Chapter 5 Let me pay the old debt by supporting you

There was no hint of romance or emotion in Damien's proposal. His eyes locked onto Sienna's, cold and unwavering as if every word was carefully calculated.

"My grandmother believes it's in our best interest if I marry you," he said flatly, leaning back in his chair. "She insists I support you and your children for the rest of your lives. What do you think of this arrangement?"

His voice was devoid of any feeling, each syllable dropped like a stone into a still pond.

Sienna, not fazed, cocked an eyebrow, an elegant smile tugging at her lips as she leaned against her desk, arms crossed. "Mr. Blackwell, do you honestly think I am desperate enough to consider such a ridiculous offer?" she said, her tone sharp, dripping with sarcasm.

Her words hung in the air, laced with audacity, yet there was an undeniable grace to her. Sienna was beauty incarnate, but it was her confidence, her unwavering self-assurance, that captivated anyone who truly took the time to look.

Damien's jaw tensed for a fraction of a second, but he quickly masked it. "Miss Tillman," he said coolly, "are you refusing my offer out of pride?"

Sienna's laughter, sharp and full of defiance, echoed through the room. She stood up, her posture regal and commanding. "You're powerful, yes. Handsome too, I suppose. But frankly, I couldn't care less about you, Mr. Blackwell."

Damien's composure cracked for the briefest moment, and he blinked-caught off guard by her boldness. He was used to people bowing and scraping when his name was mentioned, but this woman, this force of nature, was different. And for reasons he couldn't explain, that intrigued him more than it should.

"Fair enough," Damien said, his voice unreadable, before adding, "But I still want you to meet my grandmother. She's the one pushing for this."

Sienna narrowed her eyes, the wheels turning in her mind. "Let me guess... You're only here because you're fulfilling her wish, aren't you?"

He didn't answer immediately, but his slight tilt of the head confirmed her suspicions.

"Anyway," she added nonchalantly, "so you've taken over JC International, have you? Finally in charge, Mr. Blackwell?"

Damien's eyes gleamed with a hidden resolve. "Yes," he said, his voice carrying an air of finality. "I'm in charge now. That makes me your superior."

His words felt heavy, like an unspoken challenge lingering in the air. "But don't worry. I'll make sure you and your work are well supported."

Sienna raised an eyebrow, a smirk teasing at the edges of her lips. "Congratulations, Mr. Blackwell. I'm sure the office will rejoice."

With a flick of her wrist, she turned back to her desk, dismissing him as though he were a fleeting inconvenience.

Damien stood there for a long moment, studying her, the weight of her presence pressing against him. There was something about her... something that set her apart from everyone else he'd ever encountered. But the moment passed, and he gave a curt nod before turning on his heel and walking out, his footsteps echoing in the silent hallway.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Sienna let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. It wasn't just the proposal that had rattled her-it was the man himself. His intensity. The cold way he wielded his authority. But there was something else... something buried beneath his stoic facade.

Nicole, her assistant, popped her head in a moment later, her eyes wide with curiosity. "What just happened in there, Sienna? You two looked like you were about to set the room on fire!"

Sienna rolled her eyes, trying to shrug off the unsettling feeling that lingered. "Nothing. He's just here to fulfill his grandmother's wishes."

Nicole wasn't convinced. "Are you sure? Because I saw him watching you... like he couldn't take his eyes off you."

Sienna froze, a chill running down her spine. "Office gossip," she muttered, unwilling to entertain the thought any longer. "It's exaggerated."

Nicole's grin was mischievous. "Come on, it's flattering, right? You can't deny it."

"Not in the slightest," Sienna replied, her voice hardening. The last thing she wanted was more distractions, especially from her new employer.

She turned to look out the window at the bustling city below, her mind racing. The last thing she needed right now was to get tangled up in the web of power and influence that Damien Blackwell seemed to weave so effortlessly.

She reached for her phone and dialed the familiar number, her pulse quickening as the phone rang. It felt like a lifetime before her father's voice answered, warm and full of emotion.

"Sienna? Is it really you?" he asked, a mix of relief and disbelief in his voice.

"I'm sorry, Dad," she said softly, her throat tight. "I've been abroad, but I'm back now."

Her father's voice became more animated. "When can we meet? I've missed you."

Sienna swallowed, her heart heavy with the weight of unspoken words. "In a few days," she promised, trying to sound more certain than she felt.

Franklin's voice softened, full of warmth. "Good. It's been too long."

Sienna hung up, the tightness in her chest refusing to ease. Returning home meant revisiting the past, a past she wasn't sure she was ready to face.

A knock on the door jolted her from her thoughts. Michael, one of the office assistants, entered with a sleek package in hand.

"Sienna, this is for you," he said, placing it on her desk.

She eyed the package warily. "What is it?"

"Open it," Michael teased with a knowing smile.

Reluctantly, Sienna peeled back the wrapping. Inside was a keycard and a set of keys.

"It's for the Opal Heights Penthouse," Michael explained. "Completely furnished, luxury living. It's been arranged by Mr. Blackwell."

Sienna's expression darkened, her jaw clenching. "Return it," she snapped. "I don't want it."

Michael blinked, taken aback. "You're refusing it?"

"Yes," she replied firmly, the finality in her voice leaving no room for debate.

Michael hesitated before nodding, taking the package with him as he left.

Meanwhile, Damien sat in his office, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the desk, an unreadable expression on his face. He had expected her rejection, but it still stung.

As if on cue, Michael entered the room with the news of Sienna's refusal.

Back at the Tillman household, Franklin returned home in high spirits, but the mood shifted when he told Amanda that Sienna had called.

"Sienna? What does she want?" Amanda asked coldly.

"She's back," Franklin said, his voice soft, filled with the relief of a long-awaited reunion.

Amanda's face hardened. "Why now? She's nothing but trouble."

Franklin sighed, unwilling to argue. "Let's not dwell on the past."

But Amanda wasn't ready to let go. "She's always been a thorn in our side. Don't let her cause any more pain."

Upstairs, Amanda picked up her phone and dialed Vanessa's number.

"Sienna's back," Amanda said sharply.

"Why? What does she want?" Vanessa's voice was tight, suspicious.

"Probably our family's wealth and legacy," Amanda said bitterly. "But she won't get a dime."

Vanessa chuckled darkly. "We got rid of her once. We can do it again."

But what neither of them knew was that Sienna's return was far more dangerous than either of them anticipated. A storm was coming, and they were all about to be caught in its wake.