Damien’s POV
I couldn’t sleep, eat, or think about anything except Elena.
Elena Sterling.
CEO.
Billionaire.
The woman I’d been married to for years without ever knowing who she was.
It was 7 AM the next day when I decided I couldn’t take it anymore.
I drove to Sterling Global headquarters, that massive glass tower in the center of the city.
Security stopped me at the front desk.
“I need to see Elena Sterling.”
”Do you have an appointment?”
”No, but I’m her…” I held myself from introducing myself as her husband.
Because was I still?
“I’m Damien Blackwell. She’ll see me.”
The security guard’s expression didn’t change.
“One moment.”
He made a phone call, speaking quietly.
Then hung up.
“I’m sorry, sir. Miss Sterling isn’t available.”
”When will she be available?”
”Miss Sterling has left instructions that she’s not available to you.
At any time.”
The words hit like a slap.
“Please. I just need five minutes…”
”Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
”I’m not leaving until I talk to her!”
Two more security guards appeared.
Large ones.
“Sir, leave now or we’ll call the police.”
I looked up at the building, at the top floor where I knew her office was.
Elena was probably watching this on camera, watching me beg.
“Fine,” I said.
“I’m leaving.”
I went to my car, sat behind the wheel, and realized I had nowhere to go.
My apartment felt empty, and my office felt wrong.
Everything felt wrong without Elena.
My phone rang.
My business partner again.
“Michael, I’m working on it…”
”Work faster.
We just lost another major client.
They said Sterling Global advised them to ‘reconsider their partnerships’.
Do you know what that means?”
”She’s cutting us off.”
”She’s killing us.
Whatever you did to that woman, Damien, you need to fix it.
NOW.”
”I’m trying!”
We have two weeks before we’re completely bankrupt.”
The call ended.
I sat in my car outside Sterling Global, feeling helpless for the first time in my life.
I wanted to be angry and hate her for this.
But I couldn’t.
Because I deserved it.
I drove to my office instead, determined to salvage something.
But when I arrived, I found Victoria waiting in the parking lot.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“We need to talk,” she said.
“Really talk about Elena, about what happened.”
”What’s there to talk about?
I lost her.
I screwed up and now, she’s destroying us.
That’s the story.”
”There’s more to it than that.” Victoria looked around nervously.
“Not here. Somewhere private.”
”Victoria, I don’t have time for your games…”
”I was hired to destroy your marriage,” she blurted.
Everything stopped.
“What?”
Victoria’s hands were shaking.
“I’m so sorry for everything. I was just paid to do so. I was told to come back into your life and make you leave Elena.”
I stared at her, appalled.
“You were paid to…? By who?” I asked, very confused.
“All I had to do was get you confused. To get you to fall in love with me again and forget all about her, but Demian… I didn’t know who she was. I didn’t know she was Sterling’s heiress and now…”
My heart raced to the extent I couldn’t breathe.
“Hold on a second. You came back into my life just to destroy my marriage? Why me of all people?” My pulse spiked up a bit.
“We dated in the past. I loved you wholeheartedly. You were the one that left me, remember? And now what?”
”I’m sorry Damien.
Please forgive me.
I didn’t know…”
I looked at her and I hated myself.
“Get away from me!!” I shouted.
“You ruined everything, just for money and post. Who sent you?” I asked again.
I was blind with rage.
“Demian, please you have to listen to me…”
”Enough!
You made Elena leave the house, you ruined me,” I said with tears rolling down my eyes.
“Just get out! I never want to see you again.”
”Demian…”
”LEAVE!”
She looked up at me with tears streaming down her face, then she turned around and walked away.
I should’ve cared about the fact she genuinely looked dejected but all I could think about was Elena. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
I hated myself for not making my wife happy when I had her.
I missed Elena, my dear wife.
Always looking out for me.
I missed everything about her.
Now I couldn’t get through to her.
Victoria destroyed my life.
How will I fix this… How can I make it up to her?
The woman who loved me deeply, without condition.
I drove home in anger, my car blasting.
I was fuming and there was only one person I needed to pour my anger out on.
When I got home and saw my mom, I just exploded.
“You’re the one who’s caused problems!” I shouted at her.
“You disrespected her, insulted her, made her feel like she’s nothing!”
I turned to my sister.
“And you, you’re just the same. You supported mom, made Elena cry, controlled her life. You ruined everything!” I pointed at the door.
“Get out of my house. I don’t want to see you both here again. You’ve destroyed me.”
I couldn’t bear it.
I packed their bags and threw them out.
I stood there, watching them leave with the pain I’d endured.
A few minutes after they left, my phone rang.
My lawyer.
“Damien, I just received the contract from Sterling Global. You need to see this. It’s… it’s not good.”
”How bad?”
”They’re offering to acquire your company for pennies on the dollar.
You’d work as an employee, reduced salary, no decision making power.
It’s basically a complete takeover disguised as a partnership.”
Ice ran down my spine.
“And if I refuse?”
”Then they cut all remaining ties and you’re bankrupt within days.
They’ve got you cornered, Damien.
This is a hostile takeover, and you have no leverage.”
”When do I have to decide?”
”Forty-eight hours.
I’m sorry.
I really am.”
I hung up and screamed until my throat hurt.
Elena had won.
She’d taken everything.
And yet, I still couldn’t even hate her for it.