Chapter 33

Kayna’s POV

The morning sunlight followed me into the office like it, too, had decided to start fresh. My stride was lighter than it had been in weeks. Maybe it was because Mom’s voice over the phone last night had been filled with more strength than I’d heard in months, or maybe it was because, despite myself, I’d replayed every moment from last night at Damian’s penthouse like it was a scene carved into me.

From the way his voice had softened when he finally let his guard down, to the way his penthouse reflected everything I’d come to notice about him—precise, intentional, and still carrying pieces of loneliness in its sharp edges—it all lingered in my mind. I caught myself smiling at my reflection in the elevator glass before shaking my head.

“Pull yourself together, Kayna,” I whispered, pressing my lips into a thin line as the elevator dinged.

The office floor buzzed in its usual rhythm—Ava typing at lightning speed, two junior staff rushing between printers, and the faint hum of coffee machines trying to keep pace with deadlines.

“Morning, Ava,” I greeted warmly, sliding my bag onto my desk.

“Morning, sunshine.” She looked up with a smirk. “You seem… different.”

I arched a brow, pretending to scroll through my planner. “Different how?”

“Like you actually got sleep. Or…” she leaned forward, lowering her voice mischievously, “like someone finally smiled at you the way you deserve to be smiled at.”

I nearly choked on my own breath, whipping my gaze to her. “Ava.”

She raised both hands innocently. “I didn’t say names. I’m just saying—you’re glowing. Don’t worry, I’ll mind my business.”

I rolled my eyes, though the heat creeping to my cheeks betrayed me. “You should,” I muttered, gathering a stack of files that needed organizing.

Just as I settled into my seat, the air shifted. I didn’t even have to look up to know why. Damian’s presence was like gravity—impossible to ignore.

He walked into the office in his usual composed stride, but his eyes… his eyes sought me out immediately. They lingered longer than they should have, a silent acknowledgment of the night before. My chest tightened, remembering the vulnerable edge to his voice when he’d admitted feeling the weight of everything.

I forced myself to look back down at my desk, though the memory of his gaze pressed at me like a touch. The office seemed to hold its breath in those passing seconds.

“Good morning,” Damian’s voice was smooth, even, carrying a firmness that returned everyone’s attention to their work.

“Morning, Mr. Marshall,” a few voices chimed, including mine—though mine came out softer, almost reluctant.

He disappeared into his office, leaving behind a trail of awareness that clung to me. I was still gathering myself when the elevator chimed again.

This time, the man who stepped out made my breath hitch for an entirely different reason.

Tall, broad-shouldered, carrying a kind of careless confidence that wrapped around him like an expensive coat. His stride mirrored Damian’s but with more ease, less restraint. His hair was just a shade lighter, his jawline strikingly similar, and his eyes—sharp, intelligent, assessing—reminded me so much of Damian that for a moment I thought I was seeing double.

The stranger didn’t pause to look around, didn’t ask for directions. He walked straight toward Damian’s office as though he owned the place.

I stood quickly, intercepting him before he reached the door. “Excuse me, sir. Do you have an appointment?”

His lips curved into a smirk, amused. “Do I need one?”

“That’s… generally how it works here,” I said, trying to keep my tone firm. “Mr. Marshall is in a meeting—”

“Is he?” The man tilted his head, his gaze lingering on me with an unsettling mixture of curiosity and charm. “Funny, I didn’t see anyone walk in with him.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Still—”

“You must be new here ” he interrupted, extending his hand like he’d known me all his life. “My brother must not have informed the staff that I would be rejoining the company.”

“Brother?” I repeated, my hand hovering over his before I slowly shook it.

“Alex Marshall,” he said, his grin widening. “The better-looking one, though I’m sure Damian hasn’t admitted that.”

I froze, my mind stuttering. Alex. The brother Damian never talked about except in sharp, clipped tones. The brother who, according to whispers I’d overheard from Ava and subtle hints from Damian’s mood, wasn’t exactly on his Christmas card list.

Before I could gather myself enough to respond, Alex leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial murmur. “Don’t look so surprised. Families are complicated, aren’t they?”

“I—” I started, only for Damian’s door to swing open.

“Alex.” Damian’s voice was low, controlled, but I caught the flicker of irritation that passed through his eyes.

“Little brother.” Alex’s grin widened as he stepped past me without hesitation. “Miss me?”

Damian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond directly. Instead, he glanced at me, his expression unreadable. “Kayna, could you hold my calls for the next hour?”

“Yes, Mr. Marshall,” I said automatically, though my pulse was racing.

As the door closed behind them, I exhaled shakily, sinking back into my chair. My mind reeled with questions. Alex Marshall was here. And from the tension radiating between them, it was clear this wasn’t a warm family reunion.

Ava walked past me, eyebrows raised. “Who was the Greek god impersonator?”

I lowered my voice. “Alex. Damian’s brother.”

Her jaw dropped. “No way.”

I nodded, staring at the closed office door where muffled voices—low and sharp—trickled through. I couldn’t hear the words, but the tone was unmistakable: two brothers circling old wounds, each one daring the other to bleed first.

The rest of the day passed in fragments. Every so often, I’d glance toward Damian’s office, catching glimpses of movement through the frosted glass, or the rise and fall of voices that slipped out when someone entered or left. My curiosity was relentless, but I forced myself to stay focused on my tasks.

It wasn’t until close to noon that the door finally opened. Alex stepped out first, his expression unreadable, though the glint in his eyes told me he’d enjoyed whatever verbal sparring had taken place inside.

“Pleasure meeting you, Kayna,” he said, pausing at my desk. “I have a feeling we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

I straightened. “Since you’ll be working here?”

His smirk returned. “Something like that.”

Before I could respond, he leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Tell me—how do you manage to put up with Damian’s moods? The man could use someone like you to soften his edges.”

I blinked, caught between offense and discomfort. “I’m his executive assistant. I manage the work, not his moods.”

“Sharp,” Alex said approvingly, giving me one last look before striding toward the elevators.

When the doors closed behind him, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

Moments later, Damian emerged. His expression was impassive, but his eyes—those dark, commanding eyes—sought me out again.

“Everything okay?” I asked carefully.

His gaze lingered, and for a second I thought he might actually answer honestly. But then he simply said, “Reschedule the three o’clock. I’ll be out for the rest of the day.”

“Yes, Mr. Marshall.”

He nodded once, then left without another word.

I stared at the empty space where he’d been, questions swirling in my mind. Alex’s sudden appearance, the tension in Damian’s shoulders, the silence that stretched between the brothers—it all hinted at something deeper. Something I wasn’t sure I wanted to uncover, yet couldn’t stop myself from wanting to.

For the rest of the day, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the world around Damian Marshall had just shifted and I had a front row seat to watch it unfold.