Her Turn to Play
At Silvano’s mansion, everyone in the household could tell he was delighted by his daughter’s arrival. Although he was still grieving Vladislav’s death and had promised Damien he would pay his last respects, nothing could truly conceal his joy; it was unmistakable.
“Darling, I’m thinking of hosting a welcome-back party for you tomorrow night. What do you think?” Silvano asked Grace as they walked into the dining area, where an abundance of food was spread like a feast.
Grace’s face lit up with excitement. “Yes, Dad. You’ll invite him too, right?”
Silvano’s brows knitted. “Invite who?” he asked.
“Him. What’s his name again? Damien Wolfe. Yeah, Damien Wolfe. I’d love to meet him again, Dad,” Grace said, her eyes gleaming.
Silvano remained silent as he took his seat first, while Grace sat across from him at the table.
Silvano remained silent as he took his seat first, while Grace settled across from him at the table.
“Where is this coming from, sweetheart? Trust me, I owe the man a lot for bringing you back to me safe and sound, and I don’t want to owe him more. He’s not someone to trifle with, and he made his boundaries clear from the start,” Silvano explained gently, hoping his daughter understood his message.
But Grace’s smile didn’t falter. “Come on, Dad. What are you talking about? I just want to see him one last time and thank him, that’s all.”
Silvano studied her for a heartbeat before nodding twice. “Fine then, I’ll invite him.”
Grace squealed in delight, then grabbed her fork and began to dig in.
Meanwhile, at Lila’s place, she lay on top of Damien on the settee, the two of them wrapped in silence as if listening to each other’s heartbeat.
Lila had hoped he would open up, talk about himself, his past, and maybe even mention her mother, but it was clear he wasn’t ready yet, and she understood.
“When’s the trip?” Damien broke the silence, raising a hand to her hair and stroking it gently.
“In three days,” Lila replied, her face still resting against his chest.
“So, have you made any preparations yet? Packed your things?”
Lila sighed softly. “No. I’m no longer interested.”
Damien’s fingers stilled. “Why?”
“You can’t come with me with your injured leg. So just stay here with me,” Lila said, wrapping her arms around him.
Damien smiled, a contented smile, as he continued stroking her hair.
“But you already made plans for it, and trust me, I can manage.”
“No, Damien. I just want to be with you alone.”
Damien’s heartbeat stilled, his eyes snapping open as he asked in a low voice, “What did you just say?”
Lila lifted herself off his body and saw how hard his expression had become, making her swallow nervously.
“I’m sorry. I just thought being alone together would be better,” she explained, her fear evident.
“Just repeat what you said, Lila,” Damien demanded.
Lila’s eyes darted around, afraid to repeat it, thinking it might make him tense up even more.
“I said no, Damien. I just want to be with you alone,” Lila repeated, and Damien’s face broke into a wide grin, the kind Lila had never seen before.
He sat up in an instant, pulling Lila with him and settling her on his thigh.
“Say it again. Say my name again, Lila.”
A slow smile curved Lila’s lips as she shook her head at his boyish behavior. She never imagined that hearing his name from her mouth would affect him like this.
“No, I won’t repeat myself,” Lila said, and his next words stunned her even more.
“Please, Lila. I just love the sound of it in your mouth, and I’ve been dying to hear it for a long time now,” Damien admitted openly, leaving Lila speechless.
It truly came as a surprise to her. Was this really Damien Wolfe?
“Did you just say please?” Lila asked teasingly, her brows lifting.
“Please, Lila. Please, please, please. I’ll say it over and over again if you want. Just say it again, please,” Damien pleaded softly.
Lila stared at him for a moment before softly calling out, “Damien,” a smile curving her lips.
“I can’t hear you. Again, please,” Damien said, leaning closer until his ear was near her mouth.
“D-A-M-I-E-N,” Lila spelled out, and Damien’s smile widened.
“Again.”
“Damien Wolfe!” Lila screamed.
“Again!” Damien shouted back.
“Damien—”
The sudden ringing of Damien’s phone interrupted their playful moment, but he ignored it, still urging her to continue.
“Answer it. It might be important,” Lila encouraged, but Damien didn’t listen.
“Come on, let’s keep going,” he murmured.
Lila laughed, stood up, and picked up the phone, handing it to him.
It was Silvano calling, and Damien’s brows furrowed.
Why is he calling? he wondered before answering.
“Wolfe,” Silvano’s voice came through the line.
“Sir?” Damien replied.
“I’m hosting a party tomorrow night for my daughter, Wolfe, and I want you to be there.”
Damien was silent for a moment before responding, “Okay, sir.”
After a few more words, the call ended.
“You’re coming with me to a party tomorrow,” he announced, and Lila’s eyes lit up.
“Really? What party?” she asked.
“It’s a welcome party. We’ll go shopping tomorrow,” he added, and Lila squealed in delight.
“So, what are we going as?” she asked, raising a brow as she watched Damien lean closer.
“What you’re thinking,” he replied, and just like that, their lips met in a kiss.
“He must not get the slightest idea you’re from me. Remember the kind of man he is,” Yelena warned the man standing before her, her arms crossed over her chest.
“No problem, ma’am.”
Yelena turned toward her desk, grabbed her cigarette box, lit one, and placed it between her lips.
“I did everything to earn his love, but he dared to fall for someone far younger and outside his world,” she said, blinking rapidly as if holding back tears.
“I’m sorry about that, ma’am,” the man murmured, his head bowed.
“How dare you tell me sorry? Do you want to die?” Yelena snapped, her eyes glinting dangerously under the dim light.
The man clamped his mouth shut and nodded quickly in apology.
“Go. And don’t forget you have just one week to get the job done,” Yelena reminded him.
He bowed once more before leaving.
Yelena smirked after he was gone.
“Watch how I take your love from you, Wolfe.”