Chapter 61 Balancing Act

• The weight of the decision sat heavy on my chest as I sat across from Damon in the dimly lit restaurant. The atmosphere was supposed to be intimate, but all that felt present was a gnawing tension. I had come prepared, my resolve steady and unwavering. Today wasn't about giving in to his whims; it was about reclaiming some control over my life, beginning with this arrangement.
• Damon studied me, his razor-sharp eyes masked by the gleaming mask of poise. The perfect, composed businessman. I knew the game and how it worked, but today I wasn't playing by his rules anymore.
• "I've been thinking," I started, firm in tone. "About our arrangement."