Chapter Fourteen
Smoke & Mirrors
The ballroom shimmered in candlelight and curated perfection, the soft hum of jazz melting into the clink of champagne flutes and murmurs of the elite.
Cassie glided across the marble floor like she was born for the stage, her sapphire gown hugging her form and diamonds glittering like secrets around her neck.
“Cassie, you look radiant.”
“Cassie, tell us about the vow renewal, so elegant!”
“Such a power couple!”
The voices echoed around her, sycophantic and blind. She smiled, gracious and poised, slipping her arm through Damien’s as they posed for photos. Her fingers brushed his cuff, affectionate in public. Calculated in private.
Damien’s jaw was tight. He hadn’t touched his drink. His eyes darted across the room, searching for shadows that refused to stay still. Kelly wasn’t here tonight. But her presence haunted him all the same. Cassie leaned in, lips barely grazing his ear.
“Smile, darling,” she purred. “They’re watching.”
Damien managed something between a grimace and a grin.
Back at their penthouse, silence stretched like a noose. Damien stood by the window, jacket discarded, tie loose. Cassie poured herself a drink and settled on the chaise.
“You didn’t say much tonight,” she said softly.
He didn’t turn around. “Wasn’t in the mood to play house.”
Her eyes gleamed. “You’re always playing something.”
He exhaled. “Cass, don’t—”
She stood and approached, her hand grazing his back. “If you’re going to lie beside me every night and pretend, you could at least lie well.”
His body stiffened. “You think I’m pretending?”
She moved around to face him. “Aren’t you?”
Damien stared at her, jaw tight. Then his phone buzzed. A message from Kelly.
“You owe me a choice. Soon. Or I’ll make one for you.”
He closed the screen, heart pounding.
The next evening, he met Kelly at her penthouse. The lights were dim. The air thick with tension.
“I told you I need more time,” Damien said, voice low.
Kelly wore crimson silk that slipped off one shoulder. She stood by the bar, glass of red wine in hand.
“You’ve had two years,” she replied. “Your time is up.”
“I’m trying to protect everyone—”
“Protecting yourself,” she snapped. “You’re scared. Scared of the fallout. Scared of her strength.”
“She’s my wife.”
Kelly stalked toward him. “And I’m the woman who knows what you sound like when you’re desperate. When you fall apart.”
She pressed her mouth to his. He didn’t kiss her back not at first but anger was a powerful fuel. Their lips collided rough, frantic. No romance. Just friction and fire. Clothes hit the floor. His hands were bruising. Her nails raked down his back.
“Is this what you want?” she hissed.
He slammed her against the wall. “I don’t know what I want.”
But his body did. They moved together like a storm, violent and consuming.
When it was over, Kelly collapsed against him, laughing breathlessly.
“You say you don’t love me,” she whispered, “but your body always begs to differ.”
Damien pulled away, grabbing his shirt. “This isn’t love.”
“Maybe not.” She lit a cigarette. “But it’s real. And sooner or later, the world will know.”
He turned at the door.
“Don’t do anything reckless.”
Kelly’s smile was all teeth.
“Reckless is relative.”