Amara's POV
The next morning, Amara arrived at Knight Tower by 5:45 AM.
Her eyes were tired, her heels pinched, and her brain still hadn't recovered from the tension-filled gala the night before.
But she was here. Ready.
And determined not to let her feelings for Damian-whatever that was-get in the way of her job.
Her desk was already stacked with folders. A fresh schedule. A post-it note scribbled in clean, sharp handwriting:
"New vendor call, 7:15. Acquisitions meeting at 9. CEO briefing: 8:30 sharp. Coffee first."
Coffee first?
Was that... a joke? A hint of humanity?
Before she could smile too much about it, his door opened. Damian stepped out, dressed in dark gray, sleeves rolled slightly, looking devastatingly composed-as usual.
"Inside. Now," he said, already turning.
No good mornings. No awkward mentions of the gala.
Just business.
---
Damian's POV
She walked in silently, tablet in hand, eyes focused. Good. He needed them both focused.
The acquisition report on the desk was urgent-an entire logistics company on the brink of collapse, and Knight Industries was about to swoop in.
But even as he spoke, his eyes kept drifting to her lips.
Had he really leaned in that close last night? Had her breath actually caught like that... or had he imagined it?
He gritted his teeth. He needed to shake this off.
"I need you at the site visit later today," he said abruptly.
Amara blinked. "Me?"
"You're my assistant. You go where I go."
"But I thought only the directors-"
"Change of plans." His tone left no room for argument. "We leave in twenty."
---
Later that Day – Construction Site
The visit was rougher than expected-loud machinery, stubborn site managers, and paperwork disasters.
Amara kept pace, though. Even when her heels sank into mud. Even when one of the site workers made an inappropriate joke that had Damian snapping coldly, "Watch your mouth."
By late afternoon, they stood side by side in a makeshift office, surrounded by blueprints and tension.
"Why bring me?" she asked softly.
Damian didn't answer immediately. Instead, he studied her.
"You need to see how this business works. All of it. The polished boardroom side... and the grit underneath."
Amara nodded, absorbing his words.
Then her phone buzzed.
She glanced down... and froze.
Damian noticed instantly. "What is it?"
Amara's lips parted, voice suddenly shaky.
"I... I don't know how this number got my phone." She showed him the screen.
A message. No name. Just:
"You don't belong with him. Walk away... before it's too late."
Damian's face darkened instantly.
"Give me the phone," he said, voice low and dangerous.
Amara hesitated. "Do you think it's someone from work?"
"I think," Damian said tightly, "that someone just made a very big mistake."
Amara's POV
Her fingers trembled as she handed the phone over to Damian.
He took it without a word, scrolling through the short message again. His jaw clenched tighter with every second.
"You don't belong with him. Walk away... before it's too late."
Amara wrapped her arms around herself instinctively.
"Do you think it's a prank?" she asked, voice barely above a whisper.
Damian didn't answer right away. His eyes were cold now, calculating.
"No one gets your personal number without a reason. Someone's watching you."
That sent a chill down her spine.
"Maybe it's just someone jealous I'm working with you. It could be harmless-"
"It's not," he cut in sharply. "Messages like this are never harmless."
He handed the phone back, then reached for his own.
"Eric," he said into the call, his tone low and clipped. "Find out where this message came from. Trace the number. I want answers in one hour. No excuses."
He ended the call and turned to her.
"From now on, you don't go anywhere without my driver. And if anyone approaches you-anyone-you report it immediately."
The command in his voice made her heart beat faster, though whether it was fear or... something else, she didn't know.
"But... this feels like too much-"
Damian stepped closer, his eyes locking with hers.
"This is not a game, Amara."
She swallowed hard, the intensity in his voice pulling her breath from her lungs.
"I know it's not," she whispered. "But I'm not going to run away just because someone's trying to scare me."
For the first time, his expression softened. A flicker of admiration crossed his face-but just as quickly, it was gone.
"We'll finish the walkthrough later," he said. "You're coming back with me now."
Later That Night – Damian's Penthouse
Amara stared at the skyline through the massive windows of Damian's living room.
She didn't expect him to bring her here. Not his office. Not his driver dropping her off at home.
But his penthouse.
He said it was for her safety. "Just for tonight."
But standing there now, wrapped in one of his soft throw blankets, wearing borrowed clothes that smelled like him...
Amara wasn't sure what was more dangerous-whoever sent that message...
Or the fact that she was getting used to his world.
Used to his voice.
His protectiveness.
His eyes.
She turned as Damian walked into the room, now dressed in black sweatpants and a fitted t-shirt, still somehow looking like a billion dollars.
"We're securing your apartment," he said. "It's not safe until I know who's behind this."
She nodded slowly. "Thank you... for taking me seriously."
"I always take threats seriously." He paused. "Especially when they're directed at someone who works for me."
Her eyes lifted. "Is that all I am, Mr. Knight? Just someone who works for you?"
The silence that followed was thick.
Damian didn't move. Didn't blink.
Then...
Before he could answer-
A loud bang echoed through the penthouse.
Amara jumped.
Damian was already moving, pulling open a drawer and grabbing something metallic.
"Stay here," he ordered, storming out of the room.
Amara's breath caught in her throat. She clutched the blanket tighter.
Was someone in the building? Was this connected to the message?
She stepped toward the hallway... but froze.
Her phone lit up on the table.
Another message.
Unknown Number:
"He can't protect you forever."
Amara stared at the message on her screen.
"He can't protect you forever."
Her hands trembled. She looked toward the hallway where Damian had disappeared moments ago. The muffled sound of him talking to security echoed faintly.
She shouldn't panic.
But something about the timing-right after the loud noise-felt too perfect. Too calculated.
This wasn't a prank.
Whoever sent these messages was watching.
Somehow, they knew where she was.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message.
"He doesn't know what you are, Amara. But I do."
Her heart dropped.
She backed away from the phone slowly, as if it might explode in her hands.
Right then, Damian reappeared in the doorway, his sharp eyes locking instantly onto her face.
"What happened?" he asked, stepping forward quickly. "You look like you saw a ghost."
Amara turned the screen toward him with shaky hands.
He read the newest message.
And for the first time since she'd met him...
Damian Knight looked genuinely afraid.
---