Elena barely slept that night. Damian Blackthorne's words replayed in her mind like a broken record, fueling both anger and fear. She knew Blackthorne Enterprises had the power to crush her small firm, but she refused to surrender.
The next morning, she was buried in paperwork when her secretary, Linda, rushed into her office. "Elena, there's someone here to see you."
Before she could respond, Damian himself strode in, impeccably dressed in another sharp suit. He didn't bother asking permission; he simply filled the space with his presence.
"What are you doing here?" Elena demanded, rising from her desk.
"Giving you one last chance," Damian replied coolly, placing a sealed folder on her desk. "Sign the merger agreement, and I'll make sure your employees keep their jobs. Refuse, and…" He let the threat hang in the air like a storm cloud.
Elena snatched up the folder and flipped through it. The terms were brutal. "You'd strip me of everything," she said, voice trembling.
"It's generous," Damian said, unflinching. "Most people would kill for this opportunity."
She slammed the folder shut. "I'm not most people," she snapped.
For the first time, a flicker of something—amusement? admiration?—touched Damian's cold gaze. "You're stubborn," he said softly, stepping closer.
"Determined," she corrected, though her pulse quickened as he closed the distance between them.
He leaned down, his voice a low whisper. "Determination won't save you, Ms. Vargas. Think about what you stand to lose."
Elena swallowed hard, fighting the shiver that ran through her. "I already have," she said, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her. "Now get out."
Damian straightened, a shadow of a smile curving his lips. "Very well," he said, turning to leave. "But don't say I didn't warn you."
As the door closed behind him, Elena sagged against her desk. She knew he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. But neither would she.