The morning light streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing Damian Voss's mansion in a deceptive golden glow. Evelyn stood at the edge of the balcony attached to her guest room, gripping the cold steel railing as she looked out over the city skyline.
It felt surreal-waking up in the lion's den, knowing the beast himself roamed somewhere nearby.
She hadn't slept much.
The boy's words still circling in her head.
"Then I'll hurt you."
Why would a young man, feel so comfortable making threats like that? What she had tried something, would he really hurt her?
Or was he angry that he had to watch over me?
A knock at the door made her flinch. She exhaled, steeling herself, before turning.
She expected the boy.
Instead, he stood there.
Damian Voss-impeccably dressed, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal the strong lines of his forearms, his eyes unreadable as they swept over her.
"You're awake," he said, voice smooth as ever.
"Observant," she replied dryly.
A flicker of amusement crossed his face before he stepped inside uninvited. His presence filled the room instantly, his scent-a mix of expensive cologne and something darker, something uniquely him-wrapping around her like invisible chains.
"Get dressed," he instructed.
Evelyn raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Today, you start seeing my world. Up close."
She studied him, searching for a hidden motive. "Why? What's the catch?"
"No catch," Damian said smoothly. "You wanted the truth. I'm giving it to you."
Evelyn folded her arms. "And if I say no?"
He tilted his head, lips curving into something almost dangerous. "Then you lose before the game even begins."
A challenge.
Evelyn's pulse quickened. She never backed down from a challenge.
"Fine," she said. "Give me ten minutes, and by the way, if you want to threaten me like last night again, don't send one of your lackeys."
"Anything that you wanna talk about will have to wait for a later to time"
She grunted.
---
The Devil's Playground
Evelyn expected Damian to take her to a corporate office, or maybe a private club where corrupt deals were made over fine cigars and aged whiskey.
She didn't expect this.
The underground casino buzzed with low chatter, laughter, and the unmistakable tension of high-stakes power plays. Hidden beneath a five-star hotel, the place wasn't just a gambling den-it was a kingdom.
Damian's kingdom.
Men in designer suits, women in expensive dresses, and dangerous figures whispered behind closed doors, making deals that could reshape the city.
Evelyn forced herself to stay composed as Damian led her through the chaos like he owned the air itself.
Because, in a way, he did.
"This is where real power is built," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "Not in boardrooms. Not in government offices. Here. In places no law can touch."
She swallowed, forcing herself to focus.
"Is that what you tell yourself?" she asked. "That all of this is just business?"
Damian smirked. "Everything is business."
He moved toward one of the private poker tables, where a group of men were already seated, their faces unreadable behind thick clouds of cigar smoke.
One of them-a man Evelyn recognized from her research as a known arms dealer-looked up at Damian with a tense expression.
"Voss," the man greeted, adjusting his tie. "Didn't know you were playing tonight."
Damian slid into the seat with an effortless grace that made Evelyn's stomach tighten. He gestured toward the chair beside him, silently inviting her to sit.
She hesitated for half a second before accepting.
One of the dealers shuffled the deck. The game began.
Evelyn knew little about high-stakes poker, but what she did know was people.
And what she saw now was fear.
Not in Damian. Never in him.
But in them.
The way they watched him, the way their hands twitched slightly when placing bets-it wasn't about money.
It was about power.
Damian played like he owned the table. Every card, every movement, was calculated, effortless. He spoke in calm, even tones, yet every word carried weight.
Minutes passed. Then an hour.
Finally, the game ended, and one of the men, his face pale, let out a shaky breath.
"That's it for me," he muttered, pushing back his chair.
Damian smirked, collecting his winnings. "Good call."
The man gave him a long look before nodding stiffly and walking away.
Evelyn watched as he disappeared into the crowd before turning to Damian.
"You didn't just win money," she murmured.
Damian's gaze flicked to hers, dark amusement glinting beneath the surface.
"No," he said. "I won him."
---
A Dangerous Offer
Later that night, Evelyn found herself beside Damian on the rooftop of the hotel, the city stretching out below them.
"You manipulate people," she said, watching him carefully. "With money, with fear. You don't even have to threaten them. You just... make them surrender."
Damian took a slow sip of his whiskey, considering her words.
"Power isn't about force, Evelyn," he said. "It's about control."
She exhaled, shaking her head. "And you think this is the truth I came for? Watching you play god?"
He turned to her then, his gaze sharper, more intense than ever.
"You haven't even seen the real game yet," he murmured.
Evelyn's breath hitched.
Because in that moment, she knew-this was only the beginning.
Damian Voss wasn't just showing her his world.
He was pulling her into it.
And the scariest part?
She didn't know if she wanted to escape.