Chapter 7 The Price of Desire

The morning after their rooftop encounter, the air between them was charged-unspoken words thickening every room they entered. Selena couldn't help the way her mind drifted to their conversation the night before, Damien's words lingering like the heat of his touch.

"Maybe I want to be yours."

What did that even mean?

She shook her head as she walked into the kitchen, the soft hum of the city below doing little to calm her nerves. She wasn't supposed to care. This was just business. But every time he touched her, looked at her, the lines blurred until she didn't know which way to turn.

Her phone rang, the sharp tone slicing through the thick air. She glanced at the screen. It was her father.

"Hello?"

"Selena," he began, his voice tense. "There's been a leak."

Her heart dropped. "A leak?"

"Pictures of you and Damien Blackthorn-the gala. They're everywhere."

Selena felt her stomach drop. She could already guess the headlines. "I didn't know it was going to be this public."

"Doesn't matter," her father snapped. "They're already calling it a power couple move. They're calling it a scandal."

A scandal.

She closed her eyes, the weight of it all settling on her chest.

She wasn't just Damien Blackthorn's wife now. She was his weapon.

The line went quiet for a moment, and then her father spoke again, his tone lower. "You know what this means, right?"

Selena clenched her fist, the cold bite of realization setting in. "You want me to handle it. Damage control."

"Yes. This needs to be spun before it spirals completely out of control. I want you to meet with the press. Control the narrative."

She looked out the window, the city lights blurring as her thoughts raced. Was this marriage even real? Or was it just a game for both of them?

"I'll handle it," she said, her voice steady despite the storm in her chest.

Later – Press Conference

The press room was packed. Flashbulbs popped like gunshots, the sea of reporters hungry for a soundbite. Selena walked in, Damien at her side, both dressed in black, both wearing the mask they'd perfected. She could feel the weight of the room on her shoulders, could feel their eyes stripping her bare. She adjusted her posture, putting up the shield of cold professionalism she'd learned from years of boardroom meetings and high-stakes negotiations.

But it didn't work as well with Damien standing so close.

His presence was like a drug-dangerous, undeniable. It made everything else fade away, even the flashing cameras and the barrage of questions.

"Mr. Blackthorn, Mrs. Blackthorn!" A reporter called out, eager to pounce. "What's the true nature of your marriage? Is this a business arrangement or is there something more?"

Damien's hand brushed against hers, barely a touch, but it was enough to send a jolt through her.

She met his gaze, her heart racing.

"This is a partnership," Damien said smoothly, his voice cutting through the tension. "A strategic alliance that benefits both parties."

"And does it benefit you emotionally as well?" another reporter pressed, a sharp smile on his face.

Damien didn't flinch. "We're building a life together. That's all anyone needs to know."

Selena's breath hitched. Was he playing this part just as effortlessly as he played her? Or was there something more to it?

Another reporter raised their hand. "Is there any truth to the rumors that your marriage was arranged to settle some old family debt?"

Selena's stomach twisted. She glanced at Damien, her pulse quickening. This was the moment everything could unravel.

But Damien didn't hesitate. "Our marriage is our business," he said. "Any speculation is just that-speculation."

The crowd quieted, the reporters scribbling down every word, hanging on his every movement. And through it all, Selena felt an odd sensation deep in her chest.

It wasn't anger.

It was fear.

Not of the press, but of the truth-the truth that she was falling for the man standing beside her, even as she knew he was using her for his own agenda.

Later – The Ride Back

The drive back to the penthouse was quieter than usual. Selena stared out the window, her mind a thousand miles away. Damien's voice was soft as he broke the silence.

"You did well," he said, his tone unreadable.

"Did I?" she asked, her voice clipped. "I'm just your shield now, aren't I? A distraction to keep the wolves at bay."

"Don't put words in my mouth," he replied, his voice hardening. "You're more than that."

She turned toward him, the words barely escaping her lips before she could stop them. "Then why does it feel like I'm just another pawn in your game?"

The car slowed as they reached the penthouse. Damien's gaze met hers, raw and unguarded. For a moment, she saw something flicker in his eyes-something vulnerable.

But it vanished just as quickly.

"Because you don't see it yet," he said quietly, as the car came to a stop. "But you will. One day, you'll understand."

She stepped out of the car, her mind swirling. The city stretched out before her, an ocean of lights. But she didn't feel the freedom she once did. She felt trapped.

Trapped in a marriage that was more than she bargained for.

And yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't tear herself away from him.