CH 9

Damian slowly opened his eyes and felt the side of the bed next to him. He frowned, noticing it was empty. There was no doubt she had a knack for running, but she wouldn't get away so easily this time—not after he’d spent several nights believing he’d never see her again. He stood, grabbing his phone from the nightstand and texting Enzo to send up a new set of clothes before heading into the shower.

By the time he was done, there was a knock at the door. He opened it to find Enzo grinning mischievously. With a sharp eye roll, Damian took the new clothes and slammed the door in his face.

After getting dressed, Damian sat on the bed, his thoughts drifting back to what had transpired the previous night. It still felt like a dream. His eyes lingered on the red stain on the sheets—the only real proof of what had happened. The rest of the night seemed hazy. A sly smile tugged at his lips as he stood up to leave. But something shiny on the floor caught his attention. He walked to the lounge chair, crouching down to reach under it, pulling out a familiar object.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. It was the bracelet he had given her years ago. She still had it? He shook his head, disbelief and frustration flooding him. Without a second thought, he stuffed the bracelet into his pocket and left the room.

Enzo and his secretary, Irina, were waiting for him in the hotel corridor.

“Good morning, Mr. Romano. The board meeting is at eight sharp, and afterwards, you have a meeting with the matchmaker,” Irina said, her voice smooth.

“Cancel it,” Damian replied, his tone cold.

“But Mr. Romano—” Irina started, but Damian’s glare silenced her.

“Do as I say,” he commanded, his voice leaving no room for argument.

Enzo, sensing the growing tension, hesitated. “Don’t you think you should at least meet with her first?”

The hard look in Damian’s eyes made him swallow the rest of his words. Without another word, they moved toward the elevator.

A sleek black Maybach pulled up outside the hotel. The bodyguard opened the door for Damian, who stepped into the car, his gaze already distant. Irina and the bodyguard climbed in front, while Enzo took the seat next to Damian.

The ride was silent, save for the sound of the car’s engine purring through the streets.

Damian finally spoke, his voice low. “Arian, I need you to look up someone for me.”

Arian, the ever-composed driver, glanced back at him. “Who is it?”

“She was at the hotel last night. I want to know everything about her. I’ll give you the rest of the details later.”

“I’ll look into it,” Arian replied with a sharp nod.

Irina, seated next to the driver, shifted nervously in her seat. Her palms were clammy, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on her forehead despite the air conditioning. She tried to calm herself with slow, deliberate breaths. Arian, noticing her discomfort in the rearview mirror, raised an eyebrow.

Once they arrived at RareGems Group, a bodyguard opened the door for Damian and Enzo, both of whom strode confidently into the building. Irina followed, her heels clicking on the marble floors. But before she could enter, she felt a tug at her wrist.

Turning, she found herself face to face with Arian.

“Is everything okay?” he asked, his eyes searching hers. “You seemed a little nervous back there.”

Irina’s gaze flickered uncomfortably. “I’m fine. Can I leave now?”

Arian stepped back, giving her space, but his voice was soft as he spoke again. “You don’t have to act like this all the time. No one’s here. You can talk to me.”

Irina clenched her jaw, unwilling to meet his gaze. “We’ve lingered too long. We need to get to Mr. Romano.” She didn’t wait for his response, turning sharply to walk ahead, her heels clicking louder in the stillness.

Echoes of “good mornings” went unanswered as Damian and Enzo entered the elevator, with Irina hurriedly following behind. She entered the elevator, her mind racing, and they ascended to the tenth floor, where the conference room awaited.

She opened the door to find everyone already seated. Even Arian stood quietly behind Damian. Irina shot him a glare, wondering how he had managed to arrive before her. She was determined to put the composed look back on her face, though it was hard not to want to smack that calm expression off his face.

“Miss Irina?” came the voice of one of the board members.

“What?” she snapped, momentarily disoriented.

“We’re waiting for you.”

Irina blinked and apologized quickly. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I got carried away.”

“Of course,” Enzo said with a smile, glancing at Arian. The tension between the two of them was palpable but went unnoticed by the rest of the group.

Irina moved to the projector, turning it on and revealing the slides she had prepared. “Since RareGem is about to launch its latest amethyst collection, I suggest we host a gala to introduce it to the public.”

A few thoughtful murmurs echoed through the room as she continued, unwavering in her presentation. She knew she had to convince the older men with everything she had. By the time she finished laying out the numbers, they looked satisfied.

Damian, however, barely seemed to hear her. He leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed out the window, lost in thoughts of the woman who had been in his bed the previous night. The lingering scent of her—familiar and intoxicating—clung to him, a reminder of a past he had tried to forget. Ivelle. Alive. And then gone again.

Irina’s voice snapped him back to reality. “...and by inviting select top-tier celebrities, we’ll enhance the brand’s reach and appeal to a broader demographic. Social media coverage alone could bring millions in recognition to RareGem.”

Damian’s jaw tightened. This was hardly the time for marketing schemes, let alone involving celebrities and influencers. He sat up, his eyes narrowing at her.

“RareGem doesn’t chase social media,” he said, his voice cold. “We don’t need A-listers to convince our clients of our quality.”

Irina pressed on, unshaken. “Mr. Romano, consider it an evolution. A limited number of select celebrities would generate attention for the new collection while maintaining the exclusivity that RareGem is known for. If we control the guest list, we control the brand’s image.”

Damian’s fingers drummed impatiently on the polished wood of the conference table. His mind was elsewhere. He wanted out of this meeting, out of this room. Ivelle was alive. How was that possible? Where had she been all these years? Why had she disappeared, only to show up again now?

Irina paused, sensing his growing impatience. “Irina,” he said, his tone firm. “We’re done here. If you have a better suggestion that aligns with our brand, I’m listening. Otherwise, we’ll proceed without unnecessary distractions.”

Irina held his gaze, her face neutral, though a flicker of something dark lingered in her eyes as she nodded.

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken tension. Damian rose from his seat, his movements deliberate and final. Without another word, he walked out, Arian at his side. The door closed behind him, leaving Irina standing there, her expression unreadable, though something like distaste flickered across her face as she watched him leave.

Once they were clear of the boardroom, Damian lowered his voice. “Ivelle is alive. She was in my suite last night.”

Arian’s expression didn’t change, but Damian could sense his surprise. “I’ll dig into it right away, sir. Any specific leads?”

“Start with the hotel. I want to know everything—why she disappeared, who helped her, and where she’s been.”

Arian gave a firm nod, his expression determined. “Consider it done.”

As Arian left, Damian’s fingers absentmindedly found the bracelet in his pocket. For years, he had locked away the memory of her, a chapter he never intended to reopen. But now, everything felt different. If Ivelle was truly back, he would find her. And this time, there would be no escape.