Second (Betrothed 6)

He didn’t know what to say.

I lowered my gaze because it was too hard to look at him. “I have no idea how this happened, how I fell in love with you so quickly. We saw each other for, what? Two months?” I asked incredulously. “Liam and I were happy together and I loved him so much, so I didn’t expect to feel that way about someone for a really long time…and then I met you. And it was passionate, deep, and just so quick. I can’t even explain it.” I’d gone over our relationship a million times and still hadn’t uncovered any answers. “But it doesn’t matter now because I married Liam…and I’m committed to making that relationship work. I wish you had told me the truth when I could have done something about it, but you didn’t. So, we both need to move on…” I didn’t want to let Damien go, even now. Sometimes I forgot about the wedding ring on my left hand even though it was so damn heavy. But I had to remember that Damien was already gone, that the past couldn’t be changed, that he still didn’t love me. So, none of it mattered anyway.

He said nothing for a long time, just staring at me. “Yes…we do.”

If we had a real chance to be together, to date for a year or two, maybe Damien would have fallen in love with me and left his business. But that opportunity was stolen from us, and that would always haunt me. “Friends?” I extended my right hand.

He stared at it for a while before he sighed. “I’m not sure we can be friends, Annabella.” He came closer to me and placed his right hand in mine. Instead of shaking it like two colleagues, he fanned his fingers across my wrist so he could feel my pulse. His thumb brushed over the web of my palm, and he came closer to me, our bodies coming so near that we could hear each other breathe. His eyes looked into mine, so damn beautiful that it hurt. “But I can try…”

8

Damien

I sat in my office and worked on the stack of paperwork Hades had dropped on my desk a few minutes ago. We may have buried the hatchet, but Hades still lost his temper whenever we had to do paperwork. My work was never good enough, and he didn’t hesitate to tell me that, accompanied by a string of profanities.

My assistant spoke. “Your next appointment is here.”

I looked at the mountain of paperwork and sighed. I had too much shit to do today, and I didn’t want to waste time on my clients. But it was too late to cancel, and my clients were the kind of people you didn’t want to piss off. “Who is it?”

“Conway Barsetti.”

At least I liked the guy. “Send him in.” I stacked the papers and placed them on the edge of my desk.

A moment later, Conway Barsetti walked inside, wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, and a casual blazer on top. A black wedding ring was on his left hand, and he looked so much like his father, they could be brothers. He smiled as he extended his hand. “Damien.”

I grabbed him with a tight grip. “It’s been a while. Business going well?”

“It’s always going well.” He stepped to the side and revealed the woman he was with. A beautiful brunette with thick lashes and bright blue eyes. She was tall, and in that tight dress, she had curves in all the right places. She wasn’t his wife, so I assumed it was one of his models. “Let me introduce you to Charlotte.”

She stared at me for a few seconds before a slight smile stretched across her lips. “Nice to meet you.” She had a French accent.

I shook her hand. “Damien. Pleasure is all mine.”

Conway sat in one of the leather armchairs, and Charlotte did the same.

I relaxed in my chair and drummed my fingers on the surface of the wood. “How’s your father?”

“The same,” Conway answered. “He took my son to the zoo today.”

“He’s a good grandfather?” I asked.

“Better grandfather than father,” he said with a chuckle. “He never took me to the zoo.”

I smiled because I knew he was kidding. “What are we doing today? Moving money around? Buying another piece of real estate?”

“Actually, I’m here on behalf of Charlotte,” he explained. “She’s been in my lineup for the last year and has gained immense popularity. Now she’s a rich woman and doesn’t know what to do with all her cash. That’s where you come in.”

I turned to her. “I can make all your problems go away.”

She smiled. “I can tell.”

“You’ll take her on as a client?” Conway asked.

I wasn’t taking new clients unless they were billionaires, but Conway was a friend, so I would make an exception. “Sure.”