Damien: Billionaire Bad Boy Romance by Ellen Harper Page A

let him keep sleeping with someone who had access to all kinds of private information. They were probably worried about me trying to sue them, or something equally stupid and ridiculous.
     
    When I got off the El, it felt even colder than it had downtown. I knew that my apartment was further away from Lake Michigan than the LennoxCo offices, but that didn’t account for the sudden, harsh chill in the air. Wrapping my arms tightly around myself, I put my head down and marched forward. The wind increased as I began walking home and soon it was like I was fighting my way from one block to the next.
     
    At least Pepper was glad to see me. As soon as I let myself in the front door, she ran over to me and started barking and shimmying around in a circle. Her eyes were hectic and happy and her tail was wagging so fast I was worried she’d knock something over.
     
    “Pepper, I had such a crazy day,” I confessed, dropping to my knees and burying my face in her comforting ruff. I wrinkled my nose—she definitely needed a bath—but it was relaxing all the same. “I’m gonna get fired because I screwed up, Pep,” I whined into her soft fur. “Then it’s back to retail for me.”
     
    Pepper whined loudly and sat back on her haunches. She looked at me with her big brown eyes and I felt a little trace of my fear and sadness melting away.
     
    “No, I have to try to go back,” I said as I rubbed her ears. Pepper growled. “I know, I know, you don’t like him,” I added quickly. “But it’s such a good job, Pepper. If they don’t fire me, I’d be happy to stay.”
     
    Pepper barked once.
     
    “And no, I don’t want to sleep with him again,” I said quickly, getting to my feet and walking over to the fridge. Pepper stepped sideways and followed close behind me, keenly aware that she might be getting a treat. “That would be the worst idea in the world, and I think you know it.”
     
    After I fed Pepper, I pulled a sandwich out of the fridge, changed into sweatpants, and flopped down in front of the TV. The news was all depressing—lots of weather reports, threatening to give Chicago the “worst winter ever,” and updates about the upcoming mayoral election. As much as I wanted to stay informed about the city where I lived, I felt like it was asking too much to get enthused about candidates who obviously only wanted the position so they could make crooked money flow much faster.
     
    “Pepper, this world kinda sucks, you know that?” I patted the couch and she jumped up next to me, resting her big head in my lap.
     
    Pepper let out a woof. She burrowed close to me and I sighed as I stroked her back, scanning through the television for anything interesting.
     
    Hours later, there was a sharp knock at the door. I jolted awake. I hadn’t even been aware of falling asleep, but when I sat up I realized that it was pitch black outside. Pepper let out a low growl of warning before the sharp knocking came again.
     
    Fear leapt into my mouth, tasting as bitter and obvious as iron. I swallowed hard and ran a hand through my hair. There was no way I could hide that I’d just been asleep, but I wasn’t sure who was even at the door. Was it Carl? Gina? My parents?
     
    The last option pierced my heart with fear and worry as I leapt into action, running towards the door and flinging it open.
     
    It wasn’t Carl, or Gina, or even my parents.
     
    It was Damien.
     
    “Audrey,” Damien said. He was wearing the same luxe overcoat and silk-wool scarf that he’d been wearing the day he waited for me outside of Helping Hands. “Audrey, I need to come in.” The light on my porch was out and I could barely see his face, but his voice sounded shakier and uncertain than I’d ever heard it.
     
    Some of the fear disappeared as I stepped inside to let Damien through the door. Some, but not all. Pepper stood behind me, watching nervously with a gleam in her brown eyes.
     
    My mouth was dry and I licked my lips nervously