Chapter 96
Third person
The boardroom of Sinclair Industries was buzzing with speculation.
A few members were already present in the room, seated around the long mahogany table.
Two board members were at the far end leaned toward each other, their voices low but edged with intrigue.
“Did you hear anything?” one whispered.
“Not a clue. The message just said urgent board meeting at noon. You think it’s about the merger with Apex?”
The other shook his head. “No. Damien's been silent about that for weeks. This feels… different.”
“I wonder what's this about that then?”
Before another word could pass between them, the double doors at the far end opened.
Damien Sinclair stepped in.
His presence alone was enough to cause silence across the whole room.
He was dressed in a sharp black suit that mirrored his authority and he moved with deliberate confidence till he was at the center of the room.
Every gaze followed him as he walked to the head of the table.
He didn’t sit, yet as his sharp gaze scanned all over the room checking if everyone was here.
“If we’re all present,” he began, his voice calm and resonant, “I’d like to announce something, something that'll change the game forever as we know it.”
He let the silence stretch, the anticipation building up in the room.
“Members of my board…. I welcome you all to the future of Sinclair Industries.”
A ripple of confusion spread among the members.
Future?
None of them had been briefed on any upcoming changes, and Damien rarely called meetings unless something monumental was on the line.
He gave a small nod toward the door.
“Allow me to introduce you to the next step in that future.”
The doors opened again, and a pair of heels clicked sharply against the floor.
All the heads turned in the direction.
Bianca, or rather, Lyra Elton… walked into the room with a certain poise and confidence.
She wore an ivory suit that fitted her perfectly, showing her curves in all the right places.
The dress was simple but devastatingly elegant, her dark hair falling loose down her shoulders.
Her reputation preceded her. Lyra Elton, the elusive CEO of Elton Empire… a company that had risen from obscurity to dominance in less than a year.
And now, she was here.
“This is Lyra Elton,” Damien said, his eyes never leaving her. “Founder and CEO of Elton Empire. And as of today, Elton Empire will officially partner with Sinclair Industries.”
For a moment, no one spoke, the tense silence hung in the air for a moment and then, the shock gave way to excitement.
A murmur swept through the room before thunderous applause filled the room. A partnership between two of the most formidable forces in the industry right now… it was unprecedented.
Lyra nodded once in acknowledgment, her lips curving into the faintest smile.
Her eyes flickered briefly toward Damien, her smile widening.
When the applause finally died down, Damien thanked everyone for their attendance and adjourned the meeting.
One by one, the board members filed out, leaving only him and Lyra in the vast space.
He watched her linger near the doorway, speaking briefly with one of his assistants before turning toward him.
“You up for a chat?” she asked softly.
“Yeah. Let's get to my office” Damein said as he he gestured for her to follow.
Inside his office, there was a certain energy there.
The bright and lively city stretched endlessly through the glass walls behind him, but Damien’s attention was fixed on her.
She stood by the window, her posture straight and her chin lifted.
“So…” she said after a long pause, turning to face him. “That went better than expected.”
Damien leaned back against the edge of his desk, keeping his arms folded. “They’d have to be fools not to see the value in what you bring.”
Her eyes softened, only slightly. “You mean what we bring.”
A quiet smile ghosted across his lips. “Fair enough.”
“By the way, what made you think of this idea?”
“When I was out of the city, Elton Empire was growing so well, but to take it to the next level, I knew I needed a partnership with an already renowned company like yours…”
There was a beat of silence, then he asked, “So where do you see us together?”
Lyra froze for a second… not from surprise, but from the weight of his words.
She knew he wasn’t talking about Sinclair Industries or Elton Empire.
He was talking about them.
“I love you,” she said finally, her voice low but steady. “And I know you love me. But I’ve changed.”
He nodded slowly. “I know you have.”
She moved closer, resting her hands on the desk between them. “I’m not the same woman who stumbled into your life begging for help to take out a toxic husband.
And don't get me wrong, I know you’re not like Nathan, but I’m not that Bianca anymore either.”
Damien exhaled, pushing off the desk. “So what are you saying?”
She looked up at him, her dark eyes meeting his without flinching. “I’m saying for now, let’s just keep it casual.”
For a second, he just stared at her. Then, the corner of his mouth lifted into that familiar smirk.
“Casual is fine by me.”
Lyra let out a quiet laugh, breaking the tension. “You always did know how to take what I said and make it sound like a challenge.”
Damien’s smirk deepened. “Maybe because I like a challenge.”
They stood like that for a while, and then they finally shook hands, like two business professionals and nothing more.
A few hours later, the front doors of Damien’s mansion burst open.
The night outside was quiet but their movements were desperate and reckless.
They stumbled through the doorway, tangled in each other’s arms, their kisses and moans echoing off the walls.
Bianca’s dress was half off her shoulder already, but she didn't mind.
Damien’s hand slid up her spine, pulling her closer as he pressed her against the wall. She met his lips halfway, as their lips pressed deeply together.
He broke away just long enough to catch his breath, his forehead resting against hers.
“Remember,” she whispered, her voice breathless, like she was teasing, “all casual, right?”
“Yeah,” he murmured against her mouth, his hands still gripping her waist. “Casual.”
And then he kissed her again, harder this time, lifting her effortlessly into his arms as she wrapped herself around him.
And then, Damien carried her up the staircase, their moans and kisses filling the mansion.