CHAPTER 30:CLAWS AND CONSEQUENCES

"I'm not your assistant, Nora," Stephanie snapped, standing at the edge of her boss's desk, report in hand.

Nora didn't even glance up from her screen. "And yet, here you are—still being sent to do assistant work. Now quit whining and take the report to Vosstech."

Stephanie inhaled sharply, biting her tongue before her temper ran wild. "Fine," she muttered, spinning on her heels.

Nora added smugly, "And try not to embarrass yourself, sweetheart. Vosstech already thinks you're out of your depth."

Stephanie didn't respond. She simply walked out, her heels clicking against the floor, every step echoing with fury.

—

The Vosstech lobby gleamed with polished surfaces and sharp lines. Stephanie clutched the sealed report like it was a weapon, marching toward the elevator. But before she reached it, a familiar voice stopped her.

"Well, if it isn't the most stunning woman I've seen all week."

She turned to see Damien leaning casually against a glass wall, a grin plastered on his face.

"Damien," she said flatly.

He approached, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning her face like he was trying to read a secret she hadn't written.

"Funny seeing you here again," he said, his tone easy. "You look… impressive."

She gave a forced smile. "I'm just here to drop off a report."

Damien chuckled. "And here I thought fate was throwing you at me."

Stephanie rolled her eyes. "Cut the crap."

He took a step closer, lowering his voice. "Have dinner with me. Just one evening, no pressure."

She raised an eyebrow. "You're persistent, I'll give you that. But the answer is still no."

"Oh, come on—don't tell me you've already fallen for my dear cousin," Damien teased.

"I haven't fallen for anyone. Least of all you."

Before he could retort, a voice sliced through the tension.

"Is this why you haven't answered my messages? Damien?!"

Both turned to see a furious Luisa striding toward them, her heels echoing like thunder, eyes ablaze with fury.

"Oh boy," Damien muttered under his breath.

Luisa stopped inches away, glaring at Stephanie. "You've been ignoring me because of this trash?"

Stephanie's head jerked back. "Excuse me?"

Luisa ignored her. "This is what you want now? Seriously? This pathetic social climber?"

Damien stepped forward. "Luisa, stop it."

But she wasn't done. "You're really throwing everything away for some desperate woman?"

"That's enough!" Damien growled.

Stephanie squared her shoulders. "I don't want Damien," she said calmly but firmly. "And I certainly don't need anything from him. Whatever drama you two have, leave me out of it."

Luisa laughed bitterly. "Spare me the act. Girls like you act innocent until they get what they want. You're nothing but an opportunist."

Stephanie took a breath. "You're wrong. I've worked for everything I have."

"Please," Luisa scoffed, "you're nothing but a cheap little prostitute."

"Say that again," a voice thundered from behind.

Everyone froze.

Nathan.

He stood a few feet away, his glare sharp as a blade, jaw clenched with fury. The entire space seemed to tense around him.

Luisa straightened but her eyes darted nervously.

"I said," Nathan growled, stepping forward, "say that again, Luisa. Call her that one more time."

"Ohhh!! So she's got both you and Damien panting after her?" Luisa hissed, voice venomous.

Nathan's voice was cold and lethal. "Stephanie is nothing like you."

Luisa's lip curled. "And what does that mean?"

"It means," Nathan said, his tone unflinching, "she isn't a liar. She isn't manipulative. And she doesn't betray people who trust her. Unlike you—who spread your legs for my cousin while you were still in my bed."

Stephanie's mouth dropped open. She stared at Luisa, realization flooding her face.

Luisa… was his ex?

Her gaze scanned the woman again—flawless makeup, sharp features, eyes brimming with spite—and suddenly, everything made sense. The way Nathan reacted. The contempt. The pain.

Luisa's face burned red. "You were never there for me—"

"Because I saw what you were," Nathan snapped. "A mistake. One I've long stopped regretting."

Damien laughed mockingly. "She left because I was better."

Nathan turned his cold stare on Damien. "If 'better' means leeching off the name I built, then congratulations. You win."

Damien's jaw flexed. "At least I didn't fall for a gold-digging—"

"Watch it," Nathan interrupted, voice low and dangerous.

Stephanie's hands balled into fists. Her heart pounded from the revelations unraveling in real-time. "I don't care what either of you think," she said sharply. "But if you're done using me as ammunition in your petty war, I'd like to go now."

Nathan looked at her, and for a brief moment, the fury in his eyes softened—flickering with something deeper. Protective. Regretful.

He turned back to Luisa. "Stay away from her, Luisa. If you so much as breathe in her direction again, I promise you—you'll regret it."

Luisa opened her mouth to retort, but Damien grabbed her arm.

"Let's go. Now," he snapped, dragging her away.

As he pulled her toward the hallway, Luisa jerked her arm and hissed back at Nathan, "She's going to ruin you, just like I would've if you hadn't let me go."

Nathan's expression didn't change. "You never had that kind of power over me."

Luisa gave Stephanie one last bitter glare. "You won't last. Girls like you never do."

Stephanie met her gaze squarely. "Watch me."

Damien cursed under his breath and dragged Luisa out of sight.

Nathan turned back to Stephanie. "You okay?"

She nodded slowly, still rattled. "Yeah… I think I just met a ghost from your past."

His eyes searched hers. "One that should've stayed buried."

"Why didn't you tell me she was—?"

"I didn't want you to think any less of me," he muttered. "But I won't hide anything from you again."

Stephanie took a shaky breath.

"Come on," he said, gently placing a hand at the small of her back. "Let's get you out of here."

As they walked away, Stephanie couldn't help but glance back at the storm they left behind. The weight of the moment lingered.

Luisa. Damien. Nathan's pain. Their pasts.

So many secrets… but one thing was clear: Nathan wasn't just protecting her.

He was choosing her.

And for the first time in a long time, she wasn't walking away alone.