MELTING ICE

The days that followed my confrontation with Damon were a blur. I couldn't shake the feeling that everything was slipping out of my control. The weight of the marriage, of the expectations placed on me, hung over me like a thick fog. It wasn't just the wedding that I was dreading—it was the life that would come after it. A life where I had no say, no freedom to choose my own path.

I spent hours in my office, buried in design sketches and fabric swatches, trying to drown out the thoughts that constantly swirled in my mind. But it was impossible. The truth was, I couldn't escape the reality of the situation. Damon was right about one thing: I had been a pawn in this game for a long time. My parents had orchestrated this marriage long before I even knew Damon's name.

It was a marriage of power, not love. A marriage that would solidify my family's position in the fashion world and further entrench the DeMarcos' hold over the city. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that there was no way out. Or at least, that's what I had convinced myself of.

But I wasn't ready to give up. I couldn't just roll over and accept this life that had been handed to me. There had to be a way to take control of my future, to carve out a path that was mine and mine alone.

---

It was late one evening when I decided to take action. I had been toying with the idea for days, but I hadn't had the courage to follow through. But now, sitting in my office with the city lights twinkling outside the window, I knew what I had to do.

I needed to meet with Damon again. This time, it wasn't to confront him about the marriage. It was to understand him. To learn about the man behind the carefully constructed façade. I needed to know what he wanted from me, what he was hiding, and what kind of future we were being forced into.

I called Bianca, hoping she would give me the clarity I needed. She answered on the second ring.

"Vivienne, what's going on? You sound... off."

"I need your help," I said, my voice tinged with urgency. "I need to meet with Damon again. But this time, I need you to come with me."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Wait, what? You want me to meet with Damon DeMarco? The same Damon who's... part of your arranged marriage? Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," I replied, my voice firm. "I need to understand what's going on. I need to know the truth about this marriage, about what he wants from me. I can't do this alone."

Bianca sighed. "Alright, I'm in. But you're going to owe me big time for this. I don't know if I can handle being in the same room as that guy. He gives me the creeps."

I laughed, though it was tinged with nervousness. "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Fine. When and where?"

"Tomorrow night," I said, my mind already racing with plans. "I'll text you the details. Just be ready."

---

The next evening, Bianca and I arrived at DeMarco Designs just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the city. The building was even more imposing at night, its sleek, glass exterior reflecting the city lights in a way that made it seem almost otherworldly. I could feel my heart racing as we walked through the lobby, the receptionist giving us a polite nod as we passed.

Bianca was by my side, her heels clicking sharply against the polished floors. "You're really doing this, huh?" she whispered, glancing up at me with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"I have to," I replied, my voice steady despite the nerves twisting in my stomach. "I need to know what's going on, Bianca. I can't just blindly follow orders anymore."

Bianca nodded, though I could tell she was just as uneasy as I was. We were led to Damon's office, where the receptionist knocked once before opening the door. Damon was seated behind his desk, his expression unreadable as he looked up at us.

"Vivienne," he said, his voice smooth, though there was a hint of surprise in his eyes. "I didn't expect you to bring company."

"I'm not here alone," I said, my gaze steady as I walked into the room, Bianca following closely behind. "I'm here for answers, Damon. And I need you to be honest with me."

Damon leaned back in his chair, his eyes flicking to Bianca before returning to me. "I don't think I have anything to explain to you, Vivienne. You already know everything you need to know."

"No," I said, shaking my head. "I don't. I don't know what you want from me. I don't know what's really at stake here. And I won't marry you until I do."

He stood up slowly, walking around the desk to stand in front of me. His presence was overwhelming, his dark suit making him seem even taller, even more imposing. I could feel the tension in the room, the weight of his gaze pressing down on me.

"I've told you before, Vivienne," he said, his voice low, almost coaxing. "This marriage is not just about us. It's about power. It's about securing the future of our families. But I'm not asking you to marry me because I want to control you. I'm asking because this is what's best for both of us."

I could feel my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to make sense of his words. "And what's best for us, Damon? What does that even mean?"

He took a step closer, his eyes never leaving mine. "It means that together, we can build something that no one can touch. Together, we can secure everything we've worked for. And maybe, just maybe, we'll find something more than just business."

I felt a chill run down my spine at the way he looked at me. There was something in his gaze—something intense, something dangerous—that made me question everything I thought I knew about him.

Bianca, sensing the shift in the room, stepped forward. "Okay, enough with the cryptic speeches. What is it that you really want, Damon? What is this marriage really about?"

Damon's gaze flicked to Bianca, and for a moment, I thought he might dismiss her. But instead, he looked back at me, his expression softening just a fraction.

"It's about loyalty," he said, his voice quieter now. "It's about trust. You and I are bound by more than just our families. We're bound by something deeper. And I won't let anyone come between that."

I swallowed hard, trying to process what he was saying. "You think this is just about loyalty?" I asked, my voice shaking with frustration. "You think I'm just going to go along with this because you say it's what's best for me? For us?"

Damon didn't answer right away. He just stood there, looking at me, his eyes searching mine. And in that moment, I realized that I didn't have all the answers. I didn't know what the future held, but I knew one thing for certain: I couldn't walk away from this without understanding it first.

"I'm not asking you to accept this right now," he said, his voice low and steady. "I'm asking you to trust me. And I'm asking you to give me a chance to prove that this is the right path."

I didn't know what to say. Part of me wanted to walk out of the room, to leave him behind and never look back. But another part of me, the part that was terrified of losing everything I had built, wanted to listen to him. Wanted to believe that this was the only way forward.

But as I stood there, caught between my past and my future, I realized something: trust wasn't something that could be given easily. It had to be earned. And right now, Damon hadn't earned mine.

"I'll think about it," I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind inside me. "But I'm not making any decisions tonight."

Damon nodded, his expression unreadable. "That's all I ask."

---

As we left DeMarco Designs, I felt a sense of unease settle over me. The answers Damon had given me only raised more questions. I didn't know what he was really after, but I knew one thing for sure: this marriage, this alliance, was more complicated than I had ever imagined.

And the more I learned, the more I realized that I was in deeper than I ever could have anticipated.