Chapter 65: The bold step.

Chapter 65: The bold step.
Belinda’s POV

The house was unusually quiet, almost too quiet. 

I was sitting on the couch, scrolling through my phone without really seeing anything. 

Anne had left hours ago for a shoot, and for once, I wasn’t in the mood to follow her around. I was bored, like so dead bored and it was irritating.

I yawned and stretched, staring at the ceiling like it might suddenly give me some inspiration and that’s when the idea hit me,it wass crazy, reckless, slightly terrifying and completely irresistible.

I jumped up and stormed to my room, pulling open my closet. 

My hands grabbed my clothes, tossing them on the bed without care…dresses, casual clothes, lingerie… I was packing enough for two weeks….two weeks of freedom

. Two weeks of him.

My phone buzzed, and I barely glanced at it. 

By the time my bag was zipped, I was shaking slightly with adrenaline. 

My reflection in the mirror showed no expression.

No guilt. 

No shame. 

Of course, I wasn’t doing anything wrong. She couldn’t have him anymore. They weren’t together again and Anne had her life. I had mine.

I stepped into the living room, where Anne’s door was closed, I opened it and I found out she was not in, perfect! 

I walked out of the house, switching on my phone to call her and I wasn't going to tell her where I was going, I was just going to say I was going in a business trip.


The drive to Damien’s penthouse was silent, my mind was buzzing with a lot of thoughts. I felt like a thief, sneaking into a world that had once felt forbidden. By the time I reached the sleek black doors of his building, my heart was hammering like a drum of war.

The security guards recognized me, they nodded, and let me in without a word.

The lobby smelled faintly of lavender and leather, and the quiet hum of air conditioning made the place feel alive in its own way.

“Penthouse,” I said with a steady voice, though my hands trembled as I swiped the card.

The elevator doors opened, and the silence of his floor wrapped around me. I walked down the hallway slowly, feeling like every step I took was echoing in my chest. The maids nodded politely as I passed, carrying trays and cleaning supplies, their eyes were flicking at me like they knew secrets I didn’t.

The penthouse was empty. 

Where was he? The thought flickered briefly before I pushed it aside. 

I dumped my bags in the guest room and wandered through the penthouse, letting the cool air brush against my skin.

The high ceilings which looked like polished marble, the soft hum of lights made me feel somehow  snd the thought that soon, he’d be here, was almost too much to handle.

I had barely sat down on the velvet sofa when the front door clicked and my heart skipped a beat.

It was Damien.

He stepped in, dressed in a crisp white shirt and black trousers, his presence filledthe room before he even spoke. 

He looked at me and his eyes narrowed, shock was evident in them for the briefest moment before his usual control returned.

“What are you doing here?” His voice was calm but sharp like a knife.

I smiled faintly, acting unbothered. “I wanted a change of scenery.”

He didn’t move toward me or chase me out. 

He just stared, and the tension between us grew like wildfire.

“You can’t just…show up,” he said finally, Because I had you the last time doesn't mean you can come to my house anyhow.”

Ouch!

“I know,” I said lightly, shrugging, still trying to sound cool,  “But I didn’t come to repeat the last time. I came because… I wanted to.”

His eyes flickered, something dark and unreadable passed over them for some time and then he gestured toward one of the rooms at the jdllway which was visible from the living room. 

“Fine, stay there and don’t touch anything.”

I raised an eyebrow, amused. 

He was so… controlling but unlike Anneliese, I refused to be intimidated.

“I’ll stay out of your way,” I said, letting my voice drop to a soft and teasing tone. “But you might find me… hard to ignore.”

A muscle in his jaw twitched and I could see it. 

The little flinch betrayed him more than words ever could, with a smirkz I stood up and walked towards the room, swaying my hips.

3 hours passed. 

I unpacked my things, making the guest room feel almost like a home. 

The maids brought me tea, fresh towels, and even some snacks. I sipped the tea quietly, pretending that everything was was normal, while my head was about to explode with thoughts and nerves.

Finally, he appeared in the doorway of the guest room. His presence was magnetic, and I felt the air thicken the moment he entered.

“I wasn’t expecting you to be… organized,” he said with a low voice,there was something in his tone that made me pause.

“I like to be prepared,” I said, shrugging again, trying to sound casual. “You never know when you might… need me.”

He studied me for a long moment, his dark eyes were tracing every line of my face and  lingering on my lips. There was a question in his gaze, it was unspoken, dangerous, and I didn’t look away.

“Yo have changed,” he said finally, taking a slow step closer.

“Have I?” I asked.

“Yes,” he murmured. “You’re… different, really hold now.”

I felt my chest tightened, I'm so glad all my effort hadn't go into waste.



He circled me slowly, “You know you shouldn’t be here,” he said. 

His hands were in his pockets, but I could feel the tension in his shoulders, the way his entire body betrayed the calm mask he wore on his face.

“I know,” I said softly. “But you didn’t chase me out.”

A dark laugh escaped him, it sounded almost dangerous. “I didn’t.”

I smirked, feeling bold. “Then maybe I’m welcome?”

His eyes darkened, He didn’t answer immediately. 

Instead, he stepped closer, just close enough that the heat from his body reached me. 

I felt my pulse rise, and I couldn’t hide the shiver that ran through me.

“You’re… reckless,” he said finally. His voice was husky, it was ough with a mixture of irritation and something else I dimt know.

I moved closer, our heads almost touching, I let my gaze meet his. “I didn’t come here to start a war otr anything, I came here because… I wanted to see you. Because I wanted to be close.”

He inhaled sharply and the air between us charged, and I could feel the pulse of him,it was controlled and strong, yet there was a vulnerability beneath it.

“Belinda…Do you know what you are doing?”

“I know exactly what I’m doing,” I said firmly, stepping into the space between us. “And I’m not leaving,nut yet.”

For the first time in hours he looked uncertain. 

His usual confidence shook and his dark eyes kept flicking over me, tracing my face, my body and the way I wasn’t backing down.

Then he shook his head slightly, as if to clear his thoughts. “You… you always find a way to surprise me.”

“I like surprising you,” I admitted.

He laughed then, a short abd sharp sound that made my chest ache. 

It was so deep and intoxicating that the world around me disappeared.

“You’re reckless,” he said again, softer this time. “And… beautiful.”

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. 

This was it, the moment I had been chasing, the moment I had dared to take. And despite the fear, despite the threads of guilt that had once haunted me, I felt free.

“I know,” I whispered, letting the words hang in the charged air.