The Maid's Deception-Chapter 65 - 64: Protection

DAMIEN’S POV

Damien stood in his study, arms crossed, face carved from ice as he waited for Victoria to be brought in.

His lawyer, Richard Chen...no relation to Mrs. Chen.....had arrived within twenty minutes, along with a thick file of documents Damien’s team had compiled on Victoria Ashford over the past few weeks.

He’d started building a dossier on her after her first visit, when she’d been hostile to Aria. Insurance. Because he’d known Victoria wouldn’t let go easily.

And he’d been right.

The door opened and two security guards escorted Victoria inside. She looked furious, indignant, her designer heels clicking sharply against the floor.

"Damien, what is the meaning of this? Your thugs physically dragged me...."

"Sit down, Victoria." His voice was cold enough to freeze. "And shut up."

She blinked, taken aback by his tone. "I will not be spoken to...."

"I said sit. Down." He didn’t raise his voice, but the command in it was absolute.

She sat, finally understanding that she was in serious trouble.

"You were banned from this estate," Damien said, moving to stand behind his desk. "I made that explicitly clear two weeks ago. Yet you returned today. Trespassed on my property. And....." His eyes narrowed. "....threatened someone under my protection."

"I don’t know what you’re talking about....."

"Don’t. Lie. To me." Each word was precisely enunciated. "You cornered Sarah Mitchell in the east wing. You threatened her with exposure. With police involvement. With imprisonment. You used information about her dying mother as leverage."

Victoria’s face paled slightly. "How did you....."

"Did you really think I wouldn’t have security monitoring your every move the moment you set foot on my property?" Damien gestured to the screens behind him, showing footage from multiple angles. "I have video of your entire conversation. Audio recordings. Everything."

He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the desk. "So here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to leave this estate immediately. You’re never going to contact Sarah again. You’re never going to speak about her, think about her, or investigate her further. You’re going to forget she exists."

"And if I don’t?" Victoria’s chin lifted defiantly. "What if I go to the police with what I found? What if I expose her for the fraud she is?"

"Then I destroy you." Damien’s voice was utterly calm, which made the threat even more chilling. "Not figuratively. Literally. I will use every resource at my disposal to dismantle your life piece by piece."

He nodded to Richard, who opened the file on the desk.

"Your father’s company is currently leveraged to dangerous levels," Richard said, reading from the documents. "One major investor pulling out could trigger a cascade of failures. Bankruptcy within six months."

"That major investor," Damien continued, "is a subsidiary of Blackwood Enterprises. Which means I could pull funding tomorrow. Watch your father’s company collapse. Watch your family lose everything."

Victoria’s face went white. "You wouldn’t...."

"I would. Without hesitation. Without remorse." He straightened. "But that’s not all. Richard, continue."

"Your brother’s legal troubles," Richard said. "The DUI that was quietly settled last year. The assault charges that were dropped due to.....let’s say....financial influence. I have documentation of all of it. Including evidence that could reopen those cases."

"And then there’s you," Damien said, his eyes cold. "Your shopping habits. The credit card debt you’ve been hiding from your family. The affair you had with your sister’s husband two years ago....yes, I know about that too. The prescription medication you’ve been obtaining illegally through a friend at the hospital."

Victoria was shaking now, all her bravado gone. "How do you...."

"I told you. When someone threatens what’s mine, I don’t play fair. I play to win." He moved around the desk, looming over her. "So here are your options. Option one: You leave quietly. You never speak Sarah’s name again. You forget this entire incident. And in exchange, I forget everything I know about you and your family."

"And option two?"

"You continue this vendetta. You try to expose Sarah. And I release everything. Your father’s company collapses. Your brother goes to prison. Your family discovers your secrets. And you...." He smiled without warmth. "You become persona non grata in every social circle that matters. Friendless. Alone. Destroyed."

Victoria’s hands clenched in her lap. "You’re bluffing."

"Am I?" Damien pulled out his phone. "One call. That’s all it takes. One call and the press receives an anonymous tip about your brother’s sealed records. Would you like me to make that call?"

"No!" She stood abruptly. "No. Fine. You win. I’ll leave her alone."

"You’ll leave her alone," Damien repeated. "You’ll leave this estate. And you’ll never return. Furthermore...." He moved closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "If I hear that you’ve said anything negative about Sarah to anyone....if you’ve spread rumors or tried to damage her reputation in any way....the deal is off. Everything I know becomes public knowledge. Do we have an understanding?"

"Yes," Victoria spat. "We have an understanding."

"Good." He stepped back. "Security will escort you to your car. You have five minutes to leave the property. If you’re still here after that, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing."

Victoria fled, her dignity in tatters, and Damien watched her go with cold satisfaction.

"That was brutal," Richard observed. "Effective, but brutal."

"She threatened someone I love," Damien said flatly. "She’s lucky that’s all I did."

After Richard left, Damien stood alone in his study for a moment, letting the adrenaline fade. Then he pulled out his phone and texted Aria.

It’s handled. Victoria is gone. She won’t bother you again. I’m coming to you now.

*******

He found her in her room, sitting on the bed, looking small and frightened. The moment he entered, she stood up.

"Is it....did she...."

"It’s over," he said, crossing to her and pulling her into his arms. "She’s gone. She’s been dealt with. And she will never threaten you again. I promise."

"What did you do?"

"What I had to do to protect you." He tilted her face up to look at him. "She had leverage on you, Although she didn’t tell me what she has over you, And i didn’t ask her because i’ll rather i hear it ffrom you.

But because she had a leverage on you, I found leverage on her too. And I made it clear that if she ever comes near you again, I’ll destroy everything she values."

"Damien—"

"Don’t." He pressed a finger to her lips. "Don’t apologize. Don’t feel guilty. You did nothing wrong. She’s the one who trespassed, who threatened, who tried to hurt you. And I won’t tolerate that."

Tears spilled down her cheeks. "She knew about .... Serah couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence. What if she tells someone anyway? What if—"

"She won’t. Trust me. The consequences for breaking our agreement are too severe." He wiped away her tears. "You’re safe, Serah. I’ve made sure of it."

He pressed his forehead to hers. "And Serah....I need you to know that you’re safe here. With me. Whatever happens, whatever comes next....I’ve got you. Always."

She collapsed against him, sobbing with relief, and he held her through it.

When her tears finally subsided, he pulled back slightly.

"Now," he said, his voice dropping to that commanding register that made her shiver. "I need to make you feel better. Need to make sure you understand that you’re mine to protect. Mine to claim. Mine."

"Yes," she whispered. "Yours. Always yours."