Chapter 3 Ten years ago, ten years later

TEN YEARS AGO

"You know I love you Katty, why are you saying we should break up?" He voice trembled, laced with desperation .

She couldn't look at him. Instead, she turned her gaze away from him, curling her fingers into her trousers tightly. How could she tell him the truth, that she needed to leave him, or her father will not destroy him and his family completely?

"I know that," she said instead, her voice flat. "You don't have to keep saying it."

The breeze flowed gently through the grand halls of the planetarium, stirring her hair while butterflies flitted around her. Yet, her heart felt ice-cold.

Suddenly, his arms wrapped around her, his scent of cedarwood surrounding her like a shield.

" This is not you Katty," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "This is not the woman I love, surely someone has-"

"Enough!" She shoved him away, stepping back to create a distance between them.

He stood there stunned, his tears dripping to the worn out shirt she had bought for him. Her gaze flickered to his scrawny appearance, his faded jeans and the shoes she bought for him. The sight nearly caused her to relent, but she had to be cruel.

"Your love won't do anything for me," She stated sharply, forcing a steely expression. "I came here as a courtesy to tell you in person. Tomorrow is our convocation, and I don't want to hang over me."

He took in a sharp breath, flinching.

"We were never meant to be. We come from different worlds and backgrounds, and I was naive to think otherwise. Now I've grown up and realized the truth, I deserve better."

His eyes darkened slowly, filled with something unreadable.

"And you are not that person, Damien." She whispered, her words cutting through the air. "So stay away from me from now on."

She turned to walk away before she could see the tears in his eyes.

"I won't be with a beggar like you."

*********************

"Panic attack... she should be waking up anytime now, sir" a voice drifted through the haze.

Katherine's eyes fluttered, her head throbbing as she struggled to open her eyes. Once they were open, light flooded her vision.

She sat up abruptly to assess the situation, placing her hand on her pounding forehead. "W-what am I doing here?"

"Are you alright Miss?" the voice asked, but before she could respond, another deep and commanding voice cut through the air,

"She's fine. Leave now"

Katherine froze. She knew that voice.... No, it couldn't be.

Her heart pounded as she turned slowly, locking eyes with the last person she expected to see again.

Damien Sullivan. The boy she had shattered years ago.

But this was not the same boy she used to love ten years ago, his scrawny frame was replaced by broad shoulders and an aura that sent chills down her spine. He stood tall, dressed in a crisp black suit that accentuated his build and his hair was styled to perfection with a few strands falling on his face.

The scent of cedarwood still clung to him, but it brought fear to her now.

As the room emptied out, Katherine forced herself to stand, her legs shaky but steady. Damien took a step forward, his polished shoes clicking against the floor in the silent room.

"Katherine Anderson" he said smoothly, as if testing it. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Her throat tightened.

For the past ten years, she had imagined what it would be like to see him again. Sometimes she dreamed of apologizing and explaining everything. Other times she imagined him forgiving her, then pulling her back into his arms. After her father's death, she wished for it even more.

But this was not what she imagined.

Katherine straightened her shoulders, pushing back the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

"I need to see the CEO of Turner Development," she said, forcing her voice to remain steady. "It's quite urgent."

Damien's eyes flickered with an unrecognizable emotion before settling into an unreadable expression.

"You're a staff here, right?" She pressed. "Just take me to him first, I'll explain everything later."

Damien didn't respond to her, he simply watched Katherine, his silence suffocating.

The door opened.

"Mr. D, the demolition team is waiting for your go-ahead. Everything is set sir."

Katherine stiffened, her pulse quickening.

"Sir?"

A slow smirk formed on Damien's lips as he turned away, walking past her to the window.

"Tell them to proceed" he ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.

Katherine sucked in a sharp breath as she stared at him. Damien is the elusive CEO she has been searching for?

No, it can't be possible.

"But sir," the man hesitated. "The couple is still refusing to leave the building."

Damien exhaled, irritated. "Have them removed then!"

Katherine snapped out her shock, spinning around in horror. "Removed? You'll throw them out after they waited all this time to see you?"

Damien didn't glance back at her. "I don't have time to waste on meaningless conversations."

Katherine's heart twisted painfully as the aggrieved faces of the couples flashed. Who was this man?

She turned to the window as the demolition team began their work. Her stomach churned as hefty security men dragged the couple off the premises, their loud cries echoing loudly through the premises. Marching up to him, she grabbed his hand, turning him to face her.

"Well, will you at least listen to me?"

"No, you are here to beg as well," Damien's smirk deepened. "And I don't entertain beggars."

His words struck like a whip, causing Katherine's body to turn rigid. Outside, the first blow of the wrecking ball sent a deafening crash through the air. Going with it was whatever lingering hopes she had for Damien.

As he was now a man she couldn't recognize, thus she needed to protect her father's legacy from this monster.

She bawled her fist as fury rushed through her veins. "What will it take you to leave my father's museum?"

Darian chuckled, the sound low and mocking.

"And what exactly do you have to offer me, Katty?"

"That is not what I'm asking Darian", she glared at him.

Darian moved closer to her, his hands grazing her chin before gripping her chin tightly. His gaze roamed over her with slow, deliberate cruelty.

"Marry me," he murmured. "That's my price."

Katherine's stomach twisted in revulsion, so her palm struck his face before she could think, the sound echoing in the room.

"I would rather die."

Damien didn't react, he simply gave a low, mocking laugh.

"Like you have a choice?" He asked with a cold smile, walking past her.

He strolled past her lazily, picking up a glass of wine and twirling it lazily between his fingers.

"You are broke," he stated smoothly, "And I paid far more than the worth of that building to your uncle."

"I still bought it as a good investment, but here you are now. So I need to be compensated for my time and efforts." He asked, leaning against the table unhurried.

"I'll find another way" she stated.

"You have till noon on Friday to get me one hundred and fifty million dollars." He said, glancing at his watch.

"Otherwise, you either face this," he gestured towards the wreckage that was the planetarium.

"Or," he added, a dark gleam in his eyes. "You belong to me."

Katherine stared at him, her mind racing. Where would she get 150 million dollars?

The number rang in her ears like a death sentence, but she would not give Damien the satisfaction of seeing her break.

"Consider it done then, Mr. Damien" she lifted her chin and raised her shoulders.

"Good for you, Katty. Go ahead and try then." he mused.

"But I assure you that no one will help you."