From Heartbreak to High Society
Chapter 22: Into the Realm of Power

Chapter 22: Into the Realm of Power

I stepped out of the changing room, my cheeks still flushed, and positioned myself in front of Damien. With bated breath, I asked, "What do you think?" I felt exposed, not just physically, but emotionally, in that moment—his opinion mattered more than I cared to admit.

His eyes traveled the length of my body, taking in the dress, before his gaze met mine. "It’s perfect," he said with a hint of a smile. I noticed the approval in his eyes, and my heart skipped a beat.

As he stepped towards me, closing the distance between us, I felt a surge of electricity. Standing so close, I whispered, "You don’t have to pretend you didn’t see anything. I know you did." I couldn’t meet his eyes, my own gaze dropping to the floor, as I admitted this.

Damien placed his hand under my chin and gently lifted my face, his thumb brushing against my cheek. "And how many men have had the privilege of seeing you like that?" he asked, his voice low and gritty, sending shivers down my spine. "Because I can assure you, no one has ever appreciated the view as much as I have."

My cheeks burned even hotter at his words, and I felt a rush of contradictory emotions. I wanted to pull him close and tell him everything I’d been feeling—the confusion, the attraction, the fear of it all being too good to be true. Instead, I teased, keeping things light, "You’re only the second."

I turned away, my pulse still racing, and approached the employees, informing them that I wanted to take this dress. As I did so, I felt Damien’s eyes on me, his smile mysterious, and I knew, without a doubt, that this dance between us was far from over.

As I felt the dress hugging my curves, I realized I didn’t want to take it off; it made me feel confident and beautiful—and it was a far cry from my usual attire of leggings and oversized sweaters.

There’s something about trying on clothes that puts you in an incredibly vulnerable position. I mean, think about it. You’re stripped down to your underwear, often in poorly lit dressing rooms, scrutinizing every inch of your body under harsh lighting. So, when Damien offered to buy this dress for me, I felt... seen.

I quickly gathered my things, feeling a mix of emotions: gratitude, embarrassment, and a spark of something more. My cheeks were still flushed as we made our way towards the exit, and I couldn’t help but follow a few steps behind, stealing glances at him as we walked.

"The pink dress looks beautiful on you," he said with a smile, his eyes reflecting the softness of his words. It wasn’t a comment laced with suggestive intentions or a flirty wink; it was a simple statement of fact, yet it made my heart skip a beat.

I felt a rush of warmth spread across my face, and my hands instinctively flew to my cheeks, hoping to hide the growing blush. "Thank you," I managed to mumble, feeling like my tongue had suddenly swollen to twice its size.

As we reached the car, I realized that my hands were still empty; I had forgotten to bring my purse. "Oh, I left my—" Before I could finish my sentence, Damien was already heading back towards the store.

He returned moments later with my purse, his eyes filled with concern. "I thought you might’ve forgotten this." He handed it to me, his fingers brushing mine, sending a tingling sensation up my arm.

"Thank you," I whispered again, feeling like it was all I could say in that moment.

"No need for thanks," Damien said, holding the car door open for me. I slid into the seat, feeling dazed as we began driving toward the Stone Enterprise office.

The drive to Stone Enterprises was uneventful, giving me time to gather my thoughts. I felt like a sponge, soaking in every detail of this new reality, and as we approached the building, my heart started pounding in my chest. This was it—the place where my future would be decided.

The car pulled up to the entrance, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. The building loomed large, an imposing structure that seemed to reach for the sky. And there, standing at the entrance, were rows of employees, eagerly waiting to greet Damien. I spotted the board members among them—the people who ran this company alongside Damien.

And then it hit me—Madison’s words from the other night came flooding back. "He’s the first person in history to own a hundred percent of the stocks in his company," she said. "He answers to no one."

I didn’t know much about business, but even I understood the weight of her words. Damien Stone was a force to be reckoned with. As the car stopped, the employees on either side of the entrance straightened, their eyes fixed on Damien with a mixture of admiration and respect.

The sun glinted off the glass and steel façade, and I felt like we were approaching a modern castle. This was a powerful man’s domain, and I was about to step into it.

As I stepped out of the car, I felt a thousand eyes on me. I straightened my posture, suddenly self-conscious, and followed Damien out of the car. My palms began to sweat, and I discreetly wiped them on my dress as we approached the sea of faces.

I recognized some of the board members from the wedding, their faces now stoic and focused solely on Damien. This was their leader, the man who had built an empire, and their respect for him was palpable.

Damien stopped at the entrance, and the employees on either side lowered their heads in a silent salute. It was a powerful display of the hierarchy within this company. Damien Stone was at the very top, and these people were here to serve him.

"Miss Thompson, a pleasure to see you again," a familiar voice said. I turned to see Mr. Clark, one of the board members, offering a warm smile. A rush of relief washed over me as I realized I wasn’t completely unknown among these strangers.

As we entered the building, the employees parted, creating a pathway for us. I felt like a tiny fish being swept along in a powerful current. This place exuded power and wealth, and I knew my life was about to change forever.

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