*Isabella's POV*
"Resignation?" Damien asked, the word laced with a sharp disbelief that cut through the professional calm of his office. He leaned forward, his hands placed on the polished desk, his CEO mask firmly in place, but I could see the cracks forming underneath.
"You know how much I fucking hated this field of work, Damien," Jacob said, his voice earnest, a stark contrast to his usual playful teasing. "I hated business, and you know it."
"Hated? But you're a natural," Damien countered, his brow furrowed in genuine confusion.
"It's true, I do have a natural charm," Jacob said with a weak, smile. "But I wanted to develop apps. I'm not happy anymore. I don't like what I do. I want to work with my laptop alone and be creative, and if I wake up and decide I want to work from a fucking beach, I want to be able to do that." The words came out in a rush, a lifetime of suppressed frustration finally finding its voice.
My heart swelled with a pride so fierce it almost hurt. "I'm so proud of you," I said, my voice soft but firm. "I know you never really liked business." I reached out and placed a hand on his arm, a small gesture of support.
Damien's jaw tightened, a flicker of hurt so raw and quick it was almost gone before I could fully register it. He leaned back in his chair, trying to project an air of unfazed authority.
"You know I'll miss you, and I'll always need you by my side in the company," he said, his voice carefully level, "but if that's what you want, I'll find you a replacement ASAP."
He was trying to sound unfazed, but we could see the hurt written all over his fucking face, the slight tightening around his eyes a dead giveaway.
"So you're telling me no more trips to New York?" I asked, trying to lighten the mood, a playful pout on my lips.
"I do plan to travel more," Jacob said, his face lighting up again. "But you guys are coming with me."
"More?" Damien countered, a hint of his old sarcasm returning. "You already take us on two vacations per year."
"Two one-week vacations that's nothing," Jacob said, waving a dismissive hand, making me laugh.
"Anyway, there's something else I'd like to do" Jacob continued, his playful demeanour suddenly vanishing. "I think... I'll need your help with this one," he said, his voice suddenly serious and a little hesitant.
That evening, I got home and showered as instructed, the hot water a welcome caress after a long day at the office. When I walked into my bedroom, I found a stunning blue gown was laid out on my bed.
I slipped it on, the cool, silky fabric a whisper against my skin. It was fucking magnificent. The colour was a deep, vibrant sapphire that made my eyes pop, hugging my curves in all the right places and accentuating my cleavage with a daringly low cut.
A long slit ran up the side, stopping high on my thigh, promising a glimpse of leg with every step. I did my makeup, opting for a smoky eye that felt as dramatic as the dress, and let my curly hair down, letting it fall in a wild crown around my shoulders. Once I was ready, I took one last look in the mirror. The woman staring back was powerful, sexy, and completely, utterly theirs.
I headed downstairs, my heels clicking on the marble floor. A sleek black limousine was already waiting at the curb, its engine a low, purring rumble. I hoped inside, sinking into the plush leather.
"You look good enough to eat," Damien said, his voice a low, appreciative growl. He leaned in and planted a soft, possessive kiss on my cheek.
I looked from him to Jacob. Both were dressed in sharp black suits, but they couldn't have been more different. Damien's was a classic, perfectly tailored tuxedo that screamed sophistication and power. Jacob's, while still impeccably made, had a slightly more modern, playful cut, the collar unbuttoned just enough to show a hint of his tattoos.
"Let's get this spectacular evening started," I said, popping the cork on the bottle of champagne I found chilling in a bucket of ice.
"You guys have set my expectations too high," Jacob said with a dramatic pout, his eyes wide with nervousness. "I'm fucking nervous now."
"It's more than spectacular, Jacob. You'll see," Damien said, a confident, knowing smirk on his face.
"You organised quite the event," I said, reassuringly squeezing Jacob's hand.
"I mean, the mayor will be there," Damien said, his tone casual, as if he were just discussing the weather.
"Its a fundraiser for addiction research and support for families of overdosing patients," Jacob added, his voice suddenly losing its playful edge, replaced by a sincerity.
"It's the least I can do. I still see the look of that kid's father before he shot me." A shadow of the old pain crossed his face.
"Classic Jacob," I said softly, trying to lighten the heavy mood with a gentle giggle. "The man tried to kill you, and you throw a charity event in his honour."
"You've always been the one with the heart of gold," Damien said, his voice filled with a deep, brotherly affection that made my heart ache.
"You do know you're gonna rock this, right?" I asked Jacob, turning to face him fully.
"Well..." he said, dragging the word out with a hint of that familiar, mischievous glint in his eye, almost as if to say, I know exactly what I'm gonna rock tonight.
"I love you, you dummy," I said, and he laughed, a bright, genuine sound that chased away the last of the shadows in the car.
The event was finally dying down. The initial, frantic energy of the crowd had softened into a low, contented hum. The main speeches were done, the donations pledged. Now, most people were just lingering, clustering in small groups, the clinking of glasses and low chatter a pleasant background noise.
"I can finally breathe," Jacob said, letting out a long, weary sigh as he leaned against the balcony railing beside me. The charming, confident host persona he'd worn all night had finally slipped away, revealing the man underneath, exhausted but proud.
"You're so good at this," I said softly, my voice a private murmur meant only for him. I reached up and planted a soft kiss on his cheek, a small anchor in his sea of post-performance adrenaline. "You killed it in front of the camera earlier, but now I see how tense you are."
"Thank you guys for helping me pull this off," Jacob said, his gaze shifting between me and Damien, who was standing on my other side, a solid, silent presence.
"Of course we did," Damien said, his voice a low, steady rumble of unwavering support.
"We're the power throuple," I added with a playful, triumphant grin.
"Indeed we are," Damien said, a rare, genuine smile touching his lips as he agreed.
They were silent for a few minutes, but they had this shared knowing look, a silent, electric current passing between them. It was a look I knew all too well, a look that meant they were on the same page, a page I, for once, hadn't been read in on. A look that said, clearly, they were up to something.