“Now?” His voice was calm, yet steel laced the edges.
“My daughter doesn’t take no for an answer,” Mason said smoothly.
“Of course not,” Damian replied, cold and controlled.
I watched them ascend the steps, Mason’s gaze settling on me like a weight. He leaned forward, lips curling into a self-assured smile.
“Is he fucking you?” he asked, shameless. The words landed like a slap.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” His tone deepened, deliberate. “I want to know if Damian Miller is fucking you.”
“That’s none of your business.” I said, voice steady despite the chill crawling through me.
Mason’s eyes glittered with calculated interest. “You know, Daisy, I admire women with sharp minds and strong wills. You strike me as that type. So I wonder… what are you doing with a man like Miller? He owns everything and everyone, yet true connection is something he avoids. Emotions poured into him are wasted. In business, he’s ruthless. I enjoy doing business with him, but it’s a shame to see a clever woman like you wasting yourself in an antiques shop.”
His tone was casual, but his eyes were sharp, dissecting me.
“With your mind, you could achieve much more. Yet you remain somewhere that barely appreciates you.”
I forced a polite smile, my stomach knotting as it twisted painfully.
“Damian is my boss,” I said evenly. “And I enjoy working in that shop.”
Mason let his gaze crawl over me—slow, deliberate, appraising.
“Beauty and intelligence together are rare. You are exceptional, Daisy. Have you ever considered how far you could go with the right man at your side?”
My heartbeat quickened. I swallowed, trying to bury the nervous flutter in my throat.
“I manage just fine on my own. But of course, it’s always good to have useful contacts.”
Mason laughed, low and throaty. The sound sent a shiver through me.
“Contacts, yes. But I’m talking about something deeper. Something personal. Imagine I could open doors you didn’t even know existed.”
I forced my voice steady.
“I’m sure your support would be valuable in many areas, Mr. Mason. But I prefer to keep professional relationships defined.”
He set a hand on my arm, fingers brushing my skin. A chill spread through me.
“Professional, of course. But sometimes the lines blur, don’t they? Especially when the chemistry is right.”
I pulled my arm back, holding my composure.
“I believe clear boundaries lead to the best results—professionally and personally.”
Mason leaned back, his eyes glinting with amusement, challenge, calculation.
“But with Miller, you seem to forget those boundaries. I hope you’ll make wiser decisions in the future.”
He leaned forward, his glance flicking toward the staircase, then back to me.
“Just as I can give Damian Miller everything, I can also take everything away from him.”
His tone stayed calm, almost casual, but the weight of it pressed into the space between us. He raised an eyebrow, a faint smile curling at his lips.
