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ChapterTwenty-One
Damien
I quickly learned that Willa was the type of woman to hold grudges. But damn, did she look sexy as hell tonight. I wanted to take her home with me and fuck her all night. I hadn’t had sex since our night together, and I needed the release. If she wouldn’t let me have her, I’d find someone who would.
Louis pulled up to her building. I stepped out, extended my hand, and she accepted it, which shocked me.
“I can walk you up,” I said.
“I can manage on my own. Goodnight, Mr. Blackwood.”
“Willa, wait.”
She turned and looked at me, holding her shoes by their straps in her hand.
“Maybe I don’t want the night to end just yet.”
“The night has ended, and so has our pretending, Damien.” She turned and walked into the building.
Shaking my head, I climbed into the back of the sedan and slammed the door.
“You fucked up, Damien,” Louis said.
“Be quiet, Louis, and take me home.”
I stepped into the penthouse, poured myself a drink, and took it to the terrace. The night air was a little cooler now than earlier, but not enough to soothe my frustrations.
“Damn it,” I mumbled, taking a sip of the scotch that warmed my insides but failed at filling the emptiness I felt.
Willa’s words echoed in my mind. “The night has ended, and so has our pretending.”
Pretending—it’s what I did best. I finished my drink and went inside. Walking into the kitchen, I grabbed a bottle of water from the refrigerator and took it to the bedroom, staring at the box Willa gave me sitting in the corner. Picking it up, I set it on the bed, climbed on, and started removing the contents.
I brought the dark amber and smoked sandalwood candle to my nose, letting the rich, earthy aroma envelope my senses. It smelled nice and was worth using. I placed it on my nightstand, opened the drawer, and pulled out the lighter I had stored amongst the boxes of condoms. I lit the candle and pulled out the note Willa had written.
You don’t always have to be the strong one. Not with me.
I don’t need perfect. I just need real. And right now, you’re it. ~W
The aroma of the candle filtered through the air. Glancing at it, I stared at the label—Light it up and let shit go.The corners of my mouth curved upward into a small smile. Our lives were so different. I built my entire life on winning, just as my father taught me. But Willa—it sounded like her business was taking off quickly. A business created from her life falling apart, making her more beautiful than she already was.
Leaning over, I blew out the candle, snuggled into bed, and turned off the light. I lay there, my hands behind my head, staring up at the ceiling. My mind wandered to our conversation earlier about daisies. They didn’t pretend to be something they’re not, just like Willa.
* * *
I hadn’t spokento Willa in over a week—it was my fault. I should have reached out, but I wanted to give her space after Saturday night. That was a lie. I was too afraid she’d either ignore me or tell me to fuck off.
I walked out to Christine’s desk and set a few files down.
“I need these reports filed.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, staring at her phone.
“Something interesting you’re looking at?” I asked.
“I got an alert of a building fire over on Murray Street,” she said.
“Murray Street? Where exactly?” My heart started racing as I ran into my office, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV hanging on the wall. Breaking news flashed on the screen, where firefighters were at the scene of a building fire.