Chapter 80

• Damien sat at his desk, the soft glow of his computer screen illuminating the stacks of reports sprawled across the polished mahogany surface. His mind, however, was far from the financial statements and projections laid before him. It had been weeks since that dreadful dinner with Charlotte and Esther, and the unease that had settled over him since that night seemed unshakable.
• He shifted restlessly in his chair, his thoughts consumed by memories of Charlotte—the way she had looked so beautifully fragile, the tension curling around them like smoke, the undeniable flicker of emotions neither could fully articulate. His heart twisted at the memory of her withdrawing laughter and the way her eyes had sparkled when she spoke of her work. It was a stark contrast to the manipulative smirk that had danced across Esther’s face throughout the evening, a sharp reminder of the dichotomy he faced between the two women in his life.
• Just then, the door to his office swung open, and Esther stepped in, her presence instantly igniting the irritation simmering beneath the surface of his composure. She wore a sleek blouse and fitted trousers, exuding a confidence that usually irritated him. Today, however, it felt like a blood-red flag waving in front of him.