Chapter 015
There was thick, drawn silence for a few seconds before I heard it.
The unmistakable sound of Atlas Volkan laughing.
My fists tightened at my sides as I raised an eyebrow.
“Are you giving me orders now, Julia?” he scoffed, eyeing me down. “You? Leave? As if
“Julia, you don’t have to leave. Lovie butted in, stepping forward. “If you would just apologize-
Lovie froze as my palm collided with her face. Silence rippled through the guests and Atlas stiffened.
Tve been wanting to do that since you pushed me into the pool,” I said and turned to Atlas. “What do you think of yourself?”
I stepped forward, searching his eyes. “I am done, Atlas. I have found someone who doesn’t force me to live,” I glanced at Damien as Atlas” jaw tightened. “But makes me feel alive-”
“Julia!”
I ignored his outburst and intertwined my fingers with Damien. We turned to leave when Atlas‘ voice rang through, strained but loud enough to make us stop.
If you
walk away, there will never be a place for you in my life again. There will be no home to return to. Do you understand?”
My grip on Damien’s hand tightened. This was it. This was the moment I let go. If I did not do it today, I would end up regretting it forever.
Decision made, I tugged on Damien’s hand and continued walking till I was out of the mansion
The brown–haired man opened the door of the Jeep in front of us. I assumed it was his car and got in.
Awkward silence reigned for a few seconds before he broke it. A chuckle, another, and then, full–on laughter.
Ifrowned, wiping away the tears that dared to fall. “I am so sorry,” I managed to say. I thought he would be angry but apparently, he found this hilarious
“No, no no.” he waved it off, struggling to suppress his laughter. “This,” He gestured between us and toward the mansion.
He’s an idiot”
“What?” I blinked as our eyes locked
“I mean, he had someone like you around. You created the foundation for Volkan Industries. You are the silver designer and yet he “He trailed off, licking his lips. No need to apologize.”
“About the fiance thing we can just forget about this and pretend it never happened and-”
nty “You need someone to keep that monster restrained To “You don’t need a fiance” his voice was sharp, filled with certainty fight a strong man, you need a man stronger. Damien leaned in as my heart raced, he tucked a strand of my hair behind my
Our eyes locked and my stomach twisted into knots, not the sad, frustrated, or panicky type “I am the stronger man. I will belp you stay away from that beast. But he retracted his hand and adjusted his cuffs, “You need to help me too”
up What could a wealthy man like him need?
“What is it?” I dared to ask
“Kuphoria “1 sumply said and I frowned
Euphoria Project was infamous Over the years, many designers picked it up but they failed to capture investors with it. I was managed by one of the biggest companies in Miami They had been struggling to fix the project to avoid possible
#25 BON
bankruptcy.
My eyes widened as it clicked, “You you are the CEO of Clava?”
“Bingo!” He grinned. “You are the solution to all my problems and I am the solution to yours. I will do everything to protect you, all you have to do is finish that project, Silver designer,”
Despite the lump in my throat, as Damien drove down the road, I found myself nodding.
The drive took us a few hours, but eventually, the Grand Clava building came into my line of sight.
Damien got out of the car before I could and opened the door for me. He offered his hand and helped out “Thanks,” I mumbled
He scratched the back of his neck. “I should be thanking you. The Silver designer herself is at my
y company. Come in”
I watched in awe as we
s we watched past several workers into the company, the more I walked, the more expensive things got My breath hitched as I entered his office.
Tll be real. I could lose everything I have if this doesn’t pull through. You are my last hope, Julia”
“I can do it” 1 assured him as he closed the door. He brought out a huge box and unloaded it on the grounds showing several design images and the concept
“How soon does this need to be done?”
“A couple of weeks is all I have left”
I sighed, running my hands through my hair as I looked through the designs. “This won’t be easy”
“I never said it would,” he said, rummaging around his desk
I averted my attention from him and kept looking at the designs and concepts, trying to see what the previous designers missed. When it finally hit me, Damien was literally in my face.
I recoiled, eyebrow furrowed in confusion while he stretched out his hand, two envelopes in them.
“What is this?” I hesitated before collecting it
“One Is a blank cheque,” he explained calmly, running his hands through his brown hair. The other is an invitation I received on the way here *
A blank cheque and an
invitation
“I! you think I am a
a gold dig-
“Being a good designer is one thing.” Damien began casually, “Having enough funds to become the CEO of a design company as another, Julia If Dulia, or whatever your company will be named, will exist, then you need money.” he sighed, plopping down on tus seat “Money that I have ”
My shoulders slacked at his words. He was right. I needed this
is a fancy grand hall where the most elite designers go to flaunt how much they’ve donated to charity while sipping wine te times the donation” He said, his forehead creasing “You are the next big thing, Julia You are the new face of the Euphoria project I want everyone to know that the Silver is now working at Clava
My breath hutched, my stomach churning I knew exactly what that meant If I went to this party, I would be telling not just everyone but important people that I was done with Volkan Industries
claration of war.
“Delane
“Excuse me?” he raised an eyebrow.
“It’s the name of the clothing brand I love.”
Damien broke into a smile.
