Morning slipped into the mansion with a soft, pale light calm, quiet, the kind of peace Ariana rarely trusted. She had been awake before the staff, sketchpad balanced on her knees, charcoal smudged lightly on her fingers. On the page was the beginning of a portrait: Damian's silhouette, sharp and unmistakable.
A soft knock came before she heard anyone approach.
"Mrs. Steel, breakfast is ready whenever you're ready," Mrs. Rowan said gently from the doorway.
Ariana smiled. "Thank you."
The mansion felt different without Damian. He'd left before sunrise, his side of the bed still warm when she woke. A part of her always felt the shift in the air when he wasn't home quieter, but not necessarily calmer.
She went downstairs, and just as she reached the last step, her phone buzzed.
Damian.
She answered immediately. "Good morning."
"How are you?" His voice was low, controlled the sound of a man who was speaking while scanning documents, reading emails, and issuing silent orders.
"I'm okay. Just finishing some sketches."
"Good." A short pause. She could picture him leaning back in his chair. "Eat."
"I already planned to," she muttered.
A faint breath not quite a laugh, but close. "I'll call later. Stay inside for now."
Before she could ask why, he ended the call.
She frowned but decided not to push. She finished breakfast quietly, then paused an idea forming. Damian hadn't eaten before leaving. He never did when he was rushing.
Maybe… she could surprise him.
That thought alone made her move.
Ariana Arrives at Steel Corporation
By late morning, she was standing inside the enormous lobby of Steel Corporation, clutching a warm, careful bag of food she cooked herself. Workers moved briskly around her, dressed in tailored suits. They glanced at her briefly, confused. She didn't look like an employee, nor like a corporate guest.
The receptionist looked startled pleasantly, but confused.
"Good morning, ma'am. How may I help you?"
Hello, she said to the receptionist. Iam here to see Mr. Steel. Ariana said shyly.
The receptionist blinked, startled. "You… want to see the CEO?"
Ariana nodded timidly.
The receptionist did not recognize
Because while every employee knew their CEO was married, almost no one had seen Mrs. Steel's face. The leaked photo months ago had been taken down too fast, and only the elite had seen her briefly at the gala where Damian revealed his face because of her.
Before the receptionist could ask anything, the private elevator opened and Evan walked out.
He froze mid-step.
"…Mrs. Steel?
The receptionist nearly choked, eyes following them with disbelief.
Ariana waved awkwardly. "Hi."
Evan immediately straightened, relieved and alarmed. You didn't need to come alone. You should have informed me. Come I will take you up."Please, follow me. The boss is in his office with—"
He cut himself off.
She didn't notice.
But she would soon.
The elevator opened into the executive floor sleek, quiet, with the air of authority pressed into every marble panel. Workers glanced up, froze, then stared.
Is that...?"
"She came with Evan."
"Who is she?
Evan ignored them and opened the door to the CEO's office.
Inside Damian's Office , Damian sat behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, eyes sharp.Damian's two closest friends Marcus Hale, CEO of Hale Dynamics, and Dr. Elias Reed, director of Reed Medical Center sat casually on the lounge sofas, drinking coffee, talking and laughing .
They stopped the moment Ariana stepped in.
Damian was at his desk, head bent over a file. He didn't look up right away.
"Evan, I said no interruptions....
His voice died.
His gaze lifted.
And everything in him stilled.
He stood immediately.
"Ariana?
Marcus slowly relaxed into a grin. Elias's eyebrows shot up.
Elias let out a low whistle. "No wonder he's been distracted lately."
Ariana turned red instantly. Damian shot them a warning look sharp, dangerous.
Both men raised their hands in surrender, but neither wiped the amused smirks off their faces
Then he turned slightly.
"I want you to meet two people."
Ariana stood still.
"These are my friends, this is Marcus Hale. And this is Dr. Elias Reed." Damien said simply, the word friends sounding almost foreign coming from him.
Ariana blinked, stunned. Damian never spoke about friends. Not once.
Marcus gave a charming grin. "So this is the woman who finally managed to tame the dragon of Aridanne."
Elias shot Marcus a warning glare. "What he means is it's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Steel."
Ariana flushed slightly, unsure how to respond.
Her heart stuttered. She'd never seen his friends before. She didn't even know he had friends. He never talked about them.
Marcus leaned forward, smirking. "So this is the mysterious Mrs. Steel the world can't get a picture of."
Elias smiled warmly. "It's nice to finally meet you. Damian talks about you more than you think."
Damian shot him a warning look.
Marcus laughed. "We said we'd stay out of your business, but damn, you hid her like state treasure."
Ariana flushed, clutching the lunch bag tighter.
Damian moved to her side, placing his hand on the small of her back possessive, subtle, unmistakable.
"What are you doing here?" he asked softly.
"I… brought you lunch."
Marcus muttered, "He's dead. This man is finished."
Damian glared at him again.
Ariana looked up at her husband. "You left without eating."
For a moment, the room went absolutely still. Damian didn't smile often, but something softened in his eyes — something only she ever saw.
"Come," he said quietly.
He guided her to sit on the couch while his friends exchanged looks full of amusement and interest.
Subtle Jealousy
Marcus leaned forward. "Ariana, if you ever get tired of this cold statue, you can—"
Damian's gaze snapped toward him.
Marcus lifted both hands. "I'm joking. Relax before you kill me."
Ariana giggled despite herself.
Damian's hand remained on her back, thumb brushing once a silent warning to his friend, a silent reassurance to her.
Lunch with Everyone Watching
Ariana unpacked the food.
Marcus' eyes widened. "Is that homemade?"
"She cooked for him?" Elias whispered dramatically. "No wonder he's been less terrifying lately."
Damian shot them both a look that could have silenced a room of generals.
Ariana stared at them, stunned. "He hasn't changed."
Marcus smirked. "Mrs. Steel, with all respect yes, he has."
Damian ignored them and focused only on her. "Thank you for bringing this."
She smiled shyly.
Damian sat beside her, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.
"Eat with me," he said, not as an order — but as something far softer.
His friends exchanged a look.
Damian Steel… soft?
Toward someone?
It was rare enough to be legendary.
And every employee who passed by the glass wall pretended not to stare but they absolutely did. They stared like they were watching a national secret unfold.
Ariana unpacked the food, and Damian's eyes softened in a way none of the men had ever seen before. He tried not to show it, but he failed.
When she handed him chopsticks, Marcus elbowed Elias.
"This is the same man who broke a table because a board member annoyed him," Marcus whispered.
"Can you two leave?" Damian asked coldly.
"No," Elias answered, enjoying himself.
Ariana giggled before she could stop herself. Damian looked at her and his expression softened instantly.
But then it happened.
Ariana served the dishes carefully, placing plates in front of Marcus and Elias after Damian's subtle nod.
Marcus blinked in surprise.
"Mrs. Steel… you cooked this yourself?"
"Yes," she answered softly.
Elias took one bite and immediately leaned back in his chair. "Damian, you've been eating like this every day and you didn't tell us?"
Marcus clicked his tongue. "No wonder you never accept dinner invitations anymore."
They exchanged a look and burst into laughter.
"We're coming to the mansion next time," Marcus declared. "If this is what your wife cooks, I'm moving in."
"Try it," Damian said coolly, sipping his water, "and I'll have security drag you out."
They only laughed harder, praising Ariana's cooking with genuine admiration.
A junior manager passed the glass wall outside the office and stared a little too long at Ariana. He clearly didn't know who she was.
Damian's head snapped toward the window.
One glare.
The man disappeared immediately.
Ariana blinked. "Did you…?"
Damian looked away. "Eat your lunch."
Marcus and Elias burst into quiet laughter.
Damian Shows Her the Company
When his friends left, saying they had to return to their own work, Damian took Ariana's hand.
"You came all the way here," he said. "I'll show you part of the company."
They walked together through several restricted floors — his R&D division, the design wing, a private conference section.
Every employee bowed deeply.
And every single one whispered once they passed:
"So that's Mrs. Steel…"
"She's so beautiful…"
"No wonder he revealed his face that night…"
Ariana was flustered.
Damian was calm — but the way he pulled her closer said he didn't like the stares.
---
Driving Her Home
When they reached the garage, Damian opened the car door for her.
"You could have called me," he murmured once he slid into the driver's seat.
"I wanted to surprise you."
She looked away, embarrassed — until she felt his fingers slip between hers.
"It worked," he said quietly.
The car hummed to life.
And Ariana realized — she didn't just bring him lunch.
She stepped into another layer of his world.
A place where she was not a secret.
A place where she was his.