Elena Russo woke before her alarm, which was unusual.
For a few quiet seconds, she lay still in bed, staring at the ceiling of her apartment. The soft morning light slipped through the tall glass windows of her living room, stretching across the wooden floor like pale ribbons.
Normally she loved mornings.
They were calm. Predictable. Controlled.
Exactly the way she liked her life.
But today her mind was already restless.
Because of one person.
Damon DeLuca.
She groaned softly and rolled onto her side, burying her face in the pillow.
"This is ridiculous," she muttered to herself.
Why was she even thinking about him this early?
He was just a business partner.
An annoying one.
An arrogant one.
A dangerously observant one.
But still—just a business partner.
Elena pushed the blanket away and sat up. Her dark hair fell loosely around her shoulders as she swung her legs off the bed.
Across the room, the skyline stretched beyond the windows of her apartment. Tall buildings, early traffic, and the quiet hum of the city slowly waking up.
Her apartment sat on the twenty-second floor of a modern building downtown. It wasn't flashy like some executive homes, but it was elegant—clean lines, neutral colors, large windows.
Minimal and organized.
Just the way she liked things.
Elena walked into the kitchen and pressed the coffee machine button.
Coffee first.
Then she could deal with the world.
While the machine hummed, she leaned against the counter and scrolled through emails on her phone.
Most of them were routine work messages.
Meeting reminders.
Project updates.
One message caught her attention.
From the board.
Strategy meeting – 9:30 AM. Attendance required: Elena Russo, Damon DeLuca.
Elena sighed.
Of course.
Another meeting with him.
She poured the coffee and took a long sip, hoping caffeine would help her clear her thoughts.
But instead of clearing them—
Her mind replayed yesterday afternoon.
Damon leaning casually against the conference table.
The way his voice lowered when he spoke directly to her.
The way his eyes seemed to notice everything.
Even the things she tried to hide.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
Elena glanced down.
Sofia.
Her best friend.
The message read:
Brunch today. You're not cancelling again.
Elena smiled slightly.
Sofia was dramatic, loud, and incapable of minding her own business—but she was also one of the few people Elena trusted completely.
Another message appeared immediately.
And before you say you're busy… Matteo told us you're free.
Elena groaned.
"Great."
Her fiancé was apparently coordinating her social life now.
Right on cue, her phone rang.
Matteo calling.
She answered.
"Good morning."
"Morning," Matteo replied warmly. "Did I wake you?"
"No. I've been up."
"I figured. You and your early mornings."
Elena leaned against the kitchen counter.
"How's your day looking?" he asked.
"Meetings. Work. The usual."
Matteo hesitated slightly.
"With DeLuca?"
She stiffened.
"Yes."
"I don't trust him."
Elena exhaled slowly.
"You've said that before."
"And I'll keep saying it."
"It's a business arrangement, Matteo."
"That's how things start."
Her patience thinned slightly.
"I can handle him."
"I know you can," Matteo replied quickly. "I just don't like the situation."
Elena took another sip of coffee.
"I have to get ready for work."
"Dinner tonight?" Matteo asked.
"Maybe. Depends how long the meeting runs."
"Alright," he said. "Love you."
She paused briefly.
"…Love you too."
When the call ended, Elena stared at the phone for a moment.
Something about the conversation bothered her.
But she pushed the thought aside.
Work was waiting.
And apparently so was Damon.
By the time Elena arrived at the company building, the lobby was already buzzing with activity.
Employees moved quickly across the polished floor.
Assistants hurried between elevators carrying documents.
Phones rang. Conversations echoed.
Another busy day.
Elena walked toward the executive elevators, nodding politely at a few employees who greeted her.
"Good morning, Ms. Russo."
"Morning."
The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside.
When the doors slid open again on the executive floor, Elena stepped out—
And immediately noticed the unusual atmosphere.
A small group of employees stood near the conference area.
Whispering.
Laughing quietly.
And all of them were looking in the same direction.
Elena followed their gaze.
Then she saw him.
Damon DeLuca stood near the glass wall of the conference room, speaking with two senior executives.
Black suit.
White shirt.
No tie.
One hand rested casually in his pocket while the other held a coffee cup.
He looked completely relaxed.
As if the entire building belonged to him.
Elena immediately noticed something else.
The women around the hallway were staring at him.
Blatantly.
One assistant nearly walked into a desk while watching him.
Elena rolled her eyes internally.
Unbelievable.
She walked past them toward the conference room.
Damon noticed her immediately.
His conversation with the executives paused for half a second.
His dark eyes locked onto hers.
"Elena."
Her name came out calm and smooth.
"DeLuca."
The executives exchanged quick glances before excusing themselves.
Clearly they didn't want to interrupt whatever strange tension existed between them.
Elena placed her tablet on the conference table.
"You're early."
"So are you," Damon replied.
She ignored the faint amusement in his voice.
"We should start reviewing the proposal."
Damon took a slow sip of his coffee.
"You look tired."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You didn't sleep much."
"I slept fine."
A small smirk appeared on his lips.
"Liar."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You have a very strange way of starting business meetings."
"And you're very easy to read."
"I'm not."
Damon set his coffee down.
"You are."
Elena opened the project file quickly.
"Let's focus on the presentation."
Damon sat across from her.
For the next hour they worked through financial reports, strategy documents, and partnership agreements.
Despite how much she hated admitting it—
Damon was incredibly sharp.
Every suggestion he made improved the plan.
Every weakness in the strategy was something he spotted immediately.
At one point Elena leaned across the table to grab a document.
Damon reached for it at the same time.
Their fingers brushed.
Just for a second.
But the contact felt strangely electric.
Elena pulled her hand back immediately.
Damon didn't.
He watched her quietly.
"You're doing it again."
"Doing what?"
"Reacting."
"I did not react."
"You did."
Elena closed the file with a little more force than necessary.
"You're imagining things."
Damon leaned back in his chair.
"Am I?"
"Yes."
He studied her for a moment.
"You're distracted today."
"I'm working."
"You're thinking."
"That's part of working."
"Not the way you're doing it."
Elena stood suddenly.
"I'm getting coffee."
Damon didn't stop her.
But as she reached the door, he spoke again.
"You run away a lot."
She turned slowly.
"I do not run away."
"Every time the conversation becomes interesting, you leave."
"That's because conversations with you rarely lead anywhere productive."
Damon stood.
The movement made the air feel heavier somehow.
"You're curious," he said quietly.
"I'm not."
"You are."
He stepped closer.
Not too close.
But close enough that she could smell his cologne.
Something subtle and expensive.
Her heartbeat quickened slightly.
"I'm curious about one thing," she said sharply.
"What?"
"How someone can be this arrogant."
Damon smiled faintly.
"I'm not arrogant."
"Then what are you?"
"Observant."
Elena crossed her arms.
"And what exactly have you observed?"
Damon held her gaze.
"That you're trying very hard not to look at me."
Her breath caught.
"I'm not—"
"You just did."
Elena immediately looked away.
That only made the smirk on his face grow slightly.
"I have work to do," she said.
Damon didn't argue.
But as she stepped into the hallway, his voice followed her.
"Elena."
She stopped.
Slowly turned.
"Yes?"
Damon's expression was calm.
Confident.
And completely certain.
"You can pretend all you want," he said quietly.
"But sooner or later…"
His eyes held hers.
"You're going to lose that control you're so proud of."
Elena stared at him for a long moment.
Then she walked away.
But the entire way down the hallway—
Her heart refused to slow down.
And that annoyed her more than Damon ever could.