Mia, my best friend texted as I rode the elevator to the 99th floor: "Lila, are you okay?"
I didn't answer.
The elevator ride felt endless. Damian's voice from last night haunted me:
"You'll regret that."
My body still ached. Not just from him fμ¢k!ng me senseless in that bathroom, but from the mess he left behind. I wanted to hate him, but part of me still craved his touch, his voice, the way he made me feel.
God, I was screwed.
The elevator dinged, and I stepped out.
"Lila, you can't–" the secretary started, but I walked right past her.
"I need to see him," I said, sharp and loud.
I shoved the office door open. Damian sat at his desk. A few executives turned; their eyes shifted between me and him. But Damian didn't even flinch.
"Get the fμck out," he said calmly. "Didn't I make it clear last night? You don't work here anymore. Your services are no longer needed."
I laughed, but it was bitter. "My services? You mean the ones that helped build this company? The ones you fμ¢ked me for right on that desk?"
The executives gasped, but I didn't care. I was done playing nice.
"You think you can just toss me out like trash after using me?"
Damian stood up slowly, like he had all the time in the world. "Using you? You think you're that special? You're not, Lila. You were never anything to me or this company."
My chest tightened.
"Did you really just say that to me?" I stepped closer. My voice was shaking, but it was loud. "I worked my ass off for you, Damian. I gave you everything... my time, my body, my fμ¢king heart! And now you're calling me nothing?"
He laughed, a sound that made my skin crawl. "Heart? Don't kid yourself. You were a good fμ¢k, Lila. That's it. The sooner you get that, the better."
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to hit him. To claw that smirk off his face.
"You're a fμ¢king asshole! But guess what? I got an offer from Wesley Kane. Yeah, your rival. And I'm taking it."
His eyes darkened, and his jaw twitched. "Wesley Kane?" He stepped around his desk and closed the distance between us. "You think you can run to that prick? Work for him? Spread your legs for him too?"
"Fμ¢k you!" I snapped. "Maybe I will. Wesley is hot. He's not a cold, controlling bastard like you. Maybe he's exactly what I need."
Damian moved fast; he grabbed my arm and slammed me into the wall. The executives gasped again, but he didn't care. His body pressed against mine, hot and hard.
"You better watch your damn mouth, Lila," he growled. "You go near Wesley, and I'll ruin both of you. I swear it."
My body reacted... it was still weak for him, even now.
"Ruin me?" I said, glaring up at him. Our faces were inches apart. "You already did, Damian. You broke us. You broke me, you goddamn scum!"
His grip tightened. Something flashed in his eyes... maybe regret, but it was gone in a second, replaced by that cold, hard stare.
"You don't know what breaking is," he said. His voice was low, almost a whisper. "But you will if you keep this shit up."
I pushed at his chest, but he didn't budge. "Let go of me! You don't own me."
He leaned in closer. His lips brushed my ear, and I shivered.
"You'll always be mine, Lila," he whispered. "Don't fμ¢king forget that."
I froze. I was torn between slapping him and pulling him closer.
"Fμ¢k you," I whispered, yanking my arm free. "I'm done with you."
He stepped back, still watching me like he owned me. "We'll see about that."
I turned and walked out. The suits whispered behind me. I didn't care. My body was shaking and my mind was spinning, but my hand went to my belly.
His words echoed again: "You'll always be mine."
---
The elevator doors opened, and as I stepped out, my phone buzzed with another text from Mia: "Call me. Now."
I ignored it.
I could still feel Damian; his touch, his breath, his words. I didn't know what I was going to do. Take Wesley's offer, fight for my baby, or just run.
Then, my phone buzzed again. It was a new message, but it wasn't from Mia. From an unknown number.
"Don't even think about Wesley. Remember that, Lila."
My blood ran cold. I stared at the message, my heart was pounding.
"What the hell...?" I whispered. "Seriously, who the fμ¢k is this? This isn't funny anymore."
I looked around, but I couldn't find anything or anyone suspicious.
---
End of chapter 4
---
Author's Note:
The public shaming, Damian's cold cruelty... this chapter is a gut-wrenching turn for Lila. She's not just heartbroken; she's humiliated and angry. But that final text message from the unknown number is a whole new layer of trouble. Who do you think is watching her? And why are they so interested in her and Wesley? Drop your theories below!
Thanks for reading!