Chapter Twenty
Damien’s POV
Pain flooded my senses as soon as I regained consciousness. My head was pounding from a massive hangover and my body ached like a car had run it over.
Scratch that–a bus.
I opened my eyes, and the light stabbed my retinas. I clutched my head, blinking rapidly before the pain subsided.
Curled in my arms, sound asleep, was Vanessa. We were in her room and the bedding was a rumpled mess. My brows tightly furrowed as I tried to piece together the events of last night. I remembered drinking and deciding to visit Celeste.
So how did I end up with Vanessa?
My mind was foggy and brimming with unease. I untangled myself from her and sat up, groaning as nausea hit me alongside a fresh wave of agony.
I fumbled through my nightstand’s drawers.
“Good morning, babe.” Vanessa stretched beside me. “How did you sleep?”
Her words felt like hot iron skewers in my brain. I found the painkillers and swallowed one, paused, and took another.
“Be quiet.”
My voice was a rasp. I lifted the covers to get water and blinked at my bare chest. I turned to see Vanessa in one of her skimpy nightgowns. Did I sleep with her after I blacked out?
I squinted my eyes and asked, “What happened last night?”
She tucked her hair behind her ear and blushed.
“You really don’t remember?”
My tone was icy. “I wouldn’t be asking otherwise.”
Her hand ran up my chest as her lips curled into a provocative smile.
“I guess I should remind you.‘
Vanessa’s words were a purr as she leaned in to kiss me. My mind was muddled, but my body instinctively reacted. Just as things were getting heated, my phone blared, the sound like a jackhammer to the head.
I pushed her away and dug through the pile of clothes on the floor until I found it.
It was the head of the board of directors.
I swallowed to wet my throat.
“Chairman, to what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Good day, Mr. Kent.” The voice that came through didn’t return my cordial tone. “I’m calling to inform you of important information you missed at this morning’s meeting.
I glanced at the time on my’screen, and a string of curses ran through my head. It was almost noon.
1/3
Chapter Twenty
“I appreciate your call, Mr. Brown: Please excuse my absence” I glanced at Vanessa and lied through my teeth. ” was held up with urgent matters.”
“As I suspected.”
His tone told me he wasn’t buying a word of it.
I said, “Please, continue.”
“Several of our directors raised serious concerns over our recent profit reports. Customers are rejecting our imitations of Rosemary’s work.” His voice held a thinly veiled threat. “Our shareholders need reassurance that the company’s stocks won’t plummet.”
“I understand.”
I cut the call and threw my phone on the bed.
That bastard basically just told me to pull a miracle out of my ass, otherwise the shareholders would leave en masse, and our stock price would hit rock bottom.
“Why didn’t you wake me up sooner?” I scolded Vanessa as I dressed. “I need to be at the jewelry exhibition in an hour. There’s someone I need to find.”
She sat up. “That’s not much time, but I’ll get ready quickly.”
“No.” I shut her down as I did my tie. “You’re staying with Bonnie.”
She whined, “But Damien, I hardly ever have the chance to attend events like this anymore.”
I sprayed on cologne, then fastened my watch as I headed for the door.
Vanessa followed behind me as I hurried downstairs.
“Can’t we get a babysitter? Or we can leave her with my mom.” She begged.
I turned to her in the entryway.
“Bonnie needs her mother’s company. That’s final.”
My voice was firm. She sulked as I closed the front door and headed for my car. My foot pressed down on the accelerator as I sped to the exhibition.
I needed to assess who Rosemary really was.
The music and chatter in the exhibition hall did little to help with my merciless headache. I arrived to find it brimming with people. The exhibition featured only the finest and most exquisite pieces of jewelry. I appreciated the designs as I weaved through the crowds, my assistant in tow.
A series of uniquely designed pieces caught my eye. We stopped in front of the displays and all the labels read “ Rosemary“. I had seen pictures of her work online, but there was something so compelling about them in person.
“They’re beautiful.” Miss Wilson breathed beside me.
I had to agree. I could see why our customers weren’t satisfied with our knockoffs.
They couldn’t compare.
“Miss Wilson, hunt down Rosemary.” I said, my eyes glued to the designs. “She has to be somewhere in this hall.”
“What should I do if I find her?”
2/3
Chapter Twenty
“Not if, when.” I turned to my secretary. “You must find her ”
She swallowed.
“What should I do when I find her, sir?”
I looked back at the one of a kind jewelry on display.
“Offer her a job at my company.” I said.
+35 B
