124 Chapter 127
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Chapter 127 – Public Displays and a Lioness’s Roar
I couldn’t breathe.
Damien’s face was inches from mine, his gaze dropping to my lips as the party continued around us. The moment hung suspended between us, electric and fragile. My heart hammered against my ribs as he leaned closer, his breath warm against my
skin.
Then he stopped, a small frown creasing his forehead.
“Your leg,” he murmured, eyes flickering down to where I was unconsciously shifting my weight. “You’ve been standing too long.”
I hadn’t even realized the dull ache that had been building. Trust Damien to notice my discomfort before I did.
“It’s nothing,” I insisted, not wanting to break this moment between us.
you home.”
Before I could protest, he’d made our excuses to Chloe, who shot me a knowing wink that made me blush. Minutes later, we were sliding into the backseat of his car, the privacy partition already raised.
He smiled, that tender expression that made my insides melt. “Let me take
“Thank you for tonight,” I said, suddenly shy despite everything we’d shared. “For everything.”
Damien reached over, fingers intertwining with mine. “Did you like the drone show?” “Like it? Damien, it was the most incredible thing anyone’s ever done for me.”
His smile widened with boyish pride. “I designed the sequence myself.”
“You did?” I stared at him in amazement.
unted it to
“The technicians handled the programming, but the concept, the timing, the colors- that was all me.” He squeezed my hand, eyes dancing with enthusiasm.
be personal. Not just some generic display.”
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The realization that Damien Sterling, with all his responsibilities and power, had taken the time to personally design every aspect of that sky spectacle just for me was overwhelming.
“That’s why it had those swirling patterns like fabric draping” I whispered, remembering the elegant movements.
“Yes.” His eyes held mine. “I wanted people to see you through my eyes–brilliant, creative, resilient.”
I leaned forward, pressing my lips against his cheek. “No one’s ever seen me like you
do.”
His hand came up to cradle my face. “Then everyone else has been blind.”
When we reached my building, Damien insisted on walking me to my lingered there, neither wanting the night to end.
door. We
“Thank
you again,” I said softly. “For defending me, for clearing my name.”
“I’ll always stand by you, Hazel.” His voice was firm, certain in a way that made me believe him completely.
After a gentle goodnight kiss that left me wanting more, I watched him disappear down the hallway before closing my door and collapsing against it, giddy and overwhelmed.
Out of habit, I checked my phone–and gasped. The drone show had exploded online. Videos from dozens of angles showed the spectacular display, with hashtags like #SterlingLoveStory and #HazelsSkyDeclaration trending everywhere.
Most comments were supportive or awestruck, but some were vicious, questioning what someone like Damien Sterling could possibly see in me. The old Hazel might have shrunk from such scrutiny, but something fierce rose in me as I read attacks on Damien’s judgment and character.
Without hesitation, I began responding:
“Jealousy is an ugly look on anyone. Maybe focus on finding your own happiness instead of tearing down others?”
“Clearly, you’ve never met either of us. Your opinion is as irrelevant as your profile picture is blurry.”
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“Damien Sterling can make his own decisions. He doesn’t need approval from keyboard warriors with too much time and too little sense”
I spent hours defending him, defending us, until I
calized it was nearly 3 AM. MY thumbs were sore, but I felt strangely exhilarated. I’d never been one to engage in online battles before, but when it came to Damien, some protective instinct had
awakened in me.
My phone buzzed with a text from him: “Sleep well, my Hazel. Dream of me.
I smiled, typing back: “Always.”
Morning came too quickly. I was nursing my first coffee when my phone rang with Damien’s name flashing on the screen.
“Good morning,” I answered, unable to keep the smile from
my
voice.
“So,” he said, amusement evident in his tone, “you’ve become quite the lioness overnight.”
I froze. “What?”
“If your brain were as big as your mouth, you might actually have something intelligent to say“?” he quoted. “That was one of my favorites. Though I also appreciated ‘Keep my man’s name out of your mouth unless you’re praising him.“”
Heat flooded my face. “You saw that?”
“Hazel, everyone saw it. You’re trending. Again. ‘Fashion designer turns fierce defender overnight.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hand. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stand them attacking you because of me.”
His laugh was rich and warm. “Don’t apologize. I love seeing this side of you.”
“You do?”
“Absolutely. It’s…” he paused, searching for the right word, “liberating. Seeing you stand tall, speak your mind without restraint.”
His approval eased my embarrassment slightly. “I’ve never done anything like that before.”
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“I know,” he said softly. “That’s what makes it even more special. Now, are you free for lunch? I’d like to take m
fierce, publicly declared girlfriend out.”
The word “girlfriend” still sent thrills through me. “I’d love that.
We met at an upscale restaurant downtown. Damien was already waiting when I arrived, rising from his seat with that fluid grace that always captivated me. He pulled me close, kissing me lightly but with enough heat to make my toes curl.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured against my ear.
We’d barely settled in when a distinguished–looking man approached our table.
“Sterling! What a pleasant surprise.” The man’s eyes were sharp, assessing.
Damien stood, shaking the man’s hand firmly. “Mr. Zhang. Good to see you.”
“Chairman Sterling,” Mr. Zhang nodded deferentially, making me blink at the title. “The board members were just discussing the quarterly projections yesterday. Impressive work, as always.”
A woman appeared beside Mr. Zhang, her arm linked with his. Her gaze swept over me with barely concealed curiosity.
“And who might this lovely lady be?” Mr. Zhang asked, though his tone suggested mere politeness rather than genuine interest.
Without hesitation, Damien placed his hand at the small of my back. “This is Hazel Ashworth, my girlfriend.”
The directness of his introduction sent warmth flooding through me. Mrs. Zhang’s eyebrows rose slightly, her lips pursing as she examined me more critically.
“The fashion designer,” she stated rather than asked, her tone suggesting she found the profession lacking somehow. “I saw your… display on the news.”
“Yes,” I replied simply, refusing to be intimidated. “Though it was Damien’s creation, not mine.”
“How charming,” she said without warmth. “You must tell me sometime where you learned to craft such… colorful online responses.”
My spine stiffened. Before I could respond, Damien’s arm slid around my waist.
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“Hazel has a remarkable talent for cutting through pretense,” he said smoothly. “One of the many qualities I admire about her”
Mrs. Zhang’s eyes widened slightly at his clear defense, and Mr. Zhang quickly steered the conversation elsewhere. After a few more minutes of business pleasantries, they excused themselves.
Once they were out of earshot, I turned to Damien. “Chairman Sterling?”
“A formality,” he dismissed. “I rarely use the title.”
I sipped my water, gathering my thoughts. “You didn’t have to introduce me that way to them.”
“What way?”
“As your girlfriend. So definitively.”
Damien’s expression grew serious, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that made my breath catch.
“You are my girlfriend. How else should I introduce you?”
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