The Age Between Us

The Age Between Us
Lila’s grip tightened around her glass, her fingers brushing the rim as she forced a smile. Brian’s words had landed sharper than she expected, and heat rose to her cheeks not entirely from embarrassment.

Then her eyes scanned the crowd, searching desperately for Damien, wishing he would appear and silence the smug blond.

But he didn’t.

She took a slow breath, reminding herself to stay composed. She wasn’t a girl to be intimidated, not here, not now. “I’m here for the party, and not for your commentary, Brian,” she said evenly, tilting her chin slightly. Her voice was calm, but there was a harshness she didn’t bother hiding.

Brian chuckled lightly, as if her composure amused him. “I don't mean any harm, Lila. I just want to be your friend.” He leaned a little closer, his gaze lingering too long, and Lila instinctively stepped back, holding her glass like a shield.

Just then, Damien appeared, stepping instantly in front of Lila as if shielding her.

“Any problem?” he asked, his cold eyes locking onto Brian’s, who froze under the intensity.

Brian chuckled nervously, raising his hands in a weak gesture of surrender. “I don’t mean any harm, sir. I like her… and I’d love to be her friend.”

“Did she tell you she was looking for a friend? Or did she not mention who she came with?” Damien’s tone was sharp, each word measured, his inscrutable expression making Brian take a cautious step back.

“No, sir,” Brian replied, chuckling awkwardly. “I was actually asking her that before you arrived. So… are you her dad or uncle?” He raised his brows, trying to mask his unease with a grin.

Damien’s gaze hardened, his jaw tightening as his hands curled into fists.

Brian noticed the shift and instinctively stepped back.

“Get out of here,” Damien ordered, his voice low but laced with warning.

Brian didn’t wait for a second command. He turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Lila let out a small, nervous laugh and opened her mouth to say something, but before she could, Damien clasped her hand and started walking away.

Her confusion grew when he didn’t stop even as they reached the car. He opened the door, practically guiding, no, pushing her inside before circling around to the driver’s side.

Without a word, he started the engine and sped out of the estate, the tires crunching against the gravel. Lila’s pulse quickened as the dark road blurred past them.

“Damien?” she said softly, glancing at him. “What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

He didn’t answer. His jaw clenched tighter, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he drove faster, the tension rolling off him in thick, silent waves.

When they arrived at the villa, Damien parked the car and got out immediately, striding toward the entrance without waiting for Lila.

She sat there for a few seconds, staring after him, completely at a loss. Whatever had triggered his anger was beyond her understanding. With a soft sigh, she finally stepped out and followed him inside.

The moment she entered, the entire mood in the room shifted. The men straightened where they stood, exchanging wary glances. The tension that clung to their boss was enough to make the air heavy.

“What happened, Lila?” Blade asked, his tone low but worried. “Did someone at the party offend him? Was it Grace?”

Lila exhaled and rubbed her arm before answering quietly. “No, it wasn’t her. It was some guy named Brian. He came up to me and started talking, but before I could say much, Damien showed up and…” she trailed off, gesturing slightly, “…you saw how he was when we got back.”

The room fell into thoughtful silence. Then Graves muttered, his jaw tightening, “So this Brian guy’s the reason for the boss’s foul mood. The nerve of that idiot, thinking he could even talk to you.”

“What exactly did the guy say?” Thorne asked.

“He asked if Damien was my dad or uncle,” Lila replied softly. “And then he sent him away without another word.”

A brief silence followed as a look of realization passed between the men. Rex scratched the bridge of his nose, Thorne’s mouth twitched, and Crusher shifted his weight but said nothing.
I
“Can I go to his room and try to talk to him?” Lila asked after a moment, worry creeping into her voice.

Rex shook his head. “No, Lila. He’ll come around soon. You should go to your room and freshen up. Do you want something? Food? A drink?”

She shook her head lightly and began walking up the stairs. Halfway up, she paused and turned back to them. “When will I get the rest of my things, guys?”

“Don’t worry,” Graves replied. “Crusher and I will bring them over tomorrow.”

Lila smiled, nodded once, and continued up the stairs.

Since Damien had returned and made his feelings clear to everyone, he had brought Lila back to the villa, saying he couldn’t stay away from her anymore.

Sighing, the men slowly sat back on the settee except for Blade, who remained standing.

“What are we going to do? I’m sure he’s like that because of what that guy said,” Blade muttered.

Graves rubbed a hand across his face and let out a deep breath.

“That means the boss feels insecure about the age gap between them,” Thorne said thoughtfully.

“Who wouldn’t, Thorne?” Rex cut in. “I’m sure that Brian guy was a young, good-looking lad. How do you expect the boss to feel?”

Meanwhile, in Damien’s room, his right knuckles were bleeding. He had been slamming his hand against the wall over and over, but he couldn’t feel the physical pain. The ache in his chest was far worse, crushing him from the inside.

Are you her dad or uncle?

Brian’s mocking words echoed again and again in his head. Without thinking, Damien struck the wall once more with the same hand, blood smearing across the white surface.

Moments later, he stepped out of his room. His men were still gathered in the living room, silent and tense as if waiting for him.

Graves’s eyes widened first when he saw the blood. He quickly stood and went to grab the first aid box.

“Do you think she’s bothered by it too?” Damien’s voice was low, rough with something that almost sounded like defeat. He walked to the center of the room and sat on the floor, his back against the couch. “Do you think she doesn’t love me enough because I’m twice her age?”

The men exchanged uneasy glances, their faces softening. The sight of their boss, usually so composed and untouchable, now sitting there bleeding and heartbroken made their chests tighten.