Only The Beginning

“Oh shit. Oh shit.” Chloe staggered as she pushed open the gate to Damien’s penthouse, her heels clicking unsteadily against the floor. Her chest rose and fell quickly, each breath sharp. Her fingers trembled as she clutched her purse tighter.

Last night was a mistake. A dangerous, reckless, toe-curling mistake.

Her body still ached from his touch.

Hell, how was that even possible? His voice lingered like smoke in her ears, low and commanding. The heat of his skin, the weight of him between her thighs. it was all still there, burned into her memory.

She squeezed her eyes shut, forcing herself to breathe. She shouldn’t be thinking about him. But she was.

Her phone buzzed in her purse, cutting through her thoughts. She muttered a curse as she searched for it, her screen lighting up with a name she didn’t want to see.

Sienna.

“Great,” she hissed, swiping the answer button.

“WHAT?” she snapped into the speaker, her voice sharp.

“Where are you?” Sienna’s voice was calm. Too calm, it made Chloe’s blood boil.

“You know you’re supposed to be here by now.”

Chloe blinked, trying to understand what she was saying. “Here? What are you talking about?”

Sienna sighed. “At Dad’s, Chloe. The meeting? You promised.”

Her stomach dropped.

The meeting.

Dread rose in her chest. She’d forgotten it along with everything else, under last night’s alcohol and sex. She’d been so wrapped up in anger, betrayal…that man. That she forgot the one thing she swore she wouldn’t.

Her father's eyes flashed in her mind, furious disappointed.

“I’ll be there soon,” she said tightly.

“Good. And do me a favour, try not to look like a wreck. I can hear it in your voice.”

The words hit their stone. Chloe’s fingers curled around her phone.

“Screw you,” she growled, ending the call before Sienna could say another word.

Of course her sister could pretend like nothing happened. Like she hadn’t stabbed her in the back. Like she hadn’t destroyed everything.

She exhaled sharply and flagged down a cab, sinking into the backseat, tired. The moment the door shut behind her, she leaned her head against the window, trying to steady her breath. But all she could do was think of last night’s events.

She bit the inside of her cheek and shut her eyes. “It was a mistake,” she told herself again. “Just one night. It meant nothing.”

The drive to Bennett Manor passed in a haze. By the time the car pulled up to the grand estate, Chloe woke only when the driver cleared his throat. She paid him quickly and stepped out, after she stormed out last night she didn’t think she’d be back her so quickly.

She barely had time to gather herself when a voice called out across the courtyard.

“There you are.”

Chloe’s shoulders tensed. Sienna.

She turned, slowly, her eyes locking on her sister, her perfectly styled red hair, her calm expression. Sienna offered a smile that tried far too hard to look natural.

Chloe’s eyes narrowed. “Spare me the fake pleasantries, Sienna.”

The smile crooked, only slightly. “Chloe—”

“Let’s not pretend we have anything to say to each other. I’m here for Dad.”

There was a flicker of hurt on Sienna’s face, but Chloe didn’t care enough to stop walking. She passed her like she was nothing more than a stranger on the street.

The weight of the house pressed on her as she moved through the hallway. Her footsteps slowed when she reached the long mirror facing the entrance to the main hall. One glance, and her stomach dropped.

She looked like hell.

Her hair was tousled, makeup smudged beneath her eyes, her skirt wrinkled from the night before. She ran her hands through her hair, smoothing it down with quick fingers. Her reflection didn’t lie, she was falling apart.

Out of instinct, she leaned forward and caught a sniff of herself. Her throat squeezed in disgust.

The scent of alcohol clung to her skin. Smoke lingered in her blouse. And beneath it all, there it was. His cologne. His sheets. His breath on her skin. Her lips tightened.

How was she supposed to face herself like this?

Worse, how was she supposed to face her father?

________

The double doors to the study loomed ahead, and Chloe hesitated for a moment before pushing them open.

Her father stood near the tall windows, his back straight, his arms clasped behind him. He turned at the sound of the door, his expression already twisted in impatience.

“Well,” he said, his voice sharp as steel, “look who finally decided to show up.”

Chloe shut the door quietly behind her. “Good morning, Dad.”

“Is it?” James Bennett’s eyes narrowed as he took in her appearance. “This is what you wear to a family meeting? A shirt that’s practically see-through and a skirt that looks like it was stolen off a nightclub floor?”

Chloe stiffened as his voice thundered across the room. She opened her mouth, but he didn’t stop.

“And the stench,” he added, his nose wrinkling. “Alcohol, smoke, irresponsibility and something else I can’t even name. Christ, Chloe, you walk in here like you’ve just crawled out of some stranger’s bed.”

She flinched at his last words.

“I didn’t think it was a fashion show,” she muttered, her eyes fixed on the floor.

“It’s not,” he snapped. “It’s a matter of legacy, of this family’s future. And you—” he waved his hand at her, disgusted “you come in late, looking like that.”

Chloe clenched her jaw, holding back every word she wanted to scream at him.

James turned toward the long table without another glance. “Sit down. We’re starting.”

His voice left no room for argument.

She walked stiffly to the table, the burn of humiliation still crawling under her skin.

“We have important matters to discuss,” James said coldly, as he sat at the head of the table. “You’ll be handling a negotiation soon, and I expect you to do it well.”

Chloe’s fingers curled slightly against the polished table. “What kind of negotiation?”

“Cross Corp.” His voice tightened. “They’ve been circling one of our potential clients. If we don’t lock down this deal, it could blow up in our face.”

“You want me to lead the talks?”

“I want you to seal the deal,” he snapped. “Their CEO, Damien Cross is sharp, relentless, and known for exploiting weakness. You give him an inch, and he’ll bleed you dry.”

Chloe blinked, her stomach knotting.

Damien Cross.

The name carried so much weight. It sounded familiar in the business world, but she hadn’t connected it to a face.

“Is there anything else I need to know?” She asked.

“All you need to know is that he plays dirty,” James added. “And if you mess this up, it’s not just your reputation on the line. It’s mine.”

Chloe clenched her jaw. “I won’t let you down, Dad.”

But deep down, something twisted. Chloe had never take on so much responsibility.

And she had no idea that the man she was being sent to conquer was the same one who still haunted her skin.

James Bennett stood, straightening his cuffs. “Do not fail me, Chloe.” His voice rang out, final and cold. Then he left.

The door clicked shut, and silence settled in the room like a fog.

Sienna shifted beside her. “Chloe, can we talk… please?”

Chloe stood slowly, her chair scraping back against the polished floor. “Talk? What’s left to say?”

Sienna took a slow step forward. “I made a mistake—”

“A mistake?” Chloe’s voice cracked like a whip. She turned on her sister, her eyes blazing. “You don’t mistakenly sleep with someone’s boyfriend. You don’t mistakenly lie for months.”

Sienna flinched. “I didn’t mean to hurt you—”

“But you did! And you kept doing it.” Chloe stepped closer. “You smiled in my face while he touched you behind my back. You had options, Sienna. You had choices. You chose to screw him.”

“Chloe, I—”

“I don’t want your apology.” Her voice lowered. “I want space. And maybe one day, I’ll be able to look at you without feeling disgusted.”

She turned on her heel and stormed out.

Sienna followed. “Chloe, listen to me please!”

But Chloe didn’t stop. She yanked open her car door.

“I’m done listening to you. Or anything you have to say.” She snarled.

“Let me explain!”

“You did explain, remember? With your legs wrapped around my boyfriend!”

Sienna gasped as if she was struck.

Chloe didn’t wait.

She threw herself into the seat and slammed the door. “Screw this,” she muttered as she turned on the car.

Then suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was an unknown number.

She answered, calmly. “Hello?”

There was silence on the other end. “Hello?” She repeated, more annoyed now.

A teasing voice came through the speaker. “Hello Chloe, how much have you thought about me?”

Her stomach dropped instantly. It was him.

Her mystery man.

Her grip tightened on the phone. “Who—how did you get my number?”

He chuckled, low and amused. “See you soon, Chloe.”

And then, the line went dead.

She stared at her screen, the blood in her veins suddenly boiling.

What the hell was happening?

And what had she gotten herself into?

This was no mistake. This was a game to him. And it had only just begun.