Page 38 of The Contract

But still…

I study him for another second, trying to piece it together. His tone is too even, like he’s trying too hard to sound indifferent. And now that I think about it, there’s something almost unnatural about the way he’s lingering here—like he doesn’t actually want to leave but doesn’t have a reason to stay.

The realization is… surprising.

And strangely endearing.

I let a slow, amused smile pull at my lips before responding lightly. “Good to know. I appreciate your hospitality.” My coffee cup clinks softly against the marble counter. “We have Ledger resources, so we don’t impose, but thank you all the same.”

For a second, I think the conversation will move along, easy and effortless. But something shifts in his expression, subtle yet distinct, like my words land in a way he wasn’t expecting.

His jaw tightens slightly before he speaks. “You wouldn’t be an imposition.”

Then, as if realizing he’s given something away, he adjusts.

“It.” A quiet correction. “It would be no imposition.”

I recognize what just happened. A small slip. A moment of unconscious honesty before catching himself.

It’s not what I expected from him, and that alone makes it stand out.

The silence between us lingers a beat too long, and the weight of it makes something twist in my stomach. I don’t know what it is—discomfort? Curiosity? Either way, I do what I do best.

I smooth it over.

“Busy day at the office?” I ask, tilting my head slightly. “Before tonight’s event?”

The change in topic is exactly what he needs. His shoulders ease just the slightest bit, and the tension that had begun to settle between us lifts.

“Always,” he says, the edge of a smirk playing at his lips. “But nothing I can’t handle.”

I don’t push for details. Men like Damien don’t discuss business over breakfast. That’s reserved for boardrooms, for closed-door meetings over top-shelf whiskey, for negotiations worth billions.

But I’ve done my own research.

Wolfe Industries is in the middle of acquiring a major competitor. This merger is high-profile—the kind that cements power, the kind that makes headlines.

Tonight’s event will be a crucial moment in securing that deal.

Damien doesn’t offer more, and I don’t ask. Instead, I simply nod, taking another sip of coffee, letting the conversation settle.

And then, just as I think he’s about to leave, he surprises me.

Instead of walking away, instead of disappearing into his empire as I expected, he pulls out a chair.

And sits down.

His movements are unhurried, deliberate, but there’s something almost uncertain about them—like he hadn’t quite planned on staying.

I say nothing as he reaches for the extra plate of food, sliding it toward himself.

A silent decision.

I recognize this moment for what it is.

He’s choosing to stay.

And for reasons I don’t fully understand, that realization sends a quiet shiver down my spine.

---