Page 56 of Knocked-up Bratva Bride
The slides flipped, my fingers steady on the remote. Behind me, Ava chimed in on market growth, and Leo cued up the digital preview. We moved as one, just like we had rehearsed. But inside, I was fraying.
Every time I glanced toward the investors, I forced myself to look past Damien. I couldn’t afford to let my eyes linger on him.
But I felt him.
Watching.
Waiting.
And damn him, he knew it.
The room applauded as I wrapped up, but my smile was taut. I turned away quickly, pretending to shuffle my notes, desperate to hide the tremble in my fingertips.
I had been flawless and professional, but inside, I was shaking. Because no amount of success in this room could shield me from the storm that still churned whenever he stepped into my orbit.
Robert rounded up the meeting, and I joined my team to wait outside, preferably in a corner that was far away from the conference room.
They were so excited, they were talking over one another, reeling from how we’d smashed the presentation. I wish I could feel the happiness they did. Mine was short-lived the second I saw Damien seated at that table.
Robert stepped out of the conference room and approached me after excusing the others. It was the first time I’d seen him genuinely smile in weeks.
“Well done, Elena.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Seriously, that was one hell of a pitch. Even I wasn’t expecting you to pull off that level of finesse.”
I managed a tight smile. My chest was still rising and falling too fast.
Then Robert’s voice lowered, almost conspiratorially. “I know, I’m equally surprised that your best friend’s father reached out to me concerning making a huge investment in Luxe Nest. I guess it’s his way of apologizing for shoving me that night at the party. He really doesn’t look like the type of man who’s good withsorry.
“But that’s not the only reason I came here. He says he wants to talk to you. Privately. He’s in one of the empty offices. The one down the left. Susan’s former office.”
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
“Don’t be nervous,” Robert added, with a chuckle that felt too light for the heaviness in my chest. “I’m pretty sure he was blown away. Just like I was.”
I nodded, the motion automatic, even as my throat tightened around the effort to swallow.
The conference room began to empty, laughter and celebration trailing out into the hallway. My team was already half-convinced we’d secured the deal. And I was convinced that today wasn’t going to be a great day after all.
I waited until the last voice disappeared. Then, I started for Susan’s former office.
I pushed it open.
Damien stood by the window, hands in his pockets, as composed and unreadable as ever. Just looking at him almost got the wind knocked out of me. My legs turned to jelly when he turned slowly, his eyes meeting mine.
“Elena.”
I swallowed hard and shut the door behind me. My voice was stable. My heart was not.
“Damien. I know asking what you’re doing here under the guise of investing will be pointless. So, why don’t we just cut to the chase? Tell me what you want and how I can be of assistance to you, professionally.”
“Under the guise?” Damien scoffed. “There is no ‘under the guise’ where I’m concerned. I am investing. But I did come here to see you.”
I tried to play it cool. “Gee, I wonder why.” But I was failing miserably.
He wasted absolutely no time. “Why have you been avoiding me?”
His voice sliced through the charged silence like a blade, and my fingers tightened around the edge of the folder I didn’t need, the one I’d pretended to organize just to avoid this moment because I could not keep looking at him.
“You’re doing it again.” He stepped closer, and there was that heat again that always simmered whenever he was close. “During the meeting…you couldn’t even look at me. Why?”
