Damien
He had been watching her for days now. Perhaps he was a bit obsessed, perhaps not. All he knew was he wanted her and what he wanted he usually got. Damien smirked as he sipped the brandy from the snifter in his hand. he casually swirled it, admiring the light as it reflected off Amara's sun-kissed skin. She was a beauty, but she didn't flaunt it; it was almost as if she didn't recognize the power of her looks. His gaze burrowed into her, willing her to look at him. Then she did, but just as quickly dismissed him. It was like she was interested in someone else. His hand gripped the glass tighter. In fact, it was exactly like that. She had been looking around for someone since she had arrived, but who. Then it clicked. D'Mario. Damien sneered. That weak inept man was not worth her. Of course, he had noticed that she and D’Mario hung out a lot but he had thought it to be just a friendship. Apparently, Amara had other ideas. He rose slowly, straightening his suit as he went. He could, of course, call D'Mario here, but then his beauty's attention would be snared by the wrong person. No, he wanted her attention all to himself.
Heading for the kitchens, he walked by different cooks and servers, ignoring the looks, and headed straight for the man giving orders. D'Mario looked up, startled by his sudden appearance, and nodded his head to him, lowering his eyes before raising them once more, " Is there something I could help you with, Sir? I wasn't expecting you to come back here so suddenly, was the food not to your taste, perhaps I could offer you something else from our menu?" Damien could tell that the man was nervous from the way he shifted on his feet, which positively made him gleam with satisfaction. This would be easier than he thought.
"Actually, you can. I want Amara, and you are in my way. She seems to have this foolish notion that you and she could be an item, but .." he paused, his next words coming out in a warning growl, " that is never going to happen."
"ye..yes, yes sir, it will not, she's just a friend, but I ...." D'Mario cleared his throat "I will not allow you to hurt her, she is a good friend, and I feel protective of her. In a big brother kind of way, so don't get any ideas about..." D'Mario's eyes widened, and he fell silent as Damien's demeanor turned aggressive and he stepped in close to D'Mario, forcing him to back up.
" Actually, I'm calling in my favor. I have plans for Miss Amara, plans with which you will not interfere." Damien reached out, straightening D'Mario's outfit and dusting his shoulder off lightly.
" I would hate to hear that you suddenly disappeared without a trace.” D'Mario swallowed, looking up at the man before him, debating his odds, but in the end, he simply nodded.
Suddenly one of his cooks approached him, asking about something, taking his attention away from the man in front of him. When he turned back, Damien was gone.
Damien turned the corner of the alcove exiting the kitchens and nodded to his right-hand man as he headed back towards the dining area, only to stop and smile broadly. His beauty was right in front of him, heading for the restrooms. He immediately moved to block her way, grinning down at her. Her eyes slowly raised to his, their color and shine leaving him stunned for a moment.
“ If you will excuse me, sir, I need to make use of the ladies' room.” she tried to push his arm out of the way only to find him unmovable. Huffing in irritation, she glared up at him in the most adorable way.
“ Can I help you with something?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, you can. My name is Damien, and I will be having the pleasure of your company this evening, pet.” his voice was deep but soft, his dominance coming to the fore. He grinned as she snorted and laughed in disbelief.
“ You have some nerve ..Damien, was it? However, I am previously engaged with my friend and have plans later this evening, so, I won’t be “joining” you for anything.” Once again, she tried to move past him, only to once again find her way still blocked by his arm. Ever his feisty beauty. He did love a challenge, and she was that and more.
“Ah, but you see pet, that is where you are mistaken..” he nodded to Markus, who proceeded to use chloroform to subdue her. Moving quietly but quickly, he swept her up in his arms as she collapsed. He took a moment to take in her resting features, only to return to his senses as he heard someone approaching. Looking to his right-hand, he turned and headed out the back way while Markus headed out front to get the car. His eyes met D’Mario's as he passed by him, daring him to open his mouth. Only silence came from him. Good man, otherwise, he would end up dead. No one challenged him on his decisions.
He had made it his life work to make sure that everyone around him knew that he was in charge. His life had been nothing but fights and making money. It was just part of who he was. He grinned down at the sleeping beauty in his arms as he emerged out into the back alley and waited for Markus. It didn’t take long before the sleek black Lincoln pulled up with dark-tinted windows. Markus hurried out and opened the back door so he could slide in with Amara.
He wondered how she would react to waking up in Arabia. Probably ready to fight. His mind wandered back to the first day he had seen her. She had been walking a client out of her office. Not a care in the world to what was around her; her only focus was on the client and their satisfaction with the company. Her laughter is what had drawn him to look at her. She had been wearing a simple skirt with heels and a white top, all of it designed to look classy but form-fitting. Her hair had been twisted up in an elegant design, and her smile had taken his breath away. He knew right then that she was meant to be his, whether she agreed or not. Shaking his head, he smoothed a stray strand of hair back from her face. “ Such great things await you at my hands pet, you will see.”
Markus chose that moment to speak up “ Sir, are you sure this is a good idea?” his eyes turned dark as silence filled the cabin. Markus looked away first, “ Of course it is your decision Sir, whatever you wish.”
“It matters not what you think or desire. She is coming home with us…..'إنّها لي الآن، لتفعل ما أرجوه. ( she is mine now to do with as I wish)
“Yes Sir, of course. I meant nothing by my remark. “ silence fell after that, until they arrived at the airfield. Looking up to Markus, he replied in a stern tone, “ Make arrangements; I want all of her things brought over by the end of the week. Make sure arrangements are made with her job and finances. I’ll deal with the rest. “
“Of course Sir, will there be anything else before your departure?”
“No, just get it done quickly.” picking Amara up in his arms once more, he left the vehicle and boarded the private jet. No one questioned why an unconscious woman was in his arms. They simply attended to their duties as they were paid to do. He might be a hard ass, but he was a generous hard ass, which meant people turned the other way when he did questionable things. Although this might perhaps be the most irrational and questionable thing, he had done in front of them.
“ Kana, get the shot, my passenger is afraid of flights, and I would rather her not wake up along the way there.”
“Very well, I will return momentarily.”
Amara turned her head, beginning to stir in his arms. He tensed, preparing for a fight. Luckily Kana was quick to return and administer the shot. With Amara now out, he settled her on one of the seats next to him, letting it back all the way before reaching down to smooth her hair away from her face once more. Unable to resist, he leaned down and kissed her forehead before standing and moving up front to speak with the captain to begin the long flight back home…..
The captain’s voice crackled over the intercom, announcing their ascent. Damien buckled Amara securely into the seat beside him, fingers lingering on the strap across her waist. She stirred faintly, a furrow forming between her brows, but the sedative held her under.
Damien watched Amara's chest rise and fall with each breath, her features softened in unconsciousness. The jet's hum filled the silence as he traced the curve of her cheekbone with his thumb. Possession coiled tight in his chest—she belonged here, with him, even if she didn’t realize it yet. Markus’ earlier hesitation lingered like a thorn. Weakness had no place in his world, and doubt even less so. He’d built an empire on certainty, and Amara would learn that soon enough. Her defiance would be tempered, her fire directed where it belonged: toward him, for him.
He leaned close, his breath brushing her ear. "نم، عندما تستيقظ سوف تفهم.." (sleep when you wake up you will understand) His tone brooked no argument, even if she couldn’t hear it.
The plane leveled out, and he reached for the folder Markus had left—details of her life he’d already dismantled. Bank accounts closed, lease terminated, resignation submitted. Clean, efficient. A soft moan escaped her lips. Damien snapped the folder shut and turned, catching the flutter of her lashes. His hand settled on her throat, not squeezing, just resting—a reminder of control.
"Shh. Not yet." Her pulse jumped beneath his palm, but she stilled, sinking back into oblivion. Satisfaction curled through him. She’d fight when awake, of course. He looked forward to it. Breaking her resistance would be a pleasure, not a chore. For now, he contented himself with watching her, already imagining the moment her hazel eyes would blaze with fury—and then, eventually, submission.." His tone brooked no argument, even if she couldn’t hear it. The plane leveled out. Satisfaction curled through him. She was his and she would learn one way or another.