Chapter 2

Damian Blackwood was furious.

Of course he was. His custom drone cost a fortune.

Jessica was arrested.

Sued for a sum that made my stomach churn, even knowing we wouldn't pay.

But when we heard from a reluctant public defender, Jessica was... ecstatic.

"He's testing me!" she'd apparently gushed. "It's just like in 'Billionaire's Captive Heart'! He wants to see if I'm strong enough for him!"

The delusion was staggering.

She was released pending charges, a cloud of debt and potential jail time hanging over her.

She called, expecting a bailout.

"Mom, Dad, you need to pay this. It's part of his plan for us."

"No, Jessica," Mom said, her voice surprisingly firm. "We told you. You made this mess, you fix it."

Jessica screamed, a torrent of abuse and accusations.

We hung up.

She didn't get it. She truly believed this was some elaborate courtship ritual.

Convinced she could charm Damian, she stormed his Blackwood Innovations headquarters.

Kevin, a former colleague of hers from a disastrous internship, later told me the details.

She' d tried to push past security, shouting Damian's name, claiming they had an "understanding."

Security was not amused.

They dragged her out, kicking and screaming.

In her struggle, she apparently pulled a fire alarm.

The building's sprinklers went off, drenching her and a good portion of the lobby.

She was hauled away by police again, this time for trespassing and causing a public disturbance.

Her internship, the one she barely tolerated, fired her via a curt email before she even made bail – which, again, we didn't provide.

She was on her own, soaked, humiliated, and deeper in trouble.

But in her mind, she was probably the "feisty heroine" overcoming obstacles.

The thought made me sick.