Chapter 21: Damian Cross
Bella let him go with a polite smile, then turned to Chloe as soon as he was out of earshot. "Okay. Spill. What’s going on between you and Raymond?"
Chloe blinked innocently. "Nothing."
"Chloe," Bella said flatly, crossing her arms. "You promised you’d tell me everything. I just forgot to ask about it last night."
Chloe sighed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Fine. There’s nothing going on... but like you’ve observed, I like him. That’s all."
Bella tilted her head. "And doesn’t he like you back?"
"No." Chloe’s voice was quiet. "He doesn’t even know about it."
Bella softened, leaning in. "Then make him see you. Especially now that he’s actually talking to you. This is your chance."
Chloe laughed bitterly. "As much as I’d love that, it’s obvious he doesn’t see me that way. He likes you, Bella."
Bella blinked. "What? What do you mean?"
Chloe’s eyes held a sad sort of resignation. "I’ve been working here two years, since the same time he joined. Yesterday was the first time he actually spoke to me—and only because of you. He offered to show you around, took you to lunch without me. And now here he is again, offering jobs and fetching food... for you."
Bella frowned, heat rising to her cheeks. "I never would’ve thought that. Well, he’d better take his eyes off me, because I’m not interested in him or anyone at that matter."
Chloe arched a brow. "You’d better be. It’s time you moved on."
Bella opened her mouth to argue, but Raymond was already striding back toward them with a tray balanced expertly in his hands.
"What were you two whispering about?" he asked with an easy grin.
Chloe shook her head quickly. "Nothing important."
But Bella’s mind was already far away, spinning. Raymond. Jake. Two men circling her life when she didn’t even want one. If she wanted to keep her son a secret, she couldn’t afford to let anyone in—not Raymond, not Jake, not anyone in this company.
And yet... her heart didn’t seem to understand the rules her mind was setting.
The cafeteria buzzed with the steady hum of voices, trays clattering, the smell of freshly baked bread mingling with roasted chicken and spices.
Conversation flowed on the table, light and teasing, though Bella’s mind was heavy—half on Jake, half on Raymond’s kindness. She kept reminding herself not to get too comfortable here.
Just as Chloe was about to say something, the room shifted. Or maybe it was only Chloe who shifted.
Bella noticed the shift immediately—the way her friend’s shoulders stiffened, the brightness in her eyes dimming. Following her line of sight, Bella’s stomach tightened when she spotted him.
A tall man had just walked in, dressed impeccably in a charcoal suit that fit his lean frame too perfectly to be off the rack. His expression carried an air of arrogance, the kind that made people look without even realizing they were doing it. His stride was confident, purposeful. And his eyes—cold and assessing—swept the room like he owned every table, every chair, every person.
"Who’s that?" Bella asked quietly as she tapped Chloe’s hand.
Raymond followed their gaze and couldn’t help wondering why Bella was asking about Damian.
Chloe let out a sigh, her lips pressing into a thin line. "That’s Damian Cross," she said bitterly. "The new director of the fashion design unit."
There was venom in her voice, the kind Bella rarely heard and immediately, Raymond realized why Bella had asked. He now realized she was asking for her friend.
Bella blinked. "Director? I thought you said you were—"
"Yeah. I was supposed to be," Chloe cut her off, her fork stabbing at her salad with unnecessary force. "I’ve worked in this company for six years, Bella. Built that unit from the ground up. Everyone knew I was next in line when the director resigned after the takeover. But then Damian waltzed in with his fancy credentials, a perfect smile, and just like that, the position was his."
Her words came fast, clipped, anger laced in every syllable. Bella reached across the table, her hand brushing Chloe’s wrist. "Chloe..."
"He doesn’t just stop there." Chloe’s voice dropped, but her fury sharpened. "Every day he finds a way to belittle me. My designs are ’uninspired,’ my ideas ’too safe.’ He’ll tear down an entire sketch in front of the team just to prove he’s smarter, better. I can’t stand him."
Bella’s chest tightened at the defeated tremor beneath Chloe’s anger. She knew what it was like to feel small under someone else’s shadow.
Before she could respond, Raymond leaned in, his presence so casual it startled Bella to realize he’d been listening the whole time. He set down his drink, his expression thoughtful. "If he makes you so miserable, Chloe," he said gently, "why don’t you just request a transfer? StoneTech is huge. There are other units—marketing, PR, even logistics. You don’t have to deal with him breathing down your neck if you don’t want to."
Chloe’s fork froze midair. Slowly, she set it down and turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing. "No, I don’t want a transfer."
Raymond blinked. "Why not? It would solve the problem."
"We used to be a family at Eterna. Now it feels like we’re just another cog in StoneTech’s empire. Damian doesn’t care about creativity—he only cares about pleasing the Stones and climbing higher. Leaving this unit is exactly what Damian wants," Chloe snapped, her voice rising just enough to draw Bella’s attention. "If I move, it will look like he ran me off. Like I wasn’t strong enough to handle him. And I’ve worked too hard to let that happen. This is my unit, my work, my people. I won’t give him the satisfaction of watching me walk away. Sooner or later, I’ll prove to him and the board that I deserve that position, not him."
Her passion rang through the cafeteria, sharp and raw, and Bella felt her throat tighten with pride for her friend.
"You’re right," Bella added softly. "If you leave, you’re letting him win."
Chloe nodded, her jaw tight, and for a moment Bella thought she saw her friend’s eyes shine—not with tears, but with fire.
Raymond, however, only leaned back, a small frown tugging at his mouth. He clearly didn’t understand, though he tried to hide it. "I just... don’t like that you’re this worked up about him. That’s all," he said at last, glancing briefly at Bella as if searching for approval.
Bella smiled faintly, though her heart wasn’t in it. She could see what Raymond was doing—trying to please her, trying to insert himself into her circle, maybe even into her life.
Damian had moved deeper into the cafeteria now, his commanding presence drawing eyes like a magnet. Chloe noticed him again, and her whole demeanor stiffened. She stabbed another piece of salad, chewing furiously as though the act alone could erase him from her world.
Bella tilted her head, studying her. "You really hate him, don’t you?"
"Hate isn’t strong enough," Chloe muttered. Then she exhaled, forcing herself to unclench her jaw. "But he’s not going to break me. I won’t let him."
Bella nodded, her mind racing. She wanted to believe Chloe, to believe that sheer strength of will could keep someone like Damian from destroying her. But she also knew what it was like to be powerless against a man who held authority.
Still, one thing was certain—Chloe wasn’t going to run. And Bella found herself silently rooting for her, even as her own battles loomed over her like shadows.