The Tycoon's Secret(57)

Sierra could relate to how he felt. She missed her mom every day. She always imagined how differently her life would've turned out had her mom been there. She may have actually been a normal child. She'd never believe the things her father said about her. She hoped her mother was far happier wherever she was, and the only thing that kept Sierra from falling apart was knowing she'd someday see her again.

Sierra set down her empty glass of wine, surprised she drank the entire amount. It really had been good. She then wrapped her arms around Damien, not able to give him the cold shoulder when he was obviously fighting such a ferocious internal battle.

"I'm fine," he said, not letting his walls down, but he didn't push her away. She took that as a good sign.

"What do you plan to do?" This time he didn't try and pretend he didn't know what she was taking about.

"I've already started. The Anderson's have a lot of different divisions to their vast empire. I've been working for years to take away the one thing that matters to them  –  their income. They have several shipping yards throughout the world, so I'm building my own shipping company. I'll supply the same products at a lower cost, taking away their business. If they have a mall in a city, I'll build a larger, better one with lower rents. Every market they're invested in, I'll come behind and undercut them. In the process, it will most likely break me, too, but I don't care. I've lived with nothing before, and I can live that way again."

"I think you're making a mistake. I know them, Damien. They aren't anything like my father. They're good people. If you'd just talk to them  – "

"No! You have no idea what you're talking about," he interrupted. 

Sierra didn't know what else to say. Her heart was broken at his internal turmoil and she felt like she was being torn in half between him and her loyalties to Bree and the Anderson's. She knew without a doubt that she was falling for him, and she also knew they had no chance of a future together. He was too angry, too set on revenge, and the people he wanted to hurt were the people she loved most in the world.

With a lump in her throat, Sierra lay back down. She didn't feel like fighting with him anymore that night. She knew if she tried to get up, he'd just drag her back. Hopefully, if she just turned over and went to sleep, he'd leave her alone, let her have time to think.

She was grateful when the light went out and she felt him shift behind her. His arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her tightly against his body.

"I have to do this," he said, almost a plea in his voice.

"No, Damien, you don't. What you should do is learn the truth," she said, her own voice sounding defeated.

It seemed she was destined to go from one battle zone to the next. Sierra was grateful when she felt herself beginning to drift to sleep. She'd start fresh the next day.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Sierra watched Damien walk into the room and her mouth literally fell open. He was beyond simply stunning, he was one-hundred-percent mouthwatering in his custom made tux which fit him to perfection.

She couldn't take her eyes off the man as he stopped and chatted with various people as he made his way across the large ballroom floor.

They were at a fundraiser for the Red Cross, raising funds to help the military troops during the upcoming season. On one hand she was thrilled to be there, loving fundraisers, and how much money could be raised in a single night. The money that meant little to nothing to the wealthy donors, fed soldiers, supplied their families while they were away, and for the unfortunate many, buried them properly.

A sense of dread filled her, though, because she knew her father would be in attendance. She hadn't wanted to come alone, but Damien had been called away at the last minute to one of his local factories, so he'd sent her ahead.

She smiled when she thought about the day before. She didn't know how it had happened, but she'd been living with him for about a month, ever since that first night in his home. He'd changed. He hadn't brought up his vendetta against the Anderson's. The way he spoke to her, the many simple things he did, like bringing her flowers when they were apart and always opening doors for her, was securing him tightly into her heart.

As she gazed at him, she knew she was in love  –  hopelessly, infectiously in love with him. She could tell he was starting to feel the same way about her. She did her job each day and then made love to him each night.

For the past month, Damien had put Sierra to work. Literally. She'd complained he wasn't giving her a job  –  well, now she was almost as busy as him. She was more than pleased when she discovered she was actually quite good at being his P.R. Rep.

She handled clients, organized meetings, and typed endless amounts of letters. One thing she discovered about Damien was that he was generous to a fault. He donated far more than what would look good for him on taxes. He personally handled most of the donations, never refusing anyone who called.