Since making the deal with her father, he’d studied up on her, making sure he wanted to hire the spoiled heiress. The more he learned, the more intrigued he became. He was suddenly impatient to close the deal.
He thought about going after her, but he wasn’t an impulsive man, or at least with most people he wasn’t. His lips softened as he thought of his one and only friend, Trinity. His only impulsive act, ever, had been to offer to marry her.
He would’ve, too, had she said yes. Luckily, Drew, the baby’s father, had come back into her life, and not only wanted to do the right thing, but Drew was deeply in love with Trinity.
Damien didn’t believe in happily-ever-after love, but it was hard to deny that Trinity and Drew were, indeed, in love. The way they looked at each other was almost disturbing.
He shook off thoughts of Trinity. He couldn’t carry out his plans if he thought of his best friend. She’d kill him if she knew what he was up to. He’d never spoken of his past with anyone, not even Trinity. He hardened his resolve. He’d made a promise to his mother – a promise he intended to keep. He’d made that vow before Trinity found him so many years earlier, before she rescued him from the dark bitterness of his life.
Damien’s eyes snapped back to Sierra as she walked away from the reception. She was just another piece of the puzzle to the grand design of his life, to the purpose he’d practically been made for. He could succeed without her, but why should he. He liked what he saw, and with such an appealing package up for grabs, he figured, why not?
She had a natural grace and beauty about her that could easily reel a man in. He wasn’t worried about getting too attached. He wasn’t interested in love. He’d been there, done that. He should’ve just listened to his mother, and never tried any road but the one that led to his parent’s vindication.
His so-called family would pay. They’d pay big.
Sierra was almost meaningless – almost. She just happened to have a best friend who was a part of the family he was close to taking over. With her father so easily trading his daughter, who was he to refuse?
The meeting with her father hadn’t been pleasant. The man was the lowest kind of scum, but Damien figured he was doing Sierra a favor getting her out of there, not that she seemed to be in a hurry, from everything he’d learned so far.
Damien’s mind drifted as he thought about his conversation with Douglas Monroe:
“Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Whitfield?” Douglas said, obviously pleased at having Damien in his office. The man was practically salivating as he waited for Damien to sign on the dotted line.
Damien was silent as he towered over the guy. He wasn’t there to make friends with Douglas. He was there for a business transaction. Damien had done his research. He knew Douglas was in deep enough trouble that he needed the deal they were making.
Mr. Monroe still had the rest of the world fooled, planning a huge, over-the-top wedding for his daughter, living large in his twenty-thousand square foot mansion, driving his over-priced vehicles - but Damien knew Douglas was close to bankrupt. He’d made poor business choices, and in-turn, had lost billions of dollars.
The man was practically a slithering idiot at the opportunity to do business with Damien’s corporation.
The longer Damien was silent, the more nervous Douglas became. Damien could practically taste the man’s fear. He had to remind himself that his battle wasn’t with Douglas Monroe. He didn’t care if the man failed or succeeded in life, though Damien had a feeling Douglas would soon be losing everything.
With self-taught control, Damien pulled himself together. He wasn’t there to make Douglas sweat. Damien was successful in what he did because of how well he read people. He saw weakness, and he immediately wanted to go for the jugular – close the deal. And he certainly saw weakness in Douglas.
Damien owned thousands of properties throughout the world, making only the finest of wines. He knew how to choose the land, pick the vines and staff the property to make wine in which royalty was on stand-by for.
Damien seemed to have the Midas touch, because every venture he invested in, every dollar he made, ended up tripling. He couldn’t seem to lose when it came to financials, but it was never enough. None of it was.
Only retribution could soothe his troubled soul.
“To be honest, Douglas,” he stressed the name, letting the man know that even though Douglas couldn’t address Damien informally, Damien certainly would take the opportunity to do so to Douglas. It was a power play, letting his opponent know he was the weaker man. “I wasn’t going to take you up on your offer, but then I did some research… It made me change my mind. I’m intrigued by why you’d basically sell your child.”
Damien left the words as a statement, seeing if Douglas would fill in the blanks.
“You placed an ad. I just happen to have a solution. I’m looking for investors, so it seemed a mutually benefiting deal. I’m a very private man, though, and the terms of our agreement are to stay between us,” Douglas said, showing a bit of the backbone that had made him billions of dollars.
“I’m private myself, Douglas.”
Douglas gazed at him for a few silent moments. Damien could see the man was trying to decide if Damien was for real or not. Though Damien’s passion was his vineyards, he was well-known throughout the world as a smart investor. It was common knowledge that he never invested in a losing company.
Damien knew he’d most likely lose every dime of money he sunk into Monroe enterprises but it didn’t matter. This wasn’t about making money, it was about payback, and Damien didn’t care if he lost millions. It was inconsequential to him.
“Fine. It looks like we’re both agreeable. Are you going to accept the offer?” Douglas finally asked, sitting back, trying to portray a man with confidence, who was slightly bored. He wasn’t pulling it off.
“I’m willing to invest ten million into your project.” He paused, letting his words sink in. “Only if your daughter is… cooperative.”
Douglas waited for more. Damien said nothing else.
“How cooperative?” Douglas finally asked, his brow beading with sweat as he nervously waited for Damien’s reply. It was obvious the man didn’t think his daughter was worth ten million dollars. In reality, he was most likely right. The only woman Damien could think of worth that kind of money was already taken.