MELTING ICE

The days after Damon's visit to my office felt like I was walking through a fog. The world around me seemed distant, and every conversation I had felt like it was happening to someone else. I had never been the type to shy away from challenges, but this was different. This was more than a challenge. This was a decision that would shape the rest of my life.

I couldn't stop thinking about Damon's words. The marriage wasn't just about business—it was about survival. About protecting something much bigger than either of us. I didn't know whether to be angry or relieved. On one hand, I hated the idea of being used as a pawn in someone else's game. On the other, I couldn't ignore the sense of responsibility that came with it. My family, my legacy, my future—they were all intertwined with this decision.

I spent the next few days in a daze, trying to keep up with my work at Moretti Couture while my mind kept drifting back to Damon. To the life he had alluded to. To the danger that seemed to lurk just beneath the surface of his polished exterior. I had seen enough of the world to know that power came at a price, and I wasn't sure if I was ready to pay it.

---

It was late one night when I found myself in my office, staring at a sketch I had been working on for weeks. My mind was far from the design, though. It was consumed by Damon, by his world, by the choices I was being forced to make. I hadn't heard from him since that day in my office, and a part of me had hoped that maybe, just maybe, he would disappear. But deep down, I knew that wasn't going to happen.

A knock on the door broke my thoughts, and I looked up to see Clara standing in the doorway, her face tight with concern. "Ms. Moretti, there's someone here to see you."

I frowned, glancing at the clock. It was nearly midnight. "Who?"

Clara hesitated, glancing over her shoulder. "It's Mr. DeMarco."

I felt a tightness in my chest. I wasn't sure if I was ready to face him again, but I knew there was no avoiding it. "Let him in."

A moment later, Damon stepped into the room, his presence filling the space like a storm cloud. He looked as composed as ever, but there was something different in his eyes. A quiet intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"I didn't expect to see you here so late," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Damon gave a small smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I didn't think you'd want to be alone with your thoughts."

I raised an eyebrow. "And you think your presence will make it better?"

He shrugged, taking a step closer to my desk. "Maybe not. But I thought it was time we talked again."

I crossed my arms, studying him carefully. "About what, exactly?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he glanced around the room, his gaze lingering on the sketches that covered the walls. "You've built something incredible here, Vivienne. Moretti Couture is a legacy in its own right. But I need you to understand that this marriage isn't just about business for me. It's about survival. For both of us."

I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the anger that was rising within me. "You've said that before. But I still don't understand why I'm the one who has to be a part of it. Why me?"

Damon took a step forward, his eyes locking onto mine. "Because you're more than just a designer, Vivienne. You're a symbol. You represent everything that's at stake. Your family's reputation, your success, your future—it's all tied to this marriage. And if you don't see that, then you're not seeing the bigger picture."

I stood up, pushing my chair back. "I see the bigger picture just fine, Damon. But I'm not some pawn you can move around on a chessboard. I have my own life, my own dreams. And I won't let you use me to protect yours."

His expression hardened, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes. Something softer. "I'm not trying to use you, Vivienne. I'm trying to protect you. And the more you fight this, the more you put yourself in danger."

I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "What kind of danger?"

Damon didn't answer right away. He looked at me, his gaze intense, before finally speaking. "There are people who would do anything to bring us down. To destroy everything we've worked for. And the only way to stop them is by securing our position. Together."

I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling in. "I don't want to be a part of your world, Damon. I don't want to be involved in whatever this is."

He stepped closer, his voice low and urgent. "You already are. Whether you want to be or not. You can't escape this, Vivienne. The only choice you have is whether you'll stand by my side or let it all fall apart."

I wanted to scream at him, to tell him how unfair it was to drag me into this, but something in his eyes made me pause. There was a sincerity there, a desperation that I hadn't seen before. For the first time, I realized that Damon wasn't just a man of power—he was a man who was afraid of losing it all.

---

We stood there in silence for what felt like an eternity, the tension between us thick and palpable. I wanted to run, to escape, to pretend that none of this was happening. But I knew that wasn't an option. Damon was right about one thing: I was already in too deep.

I took a deep breath, my mind racing. "What do you want from me, Damon?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small envelope, handing it to me. "I want you to understand what's at stake. Read this. It's a contract. One that will bind our families together. It's the only way to ensure our future—and yours."

I stared at the envelope, my fingers trembling as I took it from him. I didn't want to open it. I didn't want to know what was inside. But I also knew that I couldn't avoid it any longer.

I ripped the envelope open and unfolded the document inside. My eyes skimmed the words, the terms, the clauses. It was a marriage contract, but it wasn't just about love or commitment. It was about power, control, and influence. It was about aligning our families in a way that would ensure both our success and our survival.

I felt sick to my stomach as I read through the details. This wasn't just a marriage. It was a merger. A business deal disguised as something more.

---

When I finished reading, I looked up at Damon, my heart pounding in my chest. "This is what you want? This is what you're asking of me?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he studied me, his eyes softening just a fraction. "I'm not asking you to love me, Vivienne. I'm asking you to trust me. To trust that this is the only way forward. For both of us."

I wanted to scream, to throw the contract in his face, to refuse. But something inside me knew that I couldn't. I had always been the one in control, the one making the decisions. But now, I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, and Damon was the only one who could keep me from falling.

I looked down at the contract in my hands, feeling the weight of it pressing down on me. "I don't know if I can do this, Damon."

He reached out, his hand brushing mine. "You don't have to decide now. But remember, Vivienne, the world we live in isn't kind to those who hesitate. The choice is yours."

And just like that, he was gone.

---

As I sat there, the silence of the room pressing in on me, I realized that my life had just changed forever. The stakes were higher than I had ever imagined, and I had no idea what the future held. But one thing was certain: I was no longer in control. And that terrified me more than anything else.