Chapter 21 The Check and the Kiss
POV Scarlett:
“I—I need to… work,” I stammered, hating the way my voice betrayed me.
It had been so long since a man had flirted so blatantly with me that I didn’t even know how to react. Pathetic—that’s what I was.
“Your cheeks are red,” he murmured, moving closer—his mouth just inches from mine. “I just can’t tell if it’s from anger… or shyness.” His gaze dropped to my lips. “I’d love it if it were from shyness.”
His lips brushed mine—so lightly that I almost convinced myself I’d imagined it. Our eyes locked, everything else fading away. My breathing quickened, my mouth dry. Instinctively, I wet my lips with my tongue—and Damian’s eyes lit up like fire.
I wanted those arrogant lips crushing mine—and that realization pissed me off. Infuriated me, actually.
“You—you can’t…”
“I can do anything I want,” he said arrogantly, each word brushing his lips against mine. “And I’d bet you want it just as much.” His tongue flicked across his lower lip, grazing mine. “Tell me—what did you do with the check?”
What check? I wanted to ask.
Instead, I blurted, “And the blonde?”
“Madison?” Just the name made me irrationally irritated, though I didn’t want to think about why. “She’s a friend—and the daughter of a partner.” He laughed, which only annoyed me more. “Jealous?”
“Are you delusional?” I shot back, forcing myself to step away from his gaze. “I thought she was your girlfriend.” I looked away.
“I don’t do relationships. And if I did, I wouldn’t be the cheating type.”
I waved my hand dismissively. “I need to work.”
I turned away, but his question stopped me dead in my tracks.
“Just answer me—what did you do with the check?”
I spun around to face him, and whatever he saw in my expression made him take a few cautious steps back.
Smart man.
“What check? What the fuck are you talking about?” I snapped, loud enough that a few customers looked over curiously.
“You really don’t seem to know,” he muttered, rubbing his chin. Then his expression shifted—suddenly serious—as he looked past me.
“Everything okay here, Scarlett?”
I jumped at Tyler’s voice behind me.
“Need any help?” he asked.
I turned to him and smiled. “Everything’s fine. The gentleman here was just leaving.”
Then I looked back at Damian, my eyes full of challenge.
“Am I right, sir?”
He looked at me with the kind of gaze that screamed he wanted to kill me. I didn’t look away—I met the deep blue of his eyes head-on, refusing to back down. I’m not the kind of woman who backs down. Damian smiled. I frowned, unsure of what he was planning next.
“All right, sweetheart, I’m going, but I’ll be waiting for you outside.”
My mouth fell open, shocked by his audacity. Without waiting for a response, he stepped closer, cupped the back of my neck, and pulled my face toward his. “I’m not leaving without my answer.”
My eyes widened when his mouth pressed against mine.
Then he let go of me and walked out of the diner, leaving me frozen in place—wide-eyed, mouth open, completely stunned.
What the hell is wrong with that man?
And what’s wrong with my heart that started racing the moment I felt his lips on mine? Maybe it’s better if I never find out the answers.
(...)
POV Damian:
Three weeks earlier
I’ve just gotten back from the airport. Ethan’s flight took off, and I still can’t believe my brother actually agreed to take over the Chicago branch for a year. We’ll miss him at the company—and at home—but his move is crucial for our business. I couldn’t be prouder of him.
I parked in my usual spot, and inevitably, my thoughts went to her. The insolent one. It’s been four days, and she hasn’t shown up—not once—to confront me about the check I sent her. She didn’t even deposit it. Every day I call my manager to make sure.
Why hasn’t she contacted me?
Why hasn’t she deposited the check?
It’s a one-million-dollar check, for fuck’s sake!
When I filled out the check for that absurd amount, it wasn’t out of generosity—it was for the pleasure of seeing her march into my office, cursing every word that came out of her beautiful, defiant mouth. But it never happened. And then a strange thought hit me: what if she’d deposited the check and kept the money? I couldn’t exactly complain—it was my choice to give it to her.
Still, as the days passed and my account balance remained perfectly untouched, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. She intrigued me.
I hurried toward the elevator, not wanting Amanda to bother me first thing in the morning. Just as the doors were closing, I saw her rushing toward me and, against my better judgment, held them open.
“Sir, I left the résumés of the possible candidates for your and Mr. Liam’s secretary positions on your desk,” she said. I nodded, ready to let the doors close, but she spoke again. “But if you gentlemen are in a hurry, I could volunteer to help.”
Not a fucking chance.
“That won’t be necessary. Thank you.”
The elevator doors slid shut, and I rubbed my forehead. That’s what I get for screwing an employee.
When I reached my floor, I walked briskly to my office. I needed to talk to Liam about a few matters, but first I planned to call my manager to see if the check had been deposited. If it had, I’d finally stop thinking about that woman.
In the end, all women only ever want my money. She wouldn’t be any different—or so I told myself. Still, I couldn’t help smirking at the thought that she might have stormed into my office and made me eat that damn check.
Better to forget the whole thing. If she cashed it, I hope she enjoys spending my money.
I don’t care anymore.
...
One week later
These past few days, I’ve buried myself in work, hoping it would help me get that woman out of my head. It hasn’t.
Why the hell hasn’t she deposited the damn check yet? What’s she waiting for? Christ, this is driving me insane.
To ease my growing madness, I decided to tell Liam what I’d done. Judging by the look of disbelief on his face, that might’ve been a mistake.
“You what?!” he shouted, eyes wide.
“It’s not that big of a deal. I just wanted to prove that if a thousand dollars meant nothing to her, then a million means nothing to me,” I said, shrugging.
“Damian, you gave a one-million-dollar check to a woman you hate,” he said, still staring at me like I’d lost my mind.
“Hate is a strong word. She just… irritates me. But that’s not the point.”
“That doesn’t make it any less insane. A million dollars.” He whistled. “You want to fuck her, don’t you?”
“No! Of course not!” I snapped, a little too quickly. Liam, knowing me far too well, raised his eyebrows in mock disbelief.
“Sure. You lie, and I’ll pretend to believe you.”
I lowered my gaze to my laptop screen to check my bank balance—and once again felt the sting of frustration when I saw nothing had changed.
Who wouldn’t want a million dollars?
What woman wouldn’t take it from a man?
Fuck. And she didn’t even have to sleep with me to earn it.