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talie

“We’re going out tonight,” Char said as she walked out of the closet. “After we shop. Where are all your clothes?”

I was lying on my stomach, and I shifted on the mattress, eyeing the two large suitcases in the corner that my mother sent me. I still hadn’t unpacked. Maybe because if I did, then I’d be admitting how I was here to stay. Char glanced around the bedroom I’d been using since moving here.

I sighed. “I can’t wear any of those clothes here.”

“You can tonight.” She unzipped one of the suitcases and began pulling out my clothes. “You don’t have plans with Damian tonight, do you?”

“No,” I mumbled. “I haven’t seen him all week.”

“You two get in a fight?”

“He asked me to forget about the past so we can start fresh.”

She looked at me, raising an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound bad. You guys actually liked each other when you were younger.”

“I told him no,” I replied as I climbed off the bed. “I won’t do it, Char. I’m never going to become the wife everyone wants me to be.”

“How did he react?”

I shrugged. “We had that conversation five days ago, and he’s barely said a word to me since. He goes to work, and I stay here.”

“Stay in the city with me this weekend.” She grinned as she pulled out one of my party dresses. “I got you a gig.”

My stomach flipped. “What?”

“A club needs someone last minute. One of my friends works there as a server on the weekends.” She paused, giving me a sheepish smile. “I told them how I knew the amazing DJ Savoie.”

“Char,” I ground out, my pulse thudding. “I had no plans to do that here.”

“Why?” she shot back. “It makes you happy.”

“It’s too risky. The families could find out. Why do you think I only worked in Asia?”

She tossed the dress on the mattress. “So you’d rather not work at all and be miserable?”

I bit my tongue, pacing the room. I’d been working in the music world ever since I left the States.

It was what I loved, and I’d built my name up all across Asia.

I started with small clubs and venues before slowly growing.

My DJ name was well known in countries like Japan and South Korea. I lived for it.

“Wear a mask like you always do,” Char said, as if that would solve all my problems. “No one will know it’s you.”

Damian’s club flooded my mind. He was leading a double life.

His business was booming all while his father had no idea.

If he could do it, maybe I could too. Before I could respond, I heard footsteps coming down the hall, and I glanced at the doorway, expecting to see Damian.

Instead, an older man stepped into view.

“Good morning,” he greeted us, his eyes cutting to Char. “It’s good to see you again, Charlotte.”

My gaze snapped to my sister. Her polite smile was in place, proving this man knew our father, and was no doubt in business with him.

I turned my attention back to the man, unease sliding through me.

He was wearing a navy-blue pinstripe suit, and his hands were in his slacks pockets as he stayed standing in the doorway.

His gray hair was swept to the side, every strand in place.

His face was clean-shaven, and his eyes were a light blue. I instantly didn’t like him.

“This must be the lovely Natalia I’ve heard so much about.” The man stared at me, his eyes trailing down my body. “You two look so much alike.”

“Talie, this is Mr. Pierce,” Char introduced him. “He works for Valentin Enterprises.”

My guard went up as I gave the man a tight smile. He didn’t work for my father—he worked for Damian’s. Which meant anything I did or said would go back to my father-in-law.

“Please, call me Jack,” he said with a small wave. “No need to be so formal.”

I didn’t like him. Why the hell was he wandering around this house like it was his own? Even if he worked with Christian and Damian, that was business. He had no right to be upstairs in this house.

“Are you staying in this room?” Jack asked, curiosity in his voice as he glanced at the unmade bed. “Are you and Damian having problems?”

“Excuse me?” I asked, shocked at him being so forward.

“I stayed here,” Char spoke up. “This is the guest room.”

“Charlotte is welcome anytime.” Damian’s voice came from the hall, and Jack jumped, clearly surprised.

“I thought you were at work,” Jack sputtered out, moving to the side.

Damian didn’t even look at him as he strode past him, entering the room.

His black suit jacket was unbuttoned with his tie looser than normal.

There was a small smile on his lips, but his eyes were stormy, even when he leaned down to give me a quick kiss on the cheek.

He wrapped his arm around my waist before facing Jack.

“Is there a reason you’re bothering my wife?” Damian asked, not masking his irritation.

“Christian wanted to make sure she was adjusting to being home,” Jack responded tightly. “If you have an issue with me dropping by, then talk to your father.”

“No issue,” Damian said smoothly. “But coming upstairs where my wife expects her privacy is a problem.”

He let out a nervous laugh. “Of course. My mistake.”

I bristled, swallowing my annoyance. This man was not sorry that he took me by surprise. It was probably what he was trying to do. He wasn’t expecting Damian to show up.

“I saw your father at the office, and he wanted me to give you a message,” Jack said, looking back at me. “He would like you to come to dinner tonight.”

“She won’t be able to make it,” Damian spoke up. “We have plans tonight. But tell her father thank you for the invitation.”

Jack pressed his lips together, not liking Damian’s response. He didn’t comment on it, only nodding quickly. I didn’t look at Damian, even though I wasn’t aware of any plans.

“See you on Monday,” Jack said before focusing on me. “It was great meeting you, Natalia. I’m sure I’ll see you often now that you’re home.”

I hoped not. The feeling I got from this man wasn’t good.

I wanted nothing to do with him. He spun on his heels before walking away, and the second he was out of sight, I slipped out of Damian’s hold.

Char blew out a breath as Damian crossed the room, peeking out of the hall.

Jack must have gone downstairs because his posture relaxed.

After turning around, he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.

“Pack a bag,” he said, meeting my gaze. “We’re spending the weekend in the city.”

“And if I don’t want to?”

He frowned. “I’m not leaving you here where Jack can show up unannounced.”

“I didn’t realize you were close to Jack,” Char muttered as she picked up her purse.

“I’m not,” Damian gritted out. “He’s my father’s right-hand man. He does whatever Christian asks.”

“Does he have a key to the house?” I asked.

“Not that I’m aware. But I don’t want you anywhere near him alone.” He shook his head. “We’re leaving in an hour.”

“I’ll see you tonight, Talie,” Char chirped out, giving me a quick hug. “We need to leave by seven.”

“Leave for what?” Damian asked.

“Don’t worry, husband,” I said sweetly as Char left the room. “I’m staying in the country.”

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Where are you going?”

“I’m spending a night out with my sister.” I tilted my head. “Is that a problem?”

“No,” he answered slowly. “But don’t forget—you’re not in a different country. You’re home. Where everyone knows you as my wife.”

I giggled, patting him on the cheek. “I know how to play the public game. But in private? Nothing I do is your business.”

He caught my wrist before I moved my hand from his cheek, tugging me closer. “You’re sleeping in my room from now on.”

“No, I’m not.”

“Yes, you are.” He didn’t release me when I tried pulling away. “I trust most of my staff. But some of them work for the family, not just me.”

I scowled. “After the entire talk about wanting to start over, you still can’t stand up to Christian. This is why this whole thing will be nothing more than a quick orgasm on the dining room table.”

I finally wiggled out of his hold, but didn’t get far. Letting out a chuckle, he grasped my hips, his eyes locked on mine as he backed me up. I let out a small gasp of surprise when he pushed me into the wall.

“Damian,” I hissed, ignoring the heat flying through my veins from his tight hold.

“Maybe I have a different reason for wanting you in my room,” he murmured, mischief dancing in his eyes. “Maybe I want to give you an orgasm in every room of this house.”

“Not happening,” I muttered, my cheeks heating as I remembered his palm on my ass.

His grin faded, and I nearly let out a groan when his face turned serious. I’d rather keep talking about sex than whatever he was about to say.

“I’ve tried avoiding you after we talked,” he said quietly. “But I can’t. I don’t want to. You’re here, Talie. I’m not going to spend the rest of my life pretending my wife doesn’t exist.”

“Why?” I snarked. “I think it’s been working perfectly this last week.”

He chuckled, relaxing slightly. “Really? Too bad. If you don’t want to see me, then move out.”

My lips parted in shock. “What?”

“You heard me, Natalia. If you don’t want this life, then leave.”

“You know I can’t.”

He raised an eyebrow. “No? You did it for five years.”

“That was different.”

“I’m not holding you hostage. If you want out, then go. But if you stay, then I’m going to act like a husband—which includes putting you in my bed.”

I tried to ignore the sexual tension growing between us. “I can’t just leave?—”

“Why?” he cut me off, the arrogance in his voice beginning to get under my skin. “Let me guess—you stay for the same reason I do.”

I scowled. “You stay because you have everything you want.”

“You could leave,” he continued, as if I hadn’t said a word. “Your father would cut you off. But you don’t care about the money. You’d walk away with nothing if you could. No…it’s about who you care for. If you walked away from this life, then you wouldn’t see Charlotte.”

Knots slowly twisted in my stomach. When we were younger, he had always been able to read me better than most of our friends. Even after being gone for five years, he could still surprise me.

“Your sister isn’t like you,” he said. “This life suits her perfectly. It's something she won't abandon. She doesn’t stand up to your father, and she never will. Which means if you leave, then all you’ll get is maybe a secret visit with her once a year.”

I bit my tongue, my pulse thudding. When I was overseas, Char had come to stay with me a few times a year, and I cherished every single visit.

If I walked away, then Damian was right—I’d barely see her.

She had no desire to leave. Her entire life was funded by our father, and would continue to do so until she got married.

“You never let me forget how I won’t go against my father,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. “But you’re the exact same, Talie.”

“No, I’m not,” I snapped. “I left.”

“You lied ,” he shot back. “You hid. You didn’t stand up to your dad.

For the last five years, we’ve been doing the same thing.

Appeasing our families while doing what we want in secret.

We did it as kids, and it didn’t change when we became adults.

You didn’t tell your father to fuck off—that you were going to college like you wanted. ”

“I lived how I wanted for five years,” I said, anger creeping into my voice. “I did what I wanted without having to ask permission. It was fucking great until you ruined it.”

He scoffed. “Ruin it? You weren’t living free, Talie. You were sneaking around. You want to be angry at me for not turning my back on everything for you, then go right ahead. But don’t lie to yourself. Because you’re doing the same thing.”

I clenched my teeth. No matter how much his words got under my skin, I couldn’t even argue with him.

As much as I craved the life I lived for the past five years, I wasn’t ready to give this part up.

Mostly, it was for my sister. If I left, our father would never forgive me.

He had enough power to find me no matter where I went.

But it wasn’t only that—he would control Charlotte even more if his other daughter disobeyed him.

“If you want out, then go ahead. Divorce me. Tell your father you’re leaving.

You can survive the fallout. That’s choice number one.

” He dropped his head until his lips were nearly brushing mine.

“Choice number two is you stay here. But I’m telling you now.

If you stay, then I’m not leaving you alone. ”

“More games, Damian?” I taunted, giving him a smirk. “This will never be a traditional marriage.”

“I love playing games with you, Talie,” he replied, his voice gruff. “And you clearly like it too, seeing as you’re still here.”

“For now,” I retorted. “Maybe I will leave.”

“Well, until you do, you’ll be sleeping in my bed.” He released me, stepping away. “We’re leaving in a half hour.”

He strode out of the room, leaving me pressed against the wall as I stared after him. My heart was pounding, and I blew out a breath.

So much for living separate lives under this roof.