Chapter 34
THIRD PERSON’S POV
Damien sat at his usual table at The Sterling Club. The private dining room was quiet. The place was built for men who liked power and privacy. Waiters moved in and out without a sound, refilling glasses and adjusting plates.
His best friends, Simon and Nate sat across from him. They were both dressed in expensive suits. They were talking about a recent acquisition deal. Simon spoke confidently, outlining profit margins and expansion plans. Nate spoke about numbers from the stock market that morning.
Damien nodded. He answered when directly asked, but his attention was divided. His phone rested near his hand, lighting up every few seconds with work emails. His eyes kept dropping to the screen.
Nate laughed as he mentioned a competitor who had lost a major contract.
“They didn’t see it coming,” he said.
Simon smirked. “That’s what happens when you underestimate us p>
Damien nodded. “Mm p>
A waiter arrived with their lunch. The plates were filled with perfectly cooked rare steaks and a bottle of expensive wine. The smell should have made Damien hungry, but it didn’t. His wolf was restless inside him.
Simon asked casually, “How’s the Thompson merger coming along p>
Damien looked up. “It’s moving. Final paperwork should be done next week p>
“That’s it?” Simon asked.
“That’s it,” Damien replied. His tone was flat.
Nate studied him more closely now. “You alright, Damien? You’ve been somewhere else all lunch p>
Damien lifted his glass and took a slow sip of wine. “I’m fine. Just tired man p>
Simon didn’t push, but he kept looking at Damien. He’d been weird all afternoon. It was obvious that something was bothering him.
They began eating. The conversation flowed around Damien but it felt like background noise. They talked about numbers, investments, future plans. He cut his steak and chewed but he barely tasted it.
Then Simon spoke again. “I ran into your Sophia yesterday p>
Damien’s fork froze halfway to his mouth.
Simon kept talking. “I saw her near the hospital district. I tried to say hello but she just walked right past me like I wasn’t there p>
Nate chuckled. “Maybe she didn’t recognize you p>
Simon shook his head. “No. She saw me. She was just… distracted p>
Damien slowly set his fork down. His jaw tightened a bit.
“Distracted how?” Damien asked calmly.
Simon looked up now, meeting Damien’s eyes. “She wasn’t alone p>
The room seemed to grow quieter.
“What man?” Damien asked, his tone still neutral.
Simon leaned back in his chair. “I don’t know him but he was tall, well-dressed. He had on a doctor’s coat. They were walking close together, laughing. His hand was on her lower back at one point p>
Damien’s eyes got darker as Simon kept talking.
Nate noticed it and started to panic.
Nate frowned. “Simon, that’s enough p>
But Simon continued, swirling his wine. “They looked comfortable. Intimate, even. Went into a café together. Not exactly a work meeting kind of place p>
Damien’s grip tightened around his wine glass. His wolf stirred inside him. His wolf growled bt he forced it down.
Simon watched him carefully. “I’m just saying… Sophia didn’t leave suddenly for no reason. Maybe there’s more to it. Maybe she’s having an affair p>
He let the suggestion hang in the air without saying it directly.
Damien picked up his fork again and cut into his steak.
“I don’t care what Sophia does,” he said coldly.
Simon raised an eyebrow but said nothing more.
Inside, Damien’s thoughts were anything but calm. Images formed against his will. He imagined Sophia smiling, laughing with her attention focused on another man.
His wolf growled low in his chest.
He told himself again that he didn’t care. Sophia made her choice when she left. But the thought burned anyway. He realized he was gripping his knife too hard and he loosened his hand slowly.
The conversation shifted to golf plans and upcoming trips. Damien answered when they asked him. he nodded at the right moments.
Simon watched him from time to time with a knowing look. Nate seemed oblivious. He kept discussing courses and schedules.
Damien finished his meal without appetite. He checked his watch, already impatient for the lunch to end.
Simon stood. “Excuse me. I need to take this p>
He stepped into the hallway and pulled out his phone. His expression changed as he opened a secure messaging app.
Fingers moving quickly, he typed instructions to his private investigator. He wanted everything on the man seen with Sophia.
He wanted all the details – Full background. Career. Personal life. Any weakness. Any scandal. Anything that could be used.
Simon’s mouth curved into a cold smile. He thought about Damien’s reaction at the table.
Damien always pretended not to care when something cut deep. Simon had known him since university. He recognized the signs.
He decided he would handle this problem. Helping Damien was part of it. Putting Sophia in her place was the rest. He had never liked her.
The investigator replied almost immediately. The text read: Preliminary information already available.
Dr. Lance Chen. Successful surgeon. Clean record. Respected.
Simon’s smile got wider. Everyone had something to hide.
“Dig deeper,” he typed. “Past relationships. Financial records. Malpractice claims. Anything p>
Money was no issue.
Simon pocketed his phone and returned to the table. Damien and Nate were discussing quarterly projections and he slipped back into the conversation smoothly, cracking a joke that made Nate laugh. Damien managed a small smile.
No one knew what Simon had just set in motion.
The lunch finally ended. They stood and shook hands.
Simon clapped Damien on the shoulder.
“You sure you’re alright?” He asked lightly.
“I am,” Damien replied.
But Simon knew better.
“Don’t worry, brother,” he thought to himself, “I’ll handle it p>