MELTING ICE

I sat there, staring at Damon, unable to fully comprehend what he was saying. The words echoed in my mind, but they didn't seem to make sense. A marriage? The idea was so foreign, so utterly out of place in my world, that I almost wondered if I had misunderstood him. But when I looked into his eyes, I saw the unwavering certainty there, and I knew—this wasn't some joke or misunderstanding.

This was real.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I had to respond, but my mind was racing, tumbling through a thousand thoughts. Marriage. I was the CEO of Moretti Couture. I had built my empire from the ground up, fighting tooth and nail for every inch of success. And now, just like that, my parents had decided that I would be married off to a man I barely knew.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words caught in my throat. What could I even say?

Damon was watching me, his expression neutral, but there was something in his eyes—something that made my pulse quicken. It wasn't pity, or even sympathy. It was something darker. Something that told me he knew exactly what this arrangement would mean for me, and he was prepared for it.

"Vivienne," he said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, almost too calm, like he was speaking to a child who needed reassurance. "I know this is a lot to process. But our families believe this is what's best for both of us. We can make it work."

I shook my head, still trying to wrap my mind around the situation. "Make it work?" I repeated, my voice shaking. "How do you expect me to just accept this? I didn't ask for this. I didn't even know about it."

He leaned forward, his gaze never leaving mine. "I didn't ask for it either. But sometimes, Vivienne, things aren't up to us. We don't get to choose what happens to us."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me like a thick fog. Things aren't up to us. He was right. In a world of family legacies and high society, we didn't always have control over our own lives. But that didn't mean I was ready to surrender mine without a fight.

"Damon, this isn't just about you and me," I said, my voice growing stronger. "This is about my life. My future. I've worked too hard to build Moretti Couture to just throw it all away for some… arrangement."

His lips curled into a slight smile, but there was no warmth in it. "I'm not asking you to throw anything away, Vivienne. You'll still have your career. Your empire. But this… marriage will solidify your place in the world. It will make you untouchable. And it will give both of our families the security they need."

I recoiled slightly, the words hitting me like a slap. Untouchable. The very idea felt suffocating. It sounded like a cage, a gilded one, but a cage nonetheless.

I looked away from him, my gaze falling to the glass of wine in front of me. The liquid swirled lazily, mirroring the chaos in my mind. How did I get here? How had everything I worked for, everything I had fought for, led to this moment?

"You're asking me to marry you," I said quietly, more to myself than to him.

Damon's gaze softened, but only slightly. "I'm not asking you to marry me, Vivienne. I'm asking you to marry into a partnership. A union of two powerful families. This isn't about love. It's about power, about survival. We both know that."

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. This was a business deal. That's all it was. A way to strengthen two empires. But as much as I tried to convince myself that it was just a transaction, I couldn't ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.

"What if I don't want to do this?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Damon didn't flinch. He didn't even hesitate. "Then you'll have to live with the consequences."

I met his gaze, feeling a fire ignite within me. I wasn't going to back down. I couldn't. Not after everything I had built.

"I'll never be a pawn in your game, Damon," I said, my voice firm, even though my heart was pounding. "I won't be controlled. Not by you, not by anyone."

His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something else—something dangerous—beneath the surface. But just as quickly as it appeared, it was gone, replaced by that same cold, calculating mask.

"I'm not trying to control you, Vivienne," he said, his tone low and steady. "But you need to understand that this isn't just about us. It's about our families. It's about loyalty, legacy, and survival. You can either accept that and move forward, or you can fight it—and face the consequences."

The room felt smaller suddenly, the air thick with tension. I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, and for a moment, I felt trapped.

But then, something inside me snapped. I wasn't going to let him dictate my future. I wasn't going to let anyone control me.

"I'll decide what's best for me, Damon," I said, my voice steady, even though my hands were shaking. "I don't need anyone to make decisions for me. Not you. Not my parents. No one."

His lips quirked up into a half-smile, but there was no humor in it. "We'll see about that, Vivienne."

I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. "I need to go."

Damon didn't stop me. He didn't even try to convince me to stay. He just watched me, his gaze unwavering.

I turned and walked out of the restaurant, my mind in a whirlwind. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. I needed space. I needed time.

I didn't know what was happening to me. I didn't know what Damon DeMarco wanted from me. But one thing was clear—I wasn't going to let him—or anyone—make decisions for me.

Not now. Not ever.

---

I spent the next few days in a daze, barely able to focus on anything other than the dinner, the conversation, and the implications of Damon's words. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something about the way he had spoken, the way he had looked at me, made me feel like I was caught in a trap I couldn't escape.

And yet, despite everything, I couldn't deny the pull I felt toward him. There was something about Damon that was magnetic, something that drew me in, even when I knew I should be running in the opposite direction.

But I couldn't let myself get distracted. I had a life to live. I had my work, my passion, my empire.

I wasn't going to let a man—especially one like Damon DeMarco—take that away from me.

But deep down, I knew the truth. This wasn't just about business anymore. This was personal. And the more I fought it, the more I realized that the game we were playing was far from over.

And I had a feeling it was only just beginning.