Would You Forgive Me?
“Get the manager,” he said, turning his gaze to the second attendant.
The woman’s face was drained of color immediately and her eyes widened in fear.
“S–Sir, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it,” she stammered, voice trembling. “Please don’t call the manager.”
But the second attendant was already gone.
Damien didn't say anything as he simply slipped his hands into his pockets, his silence heavier than any threat. The woman’s pleas grew more desperate, her voice quivering as she clutched her hands together, nearly sinking to her knees.
Moments later, the man hurried into view, nearly running toward them.
“What seems to be the problem, sir?” he asked politely, slightly out of breath.
Damien’s expression didn’t change. “Either you fire this woman right now,” he said coldly, his jaw tightening, “or I’ll find someone else who can replace you instead.”
“Please, sir,” the woman cried, her voice breaking. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean any harm. Please forgive me.”
The manager froze, clearly caught off guard by the intensity in Damien’s tone. His eyes darted between the sobbing attendant and the man before him.
“What did you do this time?” he muttered under his breath, though the woman only shook her head and wept softly, too terrified to speak.
Just then, the sound of soft footsteps echoed across the boutique.
Lila emerged from the fitting room, the blue satin dress clinging to her in all the right places. Her eyes were bright at first as she’d been ready to tease Damien for making her try on yet another dress but the sight before her stopped her cold.
The air was thick with tension. The attendant who had been assisting her stood trembling, tears streaking down her cheeks while the manager hovered uncertainly nearby, his face pale. And Damien… Damien stood still, composed yet terrifying in his quiet fury.
“What’s going on?” Lila asked cautiously, glancing between them.
No one answered. The attendant only sobbed harder, and the manager looked like he wished he could disappear.
Damien turned his head slightly, his tone smooth. “Nothing you need to worry about, Lila.”
Lila frowned, sensing the steel behind his calm. “What did she do?”
“Are you going to do as I say, or should I do it for you?” Damien asked, his tone dangerously calm.
The manager nodded quickly, panic flashing in his eyes. “I’ll fire her right away, sir,” he said, turning to leave.
“Wait.”
Lila’s voice cut through the tension. The manager stopped mid-step and turned, uncertain.
“What’s going on, sir?” Lila asked, her tone firm but composed. “Why do you want to fire her? She’s been doing her job just fine — so what’s the problem?”
The manager hesitated, glancing nervously at Damien before lowering his gaze.
Lila turned to Damien, noticing the way his jaw tightened, the muscle ticking in silent restraint.
“Let me handle this, Lila,” he said quietly, softening his tone for her alone.
But Lila only smiled, stepping closer until her presence forced him to look at her. “You are not even look at me in the dress,” she teased lightly, her voice playful but laced with intent.
Damien didn’t answer. His gaze remained fixed on the trembling attendant, his silence thick with unspoken authority.
“But, Wolfe,” Lila murmured, her tone coaxing now, “you should learn to give people a second chance.” She tilted her head slightly, her eyes meeting his with quiet challenge. “I don’t know what she did, but… maybe you can forgive her this once, hmm?”
Her words were soft, almost melodic and yet, they held power. She reached up, gently turning his face toward her, forcing his stormy gaze to meet her calm one.
For a long moment, the world seemed to still around them; her warmth against his cold, her quiet plea against his pride.
Finally, Damien exhaled, a long, quiet sigh that sounded almost helpless.
“What you’re turning me into,” he said under his breath, “is exactly why she thought she could speak to me like that.”
Lila’s lips curved into a small smile. “I’m sorry,” she said gently, then added with a playful tilt of her head, “and she’s sorry too. We’re both sorry.”
“Don’t apologize for something you didn’t do,” Damien scolded softly, though his tone had lost its edge.
Lila chuckled, nodding in quiet agreement.
Turning back to the attendant, Damien’s expression hardened once more. “You won’t have this opportunity next time. I promise.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Thank you so much, ma’am,” the attendant stammered, bowing slightly toward Lila, her eyes full of remorse.
“It’s alright,” Lila said kindly, her voice gentle.
The woman nodded again, tears glistening in her eyes as relief washed over her face.
Almost an hour later, all their shopping bags had been loaded into the car. The trunk was packed full, and even the back seat was stacked with boxes and bags.
Now on their way home, Damien was still talking about what had happened at the boutique.
“I would have fired every one of them if not for you,” he said, shaking his head slightly.
Lila grinned. “I’ve always known you’re a kind man. You just won’t admit it.”
Damien shot her a sidelong glance. “I’m only kind for you, Lila. What are you saying?”
She drew out a playful hum. “Then… is it safe to say you’re in love with me?” she asked in a mock-serious tone.
“Yeah, I love you,” Damien replied without hesitation, his gaze steady on the road.
Lila’s breath caught for a second, but she quickly masked it with a teasing smile. “Aw, does that mean you’ll come looking for me whenever I go far away from you?”
Damien glanced at her briefly before focusing on the road again. “You can’t go away from me anymore, Lila,” he said quietly, his voice calm but absolute. “You’re mine and mine alone. And believe me when I say, you’ve been mine since the first time I saw you in my library.”
Lila gasped, the memory flashing vividly in her mind.
“But you didn’t exactly welcome me that night,” she said, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “You literally sent me out of your library.”
Damien sighed softly. “Yeah, I did,” he admitted, his voice low. “I sent you away to save myself.”
He turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting hers. “But it was impossible. I even sent you to the penthouse, thinking it would help me stop thinking about you.”
Lila’s eyes widened. She clapped a hand over her mouth in disbelief. “Really? You’ve loved me all this while?” she stammered.
Damien smiled, the corners of his lips lifting in a rare, vulnerable manner, and simply nodded.
Something in that smile undid her. Tears stung her eyes as she watched him, her chest tightening with emotions she couldn’t quite name.
She bit down on her lower lip, her voice barely above a whisper. “So… would you forgive me if I ever stabbed you one day?”