Chapter 88
Damien’s POV – Next Day
I was in the middle of reviewing quarterly reports when my assistant buzzed through.
“Mr. Blackwood? There’s Vivian Monroe here to see you.” Jessica’s voice was carefully neutral. “She doesn’t have an appointment p>
My jaw clenched. “Tell her I’m busy p>
“I tried, sir. She’s quite insistent, says it’s about Aria p>
Of course she did.
“Fine.” I closed my laptop. “Send her in. And Jessica? Stay on the line, record everything p>
“Yes, sir p>
A moment later, my office door opened.
Vivian walked in wearing a red dress that left little to the imagination. Low-cut, tight, clearly chosen for maximum impact. Her hair fell in waves over her shoulders, her makeup perfect, her heels adding inches to her height.
Few years ago, I would have noticed, might have been tempted.
Now? I just felt vaguely disgusted.
“Damien.” She smiled, closing the door behind her. “Thank you for seeing me p>
“I’m giving you five minutes.” I stayed behind my desk, maintaining distance. “What do you want p>
“To talk about Aria.” She moved closer, her hips swaying. “About the mistake you’re making p>
“There’s no mistake.” I kept my voice flat. “Now if that’s all p>
“Hear me out.” She perched on the edge of my desk, crossing her legs slowly. “Aria’s not who you think she is. She’s cold, calculating, cruel. You saw what she did to our parents yesterday p>
“She protected herself from people who abused her.” I leaned back in my chair. “Something I should have done years ago p>
“Is that what she told you?” Vivian laughed. “Damien, she’s playing you. The poor victim act, the devoted mother routine—it’s all calculated to get your money and your name p>
“Get off my desk p>
She blinked. “What p>
“I said get off my desk.” I stood, moving around to face her. “And stop insulting my intelligence. I know exactly who Aria is—brilliant, strong, and nothing like you p>
Her expression flickered with hurt before hardening. “You don’t mean that p>
“I absolutely mean it.” I crossed my arms. ” years ago, I made the worst mistake of my life. I believed your lies, chose the wrong woman, destroyed my marriage. I’m not making that mistake again p>
“I wasn’t a mistake.” She stood, moving into my personal space. “We were good together, Damien. Remember? The passion, the chemistry p>
“The betrayal?” I stepped back. “The lying? The helping to destroy your own sister p>
“She wasn’t innocent!” Vivian’s voice rose. “She trapped you with that pregnancy”
“Stop.” My voice went cold. “Don’t talk about my son that way. Don’t talk about Aria that way. In fact, don’t talk at all just leave p>
“Damien, please.” She touched my chest. “I know you feel this. The connection we had. It’s still there p>
I grabbed her wrist and removed her hand. “There’s no connection. There never was. I was drunk, stupid, and blind. That’s the only reason I ever even bothered to make out with you p>
She flinched like I’d slapped her. “You don’t mean that p>
“I do.” I moved to the door, opening it. “Whatever we had—and it wasn’t much—it’s over. It’s over. And Aria is worth a thousand of you p>
“Really?” Her hurt transformed into rage. “Aria, who humiliated our parents? Aria, who’s using you for protection? Aria, who will never forgive you for what you did p>
“Maybe she won’t.” I met her eyes. “But I’ll spend my life earning that forgiveness anyway. Because that’s what you do when you love someone—you fight for them, even when it’s hard p>
“Love?” She laughed bitterly. “You think you love her p>
“I know I do.” The words came easily, naturally. “I love her more than I’ve ever loved anything or anyone. She’s everything you’re not—real, honest, worth fighting for p>
“And what am I?” Tears sparkled in her eyes, though I suspected they were manufactured.
“A mistake I’ll never make again.” I gestured to the door. “Now get out and don’t come back p>
“This isn’t over.” She grabbed her purse. “I can give you things she can’t. Passion, excitement, freedom from that brat”
“Careful.” My voice dropped to deadly quiet. “That’s my son you’re talking about. The best thing that’s ever happened to me. So choose your next words very carefully p>
She must have heard the threat in my tone because she stopped.
“You’ll regret this,” she said instead. “When Aria breaks your heart, when she leaves you, when she takes everything—you’ll regret choosing her p>
“The only thing I regret is not choosing her sooner.” I opened the door wider. “Goodbye, Vivian. Don’t come back p>
She stormed out, her heels clicking angrily on the marble floor.
I closed the door and leaned against it, suddenly exhausted.
“Jessica?” I called through the intercom.
“Yes, sir p>
“Tell me you got all of that p>
“Every word, sir. Video and audio p>
“Send it to me. And add Vivian Monroe to the permanent ban list. She’s not allowed in this building again p>
“Already done, sir p>
I moved to the window, looking out at the city, trying to calm down, years ago, Vivian had seemed attractive. Tempting. Worth the betrayal. Now? I couldn’t understand what I’d ever seen in her. She was shallow, manipulative, cruel.
Everything Aria wasn’t. My phone buzzed with a text from Aria: How’s your day going?
I smiled despite everything: Better now. Miss you.
Her response came quickly: Liar. You’re probably buried in spreadsheets and loving every minute.
Rather be buried in you.
A pause, then: Damien Blackwood, did you just send a sexual text during work hours?
Maybe. Is it working?
Absolutely not. I’m a professional.
Liar, I’m sure you are blushing.
How would you know?
Because I know you. Your cheeks get pink and you bite your lower lip when you’re flustered.
Another pause, longer this time.
I hate that you’re right. Also, stop distracting me. I have actual work to do.
Fine. But tonight, when Noah’s asleep.
Don’t finish that sentence.
I was going to say we should talk.
Sure you were.
Okay, I was also thinking about other things. But mostly talking.
Uh huh. See you tonight, Damien.
See you tonight, beautiful.
I stared at the phone, that familiar warmth spreading through my chest.
This. This was what I wanted. Easy banter, genuine connection, real love.
Not whatever shallow thing I’d had with Vivian.
My office door opened without warning. I spun around, ready to unleash hell on whoever.
It was James, my head of security. “Sir, we have a situation p>
“What kind of situation?””Vivian Monroe didn’t leave the building.” He pulled up footage on his tablet. “She went to the bathroom, changed clothes, and is currently in the parking garage p>
I looked at the screen. Vivian, now in jeans and a hoodie, was hovering near the elevator banks, occasionally glancing at her phone.
“What the hell is she doing?” I moved closer to the screen.
“Waiting for someone, it looks like.” James zoomed in. “She’s been texting repeatedly. And sir—she photographed the building’s security entrance protocols when she came in p>
My blood ran cold. “She’s gathering intel p>
“That’s what we think. For Marcus, most likely.” James swiped to another screen. “We also noticed she tried to engage the front desk staff in conversation about building access codes and resident schedules p>
“Did they tell her anything p>
“No, sir. Our people are well-trained. But she’s clearly on a reconnaissance mission p>
I watched Vivian check her phone again, her body language tense. She was coordinating with someone.
“Pull her security clearance from all Blackwood properties immediately,” I ordered. “And I want surveillance on her from this moment forward. Everywhere she goes, everyone she meets—I want to know about it p>
“Already in progress, sir.” James pulled up another screen. “We’re also running a full audit of anyone who’s had contact with her today. If she’s working with Marcus, we need to know who else might be compromised p>
“Good.” I turned back to the window, my jaw tight. “What about the penthouse security? Any breaches p>
“None detected. But given that Sophia already had the address and likely passed it to Vivian, we’re implementing additional protocols. Biometric scans, rotating access codes, increased patrol schedules p>
“Double the security on Noah’s floor,” I said. “And I want someone on Aria at all times when she leaves the building p>
“Sir, she’s not going to like that p>
“I don’t care.” I met his eyes. “Marcus has already shown he’ll target them. Vivian showing up here today, gathering information—it’s all connected. They’re planning something p>
James nodded grimly. “Agreed. I’ve also flagged Sophia Clarke’s movements. If she’s feeding information to Marcus and the Monroes, we need eyes on her too p>
“Do it.” I glanced at the screen again. Vivian was finally moving toward the exit, still glancing around nervously. “And James? Make sure Vivian knows we’re watching. I want her to report back to whoever sent her that we’re not as vulnerable as they think p>
A slight smile crossed James’s face. “Understood, sir. We’ll make our presence known p>
He left, and I stood there for a long moment, staring at the city lights below.
Vivian’s appearance today wasn’t about apologies or family reconciliation. It was reconnaissance. She’d come to scope out our security, our vulnerabilities, our routines.
And now Marcus knew exactly where we were.
My phone buzzed, it was aria again.
Noah’s asking when you’ll read him a bedtime story. I told him maybe tomorrow, but he’s persistent. Wonder where he gets that from? 😏
I smiled despite the tension coiling in my chest.
Tell him I’ll be there in an hour. And I’m bringing ice cream—don’t tell him it’s a bribe for good behavior.
Your secret’s safe with me.