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Taming The Billionaire
img img Taming The Billionaire img Chapter 4 Fractured Pieces
4 Chapters
Chapter 6 Faces From The Past img
Chapter 7 Lines In The Sand img
Chapter 8 A Brush With Oppurtunity img
Chapter 9 Shadows of the canvas img
Chapter 10 Weight of The Unknown img
Chapter 11 Boundaries and Displeasure img
Chapter 12 Shadows and Light img
Chapter 13 Colors of Freedom img
Chapter 14 Distractions img
Chapter 15 The Ride Home img
Chapter 16 The weight of a gaze img
Chapter 17 Cold Shifts and Coffee Breaks img
Chapter 18 Anger and Regret img
Chapter 19 Moving Foward img
Chapter 20 A knock At The Door img
Chapter 21 The Offer img
Chapter 22 Confessions in the Mall img
Chapter 23 Boarding img
Chapter 24 The First Steps img
Chapter 25 Crossing Boundaries img
Chapter 26 Brush with Vulnerability img
Chapter 27 Unspoken Comfort img
Chapter 28 Soft comfort img
Chapter 29 Morning Tensions img
Chapter 30 Crumbling Walls img
Chapter 31 Breaking Point img
Chapter 32 Surrender img
Chapter 33 Brushstrokes with Vulnerability img
Chapter 34 The Weight of Desire img
Chapter 35 New Beginnings img
Chapter 36 Bound By Thoughts img
Chapter 37 Morning Hues img
Chapter 38 Under the surface img
Chapter 39 A Battle of Wills img
Chapter 40 Uncharted Territory img
Chapter 41 Colours of the Morning img
Chapter 42 Hearts Entwined img
Chapter 43 A Chilling Encounter img
Chapter 44 Unexpected img
Chapter 45 Drawing Lines img
Chapter 46 In His Arms img
Chapter 47 In Her Presence img
Chapter 48 Whispers of Threats img
Chapter 49 Breaking point img
Chapter 50 Fractured Hearts img
Chapter 51 Fractured Trust img
Chapter 52 Shattered Solace img
Chapter 53 Burying the pain img
Chapter 54 Broken Encounters img
Chapter 55 Broken Encounters 2 img
Chapter 56 Sudden News img
Chapter 57 Unwanted Distractions img
Chapter 58 Broken But Unyielding img
Chapter 59 Moving On img
Chapter 60 Confusing messages img
Chapter 61 Convincing Himself img
Chapter 62 Bitter Encounter img
Chapter 63 Choices and Chances img
Chapter 64 New Beginins img
Chapter 65 Secret Meeting img
Chapter 66 Flourishing img
Chapter 67 Road To Her img
Chapter 68 A Call From The Past img
Chapter 69 Chasing Ghosts img
Chapter 70 Desperation img
Chapter 71 Meeting of Understanding img
Chapter 72 Unease img
Chapter 73 Doubts img
Chapter 74 Gallery Day img
Chapter 75 Truth img
Chapter 76 The Unveiling img
Chapter 77 The moment everything changed img
Chapter 78 Past that won't stay buried img
Chapter 79 The weight of the Truth img
Chapter 80 Flowers img
Chapter 81 Unyielding Resolve img
Chapter 82 A Quiet Goodbye img
Chapter 83 Health Scare img
Chapter 84 Fears img
Chapter 85 Unspoken Tension img
Chapter 86 Midnight Encounter img
Chapter 87 A Taste of Regret img
Chapter 88 Walls img
Chapter 89 Bitter sip img
Chapter 90 Reluctant Haven img
Chapter 91 Unfinished Business img
Chapter 92 Futile Attempt img
Chapter 93 Unspoken Truths img
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Chapter 4 Fractured Pieces

Damian

This morning had been a disaster.

Sitting in my office now, staring at the skyline of the city I practically owned, I couldn't shake the sour taste left by the investor meeting. The room had been filled with minions in designer suits, each one agitating to prove their loyalty to me while carefully sidestepping any real commitment. Half of them had seemed more interested in what I'd be drinking at my next gala than the actual business plan.

My hand curled into a fist as the memory replayed. It wasn't their meaningless flattery that got to me. It was the subtle, lingering doubt I'd seen in their eyes. ''Does he still have it The unspoken question hung over every word they said. My reputation preceded me, but reputation could be fleeting.

''Don't let them see you falter, Damian.'' My father's old advice echoed in my mind, though I doubted he'd recognize the man I'd become.

"Damian?"

The soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts. Eleanor.

As usual, she stepped into the office without waiting for an invitation. Eleanor was the daughter of one of my father's oldest friends, a connection she never hesitated to exploit. Her dark auburn hair fell in glossy waves over her shoulders, and she was dressed in a fitted navy blue dress that screamed sophistication.

"Rough morning?" she asked, her lips curving into a practiced smile as she sat herself on the edge of my desk.

I didn't respond right away, leaning back in my chair and regarding her with irritated disinterest. Eleanor was beautiful, and she knew it but not my type. But she also knew how to weaponize it, which was part of the reason I kept her at arm's length.

"You could say that," I finally said, my tone clipped.

She reached out, placing a perfectly manicured hand on my forearm. "You work too hard, Damian. You need to let someone take care of you for a change." Her voice was honeyed, dripping with suggestion.

I pulled my arm away, irritation bubbling under the surface. "I don't have time for this, Eleanor."

Her smile faltered for a split second before she recovered. "You never make time, do you? Always so focused on work. I wonder what it would take to distract you." She leaned in slightly, her strong choking perfume filling the space between us.

That was the last straw.

I stood abruptly, forcing her to move back. "I need coffee," I muttered, grabbing my coat.

"Damian-" she started, but I cut her off.

"Not now, Eleanor."

I left before she could protest further, telling my bodyguards to stay behind. For once, I wanted space to breathe without the constant shadow of someone watching my every move.

###

The coffee shop wasn't far, a small place tucked away in the chaos of the city. I ordered a black coffee and found a seat by the window, the faint buzz of the café providing a strange sort of comfort.

As I sipped the hot liquid, I let my thoughts drift, the tension from the morning slowly beginning to ease. Staring at my phone and going through some photos my father had sent me while he was on vacation. Ever since he retired he'd been travelling the world. That was until I heard her.

The sharp, irritated tone of a woman's voice broke through my thoughts. My eyes flicked toward the counter, and there she was.

She was a whirlwind-wild, angry, and unapologetic. She was yelling about something, her gestures animated as her voice carried through the room. For a moment, I simply watched, taking in the way her chestnut hair fell loosely around her face, the way her lips pressed into a firm line, and the flush creeping up her neck.

Then I noticed something odd-her ears. They were turning red.

I couldn't help it; the corner of my mouth twitched. There was something almost endearing about how easily her emotions played out on her face. But before I could think about it too much, she turned abruptly, her eyes locking onto mine.

That's when it hit me. *It's her.*

Maya Evans

"Damian Greyson" she spat, her tone dripping with venom.

I raised an eyebrow, taking another deliberate sip of my coffee. "Miss Evans. To what do I owe this... pleasure?"

Her cheeks turned crimson, and I caught the slight tremble in her hand as she gripped her coffee cup. I knew that look. Fury, barely held in check.

"You're insufferable," she snapped, her voice low but cutting. "People like you think you can walk all over everyone else without a second thought."

I studied her for a moment, my gaze wandering to the way her jaw tightened when she was angry. She was-*attractive.*

The thought caught me off guard, but before I could chase it away, she moved.

Hot liquid splashed across my chest, soaking into my shirt.

For a moment, I was too stunned to react. The sting of the coffee wasn't nearly as sharp as the sting to my pride. My gaze snapped back to her, and I saw the immediate regret in her wide, hazel eyes.

"Unbelievable," I muttered, standing abruptly.

"I-I didn't mean to-"

"Save it," I said sharply, grabbing her arm-not harshly, but firmly enough to guide her toward the door. The last thing I needed was to make more of a scene in front of the curious onlookers.

Outside, I released her and glanced around, noting the small crowd that had begun to gather nearby. I couldn't risk any more attention, so I straightened my jacket and fixed her with a glare.

"This isn't over," I said, my voice low and cold.

Then I turned on my heel and stormed off, slipping into my car and slamming the door shut.

###

By the time I reached my office, my mood had soured even further. I pushed open the door, only to find my father sitting calmly in one of the chairs across from my desk.

"Damian," he greeted, his tone neutral but tinged with something I couldn't place.

"Not now, Dad," I said curtly, brushing past him.

I knew what he wanted to talk about. Me getting a wife is all he'd been nagging me about lately

He didn't take the hint, standing and moving to face me. "You can't keep going on like this," he said, his voice softening. "You've built walls so high, I'm not sure anyone can get through to you anymore."

I didn't respond, staring out the window instead.

"Do you think I don't know why?" he continued. "I was there, Damian. I saw what your mother's choices did to you."

The mention of her was like a punch to the gut. My mother now happily remarried to some other man-had walked out on us when I was only ten. She'd never loved me, not really. I'd spent years trying to prove myself worthy of affection, only to realize it was a wasted effort.

"That's enough," I said quietly, but firmly.

My father sighed, and for a moment, neither of us spoke. Then he placed a hand on my shoulder. "There's an art gallery opening this weekend," he said. "You should come. It might do you some good."

I didn't respond, and he didn't push further.

As the door clicked shut behind him, I sank into my chair, staring blankly at the papers on my desk.

Love, trust, vulnerability-they were luxuries I couldn't afford. They only ever lead to disappointment

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