As soon as the break was over, Damon walked out to the hallway outside the executive wing that smells of polished wood and stale power. Damon had only been in Whitmore Group a few hours, but the upper floors always reeked of it. Not just expensive cologne and air filters, but something older, deeper—like every deal ever struck up here had left a trace in the air. He was on his way to the elevators, scrolling through his phone, half-thinking about lunch, when he caught it—a voice. “…you know how this works. Nothing’s free.” It wasn’t loud, but it carried the weight of a male who is used to being listened to. Damon immediately slowed down. The sound came from just ahead, around the corner. He didn’t even realize he’d stopped walking until he found himself listening as he titled his head gently. He moved closer to where the voice came from and finally landed on them A man in a steel-grey suit was standing too close to a young woman. Not touching her—just close enough that she

Graves hadn’t moved since the security officers left. He stood there like a man who’d just signed off on a million-dollar deal and knew it, his gaze locked on Damon. Then the click of heels broke the silence. “Mr. Bennett?” The voice was crisp and impossible to mistake. Both men turned. Miss Whitmore walked in, with her hair neat, navy blazer perfect, her eyes scanning the hallway like someone trained to spot trouble before it even had the chance to breathe. A few female staff followed her, whispering to each other. Graves’ smile warmed, but it was the kind of warmth you switched on like a light. “Miss Whitmore,” he drawled, as if greeting an ally. “Perfect timing.” Vivan slowed her pace, her eyes move between them. Damon was tense with his shoulders tight. Graves was too relaxed, just too pleased to see her, and that set something off in her gut. “What’s going on here?” she asked. Her tone was calm, but there was steel under it. “Nothing serious,” Graves said smoothly. “

Damon sat on the hard bench outside the office. His shoulders hurt because he had been so tense for so long. The hallway was quiet now, too quiet. Not long ago it had been full of voices, whispers, and people shifting from one foot to the other. Now it was just him, staring at the floor tiles. He rubbed his hands together and saw the red marks his fingernails had left in his palms. He hadn’t even noticed he was squeezing that hard until now. His chest felt heavy. Everything that had just happened inside replayed in his head like a movie he couldn’t turn off. Then a voice broke the silence. “Why the long face?” Damon looked up. Vivan was standing in front of him, holding two tall cups of coffee from Buck’s. She looked the same as always—sharp, neat, calm—like nothing could ruffle her. She held one cup out to him. “Here,” she said. “Black coffee. No sugar. You look like you need it.” Damon blinked, surprised. “You got me coffee?” “Of course,” she said, sitting down next to

The car rolled slowly out of the parking lot, Damon’s hands tight on the steering wheel, the woman sat next to him hugging her bag to her chest, as if it was going to be stolen, the air inside the car felt small, like both of them were holding back words, he glanced at her once, then looked away quickly. She was staring at her lap, biting her lip and her hair falling down the side of her face, and Damon’s heart beat a little faster because she looked nervous and shy at the same time. He cleared his throat and said softly, “Are you warm enough?” and she looked up at him quickly, her cheeks turning red, and she nodded, “Yes… thank you,” and then her eyes dropped again, but she kept sneaking little glances at him when she thought he wasn’t looking, and Damon felt it every time. Soon they got to the traffic lights which blinked red and Damon soon stopped the car, his hand resting on the gear, then their eyes met for a second too long, and she gave a small laugh, shaky, like she didn’

“I will pay for it,” Damon said. His voice was low but strong. Catherine’s eyes grew wide. Her eyebrows came close together and her face looked like she could not believe what he said. “You cannot mean that. Damon that is too much. I cannot let you do this.” He shook his head before she could say more. “This is not about what you let me do. This is about saving your mother.” Catherine opened her mouth like she wanted to argue but then her lips trembled and she only looked down and a tear slid down her cheek. Damon stood up and turned toward the receptionist nurse. Damon’s voice came out clear. “I will pay the deposit.” The doctor blinked and raised his eyebrows. “Are you her family?” “No,” Damon said. “But I am the one paying. That is what matters right?” Although, Damon didn’t really have much with him, bht haven seen the panick in Catherine’s eyes, he vowed to himself he must do everything within his power to help her. The doctor’s face changed. He looked less surpris