The Forced Marriage: The Journey Begins

Chapter Thirty

Damien returned to the office, his expression unreadable. As soon as they were in his office, he picked up the phone and dialed Julian Brown's number.

Julian arrived shortly, his usual smug expression replaced with a guarded look.

Damien wasted no time in getting to the point."Julian," he began, his voice low and serious, "I want to know what you plan to do with Jessica?"

Julian shifted in his chair, his eyes darting around the room. "Look, Damien, I had no idea she would go that far. She's just a kid, trying to make her way in the world."

Damien's gaze was unwavering. "A kid who attempted to frame my intern? Who locked her in a room overnight. That's not a mistake, Julian. That's a deliberate act of malice."

Julian's eyes narrowed at the accusation. "I understand you're upset, but it's not like Jessica meant to harm Miss Harris."

Damien's jaw tightened. "Meant to harm her? Miss Harris could have been seriously harmed or yet died in there!"

Julian swallowed hard, his smugness replaced by a flicker of fear. "Okay, okay," he stuttered.  "Look, I'll talk to her, I'll make sure she understands the gravity of her actions."

Damien leaned back, his eyes piercing through Julian's evasive gaze. "That's not enough," he said firmly. Damien leaned back in his chair, his gaze unwavering. "Transfer your shares to me, I will handle the rest."

Julian squirmed in his chair, his eyes darting around the room as he searched for a way to deflect the accusation. "Damien, please," he begged.

Damien's expression didn't soften. "Process it by tomorrow morning. "

Julian's eyes grew wide with realization. He knew that Damien was serious, that his cousin's actions had gone too far and there was no way out for him or his cousin. He looked at Damien in disbelief.

Damien leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "You can leave now," he said firmly.

Julian's eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. He thought of all the circumstances he could think of for Damien to take such harsh decision against his longtime friend. He understood his cousin screwed up his relation with one of the powerful allies and friend. He narrowed down the gap he missed to observe and concluded, "You have feelings for Sarah," Julian muttered.

The deafening silence between them confirmed Damien's secret feeling out in front.

Getting hands on new revelation, Julian shouted, "Do you know she is married?"

"So what?" Damien rolled his eyes.

"You are a nut case." Julian baffled and shook his head. "I am transferring it on twenty percent return only." He said with excitement.

"Not more than four percent," Damien scoffed.

"Deal." Julian was happy with the outcome he grabbed in the end but also disappointed on the other hand for all the opportunity cost he could bag if he wasn't kicked out.

As the office door closed behind Julian, Damien's shoulders slumped in relief. He had stood his ground and protected Sarah, even if it meant taking a significant hit to the company's stock. But the thought of her lying in that cold, dark room still haunted him. He had to make sure she was okay and make sure about her safety before anything else.

He swiftly called the legal team and finance team for emergency meeting for the upcoming changes in organizational structure. He also ensured to call HR team to fire Jessica Brown and circulate such behavior by anyone else will face the same consequences as her.

As Julian walked out of Damien's office, he saw Sarah at the pantry section with other interns. After knowing Damien's secret feeling his perspective on Sarah changed immediately.

She was plain looking in the eyes of many men but when taking second glance, she was whirlpool of beauty, innocence, bravery, and brain. She was the woman who could charm Damien Ross, the perfectionist. She was the woman chosen by Damien to protect, love, cherish and marry someday.