The Master They Underestimated

Chapter 3

Tessa was waiting in the hotel lobby when Beckett arrived with a bouquet of blue roses. Her eyes lit up at the sight of him, and she hurried over with a warm smile.

  “You kept me waiting,” she teased, accepting the flowers.

  “I had something to take care of.” Beckett leaned down and kissed her forehead. “But I'm here now.”

  Tessa smiled as she admired the roses. “These are beautiful. Come on, let's go.”

  “There's something I need to tell you first.” Beckett's expression grew serious. “I ran into Damon outside.”

  The smile on Tessa's face faded. “What happened?”

  “I wanted to make it clear that he needed to respect your decision and stop bothering you. Instead, he turned violent and attacked my bodyguards.”

  Tessa's eyes widened. “Damon did that?”

  “Apparently, he isn't ready to let you go. I wouldn't be surprised if he tried something else, so I think you should be careful.”

  Tessa's expression hardened. She had already ended things with Damon, and she wasn't about to let him interfere with her new relationship.

  “Are you sure he attacked your bodyguards?” she asked.

 “Of course. Do you think I'd make something like that up?”

 Tessa's expression changed. For a moment, she remembered how calmly Damon had accepted their breakup. She had felt guilty enough about leaving him, and the thought that he might have been struggling more than he'd let on made her uncomfortable.

 But she quickly pushed the thought aside.

 Whatever Damon felt about their breakup, she had already made her choice. She wasn't going to let guilt over their past relationship interfere with her future with Beckett.

 “Good. I don't want him causing trouble for us,” she said.

 Beckett nodded and led her toward the exit.

 However, Tessa couldn't completely shake off what she'd heard. She didn't want to believe Damon had attacked Beckett's bodyguards, but she also didn't want him interfering in her new relationship. After a brief hesitation, she pulled out her phone and dialed his number.

 ... “Of course. Do you think I'd make something like that up?”

  Tessa's guilt immediately gave way to irritation. She had already chosen Beckett, and she wasn't about to let Damon interfere with her new relationship. If he couldn't accept that she'd moved on, then he could deal with the consequences.

  “I'm not going to let him interfere with my life,” she declared. “If he tries anything, I'll deal with him.”

  Beckett smiled, pleased with her response. He slipped an arm around her waist and drew her closer.

  “That's what I like to hear. You don't have to worry about him anymore. I'll make sure he stays away from us.”

  Tessa leaned against him, satisfied that Beckett was willing to handle the problem. Damon had been part of her life for three years, but that didn't mean she owed him anything now that their relationship was over.

  “Good. I don't want to hear his name again today. Let's go.”

  Beckett nodded and led her toward the exit.

  Meanwhile, Damon was already seated inside his car when his phone began to ring. Seeing Tessa's name on the screen, he stared at it briefly before looking away. He had nothing left to say to her, and he saw no reason to entertain another conversation about their failed relationship.

  The call ended, but a few seconds later, his phone rang again. Damon rejected it without hesitation. When it rang for the third time, he let out an impatient sigh and finally answered.

  “Damon, what exactly is wrong with you?” Tessa demanded.

  His brows drew together. “What are you talking about?”

  “Beckett told me everything! He said you attacked his bodyguards because you couldn't accept that I've moved on.”

  Damon's expression turned cold. “That's what he told you?”

  “Yes! Is it true?”

  “Believe whatever you want, Tessa.”

  She scoffed at his response. “So you won't even deny it? I knew you wouldn't take the breakup well, but I didn't expect you to behave like this.”

  Damon let out a humorless laugh. “You knew I wouldn't take it well? Is that why you called me three times? To check whether the man you left behind was suffering enough for your liking?”

  “Don't twist my words!”

  “Then tell me what you want.”

  “I want you to stay away from Beckett and me. Our relationship is over, Damon. You need to accept that and stop making trouble for us.”

  His grip tightened around the phone.

  “You're the one who ended our relationship, Tessa. I haven't contacted you since. So tell me, how exactly have I been making trouble for you?”

  She hesitated briefly before snapping, “Beckett wouldn't lie to me about something like this.”

  “Then why are you asking me?”

  Tessa fell silent, irritated by his refusal to explain himself.

  “I'm giving you a chance to tell your side of the story, and you're wasting it!”

  Damon's expression grew colder. “No, Tessa. You've already decided what to believe. You didn't call to hear my side. You called because you wanted me to admit to something your new boyfriend accused me of doing.”

  “That's ridiculous!”

  “Is it? You left me for him, and now you expect me to sit here and explain myself whenever he tells you something you don't like.”

  “Damon, I—”

  “Don't call me again.”

  He ended the call before she could respond.

  Tessa stared at her phone, her face twisting with anger.

  “Unbelievable! He actually thinks he can talk to me like that?”

  Beckett glanced at her. “What happened?”

  “He refused to explain himself. Instead, he accused me of taking your side.”

  Beckett shook his head sympathetically. “I'm sorry, Tessa. I was hoping he'd come to his senses, but it seems he's determined to make things difficult.”

  “Let him try.” She slipped her phone into her handbag. “I'm done with him. Whatever happens from now on is his problem.”

  Beckett smiled and kissed her forehead.

  “That's my girl. Now, let's enjoy our day.”

  Tessa took his hand, and the two left the hotel together. She had no intention of wasting another minute thinking about Damon.

  Meanwhile, Damon's car pulled up in front of St. Raphael's Hospital, the most prestigious private hospital in the city. His driver, Marcus, stepped out and opened the door.

  “Mr. Cahallan, we've arrived.”

  Damon stepped out and straightened his suit.

  “Have someone look into Beckett Sloane. I want to know everything about him.”

  “Understood, sir.”

  Damon nodded and headed inside. He had spent years keeping a low profile, but that didn't mean he would allow someone to provoke him without consequences. If Beckett wanted to make himself an enemy, Damon was willing to show him what that decision would cost.

  Inside the doctors' changing room, Damon changed into his white coat. He was adjusting the collar when his colleague, Dr. Kevin Morris, approached with a mocking grin.

  “Well, well. I heard Tessa dumped you. Is it true?”

  Damon glanced at him. “Do you need something?”

  “Can't I ask a simple question? Everyone knows how much you did for that woman, yet she still chose Beckett Sloane. That must hurt.”

  Damon ignored him and reached for his stethoscope.

  Kevin's grin widened. “What's the matter? Can't handle the truth? You spent three years with her, and another man came along and took her away. I'd be embarrassed too.”

  Damon turned to face him.

  “Are you finished?”

  Kevin's smile faltered, but he quickly recovered.

  “Don't act so superior. Without Tessa, you're just another ordinary doctor here. You should learn to be humble.”

  Damon gave him a cold look. “If you have nothing useful to say, get out of my way.”

  Kevin's face reddened with anger. He opened his mouth to respond, but a commotion erupted in the hallway before he could utter another word.

  Several men in black suits rushed into the hospital, ordering patients and visitors to move aside. Their aggressive shouts echoed through the corridor as they pushed forward with an urgency that immediately caught everyone's attention.

  “Move! Make way!”

  “We need the best doctor in this hospital!”

  “Our employer is in critical condition!”

  Nurses hurried to assist as the men brought in an unconscious middle-aged man. His face was pale, and his breathing was dangerously weak. One of the nurses checked his condition before urgently calling for a stretcher.

  “Get him to the emergency room immediately!”