DAMIEN'S POV - 3:28 PM
''But he wasn't waiting that long.''
Damien picked up his phone, his hand steady despite the storm of emotions raging inside him. He scrolled to her contact...not the office extension, but her personal cell....and pressed call.
It rang once. Twice.
"Hello?" Her voice was cautious, guarded.
"Come to my office." His voice was softer than usual, lacking the commanding edge she was used to. "Please."
There was a pause. "Damien...."
"Not the main office. The lounge. Just....please. Come talk to me."
Another pause, longer this time. He could almost hear her thinking, weighing, deciding.
"Okay," she finally whispered. "I'm coming."
The line went dead.
Damien stood, straightened his tie, and walked into his private lounge....the small room attached to his office. It had a couch, a small refrigerator, a private bathroom. A place for him to decompress between meetings or change clothes before evening events.
