Damien Ross: Wrath of the Warlord Chairman

08: Invisible Warlord Chairman

"I have to admit," Sheraton said with a soft laugh, "Watching Eric Chester fly across the hall while you beat him blue black was the highlight of my evening."

Damien shook his head and smiled. "You make it sound worse than it was."

"Worse?" Sheraton giggled. "The poor man lost half his teeth."

Before Damien could reply, a knock sounded on the office door.

Three gentle knocks.

Sheraton straightened immediately. "Come in."

The door opened, and the Goddess stepped into the room.

For a brief moment, loud silence filled the office. This was the first time the three of them stood together in the same room.

The woman who built NewYork Oil Gold. The brilliant COO who kept the conglomerate running. And the legendary Martial Fortress.

The Goddess looked at Damien and smiled warmly.

"My son."

Sheraton instantly rose from her seat. "Godmother."

The Goddess nodded and walked over. Her eyes moved between Damien and Sheraton.

For the first time in many years, she felt something she had almost forgotten.

Peace.

Two of the people she trusted most were standing before her.

"Looks like I interrupted something important," she teased.

Sheraton smiled. "Not at all."

The Goddess sat down beside Damien. "You handled tonight well."

Damien shrugged. "I only did what was right."

"And broke Eric Chester's mouth in the process." She reminded him.

Sheraton burst into laughter.

Damien rubbed his forehead.

"I think everyone in Oakland knows about that already."

"They will know by morning," The Goddess replied.

For the first time since Damien left prison, he found himself surrounded by people who genuinely respected him.

After a short silence, Sheraton's expression became serious.

"Martial Fortress, there is something I have wanted to tell you for a very long time."

Damien maintained contact with her. The Goddess also turned her attention toward her goddaughter.

Sheraton took a deep breath. "Eight years ago, my father was kidnapped in Buckingham."

The moment she mentioned the city, a memory surfaced inside Damien's sharp mind.

A flash of a certain warehouse that was smoked with gunfire, a desperate rescue mission, and terrified civilians.

Sheraton nodded. "My father was one of the survivors."

The office went quiet.

"That mission?" Damien asked.

"Yes." Sheraton swallowed hard. "The kidnappers sent videos every day. Three hostages were executed on live television."

Her voice trembled. "My family had already lost hope."

The Goddess watched silently. She had heard parts of the story before, but never all of it.

Sheraton continued. "Everyone believed the remaining hostages would die."

Her eyes slowly met Damien's.

"Then a team of soldiers stormed the building."

With full details, Damien fully remembered the operation. It had been one of the most dangerous missions of his military career.

"The man leading the rescue team was Lieutenant Damien Ross."

A complicated emotion appeared in her eyes. "My father came home because of you."

Damien sat quietly.

For him, it had been another mission. For her family, it had changed everything.

"My father never forgot your name," Sheraton said softly. "Neither did I."

The Goddess smiled faintly. She finally understood why Sheraton had worked so hard to find Damien. It was never simply because he was her lost son; there was already a debt of gratitude connecting them long before that discovery.

Sheraton lowered her head respectfully. "My family owes you more than we can ever repay."

Damien shook his head. "I was a soldier. Saving people was my duty."

"Maybe." Sheraton smiled gently. "But you still saved my father."

Before Damien could respond, another knock sounded.

The office door opened.

A young man in a black suit entered. He looked to be in his mid-twenties. The moment his eyes fell on Damien, excitement flashed across his face.

Without hesitation, he walked forward, and then he dropped to one knee.

"Martial Fortress."

Everyone went silent afterwards.

Damien blinked.

The young man lowered his head in respectful submission.

"My name is Kane Miguel."

Sheraton smiled. "My younger brother."

Kane nodded immediately.

"I was one of the investigators assigned to find you a year ago when the Goddess found out her son was alive all along."

Damien raised an eyebrow. "You were?"

"Yes." Kane's voice carried genuine admiration. "Seven investigators were hired."

He smiled. "I was lucky enough to find the answers first."

The Goddess watched with interest.

Kane continued. "The more I learned about you, the more respect I gained."

His eyes burned with sincerity. "You fought for Oakland. You protected innocent people and survived seven years in prison without breaking."

Then he lowered his head again.

"Martial Fortress, if you will allow it, I want to follow you."

Damien stared at him for several seconds. The young man's respect felt genuine.

Finally, Damien smiled. "Stand up, Kane. You don't need to kneel.”

Kane immediately obeyed as a soft grin spread across his face. Damien found himself liking the young man.

Something told him this would not be their last conversation.

Sheraton watched Damien without saying a word. The more she learned about him, the more she understood why her godmother never stopped searching for him.

He had every reason to become a different person after seven years in prison, but he remained focused on his goals.

The Goddess noticed the soft look in Sheraton's eyes whenever she stared at Damien. A faint smile crossed her face, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

Damien leaned back in his chair.

"Now let's talk about the company."

Both women gave him their full attention.

"I've made my decision."

Sheraton sat up. "I'm listening."

"I won't become the public face of NewYork Oil Gold."

Sheraton’s eyes narrowed. "Huh? The public chairman?"

Damien nodded.

The Goddess frowned slightly. He had hinted at that earlier, but she thought he'd change his mind after meeting Sheraton.

Sheraton couldn't help but ask. “Why?”

Damien smiled. "Because Laura, James Smith, Chloe, Lady Mariam Ocean, and almost everyone in Oakland believe Damien Ross is a broken man, a convicted rapist, who lost everything."

"They think I'm finished."

He looked at the two women. "I want them to keep believing that."

Understanding slowly appeared on their faces.

Damien continued, gaining their attention.

"If I suddenly become the man leading the biggest conglomerate in Oakland, every eye will turn toward me."

"My enemies will hide. The people who framed me will destroy every piece of evidence before I can reach them."

There was a moment of silence for them to take in what Damien had just spilled.

The Goddess slowly nodded. "Go on, son."

"I want to stay invisible." He turned toward Sheraton.

"Officially, I'll become your bodyguard."

Sheraton's eyes widened. "My bodyguard?"

"Yes. Everyone already knows you're the COO. They'll easily think you're making every decision. They'll believe every success belongs to you."

"But behind the scenes.” A small smile appeared on Damien's face.

"I'll be the one planning every move, the brain behind the real decisions and successes."

Sheraton stared at him, then smiled in comprehension.

"Interesting, more like the Warlord Chairman: a shield in public, and a commander in secret."

Damien nodded. "Exactly."

The Goddess laughed softly.

"My son, this has to be one of the most brilliant ideas I've stumbled upon. Absolutely brilliant!"

She looked proudly at Damien.

"The battlefield made you a great soldier. But life has made you even wiser."

Damien smiled faintly.

"This plan protects more than just me. Including you all and NewYork Oil Gold Conglomerate."

The Goddess nodded with satisfaction. "I like this plan." She smiled.

"They stole seven years from my son. Now they'll surely feel his wrath."

Sheraton stood up and smiled.

"I'll make the arrangements. Starting today, Damien Ross is officially my personal bodyguard."

The Goddess suddenly stopped smiling. Her face slowly became serious as she looked at her son.

There was one question that had been beating inside her heart ever since she learned the truth.

She drew in a slow breath. "Son."

Damien looked at her.

She held her breath and asked.

“Who really framed you for rape?”