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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDamian studied her r\u00e9sum\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cColumbia. Two years at Morrison. Why this job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause I\u2019m qualified, and because I need a salary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo speech about admiring the company?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know enough about it yet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He put the r\u00e9sum\u00e9 down. \u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before he could explain the role, the doors opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An older man entered without knocking, followed by a blonde woman in a cream dress. Patricia appeared behind them, her face tight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told them you were occupied.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can go,\u201d the older man said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Damian did not move. \u201cPatricia, stay available.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doors closed, leaving Isabella with three strangers and the immediate understanding that she should not have been there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The older man placed a folder on the desk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnd of summer,\u201d he said. \u201cThe families have agreed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen the families can marry each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDamian.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The woman approached him with a practiced smile. \u201cWe don\u2019t need to make this unpleasant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCeleste, you shouldn\u2019t have come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy father expects an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe has one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The older man\u2019s voice hardened. \u201cYou don\u2019t discard a shipping alliance because you dislike the terms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Isabella lowered her eyes to her folder. This was no longer a meeting she could politely excuse herself from; it was an argument in which nobody seemed to remember she existed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then Damian looked at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later, she would remember that glance more clearly than the kiss. A calculation. A desperate opening. A choice made about her before she had been offered one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He crossed the room, took her hands, and pulled her to her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n His mouth covered hers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The kiss lasted seconds. Its shock seemed to stretch them into something longer. When he stepped back, his hand remained at her waist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere\u2019s your answer,\u201d he told his father. \u201cI\u2019m already with someone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isabella stared at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celeste\u2019s smile vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou expect us to believe she\u2019s your girlfriend?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The older man looked at Isabella as though considering the cost of removing an inconvenient piece of furniture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIsabella Cruz.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd how long has this been going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Damian\u2019s hand tightened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She understood the pressure without understanding the danger. Losing this job had frightened her twenty minutes earlier. Now she was afraid of answering the question incorrectly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA while,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Celeste laughed once. \u201cHow convenient.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Damian moved slightly in front of Isabella.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His father picked up the folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou have seventy-two hours to end this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n He turned toward the door, then stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Damian? If you insist she\u2019s part of this family, don\u2019t complain when we treat her accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After they left, Isabella stepped away from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the first time, Damian had no immediate answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then the lock clicked behind the departing visitors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And Isabella realized she was shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"\"](\"https:\/\/amazingworlds.xyz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/image-127.png\")
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