I'm in my private office at the penthouse, the contract spread across the mahogany desk like a battle plan. Each clause is a blade, sharp and precise, designed to bind Sienna Alverez to me, her freedom, her future, her child. My child. The ultrasound image sits beside it, a grainy proof of the life tying us together. I should feel triumphant, one step closer to crushing Ricardo Alverez, but my chest is tight, like I'm the one trapped.
Sienna sits across from me, her hands clasped, her plain dress still wrinkled from last night. Her hazel eyes are red but fierce, like she's fighting to hold herself together. I push the contract toward her, my voice steady. "Read it. It's our agreement. Protection, resources, a future for the kid. In exchange, you stay with me."
She takes the papers, her fingers trembling as she scans the first page. Her face crumples, a flash of pain before she hides it. "This says I can't leave Velancia without your permission," she says, her voice low. "And you get joint custody, no questions asked. This isn't protection, Damien. It's control."
I lean back, my arms crossed. "It's necessity. You're a target, Ricardo, Valentina, Marcus Vellani. You think you can walk away and be safe? This keeps you alive."
She flips to the next page, her jaw tightening. "You want access to Alverez Corp's board. Through me." She looks up, her eyes blazing. "You're using me to get to my father."
I don't flinch, but her words sting. "I'm upfront about my goals," I say. "Ricardo destroyed my family. You're my way in. But I'm not letting you or the kid get hurt. That's the deal."
She laughs, sharp and bitter, tossing the contract on the desk. "Some deal. I'm trading one cage for another."
I stand, my hands gripping the desk. "You want to run? Go ahead. But you've got no money, no allies, and someone who tried to kill you last night. Sign this, and I'll give you everything, security, power, a chance to fight back."
Her eyes search mine, and for a moment, I see her fear, her anger, her strength. It shakes me, more than I want to admit. I care about her, and that's a weakness I can't afford. I shove the pen toward her, my fingers trembling despite myself. "Make a choice, Sienna."
She's still reading when my phone buzzes, Julian. I step to the window, answering quietly. "What's up?"
"Trouble," he says, his voice tense. "Ricardo's men are sniffing around the estate. They know Sienna's with you. And Marcus Vellani just met with Valentina at a hotel downtown. They're planning something."
My jaw clenches. "Get eyes on them. I want every move tracked." I glance at Sienna, her head bent over the contract. "And double security here. No one gets near her."
"Got it," Julian says. "But Damien, this contract, you sure? She's not just a pawn. You're in deep."
I grip the phone tighter. "I know what I'm doing." I hang up, but his words linger. I'm losing control, of this plan, of my feelings, of everything. I turn back to Sienna, forcing my voice calm. "Any questions?"
She sets the contract down, her hands steady now. "Yeah. What happens if I say no?"
I meet her gaze, unflinching. "You're on your own. No protection, no resources. You think Ricardo will welcome you back after yesterday?"
Her lips press thin, but she doesn't look away. "And if I sign, you own me. That's not a choice, Damien. It's a sentence."
I step closer, my voice low. "I'm not your enemy, Sienna. I'm the only one keeping you safe. Sign it, and we fight together."
She stares at me, and I see the war in her eyes, trust against fear, hope against betrayal. I hate how much I want her to trust me, how much it matters.
We're interrupted by a knock. I open the door to find Tony, my driver, holding a tablet. "Boss, you need to see this," he says, handing it over. It's a news feed, headlines screaming about Sienna's wedding disaster, photos of her storming out, and now rumors she's "missing." My name's in there too, linked to her "disappearance."
"Damn it," I mutter, scrolling. I look at Sienna, who's leaning over to see. "They're turning this into a circus."
She grabs the tablet, her face paling as she reads. "They're saying I ran off with you. That I'm… unstable." Her voice shakes, but her eyes harden. "Father's behind this. He's trying to ruin me."
I take the tablet back, my mind racing. "He's discrediting you. Making you look weak so he can control the narrative." I turn to Tony. "Get our PR team on this. Kill these stories, now."
Tony nods and leaves, but Sienna's already pacing, her hands clenched. "I can't let him win," she says. "He took everything, Ethan, Valentina, my name. I won't let him take this baby too."
"Then sign," I say, pointing to the contract. "We fight him together. You get power, I get justice. Win-win."
She stops, her eyes narrowing. "Justice? You mean revenge. Don't pretend this is noble, Damien."
I don't answer, because she's right. This started with revenge, but now, with her standing here, pregnant with my kid, it's something else. Something I can't name.
My phone rings again, Clara Vasquez. I put it on speaker, knowing Sienna needs to hear. "Clara, what's the situation?" I ask.
"Sienna, you there?" Clara's voice is sharp, urgent. "I'm at my office. Ricardo's locked down the estate, and I found more on the will. You're the majority shareholder, but he's got a forged amendment. He's trying to cut you out."
Sienna's hands grip the desk, her voice trembling. "Forged? Clara, are you sure?"
"Positive," Clara says. "I'm working on legal options, but you need to stay hidden. He's got people looking for you."
I cut in. "She's safe with me. Keep digging, Clara. We need that original will."
"On it," she says. "Sienna, stay strong. I've got your back." The call ends, and Sienna sinks into a chair, her face pale.
"He's stealing my mother's legacy," she whispers, her hands covering her face. "Everything she wanted for me."
I kneel beside her, my voice soft. "We'll stop him. But you need to trust me, Sienna. Sign the contract, and we'll tear him apart."
She looks at me, tears in her eyes but steel in her voice. "Trust you? After this?" She points to the contract, her hand shaking.
I nod, holding her gaze. "I'm not perfect. But I'm here. And I'll fight for you."
We move to the kitchen for coffee, needing a break from the tension. Sienna's quiet, sipping her mug, the contract on the counter between us. My phone buzzes, a text from Julian: Valentina's at Marcus's office. They're moving money, fast. Looks like a takeover bid. I curse, showing Sienna the message.
"Valentina's working with Marcus?" she says, her voice rising. "She's betraying Father too?"
"Looks like it," I say. "They're making a play for Alverez Corp. We need to move faster."
She sets her mug down, her eyes fierce. "I want in. If I sign, I'm not just your pawn. I get a say."
I nod, impressed despite myself. "Deal. Equal partners. But you sign first."
She stares at the contract, her hands clenched. I can see her fear, her anger, the weight of everything, her child, her legacy, her life. My own hands tremble as I pick up the pen, offering it to her. I'm forcing this, and it feels wrong, like I'm betraying the part of me that wants to protect her, not control her. But I need her, for the plan, for the kid, for… something more.
She takes the pen, her eyes locked on mine. "I'll sign," she says, her voice steadier than I expect. "If you swear you won't use my child as a weapon."
I freeze, her words cutting deep. She's calling my bluff, forcing me to face what I'm becoming. I nod, my voice low. "I swear."