The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Elena kept herself busy, wiping down counters, taking orders, and trying—unsuccessfully—to push Damien Blackwood out of her thoughts. His presence lingered like a shadow, hanging over her every move. The occasional glance in his direction only intensified the unease in her chest. His eyes had that unsettling ability to focus on her even when he wasn't speaking, and it made her wonder if he saw something in her that no one else did.
Every time she turned around, he was still there, sitting at his table with the same casual air, absorbed in his phone but somehow always aware of her movements. The entire café seemed to revolve around him, like a quiet orbit that Elena was caught in without any way to escape.
"Stop staring at him," Sarah teased, bringing her a fresh cup of coffee. "It's not like he's going to bite."
Elena gave her a half-hearted smile. "I'm not staring."
"Oh, please. I can practically hear your thoughts. And I'm pretty sure your thoughts just screamed billionaire." Sarah winked and took her leave, leaving Elena to her own thoughts.
She had never been one for celebrity culture, let alone billionaire tech moguls. She didn't understand the obsession people had with people like Damien. But now, after the way he'd looked at her, after the way his words seemed to linger in the air, she couldn't deny the way he was starting to affect her.
As the café quieted down after the morning rush, Elena allowed herself a moment to breathe. She leaned against the counter and glanced toward Damien's table again, just as he set his phone down and looked up—right at her.
There it was again. That intense, unyielding gaze. His eyes were like dark pools, pulling her in and holding her there. And for a split second, she couldn't breathe.
"You're staring again," Sarah whispered, standing just behind her, clearly having caught the direction of her gaze.
Elena snapped out of her daze, quickly turning her attention to a cup of coffee in front of her. "I'm not staring," she muttered, though her face was probably giving her away.
Sarah chuckled softly. "Uh-huh. Sure. But if I were you, I wouldn't let that guy slip through my fingers. He's probably got more zeros in his bank account than you could ever count. And I bet you there's not a woman in this town who wouldn't want to catch his eye."
Elena rolled her eyes, pushing away the voice of reason that was already telling her this was a bad idea. "You really think someone like him would notice someone like me?"
"Oh, absolutely," Sarah said, her tone teasing but thoughtful. "There's something about a guy like that, y'know? He's always surrounded by people—business associates, assistants, reporters—but when he looks at you, it's like everything else disappears. Like you're the only one in the room."
Elena shook her head, brushing off the strange flutter of excitement that Sarah's words stirred in her. She wasn't interested in getting caught up in fantasies. She had too much on her plate to indulge in daydreams about billionaires.
But despite herself, she couldn't stop the thought from creeping in. Could Sarah be right?
Before she could dwell on it any longer, Damien stood up, his chair scraping softly against the floor as he gathered his things. Elena quickly turned away, pretending to be busy with the coffee machine.
But then she heard the quiet click of his boots on the floor as he approached the counter. She tensed, heart racing in spite of herself.
"Excuse me, Elena," he said, his voice smooth and calm as always.
She looked up, trying to seem composed, but all she could think about was how his eyes were locked on hers. The world seemed to slow down as she stared back at him.
"Yes?" She cleared her throat, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'd like to make you an offer," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. It was the kind of offer that made Elena pause and reconsider everything she thought she knew about herself. She opened her mouth to speak, but he held up a hand to stop her.
"Don't worry. It's not what you're thinking." His lips quirked into a small smile, as if he knew exactly what was running through her mind. "I'm in need of a… companion for a few events over the next month. And I think you might be perfect for the role."
Elena's heart skipped. "A companion?" she repeated, not sure she'd heard him right.
He nodded, leaning slightly closer, his voice lowering. "I need someone to pretend to be my fiancée for the next month. A little fake engagement, you could say. It'll be easy. A couple of charity galas, a few business meetings. Nothing too serious. And in exchange…" His gaze flicked down to her uniform, then back to her eyes. "I'll pay you well."
Elena felt a flush creeping up her neck. "Why me?" she managed to say, the words barely audible.
He straightened up, fixing his suit jacket with a smooth motion. "Because you're the only one who doesn't seem interested in who I am. Everyone else in this city is obsessed with me, but you..." He let out a soft chuckle. "You seem unaffected."
She almost wanted to laugh at that. Unaffected? If only he knew how much he'd gotten under her skin.
But she kept her face neutral, considering his offer carefully. He was offering her something she needed—cash. And a chance to get a glimpse into a world she could never have imagined. But there was a catch, wasn't there? There always was with men like him.
Still, she had bills to pay. She couldn't ignore that.
"And what's the catch?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Damien's smile widened. "No catch. Just a deal. A simple agreement, and we both get what we want."
Her instincts screamed at her to walk away, but her circumstances kept her rooted in place. She had no choice but to consider his offer.
Elena inhaled deeply, her thoughts racing. "I'll think about it," she said finally, still unsure what she was getting herself into.
He nodded, his expression unreadable. "Take your time. But don't take too long." His gaze softened for just a moment, and then, as quickly as he'd approached, he turned and left the café.
Elena stood there for a long moment, staring at the empty spot where he had just been. The weight of the offer lingered in the air, and a small, dangerous part of her wondered if saying yes could be the start of something completely unpredictable.