The night was thick and silent over Aridanne. The mansion, illuminated by soft lights, seemed like a sanctuary—but Damian knew better. Outside, shadows moved with intent, and he felt them as keenly as he felt the pulse of his own heart.
Inside, Ariana had just placed her latest painting on the easel, the colors bright against the dim light of the studio. She glanced at the clock—Damian was late tonight. Something small inside her tensed.
Her phone vibrated.
A message:
"Lock the doors. Stay inside. Trust no one tonight. —D."
Her breath caught. Damian rarely sent texts like this.
---
Steel Corporation — Damian's War Room
Damian sat in the private security suite, Mr. Sato at his side. Multiple screens displayed live feeds: mansion grounds, surrounding streets, nearby traffic.
"He's moving tonight," Sato said, voice calm but alert. "The vehicle Lena Hart rented is heading toward the mansion. She's testing the perimeter, but there's intent."
Damian's gaze sharpened. "Intercept. Do not engage unless necessary. I want her stopped before she even reaches the driveway. I don't want a trace of her near Ariana."
"Yes, sir."
Evan, standing nearby, swallowed. "Sir… the news agencies may catch wind of surveillance activity. Should we…?"
"No." Damian's tone was steel. "This is private. No one outside this room, and no one will see her fail. Not publicly."
Sato nodded, fingers flying across his tablet, sending instructions to the ground teams.
---
Mansion — Ariana Alone
Ariana paced the halls nervously, her fingers brushing against the polished railings. She didn't see the cameras, the silent guards in the trees, the men stationed at every potential approach. She only knew the tension Damian's message had left in her chest.
A soft knock startled her.
She turned—nobody.
Her heart raced. Then her phone buzzed again:
"Do not open the door. I'm on my way. Trust the perimeter. —D."
She swallowed, nodding to herself, even though no one could see.
---
The Approach
Outside, Lena Hart's car crept closer to the mansion gates. Her eyes were sharp, lips pressed in a hard line. She thought herself clever, subtle. But Damian Steel had anticipated her move before she even left her office.
A team of discreet, highly trained operatives intercepted her vehicle before it reached the gates. Tires screeched. The car was halted silently, occupants unaware of the invisible wall Damian had erected.
Lena's phone rang. She answered sharply.
"Where are you?!" she demanded into the line.
"You're stopped," Damian's voice came over the encrypted line, calm, deadly. "Do not approach my home again. Ever."
She faltered. "I… I can't—"
"You can't," Damian interrupted. "And if you try, you will not reach her. You will regret the day you tried."
Silence followed. Lena's jaw tightened. For once, she felt powerless.
---
Damian Returns to the Mansion
Moments later, the familiar sound of the mansion doors closing announced Damian's arrival. Ariana's eyes were wide when she saw him, rushing forward instinctively.
He embraced her gently, almost protectively, his scent enveloping her.
"They were close," she whispered.
"They were never close enough," he replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. His eyes, dark and intense, scanned the windows, the doors, the grounds, and finally rested on her. "I will not allow it. Not ever."
Ariana leaned against him, chest rising and falling with his. "I… I'm scared."
"Then stay close to me," he murmured. "No one touches you. No one ever will. I'll burn the world down if I must."
The weight of his promise was palpable. Not just words, but intent. Absolute.
And Ariana, safe in his arms, realized something she hadn't before: Damian's power wasn't just in his business empire, his money, or the fear he commanded. His true power was this—his unwavering ability to protect her, to shield her from anything, anyone, and everything.
Even Lena Hart.
Even the world.