Page 163 of The Contract

He’ll dangle those photos over my head, threaten to release them, drag my name through the mud, smear me in front of the Calloways, damage Damien’s merger, and set off a scandal that will ruin us both.

Well, I won’t let that happen.

Throwing off the sheets, I storm back to my room, my movements swift and purposeful. I grab the first clothes I see—dark jeans, dark shirt.

I don’t have time for a shower, so I yank a baseball cap over my hair and throw the dresser drawer open. The yellow folder glares at me as I snatch it up and head for the elevator.

The coffee shop is only a few blocks away from Damien’s penthouse, but every step feels heavier than the last, thick with tension.

I force my breathing to stay even, my shoulders squared, my chin up as I push through the door and scan the room.

He’s already here in the back corner.

Casual. Comfortable. Smirking like he owns the world. Like he’s already won.

The sight of him makes my stomach churn, but I push it down. I refuse to let him see even a flicker of hesitation.

I stride to his table and drop the folder between us with a controlled, deliberate movement.

“I’m not doing this,” I say, my voice cool and measured.

Adrian doesn’t even flinch. His smirk deepens as he flips the folder open, letting his fingers skim the grainy black-and-white security stills.

The photos make my skin crawl.

From the outside, they could look intimate. But I know the truth.

And so does he.

“You sure about that, sweetheart?” His voice is thick with amusement as he taps the folder—a threat, a promise.

I clench my fists, forcing my face to remain neutral.

“All those pictures prove,” I say, my tone like ice, “is that you're a scared little piece of shit who let your girlfriend be gang-raped.”

He exhales, slow and easy, like he’s shaking off a minor inconvenience.

“Doesn’t matter,” he says with a small shrug. “People believe what they want to believe. And with a little push…” He taps the folder again, his gaze gleaming with sick satisfaction. “This will be a scandal. Ruin your precious little fiancé. Ruin you.”

My heart pounds, but I won’t let him see an ounce of my fear.

“You ready to give him up, Elena?”

I lean in, my voice dropping to a quiet, razor-sharp edge.

“I’d rather burn my own life to the ground before I let you hold a match to it.”

His eyes darken, but the smirk stays.

“I won’t betray Damien.”

The words leave my lips without hesitation because they’re true.

Without another word, I turn on my heel and walk away.

“You think he’ll still want you once he finds out what you’ve done?” Adrian calls after me, several patrons turning to watch as I leave.

I should have fucking told Damien the moment Adrian confronted me at the tennis courts. Should have trusted him. But I was scared.

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