Chapter 5 5

Becky's POV

The way Damien's entire demeanor shifted at the sight of Victoria sent a sharp prickle of curiosity through Becky. His jaw tensed, grip tightening around his champagne flute, yet his face remained unreadable. Controlled.

Victoria, on the other hand, exuded the confidence of a woman who knew exactly how much power she wielded. Her deep red gown clung to her like a second skin, dark eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to amusement.

Becky straightened her spine. Whatever history these two shared, it wasn't her business-at least not yet. But this was an opportunity to observe Damien in a way she hadn't before.

Victoria's gaze flickered to Becky, lingering for a fraction of a second before she smiled. "A new face."

Damien's voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. "Becky Lynchburg."

Victoria extended a hand, her nails painted the same shade as her dress. "A pleasure."

Becky hesitated only briefly before shaking it. "Likewise."

The grip was firm, just shy of testing. Victoria was assessing her. Measuring her.

Becky held her ground.

Victoria's smirk widened slightly before she turned back to Damien. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I could say the same."

A soft chuckle left Victoria's lips. "You know me, Damien. I'm always where the action is."

Something unspoken passed between them, thickening the air. Becky watched the exchange closely, taking in the way Damien's usual cool confidence seemed more rigid than before.

Victoria shifted her weight, her body language relaxed yet entirely in control. "We should catch up."

Damien's expression didn't waver. "I doubt we have much to say."

"Don't we?" Her smile held a challenge. "Come find me later."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind the faint scent of expensive perfume and unanswered questions.

Becky exhaled, finally breaking the silence. "That was intense."

Damien took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze still fixed on where Victoria had disappeared. "She has a habit of making an entrance."

"You two have history." It wasn't a question.

His jaw flexed before he turned his attention back to Becky. "You're here to observe, not pry."

Annoyance flickered through her, but she forced herself to let it go. Pushing now wouldn't get her anywhere. Instead, she shifted tactics. "She was testing me."

Damien tilted his head slightly. "And?"

"She wanted to see if I'd flinch."

A ghost of a smirk touched his lips. "Did you?"

"No."

"Good."

A strange warmth curled in Becky's chest at his approval, though she quickly tamped it down. She wasn't here for his validation.

The night continued with more introductions, more strategic conversations disguised as casual pleasantries. Becky observed how Damien navigated the room-how a single glance could silence a discussion, how his presence commanded attention without a word.

Power.

That's what this was all about.

And she was beginning to understand just how much of it Damien Lancaster truly wielded.

Damien's POV

Victoria's presence had been unexpected, but Damien should have known better than to assume she wouldn't show up. She had a way of inserting herself into places she had no business being.

His focus should have remained on the investors, on the deals being subtly negotiated throughout the night. But his mind kept circling back to Becky.

She had handled herself well.

Better than expected.

He had watched her absorb every detail, adjust to the atmosphere with a quiet confidence that was rare in someone outside this world.

She was proving to be more than just a journalist with a sharp tongue.

A waiter passed by, offering another tray of drinks. Damien took a glass, but he didn't drink. His mind was already two steps ahead, calculating his next move.

Victoria wouldn't have approached without reason.

Becky's POV

The way Damien's entire demeanor shifted at the sight of Victoria sent a sharp prickle of curiosity through Becky. His jaw tensed, grip tightening around his champagne flute, yet his face remained unreadable. Controlled.

Victoria, on the other hand, exuded the confidence of a woman who knew exactly how much power she wielded. Her deep red gown clung to her like a second skin, dark eyes gleaming with something dangerously close to amusement.

Becky straightened her spine. Whatever history these two shared, it wasn't her business-at least not yet. But this was an opportunity to observe Damien in a way she hadn't before.

Victoria's gaze flickered to Becky, lingering for a fraction of a second before she smiled. "A new face."

Damien's voice was smooth, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. "Becky Lynchburg."

Victoria extended a hand, her nails painted the same shade as her dress. "A pleasure."

Becky hesitated only briefly before shaking it. "Likewise."

The grip was firm, just shy of testing. Victoria was assessing her. Measuring her.

Becky held her ground.

Victoria's smirk widened slightly before she turned back to Damien. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I could say the same."

A soft chuckle left Victoria's lips. "You know me, Damien. I'm always where the action is."

Something unspoken passed between them, thickening the air. Becky watched the exchange closely, taking in the way Damien's usual cool confidence seemed more rigid than before.

Victoria shifted her weight, her body language relaxed yet entirely in control. "We should catch up."

Damien's expression didn't waver. "I doubt we have much to say."

"Don't we?" Her smile held a challenge. "Come find me later."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving behind the faint scent of expensive perfume and unanswered questions.

Becky exhaled, finally breaking the silence. "That was intense."

Damien took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze still fixed on where Victoria had disappeared. "She has a habit of making an entrance."

"You two have history." It wasn't a question.

His jaw flexed before he turned his attention back to Becky. "You're here to observe, not pry."

Annoyance flickered through her, but she forced herself to let it go. Pushing now wouldn't get her anywhere. Instead, she shifted tactics. "She was testing me."

Damien tilted his head slightly. "And?"

"She wanted to see if I'd flinch."

A ghost of a smirk touched his lips. "Did you?"

"No."

"Good."

A strange warmth curled in Becky's chest at his approval, though she quickly tamped it down. She wasn't here for his validation.

The night continued with more introductions, more strategic conversations disguised as casual pleasantries. Becky observed how Damien navigated the room- how a single glance could silence a discussion, how his presence commanded attention without a word.

Power. That's what this was all about.

And she was beginning to understand just how much of it Damien Lancaster truly wielded.

Damien's POV

Victoria's presence had been unexpected, but Damien should have known better than to assume she wouldn't show up. She had a way of inserting herself into places she had no business being.

His focus should have remained on the investors, on the deals being subtly negotiated throughout the night. But his mind kept circling back to Becky. She had handled herself well. Better than expected.

He had watched her absorb every detail, adjust to the atmosphere with a quiet confidence that was rare in someone outside this world.

She was proving to be more than just a journalist with a sharp tongue.

A waiter passed by, offering another tray of drinks. Damien took a glass, but he didn't drink. His mind was already two steps ahead, calculating his next move.

Victoria wouldn't have approached without reason. And Becky- she was getting closer to something she didn't yet understand. A dangerous game was unfolding. And they were both in the middle of it.