Cole's POV
When I entered my office, I loosened my tie slightly, settling into the chair that I would be sitting on for twelve hours than I cared to count. My desk was cluttered with folders and contracts. I thumbed through one file, approving the final stages of a property acquisition in Milan. Another file required my signature for a tech startup in San Francisco.
But even while I was busy with work, my thoughts were on my wife. My beloved Bella. And even though she's not in the hospital, I still couldn't shake the memory and the fear that came the day she fainted in the middle of our wedding ceremony.
Fortunately, she was recovering now. Martha had assured me that Bella was okay. So, I buried myself in work. But then, the intercom on my desk buzzed.
"Yes?" I pressed the button.
My secretary, Amanda, spoke quickly. "Sir, there's someone here asking to see you. Privately. He says it's important."
I leaned back on my chair as my curiosity sparked. "And who is that?"
She paused for a second, then she spoke. "Mr. Eric Damon. CEO of Damon Enterprises."
I froze at the mention of his name. Eric Damon. Of all the people I had expected her to say had come to see me privately, he was the last. My jaw tightened. I straightened, quickly changing the expression of surprise on my face and replacing it with a cool detachment.
"Send him in," I said.
The line clicked off, and seconds later, the double doors to my office opened, and in walked Eric Damon.
He looked almost normal, though his presence felt negative. He wore a dark, tailored suit, a crisp shirt, and cufflinks. His hair was slicked back, and he wore a huge grin on his face.
Eric didn't wait for an invitation. Instead, he strolled straight to the cabinet in the corner, where I kept my selection of top-shelf whiskey. And with the ease of someone who owned the place, he uncorked a bottle of Macallan 118, poured himself a generous glass, and turned toward me.
"Cole Warren," he said in a smooth voice, lifting the glass as though in a toast. "Finally, we meet properly."
My hands clasped on the desk. "You've got nerve," I said evenly. "Pouring yourself a drink in another man's office."
He chuckled, unbothered. "I've always believed a man's office says everything about him. The books, the liquor, the view. I like what yours says."
He took a seat across from me, crossing his legs. I watched him silently. I had seen men like him before, and they had something in common. They were arrogant, full of themselves, and yet, stupid.
"What do you want, Damon?" I asked finally.
Eric leaned back in the chair, swirling the drink in his glass as if he owned my company. He parted his lips, no doubt to launch into some rehearsed introduction, but I wasn't interested in pleasantries.
"First of all, Cole Warren. I am Eric Damon, Bella's-"
"I know who you are," I cut in.
His brows arched like he was amused. "Do you now?"
"You're Bella's ex-husband." I continued.
For the first time since he walked into my office, his smirk faltered. But only for a second. Then, instead of annoyance, he seemed satisfied. He chuckled now, setting his glass on the armrest of the chair.
"Well," he drawled, "that certainly saves me time."
My jaw tightened because I wasn't in the mood for games. "Then. Let's skip theatrics. What's your purpose here?"
Eric leaned forward, his elbows resting casually on his knees, his gaze locking onto mine with unsettling intensity. "I've come," he said smoothly, "to take my wife back."
The audacity. I straightened in my chair. "Ex-wife, you mean," I corrected coldly. "She's your ex-wife. Don't forget that."
He waved a hand dismissively, as though the detail was nothing more than a technicality. "For now. But not for long."
A dark laugh escaped me. "You're delusional if you think you can waltz in here, sit in my office, and declare that you're taking Bella as though she were a commodity."
Eric's smirk widened. "I didn't come here to ask for your permission, Mr. Warren. I came here out of respect. You've... inserted yourself into her life, and I thought it only decent to let you know in advance that I'm coming for her. And I always get what I want."
I leaned forward now, matching his stance, my eyes locked onto his as well. "I dare you to try."
He laughed then, head tilting back as though the entire exchange was funny. "Oh, Cole," he said, his voice dripping with mockery, "you might think this is about money, influence, or everything that you might have more than me. You might think this is about the number of properties you own and the hold you have over half the business world that might be in your pocket. But it's about her heart. And you don't own that."
My grip on the armrest tightened until my knuckles whitened, but my voice remained calm. "You speak like you know my Bella so much, but it's funny."
"What's funny?"
"You don't know a damn thing about her heart," I chuckled.
"Don't I?" he countered, leaning in closer. I could perceive the scent of whiskey on his breath. "I was the first man she loved. The one she married. The first one in between her legs-"
"You'd better watch your words if you are smart," I cut in, standing immediately.
Eric chuckled, resting his back against the chair. "I was the first man she shared her dreams, her fears with. You think you can erase that with material things? You're nothing more than a temporary distraction. Deep down, where it really counts, it's me she wants. And when she realizes that, she'll come back to me."
My palms pressed flat against the desk as I towered over him. "She will never go back to you. Whatever you had with her, you destroyed it when you treated her like she was disposable. You lost her the moment you put your own pride above her happiness."
Eric remained seated, sipping his drink leisurely. "You sound so sure. But let's not pretend, shall we? Bella is a woman of passion. She craves it like fire. And no matter how hard you try to keep her far from it, she'll always remember the heat we shared. That's what keeps her awake at night. Not you. Me."
My pulse thundered in my ears, but I forced my expression to remain calm. "You're mistaking your toxicity for love, Damon. There's a huge difference. What Bella and I share isn't about your nonsense. It's about choice, and she's already chosen. Every single day she stays, she's choosing me."
His composure cracked as his eyes narrowed. "You can keep telling yourself that," he said softly. "But I know her. I know the way her heart beats when she's near me. You can play the role of her savior all you want, but the truth is, she belongs to me. And when the time is right, she'll realize it. And when she does..."
I stepped out from behind the desk, closing the distance between us until I stood directly in front of him. "The only thing you're right about is this. Bella is not a possession. She doesn't belong to you, and she doesn't belong to me. She belongs to herself. And if you think for one second I'll stand by while you try to drag her back into your darkness, you're gravely mistaken," I said. "Now get out of my company."
Eric tilted his head, and then he laughed. "I almost admire your conviction, Warren. Really"
My hands itched to strike him, but I restrained myself. "Try to come near her again, Damon, and I swear, you'll regret it."
He rose then, finally, setting his glass back on the edge of my desk. He straightened his suit jacket. "Oh, I will come near her again," he said simply as he started toward the door. Just before leaving, he turned back, that same wicked smile curling on his lips.
"Get. Out," I said.
With that, he left. The door shut behind him, and I stood there for a moment, fists clenched at my sides, and my heart hammering with unspent rage.
