Petty Little Games

"Where have you been?"

A stern voice spoke from the shadows as Chloe stepped into her apartment. The room was dark except for the study lamp that dimly lit up. 

"How did you get in here?" she asked, her voice steady despite the unease creeping up on her.

From the dark, a figure stepped forward. James Bennett adjusted the watch on his wrist, his expression blank.

"Your doorman knows better than to question me." His tone was casual, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. 

Chloe shut the door behind her, masking the irritation flickering across her face.

"That doesn't answer my question."

Her father merely smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"And you didn't answer mine."

She hesitated, debating whether to lie or to deflect. But she knew better.

James Bennett didn't ask questions he didn't already know the answer to.

She shut the door behind her. "I was out."

"Out where?"

Chloe met his gaze, refusing to look away. "I don't see how that's your concern."

He let out a low chuckle, though there was nothing funny to him. "Everything you do is my concern, Chloe."

She clenched her fists. "You do know I'm not a child."

"Where did you go, Chloe?" He barked.

"I went to see mom." She admitted.

His expression didn't change, but a flicker of something, displeasure perhaps, darkened his gaze. 

"Miranda," he said the name like it was distasteful. "I assumed she filled your head with nonsense."

Chloe rolled her eyes, she'd never understood her father's dislike for her mother.

"She listened, something you don't do."

James ignored the remark and took a step closer, studying her. "You're emotional," he noted. "That's dangerous.

"Dangerous for whom? You?" She said folding her arm.

"No, dangerous for you."

She swallowed, refusing to let his words burrow into her skin. "If you came here to lecture me, you can leave."

"I came here to warn you, Chloe" he grunted.

Chloe's stomach twisted.

"I spoke to her, that's all," she said, keeping her voice even.

James exhaled sharply. "I told you before—Miranda has no place in your life. Whatever she fed you, I suggest you forget it."

Chloe's jaw tightened. "She's my mother."

"She was your mother," James corrected coldly. "And she stopped being that the moment she walked away."

A faint laugh escaped her lips. "Right. Because you never gave her a reason to leave."

James's expression darkened. "You think she's some innocent victim?" He scoffed. "Don't be naive, Chloe. Miranda left because she was weak."

Chloe's fingers curled at her sides, her nails digging into her palms.

James sighed as if disappointed. "I'm warning you for your good. Stay away from her."

Chloe lifted her chin. "And if I don't?"

His eyes bore into hers. "Then you'll regret it."

A chill ran down her spine, but she refused to let him see it.

James glanced at his watch again before stepping past her. "I expect you to be at the office first thing tomorrow. No more distractions. And don't be late."

And just like that, he walked out, leaving behind nothing but silence and the weight of his words.

Chloe stood motionless, her heart pounding.

How long was she going to live in her father's cold shadow?

She searched for her phone in her bag, and pulled up Damien's message, in a flash she deleted it while sinking into her couch.

She could deal with Damien or her father tonight.

_______

The morning air was crisp as Chloe stepped into the towering glass building of Bennett Industries. Her father's words still lingered in the back of her mind, but she forced them aside. She had no time for his rants. She was used to it. 

The receptionist greeted her with a polite nod. "Good morning, Miss Bennett."

Chloe returned the nod and headed toward the elevator, only to be stopped by her secretary.

"Miss Bennett."

"Yes please."

"Good morning. Mr. Cross is waiting in your office."

She scoffed. "Damien Cross?"

Her secretary let out a sheepish smile. And Chloe didn't miss the way her cheeks flushed lightly. It was clear she was smitten.

"Yes. He arrived about fifteen minutes ago."

Chloe clenched her jaw. Unannounced visits weren't something she appreciated—especially not from someone like Damien. She exhaled sharply and stepped into the elevator.

When she reached her floor, she let out a huge sigh, while lifting her shoulders and pushed open the office door.

Damien stood by windows, his hands in his pockets, gazing out over the city. At the sound of her entrance, he turned, his expression bright enough to lighten the day.

"Good morning, Chloe."

She closed the door behind her and strode to her desk with measured steps. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Cross?"

Damien raised an eyebrow, his smirk barely concealed. "You ignored my texts."

Chloe placed her bag on the desk and calmly took a seat. "I've been busy."

His gaze lingered on her, it was sharp and assessing. "Too busy to reply? I believe the text sounded urgent, did it not."

She let out a dry laugh. "I don't have time for your petty little games, Damien."

His smirk vanished. "I'm not here to play, Chloe."

She met his. "Then get to the point."

Damien exhaled, his fingers grazing the edge of her desk as he took a step closer. "Bennett Industries and CrossCorp have a deal, but I'm starting to think you're not taking it as seriously as I am."

Chloe arched a brow. "Because I didn't text you back?"

"Because you keep avoiding me," he countered smoothly.

She scoffed, leaning back in her chair. "You and I both know this is strictly business, Damien. I don't owe you anything beyond that."

His gaze darkened slightly, but instead of pressing further, he chuckled softly. "Strictly business, huh?

"Exactly."

He studied her for a moment before pulling out a chair and sitting across from her. "Fine. Then let's talk business."

She folded her arms. "Go on."

"Morelli's team has requested an updated logistics plan before the next security briefing. We need to ensure the surveillance zones align with our cybersecurity measures. There's also a concern about securing transport routes for high-value assets."

Chloe flipped open a folder on her desk, scanning the documents. "Bennett Industries has already mapped out the best entry and exit points. We'll have a team stationed at every key location."

Damien nodded. "Good. I'll have Ethan review the placements to ensure they sync with our monitoring systems."

Chloe shut the folder and leaned back in her chair, giving him an unimpressed look. "Did you come all this way just to tell me that, Mr. Cross?"

Damien's lips twitched. "I would have texted…but" He paused, raising both hands.

"But what?" She snapped.

"You're not exactly responsive." Damien completed.

Chloe folded her arms as she nodded her head "And how exactly did you get my number?"

Damien's smirk deepened as he stood, slowly making his way toward her. He leaned down just enough for his breath to ghost over her skin.

"You gave it to me," he murmured.

Chloe narrowed her eyes. "I don't remember giving it to you."

Damien chuckled, his laugh low and taunting. He tilted his head, letting his gaze glide over her as if recalling something deliciously entertaining.

Then, with a lazy smirk, he whispered, "You don't remember a lot of things from that night… Chloe Ben-Ben."

Chloe stepped away from him, a cold stare brewing in her eyes.

Damien straightened his jacket, amused by the way her expression shifted just slightly.

"You should work on that memory of yours," he teased, strolling toward the door. "It's a shame to forget such… important details."

Chloe clenched her jaw as he pulled the door open, throwing her one last look.

"Don't ignore me again, Bennett" he said finally before disappearing down the hall.

Damn him. How could her one-time mistake turn into something so deviously annoying?

She gripped the armrests of her chair, as she tried to steady herself.

Damien's presence was already unsettling enough, but before she could think -

The door to her office suddenly burst open.

"Sienna?" Chloe's brows furrowed as her older sister strode in, her expression tight with barely concealed frustration.

Right behind her, the secretary rushed in, looking flustered. "Miss Bennett, I'm so sorry! I tried to tell her you were in a meeting, but—"

"It's okay. Leave us," Chloe said firmly, not taking her eyes off Sienna.

The secretary hesitated before nodding and quietly stepping out, closing the door behind her.

A tense silence filled the room as the sisters faced off.

Chloe exhaled slowly, bracing herself. "Alright, Sienna. What the hell do you want?"