Chapter 43 Breakfast tomorrow, then shopping!
I carried a stack of plates into the dining hall and lined them up exactly as she instructed. The table looked elegant—candles placed just so, cutlery perfectly aligned, glasses shining under the chandelier light.
Darcy stood back with her hands on her hips, nodding in approval.
“You see? Precision is everything,” she said proudly.
I smiled, secretly admiring how much effort she put into everything. She wasn’t messy or careless like me. She cared deeply about the little things—and somehow, that made her even more endearing.
We finished setting up, but Damien still hadn’t arrived.
“Your husband is so tardy,” Darcy scoffed, rolling her eyes. “At least I hope you learned how to make the main dish. It’s his favorite. You could use it to bribe him for things.”
She winked at me.
My cheeks burned instantly.
Did she really not know the truth about Damien and me?
Didn’t she realize that our marriage was temporary? That in four months I would leave this city?
A pang struck my chest as I imagined her reaction when she discovered we weren’t like normal couples. That we didn’t share a real relationship. That everything was… complicated.
Guilt washed over me.
Damien should have told her.
What if she hated me when she found out? What if she felt betrayed?
Before my thoughts could spiral further, the dining hall doors flew open.
Damien strode in.
He wore a crisp white shirt with the first few buttons undone, his black blazer draped casually over his forearm.
The fabric clung shamelessly to his sculpted torso, and heat rushed to my face before I could stop myself.
He looked… devastating.
He stopped when his eyes landed on his mother’s scowling face.
“Ten minutes, Damien. Ten,” she scolded.
“I’m sorry, Ammi,” he said softly, walking over and kissing her cheek.
She immediately melted, blushing like a teenage girl.
I smiled at the sight. For the first time in days, Damien looked lighter—less tense. Maybe last night’s conversation had helped.
“Fine, fine,” she waved him off, then turned to me. “Don’t make your wife jealous now.”
I blushed harder. Being referred to as his wife did things to my heart, things I didn't know if I liked or not
Damien’s eyes met mine for a moment before he moved to the table.
I followed, pulling out my chair—only for a hand to stop it.
I jumped slightly when Damien appeared behind me. His breath brushed against my neck.
“Sit, tesoro,” he murmured.
My body reacted before my mind could. A shiver ran through me.
He pulled the chair out for me, and I sat awkwardly, hands fidgeting in my lap. “Thank you,” I whispered.
Darcy watched us with a knowing smile.
We began to eat.
The first bite of steak exploded with flavor in my mouth.
“Oh my gosh,” I moaned without thinking. “This is so good.”
Both Darcy and Damien stared at me.
Embarrassment rushed through me. “I—sorry.”
Darcy laughed warmly. “Thank you, Jasmine.”
Damien didn’t say anything. He just watched me quietly, picking at his lower lip.
Dinner passed with Darcy leading conversation while Damien stole glances at me.
Afterward, I helped clean up while Damien stayed behind.
“Thank you for dinner, Darcy,” I said, hugging her gently. “And for the tips.”
She beamed. “Breakfast tomorrow? Then shopping!”
Darcy looked at Damien expectantly.
He sighed. “You act like I have a choice.”
“At least appreciate that we asked,” I shrugged.
“You didn’t ask,” he countered with a raised brow, a smile threatening the corner of his lips.
I laughed and walked toward the elevator. “Good night, Darcy!”
The doors began to close.
A hand stopped them.
Damien stepped in.
The elevator felt suddenly too small.
His eyes dropped to my lips.
My heart thundered.
He moved closer.
Heat radiated from his body as he pressed me gently against the wall. His hand found my waist. My breath hitched as his lips brushed my jaw, then my neck.
“If you want me to stop,” he whispered, “say the word.” he whispered into my ear. He trailed kisses back to my lips, his eyes devoured me, the desire in them overflowing. He claimed my lips, making me moan. I wrap my hands around his neck, pulling him closer as the kiss deepened.
The doors slid open suddenly.
Light flooded in.
His thumb brushed my cheek as he pulled back slightly.
Then Ray’s voice broke the moment. “Jess?”
I jumped back, flustered.
Ray stared between us suspiciously.
“I’m fine!” I blurted too loudly.
“Oh… okay,” he said slowly.
After Damien left, Ray turned to me. “You okay?”
“Peachy,” I squeaked, my face the shade of a tomato
He laughed. “I got reassigned. I’ll be working here now.”
I hugged him tightly. “That’s great!”
“Shopping with me and Darcy?”
he scoffed, “Absolutely not.”
I punched his arm. “Oh, shut up.”
And I laughed without fear, something that was becoming more and more common as the days passed.
~
I padded down the stairs with slow, irritated steps, grumbling under my breath as a sharp ache twisted in my lower abdomen.
Of course.
Of course today had to be the day my body decided to wage war against me.
I had figured out earlier why my hormones were acting like they were possessed—I was on my period. I hated those things with a passion.
Every month felt like a cruel reminder that my body enjoyed testing my patience. But this one?
This one was a real piece of work.
Cramps, mood swings, and a headache that sat stubbornly behind my eyes like it had paid rent.
I pressed a hand lightly against my stomach as I reached the elevator and leaned back against the cool metal wall. I wasn’t about to let this ruin Darcy and I’s girls’ day out.
No way.
I had been looking forward to it too much to cancel just because my uterus had decided to become dramatic. As the elevator descended, I fished a bar of chocolate from my pocket and tore it open with my teeth.
I popped a piece into my mouth and sighed as the sweet burst of flavour melted over my tongue. Chocolate always helped. It didn’t fix anything, but it made the suffering feel… justified.