ARIA’S POV
Aria woke the next morning feeling emotionally raw. She’d told Damien she loved him. Had almost confessed everything about her mother, about why she was really here.
And he’d said he loved her back.
Which sohow made everything worse instead of better.
Because love didn’t solve the impossible situation she was in. Love didn’t magically cure her mother or make the lies disappear. If anything, love made the inevitable betrayal even more devastating.
She dragged herself out of bed and prepared for the day, her body still aching from last night’s encounter. The shallow penetration had left her frustrated and desperate in ways that went beyond physical need.
She wanted all of him. Not just his touch or his words or his carefully asured affection. She wanted the commitnt he kept dangling just out of reach. The forever he said would co when she was ready to be honest.
But she couldn’t be honest. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
At breakfast service, Mrs. Chen pulled her aside.
"Sarah, we’re having a guest for lunch today. Mr. Pierce. He’s Mr. Blackwood’s oldest friend."
Aria rembered the na from her research. Julian Pierce...heir to a tech fortune, known for being charming and progressive and the complete opposite of Damien’s intensity.
"Will I be serving?" she asked.
"Yes. And Sarah...." Mrs. Chen’s expression was carefully neutral. "Mr. Pierce can be... very friendly with staff. Particularly attractive young won. Just be professional and don’t encourage any familiarity."
Great. Just what she needed. Another complication.
At noon, a sleek Tesla pulled up to the main entrance. Aria watched from the dining room window as a man erged....tall, blonde, with an easy smile and casual elegance. He looked like he’d walked out of a catalogue for expensive outdoor gear, all effortless charm.
She heard voices in the entrance hall, then Damien and Julian appeared in the dining room.
"...absolutely insane that you haven’t visited the new facility yet," Julian was saying. "The sustainable energy integration alone is worth...." He stopped mid-sentence when he saw Aria setting the table. "Oh. Hello."
"Julian, this is Sarah you guys have t before," Damien said, his voice carefully neutral. "She’s one of our staff. Sarah, this is Julian Pierce, an old friend."
"It’s lovely to et you, Sarah." Julian’s smile was warm, genuine, with none of the calculating assessnt she was used to from Damien’s business associates. He offered his hand for a handshake, which was unusual....most guests didn’t acknowledge staff that way.
She shook it briefly. "Nice to et you, Mr. Pierce."
"Please, call Julian. Mr. Pierce makes sound like my father." His eyes were kind, interested. "How long have you been working here?"
"A few weeks, sir."
"And are you enjoying it? Damien can be quite demanding as an employer, I imagine."
"Julian," Damien’s voice held a warning note.
"What? I’m just making conversation." Julian turned back to Aria with that easy smile. "Ignore him. He gets territorial about everything, including casual workplace chitchat."
Aria couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at her lips. Julian’s energy was so different from Damien’s..light where Damien was dark, open where Damien was controlled.
"I should...I need to bring out the first course," she said, retreating toward the kitchen before the interaction could beco more complicated.
******
DAMIEN’S POV
Damien watched Julian’s eyes follow Sarah as she left the room, and sothing primitive stirred in his chest.
Mine. She’s mine. Don’t look at her like that.
"So," Julian said, settling into his chair with that infuriating casual grace. "New hire? She seems lovely."
"She’s staff," Damien said flatly. "And off-limits."
"Off-limits?" Julian’s eyebrow rose. "That’s an interesting way to phrase it. Usually you say ’not appropriate to discuss’ or ’focus on business.’ Off-limits implies sothing more... personal."
"Drop it, Julian."
"Oh my god." Julian leaned forward, his eyes alight with curiosity and amusent. "You’re sleeping with her. Or wanting to. Or...wait, that look on your face. You’re in love with her."
"I said drop it."
"Damien Blackwood in love with a maid. This is..." Julian shook his head, laughing. "This is the best thing I’ve heard all year. Does she know? Have you told her? What’s your family going to say?"
"My family," Damien said through gritted teeth, "has no say in my personal life. And what’s between Sarah and is none of your concern."
"So there is sothing between you." Julian’s expression shifted from amusent to sothing more serious. "Damien, are you sure this is wise? Given your position, her position..."
"I didn’t ask for your opinion."
"No, but I’m giving it anyway because I’m your friend." Julian’s voice softened. "Just....be careful. Power dynamics in these situations can get complicated. Make sure she’s with you because she wants to be, not because she feels she has to be."
The irony of that statent..given that Sarah was only here because she was planning to steal from him...would have been funny if it wasn’t so tragic.
"She’s here by choice," Damien said. "And I’m well aware of the complications."
Sarah returned with the first course, setting plates in front of them with practiced efficiency. But Damien noticed the slight tremor in her hands, the way she avoided looking at Julian, the tension in her shoulders.
"Thank you, Sarah," Julian said warmly. "This looks delicious. Did you help prepare it?"
"No, sir. Cook handles all the al preparation. I just serve."
"Well, you do it beautifully." Julian’s smile was innocent, friendly, with no ulterior motive that Damien could detect. Which sohow made it worse.
Because Julian was exactly the kind of man Sarah should be with. Kind. Uncomplicated. Free of the darkness and possessiveness that colored everything Damien touched.
The thought made his hands clench beneath the table.
*****
ARIA’S POV
Aria served the rest of the al, hyperaware of the tension radiating from Damien even as Julian kept up an easy stream of conversation. He talked about his latest project.....a sustainable energy initiative in developing countries. He was passionate, articulate, and genuinely seed to care about making the world better.
It was refreshing. And terrifying. Because she found herself liking him, which would only make Damien more territorial.
As she cleared the dessert plates, Julian spoke again.
"Sarah, I have a question. And please feel free to say no if this is inappropriate."
She paused. "Yes, sir?"
"I’m going to be in the area for a few days, and I’d love a recomndation for local restaurants. Sowhere authentic, not the usual high-end places. Do you know anywhere good?"
"I....there’s a small Italian place in town. Marcello’s. Very authentic."
"Perfect." Julian’s smile widened. "Would you be willing to show ? Maybe have dinner with tomorrow evening? I promise it’s completely innocent....just friendly conversation and good food. I’ll have you back by 9 PM."
Aria’s eyes flew to Damien, who looked like he was about to murder soone.
"I don’t think—" she started.
"She’s busy," Damien interrupted, his voice cold. "Sarah has responsibilities here."
"Actually," Julian said mildly, "I was asking her, not you. Sarah, do you have plans tomorrow evening?"
This was dangerous. She could feel Damien’s fury from across the room. But sothing reckless in her...sothing tired of being controlled, of walking on eggshells....made her say:
"I’m off duty at 6 PM tomorrow."
"Excellent!" Julian looked genuinely pleased. "I’ll pick you up at 6:30 then. Damien, you don’t mind if I borrow one of your staff for an evening, do you? I promise to be a perfect gentleman."
"Actually....." Damien started.
"Perfect," Julian interrupted cheerfully. "Sarah, I’m looking forward to it. Thank you for the recomndation."
Aria fled the room before Damien could forbid it outright, her heart racing. What had she just agreed to? And why did part of her want to see what Damien would do about it?
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