Chapter 2 Two****The unraveling game

Lily marched into Damien's office with fire in her eyes. The receptionists didn't dare stop her, and Damien himself watched her storm in with a faint, amused smile.

She was beautiful in a way that demanded attention. Her raven-black hair framed her sharp features, her skin glowed like warm caramel, and her eyes-stormy and defiant-spoke of a determination that was both exhilarating and dangerous. She wasn't just beautiful; she was captivating, a force of nature that unsettled Damien more than he cared to admit.

"Let's get one thing straight," Lily snapped, slamming her palms on his desk. "I'm not some pawn in whatever twisted game you're playing. Tell me what my father owes you and stop dancing around the issue!"

Damien leaned back in his leather chair, studying her with a mix of admiration and curiosity. "You're even prettier when you're angry, you know that?" he said smoothly.

Her glare could have melted steel. "Is this funny to you?"

"A little," he admitted, his lips curling into a smirk. "You are barging in here, making demands like you're in control. It's... entertaining."

She straightened, crossing her arms. "You're insufferable."

"And you're predictable," he countered. "But please, keep going. This is the most fun I've had all week."

Her jaw tightened, and she spun on her heels. "Enjoy the show while it lasts, Damien. I'll figure this out on my own."

---

Damien's Strategy

As Lily's footsteps faded, Damien sat in his office, a shadow of thought crossing his face. He hadn't planned on being this intrigued by her. She was supposed to be a means to an end, but her fire, her defiance-they were unexpectedly... distracting.

He dialed Greg. "She came to see me."

Greg's voice crackled through the speaker. "And?"

"She's even more stubborn than I thought. But it doesn't matter. She'll come around," Damien said, though his tone held a trace of hesitation. "Prepare everything. She won't make this easy."

---

Lily's Struggle

Lily sat cross-legged on the floor of her tiny apartment, surrounded by old photo albums and documents from her father's desk. Her best friend, Mia, lounged nearby, sipping tea.

"You really think you'll find something here?" Mia asked skeptically.

"I have to," Lily replied, flipping through a stack of faded papers. "Damien's hiding something, and I need to know what it is."

Mia glanced at her. "You could just ask him."

"I did. He's infuriating. He just smirks and talks in riddles."

Mia grinned. "Maybe he likes you."

Lily shot her a glare. "Not funny."

---

The next day, a sleek black envelope arrived at Lily's door. Inside was a formal letter, stamped with Damien's company logo, Blackstone Holding.The legal jargon made her head spin, but one sentence stood out:

"You have one week to comply, or we will take further action."

Enraged, she stormed to Damien's mansion. The grand door opened to reveal him, leaning casually against the frame, dressed in a crisp white shirt that looked like it cost more than her rent.

"Miss me already?" he teased.

"Cut the crap," Lily snapped, shoving the letter into his chest. "What is this supposed to mean?"

Damien stepped back, folding the letter and slipping it into his pocket. "It means time's running out. Make a decision, Lily."

"About what?"

He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You'll see soon enough."

"I hate you," she hissed, her voice trembling.

"I know," he replied, almost softly.

---

As she stormed out, she paused near the study door. Voices drifted out.

Damien's voice, low and commanding: "It's time. Prepare the contract."

Her stomach dropped. Contract? What contract?

She pressed a hand to her chest, her pulse racing as questions swirled in her mind. Whatever Damien was planning, it wasn't going to end well-for her or her freedom.