Chapter 13
Two months flew by and thanks to Damian’s militant schedule, I was healthier than I’d been in years. I even put on some weight – not that he was satisfied.
He reached over and pinched my cheek like some fussy grandmother. “Still too skinny.”
I swatted his hand away, rolling my eyes. “I just weighed myself this morning. Forty–nine kilos.”
He scoffed. “You’re five–foot–six Andrea. You could stand to gain more.”
And just like that, he ordered the chef to make me dessert. Again.
That afternoon, we boarded his private jet – because of course Damian couldn’t do anything halfway – and flew straight to his European jewelry design headquarters.
He walked me into a spacious conference room, full of polished executives and design staff and wasted no time introducing me.
“Everyone, meet your new design director
—
Andrea Leighton.”
The room went still for a beat too long. And then I felt it – that sharp, icy gaze zeroing in on me like a sniper scope. My eyes followed it, landing on a tall, statuesqué blonde with loose golden waves, piercing blue eyes and a face you’d expect to see gracing a Vogue cover.
Damian, noticing where my attention landed, made the formal intro. “This is Miss Vasiliev, deputy director of the design department.”
I nodded and held out my hand, polite as ever. She, however, barely even glanced at me before turning away, blatantly ignoring my gesture.
Damian’s brow twitched, clearly annoyed. “Need I remind you that she’s your superior, Katia?” he
warned.
Katia didn’t flinch.
I shot Damian a quick warning glance. This was not the time to fight my battles for me. I wasn’t
–
everyone here knew I was parachuting in from nowhere. Dropping me straight into a leadership role would naturally piss people off. If Damian defended me too aggressively, it would only make things worse.
He understood, thankfully and let it slide. The meeting continued as if nothing had happened.
But I quickly realized Katia’s hostility wasn’t just professional.
After the meeting, she cornered me by the coffee machine.
“So. You’re the girl Damian’s into.”
I blinked, thrown off by her directness. “I’m sorry?”
She gave me a full head–to–toe scan, lips curling into a half–smile. “You’ve got the look, I’ll give you that. I can see why he likes you.”
“You’re in love with him,” I said bluntly.
“I’ve been chasing him for five years,” she admitted. “And for five years, he’s never given me a shot. Always said there was someone else. After seeing you with my own eyes, now I get it.”
She stepped a little closer, lowering her voice but keeping that smug little smile.
“But I’m not a quitter.”
Chapter 13
5:38 pm D
Her words hung in the air like a loaded gun.
“So you cornered me for declaring war?” I asked.
“Exactly.” She smiled sweetly. “Let’s make this fair. The International Design Competition is coming up next month. We both enter. Whoever wins stays. Whoever loses, walks away. Deal?”
–
I was planning on entering that competition anyway it was my chance to prove myself, to earn respect without being seen as Damian’s charity case.
Now she’d just sweetened the pot.
“Deal.” I took her hand.
Her grin widened into something genuine for the first time. “I’m looking forward to it, Andrea.”
That evening, after work, Damian drove me back to my new rented–apartment. When I told him about my little competition with Katia, the mood in the car shifted instantly.
“You better not lose,” he said flatly. But there was tension in his voice he couldn’t hide.
“What, you bet on high on Katia or something?” I teased.
He shook his head. “Just worry that you’ll win… and then bail on the deal.”
I rolled my eyes and let the conversation drop. I wasn’t ready to wade into the emotional mess between us. This competition was about me proving myself professionally, not sorting out whatever complicated feelings Damian might have buried under all his teasing.
Still, Damian hovered like a nervous coach. If he wasn’t breathing down my neck while I sketched, he was texting me for progress updates.
His desire to see me win might as well have been printed on his forehead in bold neon letters.
When the preliminary round came, I submitted my necklace design and secured my place in the finals.
Damian exhaled deeply, his lips curling into that maddening grin of his. “Congratulations. One step closer… to winning me.”
I rolled my eyes so hard I nearly gave myself whiplash.
Chapter 13
