"Okay."
He went off and Merry had to hurry off the kitchen, kissing her sister and bestfriend goodbye.
When she got to BlackByte Cyber Systems and Technology, the reception was different than her first day there.
Everyone smiled at her.
Ah, she needed to check the news again.
The secretaries smiled directly at her. Some tried not to look jealous and typed furiously, checking her out.
The smiling secretary handed Merry over to an older, dark skinned, neatly dressed and fresh lady who gave a curt curtsy.
"Hello, ma'am. I am Sadeola Harvey. Call me Sade, please. I am ordered by Mr Damon Blackwell to lead you to Floor 70 where he resides. Follow me."
Merry smiled and followed Sadeola and when they got to the wide white corridor outside Damon's office, it took some time for Damon to authenticate their entrance.
Merry's heart was beating that she believed Sadeola would hear it.
Soon, Damon's office door slid open and Sadeola gave Merry one polite smile before Merry courageously went in and silently uncovered his lunch.
Merry carefully arranged what she brought and tried not to look at Damon who kept glancing at her face and typing codes.
She managed to look up and she met Damon's emotionless eyes.
He was checking her out.
"You eat before it gets cold." Merry said, stiffly and went to sit, immediately turning on her phone and watching a movie.
Damon obeyed her.
The news flew in again.
Her. At her restaurant.
She had never been this exposed in her life but she'd signed up for it.
"Damon, how did everyone know?"
He bit into a pancake and closed his eyes, savoring the taste. Merry frowned.
Was everything linked to an orgasm? She thought sarcastically.
He looked at her and their eyes met again.
"Do you want some?" He asked and Merry cursed softly, looking away.
"No. I want to know how things got out."
"We try to keep things secret but somehow, they just get out. That reminds me, you'll meet my.... THE BLACKWELLS tomorrow."
Merry noticed what he called HIS FAMILY.
"Of course, I'll love to see them. Afterall, they have a son in my care."
Damon looked at her, displeased somehow.
"Don't look at me like that. You need my help...."
"Don't say all that to me." He snapped.
"Don't snap at me. Accept it. You-need-help...."
He seethed, furiously.
"....And you need to relax and eat up or I'll pack up and leave."
His grip tightened around his fork. Merry was pleased to see him angry.
"Be quiet." He warned.
Merry rose and went to seat opposite him.
"What happened, Damon? Or.... What's happening?"
Silence.
"Damon, I apologize for making you uncomfortable but.... I'm curious."
"You're making me feel uncomfortable."
She reached to touch his arm and he moved back.
Merry's forehead creased.
"I don't know anything. You're annoying, yes. I hate you, sure. But.... I can't just get paid and you lose the.... DARE. We're on the same team. No matter.... the past thing. The contract expects you to be of a good conduct and meet certain conditions on the 25th of December. It believes I can help you.... You picked me. But, how can I help if I don't know what I'm dealing with?"
He licked his lip and relaxed a little bit.
"It's clear to see." He began, angry. "I hate people. So much. Maybe you can make me look.... kind-hearted."
"Oh...."
Silence.
He spoke, calmly now. Dangerously.
"And don't you ever mention the past to me. Ever again. I hate everything about it."
"I wouldn't want to because I hate you back.... Too much...."
"And you burrowed in my arms last night, moaning and fragile?"
Merry paused, tongue-tied. She looked for something to say but Damon beat her to it.
"I know. You were doing your job."
"I truly wish we'd never met, Damon. You're selfish and wicked."
Something like pain crossed his face as he looked at his plate but he smiled dryly and resumed eating.
Merry did not like how this ended but she was happy to have hit him. Maybe.
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Merry was nervous about meeting his parents. She wanted to look her best at the family dinner.
Samantha was in her room, giving ideas, clapping, making noise as usual. They were excited and scared at the same time.
Soon, Merry wore a green turtleneck that hugged her breasts and dark blue jeans that shaped her hips and long legs. She wrapped a grey scarf around her neck and slipped on a matching coat.
At 12:00pm, Samantha squealed.
"Girl, we nailed it. Casual enough for his parents. Sexy enough to turn Damon on."
"Sam, you're scaring me."
"Or you're simply scared of meeting the Blackwells."
"Yes. That."
"Merry!" Nicki, her younger sister, yelled from the hallway. "Your date is here."
"Lower your voice, Nicki...." Merry hissed. "Dad is sleeping."
She grabbed her purse, wore her heels, and rushed out. Nicki's eyes widened.
"Merry… you look so fucking hot."
Merry only rolled her eyes and walked with Samantha behind her.
"You're swearing again, Nicki."
Nicki blushed. "Merry, I'm nineteen now. Don't dodge my compliment."
"Thanks, little chicken."
Nicki curtsied and ran to join Samantha, who was already peeping through the front window.
Merry took a breath, steadying her shaking hands. The memory of Damon slamming inside her flashed in her mind and she blushed.
"Just sex," she reminded herself. "Just business with the motherfucker."
Damon waited in a simple car to avoid attention, but her neighbors still stared hard.
She opened the back door. Damon sat stiffly, avoiding her eyes.
"Hi." She greeted.
"Hi."
"Scoot in."
"There's enough space."
She leaned in, irritated. "You don't want people to see you, do you?"
Immediately, he pressed himself against the far end like getting noticed was dangerous. Merry almost laughed.
The drive was quiet except for when Damon snapped at his driver.
Soft music. Heavy silence.
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🎶🌳🎄❤️
The mansion screamed luxury. Valets took their coats. A doorman led them in.
"Hold my hand," Merry said.
He hesitated, then grabbed it, muttering a curse.
"Make it make sense," she whispered.
"Don't confuse this," he warned.
"Then play your role."
He pulled her close, jaw tight.
They entered the dining room—perfect, cold.
The Blackwell family waited.
Merry swallowed and smiled. "Hi."
Damon's grandmother brightened. "Welcome. Sit."
A sharp voice cut through the room.
"Is that a fiancée or a maid?" Damon's father asked.
"A cook," Damon replied, irritated.
Merry touched his arm. He eased.
Silence stretched.
"I apologize for the rough entry," Merry said.
A blonde woman spoke, disdainfully. "We'll be the ones speaking."
"Shut up when it's my business, Tracy Donovan," Damon snappedat her.
Emily reached for his arm but Merry's hand was already there.
"Stop," Damon muttered. "I'm not a child."
Osbourne Blackwell studied Merry. "Your name?"
"Merry Steele, sir."
"And your place in society?"
Damon snapped. "Question me, not her."
Osbourne's voice stayed cold. "We protect this family. Moderate status is safer. For the press."
"Fuck the press."
Merry's hand rose again. Damon glanced at her. "Don't."
Tension thickened.
"Do you use TikTok?" Emily, Damon's sister asked sweetly, sounding like Lydia from Teen Wolf.
Before Merry could answer, a fist hit the table.
"Enough!" Michael Donovan, Damon's step-grandfather, said.
Osbourne straightened. "We want unity. Order. And Damon Blackwell and his… fiancée must keep BlackByte strong. But there are concerns."
Merry's chest tightened.
Osbourne's gaze pinned her. "You are here by exception. Keep the contract private. Follow instructions. Help.... Damon. You'll be well compensated. Ruin our name, and there will be consequences."
She opened her mouthto speak.
"Merry," Damon cut in. "Don't."
Her eyes met Naomi's. Naomi sent her a soft smile.
"This is corporate," Osbourne continued. "He resistedthe offer, but he has no choice but choose you. When did you meet?"
"Years ago," Merry said.
"And the relationship?"
"It was… casual."
Damon ate without tasting it.
Osbourne studied her, unconvinced. "Weren't you the—"
He stopped.
Merry looked at Naomi but Naomi was looking at Tracy in some kind of way.
"Never mind. You're welcome. Do your part."
He turned to the table. "Let's eat and disperse. Thomas, Tristan, Julian, and Martin are not here, and it's a shame. Damon, we need to talk."