Chapter 3 The First Battle

The day dragged on, the relentless ticking of the clock in her office an unwelcome reminder of the pressure building around Calla. Damien had thrown her into the deep end-something she knew was coming, but it still stung when the reality of it hit. A string of impossible tasks had piled up before her. The board meeting presentation. The last-minute flight changes for clients. Handling demands from investors. Each task was designed to push her to the brink, and just when she thought she might break, Damien would appear, calm and collected, watching her struggle with those stormy eyes of his.

He didn't help. Not really. He liked seeing her fight. He liked seeing her wrestle with the chaos.

Calla's mind kept returning to the mysterious letter in her pocket, the one that had been slipped under her desk earlier that day. It haunted her thoughts like a whisper in a dark room. Who had written it? What were they trying to warn her about? And why did it feel like everything was spiraling out of control, even when it seemed like she was just doing her job?

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Calla remained at her desk, scribbling down notes for the upcoming meeting with Damien. Her mind was swimming in details. As much as she wanted to get out, to escape the web she had been caught in, she couldn't shake the feeling that something monumental was about to happen. The tension between her and Damien had reached a boiling point, and she could feel the storm brewing.

A sudden knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts.

"Miss Rose, Mr. Rourke would like to see you in his office," came the assistant's voice, the usual calm and detached tone betraying nothing about the nature of the request.

Calla stood up quickly, her pulse quickening. She didn't know what to expect, but she was ready for whatever he had in store.

She walked down the corridor to Damien's office, her mind racing. When she reached the door, she hesitated for just a moment before entering.

Damien was sitting behind his desk, his back to her as he gazed out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lights of Manhattan glittering below them. His posture was relaxed, but the tension in the room was palpable.

"Sit," he said, his voice low, without turning around.

Calla did as instructed, sitting across from him, the distance between them feeling like a chasm. She couldn't read him tonight. His usual icy demeanor seemed colder, and yet there was something different in the air, something dangerous.

"What's on your mind?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral.

Damien didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned to face her, his gaze intense, as though he were looking right through her. He studied her for a long moment, as though weighing the situation, before finally speaking.

"You've been doing well," he said, his voice low, almost thoughtful. "But you need to step it up. I don't hire people to keep the seat warm. I hire them to make waves. And right now, you're treading water."

Calla bristled, the words stinging more than she expected. She wasn't used to being underestimated.

"I'm doing my best," she said, forcing the words out through gritted teeth.

"I don't want your best, Calla. I want your all. I understand the job is new to you but If you're going to survive in this world, you need to give everything, every ounce of who you are. And that's not just your sharp tongue or your pretty face. It's your will. Your strength. You've got the potential, but you need to stop playing games. You need to put in that fire i know you have."

Calla's heart raced, the words sinking deep. He was right-she was still holding back. Still playing it safe,new work, new environment and all.

She took a deep breath. "So, what do you want from me? Am still finding my foot around here for God's sake" Her voice came out sharper than she intended, but she didn't care.

Damien's eyes narrowed, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I want you to prove you're more than just a firecracker with a sharp tongue. I want you to show me that you can handle everything I throw your way."

Calla leaned forward, her hands gripping the edge of the desk. "You think I can't handle it?"

"No," he said slowly. "I think you're scared. Scared of what you might have to become to survive in this world. And that's the part I find most interesting."

Her chest tightened, and she felt a rush of anger bubble up, the need to prove him wrong growing stronger. But at the same time, there was an undeniable thrill coursing through her veins.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Damien stood up from behind his desk and walked toward her, closing the space between them. His presence loomed over her, and for the first time since she'd met him, she felt small. Vulnerable.

"I want you to stop pretending," he said softly. "I want you to stop hiding who you really are." He leaned in, his lips hovering just above her ear. "I want you to fight for what you want, Calla. Not just for this job... but for me."

A shiver ran down her spine at his words, and for the first time, she felt the full force of his power, his control. She wanted to pull away, to stand her ground, but she couldn't. Not yet.