Chapter 7: Ethan Is Causing Trouble

Damian’s POV

The city glittered outside my office window, but I barely noticed. Contracts spread across my desk, numbers and names. Business was easy. People were harder.

“Sir, Ethan is here,” my assistant said over the intercom.

I suppressed a sigh. Of course he was.

“Send him in.”

The door swung open and Ethan strolled in like he owned the place. He always did that swagger covering weakness.

“Father,” he said casually, dropping into a chair without asking.

I set my pen down slowly. “How many times have I told you not to call me that in this office?”

He smirked. “Adopted father then. Makes no difference.”

“It makes all the difference.” My tone was ice.

For a moment, silence stretched. Ethan shifted, but then he leaned forward. “I was thinking… maybe it’s time you let me handle something big. A real project. I’m not a kid anymore.”

I studied him, every inch of him reminding me why I’d kept him at a distance. Womanizer. Spoiled and reckless. The only reason he was in my life at all was because of his father. A good man who had saved me long before I became who I am today.

“You’re not ready,” I said flatly.

His smile faltered. “I am ready".

“You chase women, not profits. You spend money, you don’t make it. You are nothing like the man who raised you.”

His face hardened, pride stung. “One day, you’ll see I’m worth more than you think.”

I leaned back, voice colder than steel. “Don’t test me, Ethan. Gratitude keeps you here. Nothing else.”

He glared but said nothing. He had no idea that outside these walls, my wolf stirred restlessly, still searching for the girl who ran from my bed.

And Ethan—my ungrateful adopted son—had no idea i Could burn him with the anger I feel.

Ethan turned to leave, as he left my assistant, came, right then. And She placed a slack of paper in my table.

Another proposal rejected?” my assistant asked carefully, placing a folder on my desk.

I barely glanced at it. “Leave it.”

She lingered, then left quickly when I shot her a glare.

The silence in the office pressed down on me. I rubbed my temples, but it didn’t stop the images. Her hair tangled on my pillow. Her lips swollen from my kiss. The way my wolf had howled that single word. "Mate."

I slammed my fist on the desk.

“No,” I growled. “Impossible.”

My wolf stirred inside me, mocking. Mine.

“Shut up,” I muttered under my breath.

The memory clawed at me again. her scent, it's was unlike any woman before. Sweet, wild, and forbidden. No perfume could mask it. Even now, I swore I could smell it in the air.

The door opened. It's was Ethan, he came Again.

“I just couldn't go like like, old man?” he joked, stepping inside.

My jaw clenched. “You shouldn't have bothered, you are not invited.”

He dropped onto the couch, smirking. “You need to relax. Go out with me tonight, I know girls who”

“Get out.”

He raised his brows. “Seriously?”

“Now.” I said in a low dangerous voice. He could tell my wolf was about to let loose.

He left, grumbling, and the moment the door shut, I exhaled sharply.

I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. My brain went back to “That night"

My wolf growled deep inside, Find her. Claim her and Mark her.

“Damn it.” My voice was low, raw. For years I’d ignored the thought of a mate, convinced I didn’t need one. But that night, it wasn’t lust. It was the bond.

I stood abruptly, pacing. “She ran from me.”

The wolf pushed harder. Bring her back. She is ours.

A bitter laugh escaped me. “I don’t even know her name.”

I stared out at the glittering skyline, fists clenched. Whoever she was, wherever she was, one thing is certain, she belongs to me. And I would burn this city to the ground if I had to find her again.

Ariel's POV:

“I can’t sit around forever, Ann,” I muttered, scrolling through the job listings on my phone.

“You need to rest, Aria,” my neighbour friend said, shoving another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. “Your breakup just happened. Normal people don’t bounce back this fast.”

“I’m not normal,” I whispered, my throat tight. Not normal at all.

Ann sighed, peering at my screen. “Wait, look at that one. The Blackthorne Tower.”

I froze. The tallest building in the city. Everyone knew it. Sleek, untouchable, glowing like a beacon at night. The headquarters of Blackthorne Holdings. the company that controlled half the city. This company has topped chart for good 7 years, it's unbeatable.

My heart thudded. I wanted to get a job there so bad but I knew, they would never take me.”

I said sadly to my friend. "They will never take me, everyone who works there has a degree from haverd, in business."

But she was not buying that, she said. “Apply anyway. What’s the worst that could happen?”

I bit my lip, staring at the screen. “The worst is I will get rejected.” I said my face falling.

Ann nudged me. “Or the best—that you actually get it. Come on hit that button already, be positive." She urged me.

I hesitated only a moment longer before hitting apply.

Damian’s POV:

“Sir, new applicants came in today.” My assistant slid a slim folder onto my desk.

I barely looked up from my laptop. “Leave them.”

She hesitated. “There’s one unusual. The panel flagged it. Because it's was creative design. Plus she doesn't have a good background. Just raw talent.”

That made me cut my attention because, she never approved anyone. I reached for the file, flipping it open.

I saw the name and then a face.

My chest tightened.

No. It couldn’t be.

The photograph was small, but my wolf lunged the moment my eyes touched it. Her.

My grip on the file tightened until the paper crumpled.

“Hire her,” I said, voice flat.

The assistant blinked. “Sir, don’t you want to interview” she was shocked and confused.

“I said, hire her. Immediately.” I cut her off without letting her finish.

She nodded quickly and rushed out.

Left alone, I stared down at her picture again. The same lips I’d kissed. The same eyes that had haunted me every night since.

Finally, a low smile tugged at my lips.

“Found you.”

Ariel's POV:

I woke to the sound of my alarm shrieking like it hated me.

The sun had barely crept above the skyline, spilling weak orange light into my tiny apartment. My body begged to roll back into the sheets, and I was about doing that when my phone bused with a notification.

I said to myself. "Ann not now please, I'm sleeping."

But I still managed to answer get my phone, I was ready to lash out on Ann for disturbing my sleep, when I saw an Interview massage that's read, *"*we are thrilled to inform you that your application for the position of creative design has been approved and we demand and interview from you. Be here by 9:00am. From Blackthorne."

My whole body tensed up, my phone fall off my hands, my mouth spread wide open like a hungry lion. I check my time and saw it was already pass 7am, I almost screamed.

Without thinking I jumped out of my bed and ran to the bathroom. I quickly took a shower and put on my clothes in no time, I didn't know I was faster than fash until this moment.

"Don’t screw this up" I said to myself. It wasn’t just any interview. This was at Blackthorne Holdings the tallest, most intimidating building in the city. They didn’t just hire people; they consumed them, churned them into something polished and rich.

And me? I was me. A girl still piecing her heart back together.

I stood in front of my closet. One broken hinge, three wire hangers, and a mess of clothes that screamed college dropout chic. Nothing said corporate goddess. My fingers trailed over the wrinkled blouse, then a faded dress, then the black slacks that had seen better days.

“Perfect,” I muttered. “Maybe if I tilt my head just right, they won’t notice the coffee stain.” I said to myself as I smiled.