The morning air in Monroe Enterprises felt thick and unusually calm. Despite the stillness, Elara
felt a sense of tension and trouble hidden.
She stepped out of the elevator and into her office. She spotted a sleek black envelope on her
desk and a box neatly placed beside it.
"What's this?" She murmured.
Opening it was an invitation card to a prestigious corporate gala, with Damon's signature on it.
She opened the box beside the card and inside it was a luxurious dress in her size, along with a
note that read:
'Wear this'
Elara's eyes twitched as she slumped into her chair, staring at the items in front of her. The
office felt as though Damon were present even though he wasn't.
"What does he want? Who does he think he is to just do as he pleases?" Elara muttered,
pressing her hand on her head.
"First he acts all "soft" with me, then he gives me a ride home. Then this... it's just too much.
He's giving me mixed signals"
.
Elara felt frustrated. She couldn't wrap her head around what was occuring. But deep down, she
thought of Damon's expression when he sees her in the dress.
She pulled the box closer then pushed it away. She wanted to refuse. She wanted to accept.
She was stuck between it. One part of her wanted to return the box back and question him and
another part, the part she didn't like wanted to obey him.
"Do I really want to do this? Why are you pulling me into your world, Damon"
.
WeShe knew that the decision wasn't a simple one to make. Turning him down would attract
consequences she wasn't ready to face. Accepting it would mean accepting his control.
She took the envelope and stared at it once more.
"What game are you playing, Damon?"
The gown stood before her like a challenge, like a decision she wasn't ready to make but had
to make. Elara realized that she wasn't in control and that realization pierced her deeply.
Later in the evening, Elara stepped into the room, dressed in the luxurious dress that
Damon had instructed her to wear.
The ballroom was dazzling, its chandeliers scattering light like stars in a constellation. Every
corner of the room sparkled with excellence.
As she moved, eyes turned and conversations quieted. It felt as though she had stolen the
attention of the entire room. And at the far end of the hall, Damon stood stunned by Elara's
elegance. Though, he refused to admit.
"Glad you honoured my invite, Miss Monroe"
, he said, walking towards her.
"It's not like I had a choice"
, she said, staring at him.
"Too bad. With me, you don't get to have choices, Elara"
,he said softly with a chuckle.
"I've got
good taste. The dress suits you perfectly"
, he said, looking at her.
"Whatever"
. Elara rolled her eyes. Damon offered Elara his arm, but she ignored it.
"Don't drag me into your ruthless world, Damon"
, she spat.
"But you're already in it"
, he fired back.
In the midst of their discussion, a waiter passed by and Elara reached for a glass of
mocktail.The hand of the waiter lingered on her skin and her stomach tightened. A sudden
feeling of nostalgia hit her.
As soon as the waiter drifted away, she turned and looked at him before facing forward again.
"Is something wrong?" Damon asked, bringing her back to reality.
"I'm... I'm fine"
, Elara stuttered.
"Are you sure?" He pressed on.
"Yeah. I told you so"
.
Together they moved to the corner of the room and sat. Elara took another sip of the mocktails
while staring at the number of prominent people at the gala.
"What's your view of love?" Damon asked suddenly.
Elara was astonished by his sudden question. She never expected the cold commanding
billionaire to ask her that.
"Uhm... excuse me why ask me that question all of a sudden?" She asked, still shocked.
"Is there a problem with it? I just want to know your opinion"
,Damon said plainly.
Elara hesitated, then said.
"Well, to me love should be about giving. But most times people
always take"
.
"Hmm... Understood. Ever been in a relationship?" He asked again.
"Yeah"
"And what made your last relationship fail?"
"Why are you asking me these questions?"
"I don't entertain questions"
.
"Neither do I,
" she shot back.
"Can't you just talk to me without your fiery side? I'm just trying to have a conversation with
you?"
Elara went quiet for a while. She didn't know what Damon was up to, but a dangerous feeling in
her felt like just having a simple conversation with him.
She took a deep breath. Her past flashed before her eyes.
"Well, my ex never saw me as a choice only an option. That's all"
.
Damon studied her for a while.
"You can't hide pain, Elara"
, he said softly.
She placed her glass gently on the table.
"Pain teaches you never to lose guard"
, she said .
"Because the moment you trust someone...
the moment you accept them , they either leave or betray you. Or even both. They leave you
shattered"
.
For the first time, Damon didn't answer quickly. He looked as though he understood, like he
could relate.
"Elara, not everyone leaves, betrays or shatters"
, he said, voice low.
Her heart thundered. She almost believed him.
An unseen shadow moved across the room. The same waiter passed Elara and Damon with
his tray empty.
Elara felt suffocated all of a sudden by waiter's presence.
Later, Damon left her to discuss with some business partners. She found herself alone, sipping
her mocktails. Suddenly, her eyes spotted a small folded card on a tray placed on the table.
Her blood ran cold.
"This wasn't here before. I'm sure of it. Or am I hallucinating?" She wondered.
Her hands shook as she took it. It had no name or title. Just anonymous. She looked around. All
the guests were busy chatting, laughing and sipping champagne. No one had been near
enough to place it there.
Maybe it was an illusion? Maybe she was seeing things. The moment she unfolded the note, it
became real. Two words inscribed on it:
"Game on"