The car door closed softly.
And just like that,
It was just the two of them.
Janaya adjusted slightly in her seat, trying to act normal.
But nothing about this felt normal.
Not the car.
Not the silence.
Not him.
Damian got into the driver's seat.
No driver.
No guards.
Just him.
Again.
He started the engine.
Calm.
Composed.
Like always.
But his eyes flickered briefly—
Towards her.
Then back to the road.
"You look different," he said.
Janaya turned slightly,
"Different… good or different… confusing?"
A small pause.
Then,
"Dangerous."
Her brows lifted.
"Dangerous?"
"Yes," he said simply. "The kind that makes people forget what they were thinking."
Janaya looked away quickly.
Hiding the smile threatening to form.
The car moved smoothly into the night.
Lights passing.
City glowing.
"So," Damian continued, one hand steady on the wheel, "what happened today?"
Janaya sighed softly.
"Do you really want to hear about a lecturer ruining my life over an assignment?"
"I asked, didn't I?" he replied.
She hesitated.
Then—
She started talking.
Not everything.
Not the big things.
Not Ethan.
Not the forced marriage.
Just…
Safe things.
Simple things.
And Damian listened.
Not interrupting.
Not rushing her.
Just listening.
"You're selective," he said after a while.
Janaya frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"You talk," he said, glancing at her briefly, "but you don't say everything."
Her heart skipped.
"And you?" she shot back quickly. "Mr. Cold CEO. Do you say everything?"
A faint smirk touched his lips.
"No."
"Then we're the same," she said.
Silence again.
But this time—
Comfortable.
Then—
"What about you?" she asked. "The real you. Not the version everyone knows."
Damian didn't respond immediately.
For a moment, it felt like she had asked too much.
Then—
"You already saw part of him," he said.
Janaya blinked.
"When?"
"The night you broke into my room."
She laughed.
"I didn't break in!"
"You were in my space," he corrected calmly.
"And you were dancing in a pink robe," she fired back.
That made him chuckle.
Soft.
Unexpected.
"You're not as innocent as you look," he said.
"And you're not as cold as people say," she replied.
Their eyes met briefly.
Something shifted.
Again.
And this time,
Neither of them looked away immediately.
The car slowed to a smooth stop.
Soft golden lights reflected off the glass walls of Felvic Lounge, giving it that quiet luxury only a few places could carry.
Before Janaya could react—
Damian was already out.
Walking to her side.
Opening the door.
Like it was nothing.
Like it was normal.
She stepped out slowly.
But inside?
Her heart was doing too much.
"After you," he said.
And for some reason…
That simple gesture made her feel important.
Not admired.
Not chased.
Just… chosen.
Inside—
Everything felt calm.
Soft music.
Low conversations.
Elegance.
They sat.
Orders placed.
Silence settled for a second.
Not awkward.
Just… new.
Janaya's eyes dropped slightly.
"To his wrist…"
"Your watch looks nice," she said softly.
"…and you smell really good too."
Damian smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
She looked back up.
"So Mr. Cold CEO… how did you know my shoe size? The heels fit perfectly… the dress too."
"Jason."
He said it casually, sipping his mocktail.
Janaya blinked.
"Wait—Jason told you all that??"
"It came with a price," he added.
Her brows lifted.
"He collected money?? You people are funny."
Damian shook his head slightly.
"Not money, it's personal"
Janaya laughed softly.
"I'm definitely questioning him tomorrow."
Then—
His gaze changed.
Softer.
Deeper.
"At the rooftop…" he said quietly,
"I wanted to apologize for how I left."
A pause.
"But it looked like you enjoyed the night without me."
Janaya smiled.
That small, teasing smile.
"You kiss people… and disappear after a call?"
Damian leaned slightly forward.
"I can make that up to you."
Her heart skipped.
"How?"
"I forgive you," she said quickly.
"It looked urgent."
"That doesn't mean I won't still make it up to you."
Their eyes held.
Longer this time.
And then,
Laughter.
Easy.
Natural.
Unexpected.
Janaya leaned back slightly, smiling.
She hadn't felt like this in a while.
Light.
Free.
Happy.
Damian watched her.
Quietly.
And for the first time—
He wasn't thinking like a CEO.
He was just… there,
With her,
Like someone who had forgotten how to be careful
"The other day…" Damian said,
"You asked about my past. I didn't get to ask about yours."
Janaya exhaled.
"That's because someone ended the conversation with a kiss and ran away."
He smiled.
Guilty.
"He was a lecturer," she said.
Damian paused.
"Wait… what??"
"Keep your voice down," she whispered quickly.
"No one knows. Not even Jason."
He leaned back slightly.
Studying her.
"Who is this lecturer?"
"It was a year ago," she said.
"It just… happened."
Her voice softened.
"We had to hide it because of all at stake. Then he realized he couldn't continue… and honestly, I was tired too."
Silence.
Damian smirked slightly.
"So behind that innocent face…"
"Oh please," she rolled her eyes.
"Like you've lived a saint life."
"I haven't." He said smiling
She leaned forward.
"Tell me more about your Exes"
"You know enough already." He answered immediately
"But I want more," she said softly, almost pouting.
Damian exhaled.
Then—
"She was forty-five."
Janaya froze.
"…what?"
"I was twenty-five."
"Damian—I'm leaving," she said dramatically, but didn't move.
He smiled.
"She was good. No complications. No expectations and I was into older women."
Janaya shook her head slowly.
"You have experience."
His gaze locked onto hers.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Her breath caught.
The space between them?
Gone.
After a lot of moments together,
"I think we should leave, I have a class tomorrow I should rest" Janaya said staring at him
"People like me don't have that excuse" he said as he helped her out of her sit
The both laughed it off
The drive back was quiet.
But not empty.
They stopped in front of her apartment.
"Thank you for today," Janaya said softly.
"And your secrets are safe with me."
Damian smiled.
"I should be saying that… to someone who dated a lecturer."
She laughed slightly.
Then paused.
She leaned closer.
Slowly.
"You said you would make up for the rooftop."
That was all it took.
Damian's hand moved to her waist.
Pulling her closer.
And then—
He kissed her.
Not rushed.
Not hesitant.
But deep.
Intentional.
Like he had been holding back.
Her fingers tightened slightly against him.
Her breath caught.
It wasn't just a kiss.
It was—
"I want you."
"I've been thinking about this."
"Don't stop."
They pulled apart.
Just slightly.
Foreheads almost touching.
Then again.
This time slower.
Longer.
More dangerous.
And when it finally stopped—
Neither of them moved immediately.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" she whispered.
"I have meetings babe" he said softly.
"But I'll make time."
A pause.
"If anything changes… I'll let you know."
"Babe… That wasn't a mistake right?"
Her voice dropped.
Shy.
Almost unsure.
Damian smiled.
Soft.
Real.
"No," he said quietly.
"It wasn't a mistake."
Her heart melted.
"You should go in." He said
"Text me when you get home." Janaya said holding his hands unwilling to go
"I'll call you."
He stepped out.
Opened the door.
Watched her walk in.
And only when she disappeared did his expression change.
The drive back was quiet
Too quiet.
Then—
He noticed it.
A car.
Too consistent.
Too careful.
His grip tightened slightly.
He reached calmly.
Pulled out his gun.
Not panic.
Just instinct.
He slowed.
Parked.
Stepped out.
Nothing.
But something felt off.
Later—
He found it.
A tracker.
His jaw tightened.
"Victor!!" He said angry
This wasn't random.
But he wondered why he was tracked
Then his though shifted to her
"They know where she lives…"
He sent a message.
Within minutes—
His security arrived.
The tracker was removed.
Handled.
Contained.
But Damian knew something.
Deep down.
This wasn't the end.
It was just…
The beginning.
"Send a few men to watch her quietly"
A pause,
"No mistakes this time"