I don't just want the title. I want to become a household name overnight.”
“Are you backing out? Did you forget what you promised me?”
Seeing Christine's anger, Damien pulled her into his arms, his voice turning soft and indulgent as he soothed her.
“How could I possibly like that old woman? You know me. Just looking at her makes me sick.”
“It's just that this design really matters to her. The penalty clause with Gray Group alone would bankrupt her. She could sell the whole company and still not cover it.”
“If your own designs were good enough to win, why would we need to go this far?”
Christine's face twisted with displeasure, but before she could respond, the others in the room jumped in to cut Damien off.
“Damien, that's not the point. Christine's right. Sure, we want the championship, but making a splash is just as important.”
“We made a pact back in college. Our company has to be the best in the country. Isn't that why you started selling your looks in the first place?”
“Drop the soft act. If this whole thing makes Zoe disappear from the industry for good, even better. One less obstacle in our way.”
Christine picked up the glass in front of her and studied it, turning it slowly. The look in her eyes was vicious.
“Damien, these past two years at Zoe's company, I watched you two flaunt your relationship right in front of me. How do you think that felt?”
“This competition, using Zoe's design, it's not just about winning. It's about making our dream happen.”
“And I get to use this chance to bring Gray Group's power down on her head and grind her into the dirt. You really think I'd pass that up?”
My hands clenched into fists so tight my nails nearly broke the skin of my palms.
The room went quiet for a long time.
After what felt like an eternity, Damien's voice came through, barely above a whisper.
“Christine. Do what you want.”
The tears I'd been holding back finally fell, heavy and hot.
I wiped them away hard, turned, and walked away from the door.
Damien.
This time, I'm done with you.
As for the championship.
Go ahead and try. See if you can hold on to it.
