“He’ll be here for dinner,” Christopher replied.
“What meeting?”
“This evening we’re hosting a business dinner,” Christopher explained to me.
“That’s why I need to talk to you,” Damian said to his brother.
“Then let’s go straight to my office. Elis can show Daisy around the property.”
Damian’s sister-in-law led me through the impressive house, our footsteps echoing softly across the polished floors. High ceilings and wide picture windows framed the surrounding mountains, sunlight pouring in to fill every corner. We entered a spacious room anchored by a massive stone fireplace.
“This is the living room,” Elis said.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Come, I’ll show you the kitchen. The staff is already preparing dinner.”
The air was rich with the scent of fresh herbs and roasted meat. The housekeepers greeted me with warm smiles.
“Now, the dining room,” she said, opening an adjoining door. A long oak table stretched the length of the elegant space, silverware already gleaming beneath the soft glow of a chandelier.
“Do you enjoy reading, Daisy?” Elis asked, glancing at me curiously.
“Very much.”
“Then you’ll like this.” She opened a tall door to reveal a library. “My favorite room in the whole house.”
I stepped inside, delighted. Floor-to-ceiling shelves were heavy with books. A plush chair and a wide couch stood near a small table and antique reading lamp. A Persian rug covered the polished wooden floor, making the room feel warm and intimate.
“What do you like to read?” I asked, running my hand along the spine of a book.
Elis smiled and shrugged. “A bit of everything: philosophy, history, novels. I love slipping into other worlds, seeing life through different eyes.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”
We left the library and continued down the hall.
“How do you like working in Damian’s shop?”
“Sometimes it’s demanding, but I love it.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “I can imagine. Damian never gives up control, he has to manage everything. That can be intimidating, can’t it?”
I hesitated. “I think I’ve gotten used to it.”
Her eyes softened. “I’ll admit, I was surprised when Damian introduced you as his girlfriend. I’ve known him for years, and I’ve never seen him do that before.”
Her words echoed in my head as I followed her.Never before. Never.I could have laughed or cried—maybe both. My heart gave a reckless leap, clinging to a spark of hope too fragile to hold. Maybe I was more than a phase to him. More than a game. More than a distraction.
I had no idea how to respond, so I said nothing. Instead, I let her words wash over me like water over someone who had been parched for too long. And still, a whisper curled inside me:What if I’m the first one he’s truly trying with?
Later that afternoon, Christopher led us through a shaded forest to a small lake, its surface catching the sunlight like glass. Elis spread a blanket and began unpacking the picnic. She laid out an array of dishes: smoked salmon and mozzarella sandwiches, a cheese platter, antipasti, mini quiches, and a colorful plate of fruit.
“Rosé or soda?” Elis asked as I sat beside her.
“Rosé.”
“Of course.” She poured into two champagne glasses. Christopher handed Damian a beer, then held one up himself.
