Page 58 of Unmasked

Why? He had no idea. It wasn’t like he was going to call her. What could he possibly say to make things better? Only turning back time could do that. But he had to know that she’d landed safely.

Outside, the sky was vibrant. Below, a festival took place where men dressed as dragons danced along the Southbank boulevard. Their costumes were ruby red, bold and rich. Fierce, like her. His stomach churned in anticipation the way it did every time he thought of Lainey—an uncomfortable mélange of lust, need and regret.

Damian strode onto the balcony and curled his hands around the railing. The area was decorated with a series of fancy potted plants, and he stifled the urge to kick them all over. This itch for destruction would fade...it had to. Because Lainey wasn’t coming back, and he wasn’t going to change his mind about love. No matter what his dick—or his heart—had to say about it.

A knock on the front door startled him. Who the hell was interrupting his pity party? He hadn’t ordered food and had barely eaten a full meal in days. Food wasn’t appealing to him right now. He walked inside and grabbed a T-shirt from the back of the sofa, pulling the thin cotton over his head before yanking the door open.

A greeting stalled in his throat when he saw who it was.

“Long time no see.” Ben still had the same smarmy grin he remembered. Still wore the same obnoxious red-and-black-striped suit that made him look like a wannabe mobster. Still smelled of too-strong cologne and chewing gum.

“Ben,” Damian said flatly. “What the fuck do you want?”

“Is that any way to greet your old mentor?” Ben made a tsk sound. “Where are your manners?”

“You weren’t my mentor.” Damian planted a hand on the door frame, making it clear that Ben would not be invited in. “And you’re not welcome here.”

“Can’t exactly order me off the property since it’s not your property, now can you?” His grin widened. “Living in a hotel room is an interesting choice. I know you paid way over market value to get that apartment from Jenny, and yet you’re here. Interesting.”

He clenched his back teeth, swallowing down the stream of profanity that threatened to erupt. “I’ve got a new place. Just waiting on the sale to go through.”

Lies. But it wasn’t any of Ben’s business.

“Right.” The other man nodded, disbelief painted in his raised eyebrows and cunning smirk. “So, I heard you’ve managed to seduce one of my clients away from me. I would have come sooner, but it took me a few days to track you down.”

Hmm, so clearly Ben hadn’t wanted to show his face at Damian’s office.

“Not one of your clients, Ben. The client.” He tilted his chin.

“No, just one client. You see, when you get to where I am, no one client is that important. It’s the sum of the portfolio, young grasshopper.”

Damian cocked his head. “Your lips are saying one thing, but your eyes are saying something else.”

Ben was livid, as predicted. He was trying to act like it didn’t matter, like Damian’s actions hadn’t bothered him in the slightest. But why was he here if he didn’t care?

“You can have McPartlin & Co. The old man was a prick, anyway.” Ben shrugged, but the gesture was stiff. “I’m curious, though. What did you say to make him leave? Did you tell him all about how I stole your wife out from under your nose?”

Damian watched his former boss for a minute, letting his loathing roll through him. This man had been his friend once. “I did my job, Ben. I presented him with a plan that will help him save a significant amount of money. Something your people should have already done. If your company was running well, he wouldn’t have left.”

“You think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you? The great Damian McKnight, a man of ethics. It’s a load of crap. You’re no different to me.” Ben’s jaw ticked. “I thought you were above stooping to our level.”

“I’m not fucking someone’s wife,” he said, coldly. “Don’t you dare compare me to you. We’re nothing alike.”

“You think the fucking is the important bit?” He shook his head. “It’s the breach of trust that stings most. You know what you’re doing is wrong, but you’re doing it anyway because you’re selfish.”

The word was like a slap across his face. Hadn’t Lainey said the same thing?

“Hey, don’t get me wrong.” Ben held up his hands. “I never thought you had it in you. You do have some balls, despite what Jenny has said.”

His blood boiled, but he would not let Ben see him lose his shit. The days of wearing his emotions on his sleeve were over. He would not be vulnerable in front of this vulture—or anyone like him—ever again.

“Glad to see you and Jenny have been discussing my balls at such length.” He yawned. “Was there a reason you came over, or was it just so we could braid each other’s hair and shoot the breeze? Because I’m not interested.”

“I wanted to hand-deliver this.” He pulled a white envelope out of his jacket pocket and handed it over. The front was embossed with Damian’s name, and two doves decorated the bottom right corner.

A wedding invitation.

“That’s right, we’re finally tying the knot. As you well know, it’ll be Jenny’s second go-around, but there’s nothing wrong with a practise run.” Ben preened like a ridiculous peacock.

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