Chapter 3 Rich, Petty, and Furious

CHAPTER 3

DAMIEN'S POV

I stood at the base of the grand staircase, watching as the maids moved like clockwork, carrying suitcases and boxes up to the guest rooms. Well, not guest rooms anymore. Rose Sinclair was moving in, and I couldn't quite wrap my head around it.

Lily's sister.

I still couldn't believe it. She didn't look like her at all. Where Lily had been soft, delicate, and almost ethereal, Rose was bold. Sharp. And beautiful in a way that demanded attention, even if she wasn't trying.

The thought made my jaw tighten. I shouldn't be noticing her like that. This wasn't a relationship; it was a deal. A messy, complicated deal that could blow up in my face if I wasn't careful.

"Is this everything?" I asked one of the maids as she descended the stairs with a clipboard.

"Yes, Mr. Sterling. Ms. Sinclair's belongings are being unpacked in the east wing."

"Good." I glanced up just as Rose stepped into view at the top of the staircase. She paused there, her hand resting lightly on the banister, her dark eyes scanning the room below.

Even in something as simple as a black turtleneck and jeans, she looked effortlessly stunning. Her hair was loose, tumbling over her shoulders in waves, and for a moment, I forgot how much trouble this arrangement could bring.

She caught me looking and raised an eyebrow. "What?"

I shook my head, schooling my expression into something more neutral. "Nothing."

She started down the stairs, her movements careful, as if she wasn't sure she belonged here. When she reached the bottom, I stepped forward, slipping my hands into my pockets.

"Welcome," I said. "Make yourself at home."

Her lips quirked up into a faint smile. "Not much of a choice, is it?"

"Not really." I nodded toward the maids bustling around us. "They'll give you a tour of the house. Make sure you know where everything is."

"Okay," she said simply, folding her arms across her chest.

I studied her for a moment longer, searching for any trace of Lily in her face, her expressions, her movements. There was nothing.

But the eyes... there was something in her eyes that reminded me of Lily. Not their color or shape, but the way they seemed to hold secrets, like she'd seen too much of the world and didn't trust it anymore.

I pushed the thought away. "I'm heading to work," I told her, glancing at my watch. "If you need anything, call me."

"Call you?" She raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

"Yes, call me," I repeated, my tone sharper. "I'll have my phone on me all day."

She nodded, her expression unreadable. "Got it."

"Good." I hesitated, then added, "The staff will take care of anything you need while I'm gone. You don't have to lift a finger here."

Her lips twitched, like she was suppressing a sarcastic comment. "Sure. Thanks."

I turned to leave but stopped just before reaching the door. I looked back at her, standing there in the middle of the foyer, small in the grand space but somehow commanding attention anyway.

"Rose," I said, and she looked up, her dark eyes meeting mine. "This is your home now. Act like it."

She blinked, clearly surprised, then gave a small nod. "Okay."

With that, I walked out the door, letting the cool morning air hit me as I slid into the backseat of my car.

As the driver pulled away, I found myself staring out the window, my thoughts tangled.

She looked beautiful. That much was undeniable. But she was Lily's sister, and that fact alone was going to complicate everything.

And I didn't like complications.

I stepped into my office, my mood already sour. The drive in had done little to clear my head after the morning's events. Rose was under my roof now, and while I'd told her to act like it was her home, the truth was, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about that.

But I didn't have time to dwell on it. Work demanded my attention, as always.

"Good morning, Mr. Sterling." My secretary, Madison, appeared at the door, her clipboard in hand and a worried crease on her brow.

"Morning, Madison," I replied, settling into my chair. "What's going on?"

She hesitated, shifting her weight. That was my first clue something was wrong. Madison was usually composed, unflappable.

"Well..." She glanced down at her clipboard, then back at me. "It's Ms. Duval, sir."

I stiffened. "Seraphina? What about her?"

"She's called a board meeting," Madison said quickly. "It's happening now in the conference room."

My jaw clenched. "A board meeting? For what?"

"I'm not sure, sir, but..." She trailed off, then took a deep breath. "As a shareholder, she has the right to call a meeting, but from what I've overheard, it seems she's... making some accusations. About you."

I shot to my feet, my chair screeching against the floor. "Accusations?" My voice was low, cold.

"Yes, sir. She's been-" Madison hesitated, clearly choosing her words carefully. "She's been questioning your leadership, your decisions. Specifically, your personal decisions."

I didn't need her to elaborate. I already knew where this was going.

"Get the files for the current quarter," I snapped, buttoning my jacket. "And have the minutes from the last meeting sent to my tablet. I want to know exactly what's been said so far."

"Yes, sir." Madison turned and hurried out, leaving me seething.

Seraphina Duval. She'd been a thorn in my side for months, but this? Calling a board meeting to air her grievances like a petulant child? That was a new low, even for her.

I strode out of my office, my footsteps echoing down the marble hallway as I made my way to the conference room. Madison caught up to me, handing me a folder. "The files, as you requested."

"Good." I didn't slow down, my anger simmering just beneath the surface.

When I pushed open the doors to the conference room, the buzz of conversation ceased instantly. Every board member turned to look at me.

And there she was. Seraphina Duval, sitting at the far end of the table with a smirk on her face, perfectly poised in her designer suit.

"Mr. Sterling," she drawled, her tone dripping with faux sweetness. "How nice of you to join us. We were just discussing you."

I didn't take the bait. "Miss Duval," I said coolly, stepping forward. "I wasn't aware this meeting was necessary. Care to enlighten me?"

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs. "Oh, I think the board members can explain that better than I can."

One of the older members, Mr. Finch, cleared his throat. "Damien, there's been... concern," he began hesitantly.

"Concern?" I repeated, arching an eyebrow. "About what, exactly?"

"About your judgment," another member, Ms. Albright, chimed in. "Particularly regarding your engagement-or lack thereof."

I folded my arms, my gaze sweeping the table. "I wasn't aware my personal life was a matter of boardroom discussion."

"When it affects the company, it is," Finch said firmly. "You were engaged to Ms. Duval, a reputable woman from a respected family. And now, suddenly, you're parading around with..." He trailed off, clearly searching for the right words.

"With someone from the street?" Seraphina supplied helpfully, her smirk widening.

The room tensed, and I fought to keep my expression neutral. "Careful, Miss Duval," I said, my tone deceptively calm. "You're treading on thin ice."

She shrugged, clearly unfazed. "I'm just voicing what others are thinking. The board deserves to know if the man leading this company is making reckless decisions."

The board murmured in agreement, and I felt my temper flare. "Reckless?" I repeated, stepping closer to the table. "Do you think the success of this company has been the result of recklessness?"

"No," Finch admitted. "But this sudden... shift in your personal life raises questions about your priorities."

"And about her," Albright added. "Who is she? What qualifies her to be in this position?"

"She's my fiancée," I said sharply, cutting off further discussion. "That's all you need to know."

"Fiancée?" Seraphina echoed, her voice dripping with disbelief. "How convenient."

I ignored her, turning my attention back to the board. "If any of you doubt my ability to lead, I suggest you review the quarterly reports. Our numbers speak for themselves. My personal life doesn't affect this company's performance, and it never will."

The room fell silent, and I let the weight of my words settle before continuing. "Now, unless there's something else, I suggest we end this farce and get back to work."

An hour later, the board members were trooping out of the conference room.

I leaned against the table in the now-empty conference room, my head pounding. The audacity of Seraphina was astounding. She wasn't just trying to ruin my reputation-she was gunning for control.

"Damien?"

I turned to see Seraphina standing in the doorway not leaving, that same infuriating smirk on her face.

"You're seriously doing this?" she asked, crossing her arms as she stood before me.

I didn't bother straightening, didn't even look at her fully. "Doing what?" I asked flatly, though I already knew where this was headed.

"This," she said, gesturing around the room. "Telling me to back off in front of the board? Publicly humiliating me?"

I finally looked up, my gaze icy. "You humiliated yourself, Seraphina. You had no business calling that meeting."

She scoffed, her lips curling into a sneer. "I have every right to call a meeting. I'm a shareholder, remember? Or did you forget that little detail?"

"I didn't forget," I replied, my voice sharp. "But I also didn't think you'd stoop this low."

Her eyes flashed with anger, but she covered it quickly. "You think this is low? This is just the beginning, Damien. You can't seriously expect me to stand by while you throw everything away for... her."

My jaw tightened. "Leave Rose out of this."

"Why should I?" she snapped, stepping closer. "Do you even know what people are saying about you? About her? About the company? You're throwing away your reputation-our reputation-for some nobody!"

"She's not a nobody," I said coldly, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

"Oh, please," she sneered. "You think this little act of rebellion is going to last? She's not fit for this life, Damien. She's not fit for you."

I straightened, towering over her as I met her gaze. "You don't get to decide that, Seraphina. You don't get to decide anything about my life."

She laughed bitterly. "Your life? What about the company? What about everything we've built together? You're throwing it all away for a woman you barely know!"

"Get out."

She froze, blinking at me. "What?"

"I said, get out." I repeated, my voice cutting through the air like ice.

"You're fucking doing this?" she asked, her voice rising. "You're seriously telling me to get out?"

"Yes," I said, stepping closer. "Get the fuck out."

Her jaw dropped, and for a moment, she looked genuinely stunned. But then her expression hardened, and she tilted her chin up defiantly. "Fine," she hissed. "But don't come crawling back when she ruins you. Because she will, Damien. She will."