Chapter 140 "Textiles"

Chapter 140 "Textiles"
“What?” I breathed, my voice a mix of surprise and disbelief. A small smile slowly turned up at the corner of my lips despite myself. “You had a camera in my office? You were spying on me?”

Damien winced a little, but there was no real regret in his eyes only raw honesty mixed with that possessive glint I had come to know so well.

“It sounds worse when you say it like that. I told myself it was harmless, just to make sure you were okay. But the truth is... I was addicted. I couldn’t stay away from you even when you were right down the hall. You had this light about you, this fire. It pulled me in from the moment I saw you.”

I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head as I looked up at him. The shock was still there, but it was mixed with something warmer now a strange mix of flattery and amusement.

“Damien, that’s... honestly kind of creepy. But also kind of sweet in a very Damien way.” I paused, searching his face. “So all those times I felt like someone was watching me... it was you?”

He nodded, his thumb gently brushing my cheek. “Every single time. And I don’t regret wanting you that much. I just regret not telling you sooner. You were never just an employee to me, tesoro. You were everything I didn’t know I needed.”

I stood on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to his in a slow, lingering kiss. He kissed me back deeply, his hands tightening on my waist as if he never wanted to let go. When we finally pulled apart, I rested my forehead against his, my fingers still playing with the knot of his tie.

“Just promise me you’ll be careful today,” I whispered against his lips. “Come back to me in one piece. No deeper deals with Dominic. We’ve already been through enough.”

“I promise I’ll try,” he murmured, kissing me once more before stepping back to grab his suit jacket. His eyes never left mine as he slipped it on, that same intense gaze that always made my heart race. “I love you, Jasmine. More than anything.”

“I love you too,” I replied softly, watching him finish getting ready. The weight of his confession still hung in the air, but somehow it only made me feel closer to him flaws, obsessions, and all.

~

Damien pulled his sleek black car into the underground parking lot of his towering office building. The engine hummed softly before falling silent as he killed the ignition.

He sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary, his jaw clenched. The weight of the meeting ahead pressed on his chest like a stone. With a heavy sigh, he grabbed his suit jacket from the passenger seat and stepped out.

The cool morning air hit him as he strolled toward the entrance, his polished shoes echoing against the concrete. As soon as he stepped inside the bright, modern lobby, the familiar energy of the office surrounded him. Workers at their desks looked up from their computers and paperwork. A few offered respectful nods and quiet greetings.

"Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."
"Welcome back, sir."

He gave them brief, polite smiles and a nod in return, but his mind was elsewhere. He took the private elevator straight up to the top floor, the numbers climbing steadily. When the doors slid open, his secretary, a sharp and efficient woman in her mid-thirties, looked up from her desk with a professional smile.

"Your cousin arrived a few minutes ago, Mr. Blackwood. He's waiting for you in your office."

Damien nodded, offering her a small thanks. "Appreciate it, Laura."

He walked down the short hallway and pushed open the heavy door to his spacious office. The room was bathed in natural light pouring through the floor-to-ceiling windows. Dominic stood near the glass, his back to the door, hands clasped behind him as he gazed down at the bustling city below.

Everyone appreciated that view. There was something intoxicating about being so high up, watching the city sprawl out like tiny ants beneath your feet. It made you feel untouchable, powerful, in control.

"Dominic," Damien called out, his voice steady but guarded.

Dominic turned around slowly, a faint, knowing smile curving his lips. "Cousin," he acknowledged, his tone smooth and casual as he walked over and took a seat in one of the leather chairs beside Damien’s desk.

Damien settled into his own chair, leaning back slightly. "Let’s get to it, shall we?"

"Of course." Dominic’s smile widened, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. "I am afraid I didn’t come to New York for a social call. I have business"

"I am expecting my next shipment of textiles in three days. And I need you to keep it safe for me until my team is ready to move it to Los Angeles."

Damien stared at him across the desk, his expression carefully neutral even as his stomach tightened. He knew exactly what "textiles" meant cocaine carefully sewn into bolts of fabric. That was Dominic’s clever way of moving drugs across the country. Planes were too risky; everything got searched. The only safe route was by road.

And now there was a new shipment.
"How long do I have to keep it for?" Damien asked, watching his cousin carefully. He wasn’t about to let Dominic leave out any important details.

Dominic hummed thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair. "Hmm… about a week. Make sure nothing happens to my shipment. It will arrive here in three days."

"I’ll message you the moment it arrives," Damien replied, his voice flat.

The room fell quiet. Damien leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk as he thought it over. Finally, he spoke again, his tone firm and final. "Okay. After this, no more favors. I don’t wish to see you again."