Isabella's POV

Mom must have given him my number thinking he only wanted to get closer. The message was short, authoritative. The smugness that came with knowing I had no choice but to do what he wanted. He had leverage over me and I had nothing on him. For now I couldn't do anything but comply.

Another message came in. The address. I sighed, rubbing my temple.

I sat up, staring at the message. Cole definitely had information about my father's death and if he was right, then Damian played a role in it. I had never known or heard about Damian from my father so it didn't make sense. If Damian did cause Dad's death, then why? What was there to gain?

My head felt like it would explode from all the unanswered questions. There was only one way to discover the truth. I had to get to Damian. I had to be invaluable to him, make him fall head over heels for me. So much that he wouldn't be able to resist a word I say.

If he really was involved in Dad's death, then he isn't someone my mother should be with. There's no way she would want to be with the man that made her a widow.

Still, while I was investigating this, I needed to be careful. I needed to make sure my mother doesn't get hurt until I've confirmed all my suspicions. This means I would have to seduce him, keep him on the edge but never let him sleep with me again.

I didn't reply to Cole. Instead, I deleted the messages and let my exhaustion carry me.

**********

A knock on my door woke me from my sleep.

"Honey! Are you up?" My mother's voice was soft from the other side.

"Your internship honey. It starts today."

That was enough to get me out of bed. I'd been applying for this internship for the longest time.

"I'm up!" I said, jumping out of bed. I heard Mom snicker before walking away.

I rushed into the shower and cleaned myself up. My dress had already been neatly stashed in my wardrobe. I dressed up, added a little makeup and styled my hair into a bun. By the time I was done, I still had a couple hours to spare.

My stomach growled. The smell of toast assaulted my nose as I came down the stairs. Mom was seated at the dining table, looking stunning in a blue, sparkly gown. And of course, he was there too. Damian, sitting next to her, sipping coffee. My heart did something that felt like a twist. Damn, he looked good. Turtleneck that stuck to his body, highlighting his perfect physique. His hair was styled messy with strands of grey on the edges.

His eyes traced me coming down. I could see it, a desire that was barely contained.

"Honey!" Mom stood and squeezed me into a tight hug. "You look so beautiful!"

"Thank you, Ma."

Damian cleared his throat. "You look very presentable. Every firm would want someone like you working with them."

His words hit me harder than I thought they would. I felt my cheeks flush red.

"Look at her! She's all red." Mom was not helping.

"Well, I have an appointment I need to catch." Mom said, searching through her purse. "Maybe Damian can take you for your internship."

No. No. Please no.

"That's not a bad idea, actually." Of course Damian would agree.

Mom smiled, glad that I was 'bonding' with my stepfather. Only if she knew what other ways we had bonded.

"Beautiful. I'll be going now. Good luck honey." She kissed me on the cheek, then planted a quick kiss on Damian's lips before leaving. I fixed my eyes on my phone at the sight of it. Something about her and Damian made my blood boil. I felt possessive in a way that was forbidden.

"You really do look very beautiful, Isabella." Damian broke the silence after Mom left. His voice was deep, raspy in a way that tickled my insides.

"Can you not, Damian. In case you forgot, you just kissed my mother." I wasn't going to let him get to me.

He chuckled, low and painfully sexy. He stood from his chair and walked up to me. I could feel my heart threatening to jump through my chest. He leaned in closer, close enough to feel his breath on my cheek.

I closed my eyes shut, waiting, expecting something to happen.

"Meet me in the car. You've got an internship, doll."

My hands were shaking and I took deep breaths to stabilize myself. I was as helpless as a child with him. If things went on this way, it might not be me making him fall in love but me losing myself in him.

I followed him but kept my distance. When he entered his Bentley, I got in the back seat. An attempt at keeping myself away from him.

I saw his eyebrows twitch from the side mirror.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm more comfortable at the back," I said, hoping he wouldn't insist.

"Come over to the front."

"Really, I'm okay where I am."

"Don't make me repeat myself, doll." His tone made it clear he wasn't asking, he was commanding.

I couldn't protest. It felt like being called into the principal's office.

Without warning, he leaned and kissed me. I didn't expect it but I couldn't resist it. His tongue ravaged my mouth and I felt my lower lips moisten. A low groan echoed from his throat while his hands held my waist, pulling me closer.

His hands unzipped my pants and two fingers slipped in without resistance.

"Oh God! Damian." I was losing my mind. His fingers moved and I felt colors bursting in my head. He kissed me again, more passionately, trapping every sound I could make in my throat.

"I can't control myself around you, Isabella." I couldn't even hear him properly over the waves of pleasure crashing into me.

Then he stopped, leaving me confused.

"You have an internship. You put so much effort into this. We should get going."

I wanted to argue but I stopped myself. The rest of the ride was quiet. When we got to the firm, he dropped me off and left without saying a word.

It stung. But I shook it off and walked towards the door of the high-rise building in front of me.

I pulled out my phone to silence it for the day. Three missed calls from Cole. And one final message.

I don't have all the time in the world, Isabella. Do what you're supposed to and your secret will stay safe with me.