Location: Private Villa – West Tavara
The wind rustled the velvet curtains as Damien stood silently by the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon where the sky kissed the ocean. From a distance, one could mistake him for being at peace. But behind the calm demeanor, a storm brewed—one that no one could see.
Behind him, Nora emerged from the hallway, barefoot, her hair still damp from the bath. "You didn't sleep," she said softly, wrapping a silk robe tighter around herself. Her voice was a quiet invitation—to speak, to trust, to share the weight he refused to put into words.
Damien turned slightly, just enough to meet her gaze. "Too much going on," he said, his voice lower than usual.
Nora walked up and placed a hand on his back. "You're shutting down again. I know that look."
"I'm thinking," he replied. "About Jameson. About TavTech. About the meeting tomorrow with the Li Group. Everything is converging at once."
She stepped beside him, arms crossing. "And about that letter?"
Damien's jaw tensed.
That damned letter. A warning slipped under their front door—untraceable, unsigned, and yet unmistakably precise in its content. A threat cloaked in elegant phrasing, but vicious in implication: "The past you buried is clawing its way back. This time, it won't just knock. It'll burn everything you love."
"I have a feeling it's connected to whoever's been pulling strings in the shadows," Damien finally said. "Every move we've made since the shareholder meeting has been countered. Almost like someone predicted us."
Nora's eyes narrowed. "That sounds like someone with access to your past—someone from inside."
Damien nodded. "Or someone who was left behind when I cut ties."
There was silence for a beat. Then Nora said, "So what do we do now?"
He looked at her, his expression softening as the leader's mask slipped just slightly. "We tighten the circle. Only our core team moves forward. Tomorrow, we meet with Li Group, but we don't share the full scope of the Phoenix Initiative. Not until we're sure."
"I'll call Seraphina," Nora offered. "She can help screen the Li delegation. And Victor's team from Canada is arriving tonight, right?"
Damien exhaled. "Yes. They'll add muscle. But it's not just force we need—it's clarity."
Nora tilted her head. "Are you suspecting betrayal?"
"Not yet," he said. "But I'm preparing for it."
Suddenly, the bedroom door creaked, and little footsteps echoed on the wooden floor.
"Daddy?" a sleepy voice called.
Both turned to find Ava, clutching a plush bunny, rubbing her eyes.
Damien's heart ached at the sight. He knelt. "What are you doing up, baby?"
"I had a bad dream. You and Mommy were gone."
He scooped her into his arms. "We're right here, sweetheart. And we're not going anywhere."
Nora kissed Ava's head, then looked at Damien—her eyes saying what words couldn't. Whatever battle was coming, they would face it together. Not just as lovers or business allies—but as a family.
Outside, lightning cracked silently over the ocean. The storm hadn't reached them yet—but it was coming.