Page 99 of Sexting the Boss

Then Damien shuts down.

Just like that.

His voice is calm. Unyielding. “I’ve been busy.”

His mother gives him a long look.

Then, just as quickly, her polite smile returns, like she’s used to this answer.

She turns back to me. “I do hope you enjoy the evening, Sasha. It was lovely meeting you.” And then she steps away, gliding back into the crowd with the same effortless grace she walked in with.

I exhale slowly, finally releasing the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

I turn back to Damien, studying him. His expression is back to its usual unreadable coolness, but something lingers in his eyes.

Something complicated.

Something he doesn’t want to talk about.

So I don’t ask.

Instead, I just say, “You okay?”

For a second, I think he won’t answer.

Then, finally, his lips curve into a small, almost bitter smirk.

“She’s a hard woman to please,” he says lightly, but there’s something in his voice that tells me it runs deeper than that.

I don’t push.

“Wow, meeting a parent on the first date? Bit fast, don’t you think?” I joke instead.

His eyes flick to me, and for a second, I wonder if I overstepped.

Then, to my surprise, his lips twitch.

A smirk.

Small, barely there, but it’s enough to tell me I didn’t just completely ruin the moment.

“You think this is a date, printsessa?” His voice is low, amused.

I sip my champagne, tilting my head. “I mean, you dressed me up, brought me to a fancy event, introduced me to your mother…” I pause, tapping my chin. “That’s textbook dating behavior. What’s next? Meeting the family dog?”

Damien actually laughs.

He shakes his head. “If I had a dog, I think he’d like you.”

I raise a brow. “That’s a big assumption. I could be a cat person.”

Damien hums, considering. “No. You’re too chaotic to own a cat.”

“Excuse me?” I gasp, pretending to be offended. “I would make a great cat owner.”

“You can’t even make it to work on time.”

I open my mouth, then close it. Okay, fair point.

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