Nerves fluttering in her stomach, she made her way towards him, each step bringing her closer to the mysterious man who had become an unexpected ally in her quest for revenge.
“Damien,” she greeted him, her voice tinged with excitement and something else she could not quite place.“Flora,” he replied, his smile widening as he enveloped her in a welcoming embrace. “You look divine.”He led her to the elevator, punching in the number that would take them to the penthouse suite.“Do you always keep a suite available in each of your hotels?” she teased, grinning at him. Now that she was in his presence, her heart felt lighter than it had earlier this morning.Damien winked at her as the doors opened, leading her towards the stunning room. “Now why would I reveal all my secrets?”Flora stared out the oval window, appreciating the beauty of the room. Her mind raced with possibilities. She had come here with a purpose – to devise a planAs Flora stood in front of the vanity mirror in Eva’s room, she barely recognized the reflection staring back at her. The past few years had taken a toll on her, and it showed. She looked like a shell of the vibrant woman she once was, but since leaving Damien's hotel this afternoon, she’d taken steps to bring that girl back. She needed her old self for the mission tonight.To begin preparing, she’d taken a trip to the salon, where Eva had booked an appointment with her favorite stylist – a man she’d praised to high heaven. As Flora had flipped through hair magazines, the stylist worked his magic, transforming her hair into tight, springy curls that cascaded down her shoulders.As she made her way back to Eva’s apartment, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of excitement. Once at Eva’s apartment, the real fun had begun. Eva had curated a selection of stunning outfits, each one more breathtaking than the last. They spent hours trying on dresses, laughing an
Just as she and Damien were indulging in a chocolate lava cake, the sound of camera shutters filled the air, drawing Flora’s attention to the commotion outside. She glanced out the window, spotting a group of paparazzi gathering on the sidewalk below, their cameras trained on the restaurant. “They’re here,” she said, voice filled with wonder. Damien smiled knowingly. His eyes locked onto hers, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, as if to say, ‘I told you it would work’. “Well, why don’t we give them what they came for?”As they exited the restaurant, Damien took her hand, his fingers intertwining with hers in a gentle yet possessive gesture. The paparazzi swarmed around them, snapping photos and shouting questions. Flora felt exposed, vulnerable, as if her carefully constructed look was crumbling before her very eyes.As she stole a glance at Damien, she couldn’t help but wonder if he felt the same way. Before she could voice her concerns, Da
The sun hung low in the sky as Flora stood before the imposing structure of the mansion she had once shared with Henry, a house that was now hers alone. The sight of it filled her with a mixture of emotions – nostalgia, sadness. A twinge of bitterness also lingered beneath the surface. This had been their home once, a place filled with laughter and love but now it stood as a silent testament to everything that had gone wrong between them.As she stepped through the front door, the air inside felt heavy and suffocating. The room echoed with the ghosts of the past. But despite the bittersweetness of the moment, Flora knew that this was a necessary step in moving forward with her life. With a determined sigh, Flora set to work unpacking her belongings, the sound of her footsteps resounding in the through the empty halls. Whether out of spite or consideration, Henry had dismissed all the servants on the grounds, leaving the house well and truly empty.As
Flora spent the next few days getting rid of all of Henry’s belongings that remained in the mansion. As she went through the closets and his study, she found several items of his, seemingly forgotten – his favorite football club jersey, a branded watch Flora had given him on their six-month anniversary and even a treasured set of office pens with his initials scripted on them he’d proudly displayed on a bookshelf in his study.It might look as if he’d merely been careless but Flora knew it had been deliberate. Once, when her relationship with Henry had still been new, she and Henry had gotten into a big fight because Henry had forgotten Flora’s birthday even though she’d reminded him just the week before. He’d refused to apologize even when she’d told him unhappy it had made her and in anger, Flora had told him to get out of her studio apartment and that they were breaking up.Henry had packed his things in a hurry and stormed out, swearing they were over
Damien had said he’d pick her up by eight, and by seven-thirty, he’d already arrived in his sleek, navy sedan. The soft purr of the engine signaled the beginning of their evening together. Flora emerged from her house, smiling softly as she approached the waiting car. She’d chosen the jade dress Eva had suggested in the car as they’d driven away from the boutique. It was knee-length and ruffled at the arms, hugging her curves. She’d paired it with silver earrings shaped like tear drops and a single diamond bracelet. Damien grinned appreciatively as he held open her door for her. Desire gleamed in his eyes. “You look radiant tonight, darling,” he said, a hint of male appreciation in his tone as she slid into the plus leather seats. There was no driver tonight, which meant Damien wanted to be absolutely alone with Flora tonight. It thrilled her like nothing else.A flush of pleasure spread across her cheeks at the compliment. “You look pretty dashing yours
Damien pulled the car to a stop in front of Flora’s grand Victorian house. The lamps lining the driveway cast an ethereal glow on the intricate gingerbread trim. “It isn’t my first time seeing it,” Damien said, taking in the impressive architecture. “But this place is massive.”“It is a bit much,” Flora admitted. “Though there are perks to having all this space. I’d planned to sell it at first after my divorce was finalized but now, I’m not so sure.” On a sudden whim, she blurted out, “Would you like a tour?”Damien raised an eyebrow, surprised by the invitation. “Are you sure? It’s late.”Flora shrugged, masking her nervousness. “Just a quick one then. Besides, I haven’t even properly thanked you for this evening.”Intrigued, Damien followed her inside.The house was a labyrinth of high-ceilinged rooms and winding staircases. As they walked, Flora pointed out hidden nooks and curiosities she’d collected over the years. With eac
Damien rose an eyebrow at her, his jacket thrown over his shoulder. “Condition?”“We raid the pantry for snacks. I’m starving.”A grin spread across Damien’s face. “You drive a hard bargain, Flora Wicks, but I accept your terms.”The next hour was a whirlwind of activity. They rummaged through the pantry, pulling out forgotten bags of chips, boxes of cookies, and bowls of popcorn kernels. Merriment echoed through the kitchen as they argued over which of the snacks were better while the microwave readied the popcorn. The sound of kernels popped cut through their conversation often.Finally, laden with their spoils, they settled onto the sofa amidst a sea of cushions and blankets. Damien wrestled with the bag of potato chips, expertly maneuvering them into a bowl. Flora, in the meantime, scrolled through the movie selection on TV. Her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to find the perfect film to watch. “What do you feel like watching? Acti
An insistent ping roused Flora from a sleep that felt deeper and more restful than she’d had in several days. Glancing at the clock, she realized she’d slept in – a welcome change from the restless nights spent tossing and turning. A familiar pang of loneliness hit her as she remembered Damien’s absence. He’d left early, not wanting to impose and had promised to call later.Her phone pinged again and she reached for it and unlocked it. She was immediately bombarded with notifications. A flurry of missed calls – all from Henry – and two text messages. The first one was a simple chilling sentence – 'I know he slept over, Flora'. The second one was a vile tirade, laced with insults and accusations. She’d heard his car drive away, so how had he known Damien had slept over at the mansion? The texts solidified Flora’s suspicions that Henry was stalking her somehow. Disgusted, she tossed her phone back on the nightstand. Henry’s words wouldn’t get to her. Today was a new day and s