Silence returned to the room.
Damon rolled his chair back.
Vesper crawled out. Her knees were dusty. Her face was flushed. She stood up, smoothing her clothes, trying to regain a shred of dignity.
She looked at Damon.
He was watching her, his expression unreadable.
"You heard him," Damon said.
"I heard him," Vesper said. Her voice didn't shake. It was cold. Hard.
She walked to the credenza where she had left her purse. She picked up the sapphire ring from the desk where Damon had dropped it before the kiss. She slipped it into her pocket. She wouldn't wear it. Not ever again.
She turned to face him.
"I'm going to destroy him," Vesper said. "I'm going to take everything. The money. The reputation. The career."
"I know," Damon said. "I'll help you."
Vesper looked at him. "Why? He's your brother."
"He's a liability," Damon said. "And you... you are an interesting investment."
Vesper walked to the door. She stopped and turned back.
Damon was still watching her, his lips swollen from their kiss, his tie still askew.
"By the way," Vesper said, her voice devoid of the heat that had been there minutes ago.
"That night at the hotel? It meant nothing to me. It was just a transaction."
She opened the door and walked out before he could respond.
Damon sat alone in his massive office.
He touched his lip where she had kissed him.
Then, a slow, dark smile spread across his face. It wasn't a nice smile. It was the smile of a wolf who had finally found a worthy opponent.
The game was on. And for the first time in his life, Damon Sterling had met his match.
---
