Every fiber of his being screamed with defiance, but a sense of resignation settled over him like a heavy shroud. He understood all too well the power dynamics at play, the delicate balance of influence and authority that Damon Banks wielded over him. As much as he wanted to lash out, to resist, he knew it would be futile. Going against Banks would only lead to his downfall, and Mason could not afford to jeopardize his own ambitions, no matter how much it grated against his pride. With a deep breath, he forced himself to swallow his pride, to suppress the simmering rage boiling within him. He may have felt like a caged animal, but for now, he had no choice but to bide his time and play the game according to Banks's rules.Damon's expression remained unreadable as Mason approached him tentatively. "So." Mason began, his voice trailing off as he searched for the right words. "I divorce Arabella and..." he left the sentence hanging."And the future of the project will be in your hands
"Let's talk, princess.""Not in front of where I work.""Okay, then get in the car." The way Damon spoke, always imposing his will as if it were an order, was interesting."In fact, I plan to take a walk," she tried to change the subject."Stop making things difficult.""Not having time to talk to you isn't making it difficult."Arabella glanced at the people walking by on the sidewalk, completely oblivious to the conversation. And while Damon pondered what he had just heard, his blue eyes were capable of burning the beautiful lady's body."I am not going to ask you to get in the car again," he said."Damon, let's be realistic. We're not compatible. I am not the kind of woman capable of meeting your standards," Arabella sighed. "You came, you wanted me, you intimidated Mason into divorcing me..." she squeezed the bag between her hands. "All this just so you can take pleasure in saying I am yours."He wanted to agree, and he did so in his mind, but the man would be unable to admit tha
And as the Lamborghini raced through the streets of Las Vegas, Arabella could not help but think about how frightening the situation was. Perhaps it was all connected to Mason..."You might lose signal on the highway," Alex stated."That's not the issue. I need an alley, a bridge, anywhere I can drop Arabella off," he replied, not even looking at her."What?" Arabella turned to face Damon as she heard his words."Sir, I do not want to cause panic, but what if the reason for the chase is Miss Collins herself?" Alex's voice came through the car's system, causing a shiver to run down Arabella's spine."Fuck," Damon muttered.At that moment, the speedometer needle was between one hundred and eighty and one hundred and eighty-five. Damon could not increase speed, not within the city. Although the street was long and sparsely populated, it wasn't safe to exceed the limits like this. He just kept going, always looking at the Mustang in the rearview mirror, and noting that the car could stil
Arabella collapsed onto Damon, resting her forehead on the man's shoulder. He, in turn, hugged her with one arm, using only one hand to continue holding the steering wheel.And feeling the exhausted body, Banks could see the lights of the city of Henderson. That's when calmness overtook his spirit, and he smiled relieved. The cars following them could no longer be seen, which meant they had been left behind.However, amidst the chaos, what surprised the man was knowing that his relaxation, largely, was because he knew that Arabella's life would not be compromised, nor her safety.She was okay, and that was all that mattered.**The sun infiltrated the room like a shrewd inspector. The light was capable of revealing traces of the previous night, the early hours, and mid-morning. The open curtains indicated that the people in that room hadn't had time to close them. The clothes scattered on the floor were evidence of how carnal the previous hours had been, of how little time they had
Damon Banks examined the paperwork in his hands. It was a detailed dossier about the life of a certain brunette. He read the information calmly, with a hint of boredom. His eyes turned to his personal assistant, Harley, and then he commented to the man who had provided the report:"Her life is an open book.""There are no surprises, sir. She's a regular girl. She graduated, got married. Never had children."Damon analyzed the bland details of that file. It was about Arabella, no doubt, but it seemed too mundane for a woman like her. There were no surprises, no information, no curiosities, and no novelties."No, she's not a regular girl."He was partly disappointed to learn that the day had not yet come when he would discover who that woman really was. Because when he looked at her, Damon saw danger, mystery, malice, and ill intentions, but looking at that file, all he could see was normalcy."Anything specific I should find out?" Harley offered."I want details about her college. Who
Because three days ago, Damon had no way of knowing that seeing Arabella with someone else would be so uncomfortable. He rested his left ankle on his right knee and began to swing his foot in time to the music. It seemed to be just a common movement, but this was the man's way of releasing the anxiety that was pressing on his chest.Arabella's intention was to dance, dance to try to forget the man who cut her expectations before they grew.But what she was doing was much worse.Even unconsciously, the woman was making regret whip Damon. She made him think of when it was her hands on her body, and her mouth kissing her skin. In a way, Arabella was making sure he did not forget her.The most diabolical part of that vision was the feeling of helplessness. Damon could not make demands, because that was exactly what he disliked in a relationship. He could not talk to Arabella, as he had ended the "Almost relationship” a few days before.What Banks did not know was that regret was a snake.
"These people came for you, not the house" Damon heard his friend's voice overtake the music.He looked back, and found Joseph walking towards him."They came because they were unoccupied" was the answer."They admire you, stop being an asshole" Joseph smiled, thinking his friend was making some sarcastic joke."They're strangers to me. I want them all to fuck off""It's your birthday, man" Joseph approached his friend, and also rested his elbows on the protective bar. So they stayed side by side."Do you think I forgot?"Damon stared at the man next to him. The truth was that he could not forget even if he wanted to, and he wanted to. But some people considered that date too important not to be celebrated every holy year.Both were bathed in the dim light emanating from the room, as the intention was not to attract the attention of people downstairs. In other words, Damon was seeking refuge in the darkness, where no one but his demons would see him."You are very sober" was Joseph's
Both were stripped of the masks they usually wore."I wish I could be the person you want. But I did wrong things, princess, and all the consequences knock on my door, day after day. I can't put you in my world, because it doesn't shine"Upon hearing those words, Arabella thought about all the things that surrounded her relationship, or non-relationship, with Banks. It was practically impossible for them to ever be together."Do I need to be careful?""Just do not ask me to be a part of me. Distance is my best way to protect you.""And you are here""Because I am too weak to stay away"Looks did not tend to lie. The looks were sincere, they expressed what the soul felt. And in that hotel room, the blue ones were honest. The desire became something more, something they would not yet be able to define.But, along with the feeling, hesitation also arose.Damon knew Arabella would be a danger, because the more he wanted her, the more power he would give her."Do not stay away" Arabella cl