Nothing much happened today, babe," Janaya said softly, still watching him.
Her gaze hadn't moved.
Not even once.
"And… why is Jason not used to this version of you?" she added, tilting her head slightly. "He looked genuinely disturbed. Like your softness offended him."
Damian let out a quiet breath.
"If you keep staring at me like that," he said calmly, eyes fixed on the road, "I might lose focus."
Janaya smiled.
"maybe you're the one seeing too much."
That earned a faint smirk from him.
Silence followed—
But not empty.
Just… filled.
Then—
"So," Janaya said, her voice dropping slightly, "does that mean I'm the only one?"
This time, Damian glanced at her.
Just briefly.
But it was enough.
"You don't know you are?" he replied.
Her heart reacted instantly.
Too fast.
Too loud.
She looked away, trying to hide it.
Then—
"What about your parents?" she asked, more carefully this time.
That question shifted something.
Not obvious.
But there.
"They're not around," Damian said simply.
Janaya frowned slightly.
"Not around like…?"
He didn't answer immediately.
The car slowed slightly as he turned into a quieter road.
"Jason was four when they divorced," he said after a while. "I was ten."
His voice stayed calm.
Controlled.
"My mom got custody. But the man she remarried… didn't want us."
Janaya's chest tightened.
"So we left," he continued. "Stayed with our grandmother."
A pause.
"I figured things out from there."
That was all.
No emotion.
No explanation.
Just facts.
Janaya swallowed.
"Ouu… I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine," he said.
She hesitated.
"Is that why Jason reacts like that? Because… he doesn't really know this side of you?"
Damian exhaled softly.
"He just likes being dramatic."
That was his way of ending the conversation.
And she understood.
So she didn't push.
The car slowed to a stop.
And for a moment—
Janaya didn't even realize they had arrived.
It was the sound that caught her first.
Water.
Soft.
Continuous.
Her eyes lifted.
And then she saw it.
A wide, cascading waterfall built into the entrance, flowing over dark stones, surrounded by perfectly trimmed greenery. The lights around it reflected softly on the water, giving everything a calm, almost surreal glow.
It didn't feel loud.
It didn't feel like wealth screaming.
It felt…
Peaceful.
"Wow…" she whispered without thinking.
Damian stepped out first, walking around to her side.
"Come," he said, opening the door for her.
She stepped out slowly.
Still taking everything in.
The air felt different.
Cooler.
Quieter.
Safer.
As they walked toward the entrance—
Her thoughts drifted.
Uncontrolled.
Unfiltered.
This could be home…
The idea slipped in so naturally it scared her.
A soft laugh echoed in her mind.
Children running.
A quiet evening.
Him.
Her.
A life that didn't feel complicated.
For a second—
She saw it.
Felt it.
Lived it.
"Good afternoon, ma."
The voice snapped her back instantly.
Reality.
She blinked.
The maids stood respectfully at the entrance.
And just like that—
The dream faded.
Damian didn't stop.
He led her into his room—his space—closing the door behind them as the world outside quietly disappeared.
"Your room looks good… and big," Janaya said, sitting at the edge of the bed, trying to sound composed.
"All these compliments from someone who once entered here trying to steal my shirt?" Damian replied, standing before the mirror, loosening his tie.
"Oh please, I was dared," she said, standing up and walking toward him.
Closer.
"Stay still."
Her fingers found his tie, loosening it gently.
He didn't resist.
Didn't move.
Just watched her.
When she was done… she didn't step back.
Her hands moved to his shirt.
Slowly.
"Should I?" She asked
He nodded slowly, eyes fixed on her
One button.
Then another.
Then another.
Her eyes lifted to his.
"You have a nice body…" she whispered, her fingers brushing lightly against his chest.
That was all it took.
Damian looked at her,
And kissed her.
This time, it wasn't hesitant.
It wasn't playful.
It was deeper.
He pulled her closer, his hand firm at her waist as her fingers held onto him like she didn't want distance anymore.
The space between them disappeared.
Everything slowed.
Then blurred.
And somewhere between soft breaths and quiet tension—
They crossed the line neither of them had spoken about.
The room fell silent after.
Not empty.
Just… still.
Like they had both used up their strengths.
Janaya lay turned away slightly, her thoughts louder than the quiet around her.
Damian stared at the ceiling, one arm resting behind his head, breathing steady but not calm.
It wasn't just what happened.
It was what it meant.
After a moment—
He turned, reaching for her gently and pulling her closer.
"Are you shy?" he asked softly.
"Maybe…" she replied, her voice quieter now.
A small smile touched his lips.
"You started this," he said lightly. "I don't think you should be shy."
Janaya exhaled slowly.
"More like… I'm scared."
That changed everything.
Damian sat up slightly.
He understood.
Not the moment—
But her.
"You're scared this just… happened?" he asked carefully.
"That it didn't mean anything?"
She didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
She stood up slowly, reaching for her dress.
"Janaya…"
She paused.
Damian got up, closing the distance between them.
His hand found her waist, gently pulling her back.
He leaned closer—
His voice low.
Soft.
Right by her ear.
"Then let's give it meaning."
A pause.
Then—
"Will you be mine?"
Everything stilled.
Her heart.
Her thoughts.
Time.
She turned to face him slowly.
The smile came first.
Then the warmth in her eyes.
"Yes…" she said softly.
"Not like I can say no."
Damian smiled.
And this time—
When he pulled her close again,
It wasn't just desire.
It was something deeper.
Something real.
Damian grabbed his towel and went to shower
As soon as the door closed behind her, Janaya reached for her phone.
"Guys, he made it official," she typed quickly.
"I swore today never to believe any of you after what Maya did," Timothy replied almost immediately.
"Janaya, are you serious?" Maya asked, completely ignoring Timothy.
"Okay, it's high time I leave this group 🤦♀️," Jason texted.
"Okay guys, my friend is officially owned. Back offfff," Maya added, lying on her bed, clearly excited.
"Guys, I need to go. Also Jason, when are you coming home?" Janaya typed.
"Now you sound like a mom I never had," Jason replied.
"Step…" Timothy added.
The group burst into laughter.
"Jason will be so shocked to see Janaya in his house," Maya typed.
"Wait… what? Janaya!!! Jesus, I hope we don't cross paths," Jason replied.
"Guys, I need to go. My man needs me. And Jason—I want you home as soon as possible," Janaya added, laughing to herself.
"I hate you, Janaya!!" Jason replied.
The chat slowly went quiet as everyone returned to their day.
Damian stepped out of the shower, water droplets still clinging to his skin as he used a towel to dab his hair.
"You should go shower, babe," he said casually.
Janaya looked up at him, her legs crossed, eyes slowly scanning him without shame.
"This body…" she said, a teasing smile forming, "…it's doing something to me."
Damian chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"Get a new towel and go shower, young woman," he replied.
Janaya didn't move immediately. She held his gaze for a second longer, then stood up lazily.
"Bossy," she muttered under her breath as she walked past him.
Damian heard it—but said nothing, a faint smile lingering on his lips.
Without another word, Janaya grabbed a towel and headed into the bathroom.
Later that day, Janaya stepped out of the room, heading to the kitchen to make coffee.
She stopped.
Jason.
"Hey, Jason," she said, a soft smile playing on her lips.
"Can we just act like we don't know each other, please?" Jason replied immediately, already turning away.
Janaya rolled her eyes slightly.
"Well… don't forget to do Mr. Thomas' assignment," she said casually as she walked past him into the kitchen.
Jason froze.
"We were given an assignment?" he asked, quickly following her.
"Yes. By Mr. Thomas," Janaya replied, reaching for the coffee jar like nothing happened.
Jason narrowed his eyes.
"Can you just send me the workings?" he said, almost pleading now.
Janaya turned slowly, crossing her arms.
"On one condition," she said, lifting her chin slightly.
"Bow to me… and say all hail the queen."
Jason stared at her for a second.
Then scoffed.
"You think I don't know there's no Mr. Thomas and no assignment?" he said, folding his arms.
"Queen my foot."
Janaya burst into laughter.
Jason followed.
For a moment, everything felt normal again.
Footsteps.
Damian.
He walked into the living room, calm as ever.
"Sir," Nico's voice came from behind.
Damian turned slightly.
"We've completed our investigation on Ethan Cole," Nico continued, walking closer—his voice clear, professional…
Too clear.
"He is Miss Janaya's fiancé."
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Nico froze slightly—only then realizing Janaya was standing there.
But it was too late.
Damian didn't move.
Didn't speak.
For the first time—
He felt it.
Not anger.
Not confusion.
But something far worse.
Betrayal.