The Monday morning air was crisp as employees streamed into Wayne Corporation.
The lobby buzzed with quiet conversations, polished shoes clicked across the marble floor, and the scent of fresh coffee filled the building.
Lily stepped out of the elevator carrying Damian’s schedule for the day.
She had spent most of the weekend thinking about the visit to St.
Victoria Hospital.
She smiled as she remembered Eleanor Wayne’s warm personality.
“Take care of my grandson.”
The words echoed in her mind.
She quickly shook the thought away.
“He’s my boss. That’s all.”
Inside his office, Damian was already working.
He hadn’t slept much.
Between worrying about his grandmother and preparing for the company’s expansion project, his mind had barely rested.
A knock came at the door.
“Come in.”
Lily entered with a tablet in one hand and a folder in the other.
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning.”
She handed him his schedule.
“You have a board meeting at nine, a conference call with investors at eleven, and a meeting with the architects after lunch.”
Damian skimmed through it.
“Any changes?”
“Just one.”
She smiled politely.
“Your grandmother called.”
His eyes lifted from the tablet.
“She did?”
“She asked me to remind you to eat lunch today.”
For a brief moment, Damian looked genuinely surprised.
Then, despite himself, he laughed softly.
“My grandmother is recruiting employees now?”
Lily laughed too.
“I think she’s recruiting everyone.”
Their shared laughter lasted only a few seconds.
But outside the office…
Someone had seen it.
Vanessa Collins.
She stood in the hallway holding a file, her expression darkening.
“He’s laughing…”
She had worked at Wayne Corporation for four years.
She had never once heard Damian laugh with an employee.
At exactly ten o’clock, the receptionist called Lily.
“Miss Carter?”
“Yes?”
“There’s a visitor asking for Mr. Wayne.”
“Does she have an appointment?”
The receptionist hesitated.
“She says she doesn’t need one.”
Before Lily could ask another question, the glass doors opened.
Every head in the lobby turned.
A stunning woman walked confidently into the building.
She wore a fitted red dress beneath a cream-colored coat, designer heels, and expensive jewelry.
She carried herself with elegance and confidence.
Employees whispered immediately.
“Who is she?”
“She’s gorgeous.”
“I’ve never seen her before.”
The woman removed her sunglasses and smiled.
“I’m here to see Damian.”
Lily stepped forward professionally.
“Good morning.”
“My name is Lily Carter.”
“I’m Mr. Wayne’s executive assistant.”
The woman’s eyes swept over Lily from head to toe.
“So…”
She smiled politely.
“You’re the new assistant.”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid Mr. Wayne is in a meeting.”
The woman chuckled softly.
“He’ll make time for me.”
Without waiting for permission, she walked toward the executive elevator.
“Excuse me, ma’am—”
The elevator doors opened.
Before Lily could stop her, she disappeared upstairs.
On the executive floor, employees watched in shock as the mysterious woman walked confidently toward Damian’s office.
She didn’t knock.
She simply opened the door.
Damian looked up from his laptop.
For the first time that morning…
He looked completely surprised.
“Victoria.”
The woman smiled.
“It’s been a long time.”
She walked over and kissed him lightly on the cheek.
“I missed you.”
Damian stepped back slightly.
“What are you doing here?”
“I came home.”
She smiled warmly.
“And I wanted to see you.”
Lily arrived moments later, slightly out of breath.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“I tried to stop her.”
Victoria turned toward Lily.
“It’s not her fault.”
She smiled sweetly.
“I’ve known Damian for years.”
She extended her hand.
“I’m Victoria Harrington.”
Lily shook it.
“Lily Carter.”
Victoria’s smile remained perfectly polite.
But her eyes held a different emotion.
She had already decided she didn’t like Lily.
After Lily left the office, Victoria closed the door.
“So…”
She looked around.
“You’ve changed the office.”
“I renovated it.”
“It still feels lonely.”
Damian remained silent.
“When I heard your grandmother was sick…”
“I came back from London.”
He looked at her.
“You didn’t have to.”
“I wanted to.”
She reached out to touch his arm.
“You know I still care about you.”
Damian gently stepped away.
“That was years ago.”
“People change.”
“So do feelings.”
Victoria studied him carefully.
“Do they?”
She noticed something on his desk.
A coffee mug.
On it was a small sticky note in neat handwriting.
Don’t skip lunch.
— Lily
Victoria’s smile faded almost imperceptibly.
She looked back at Damian.
“Your assistant writes you reminders now?”
Damian glanced at the note.
“I’ve been busy.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“Interesting.”
That afternoon, Lily was organizing files when Vanessa approached her desk.
“You seem popular.”
Lily looked up.
“I’m just doing my job.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Be careful.”
“About what?”
“Women who get close to Damian Wayne rarely have an easy life.”
Lily frowned.
“I don’t understand.”
“You will.”
Vanessa walked away, leaving Lily with more questions than answers.
Inside his office, Damian stood by the window after Victoria had left.
He looked down at the city below.
His life had been peaceful before.
Now…
His grandmother adored Lily.
Victoria had returned unexpectedly.
The office was already buzzing with rumors.
And for the first time in years…
He felt as though the carefully built walls around his life were beginning to crack.
He didn’t know it yet.
But this was only the beginning.
Because Victoria Harrington had not returned to rekindle an old friendship.
She had returned with one goal.
To become Mrs. Damian Wayne.
And anyone standing in her way…
Would become her enemy.