Page 46 of Luca
“Evening, Damien.” I tried to keep my tone light, though the alarm bells in my head were already ringing. “I’m just finishing up.”
Smirking, he took a few steps closer, and I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “You know, I’ve been meaning to catch you alone. Thought I’d take my chances one more time. Drinks? Dinner? Or maybe we could simply skip those and go straight to mine?”
Damien’s words hung in the air, and I felt a flutter of uncertainty in my stomach. It wasn’t the first time he’d asked me out, and I’d always politely refused, keeping our interactions strictly professional. “Thanks, Damien, but you know my rule. I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
His smile faltered, darkening with irritation. “That’s a shame, Claire. You don’t seem to mind mixing business and pleasure when it comes to your Russian.”
The words hit me like a slap. I stared at him, caught between anger and disbelief. “That’s none of your business. You should leave.”
But he didn’t. He moved closer, his presence suffocating in the confined space of my small office. “I don’t like being told no, Claire. Not when I know you’ve already got a taste for bending the rules.”
His tone sent a shiver down my spine, and I took a step back, my mind racing. “Damien, I’m serious. This isn’t appropriate.”
He ignored me, his eyes fixed on mine with a predatory intensity. Before I could react, he lunged, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward him. I twisted, trying to break free, but he was stronger, and the alcohol had dulled his sense of restraint. He pushed me against the desk, his hands rough and insistent, fumbling at my blouse.
“Get off me!” I shouted, shoving at his chest, but he pinned me in place, his weight crushing against me. His hand snaked up, gripping my wrist painfully as he tried to force my head back for a kiss.
I fought against him, clawing and kicking, but his grip tightened, and panic surged through me. This couldn’t be happening. I twisted my body, managing to free one arm long enough to drive my knee up, catching him in the groin. He let out a grunt of pain and staggered back, giving me just enough space to scramble away, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
Damien’s face contorted with fury as he straightened, his hand clutching where I’d kneed him. “You bitch?—”
The door burst open, and suddenly Luca was there, eyes blazing, his presence filling the room with a terrifying fury I’d never seen before.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Luca’s voice was low, dangerous, as he advanced on Damien.
Damien backed up, fear flashing across his face, but it was too late. Luca grabbed him by the collar, slamming him against the wall with such force that Damien’s head cracked against the plaster. I watched, still shaken, as Luca’s fist connected with Damien’s jaw, the sound of bone hitting bone sharp and brutal.
“Luca, stop!” I shouted, my voice breaking. But he didn’t hear me, or maybe he just didn’t care. He landed another punch, and then another, each one driven by a fury that seemed unending.
I rushed forward, grabbing Luca’s arm, trying to pull him back. “Luca, please. That’s enough!”
He paused, breathing heavily, his eyes wild with rage. Damien slumped to the floor, dazed and bloody, his bravado shattered. Luca released him, but not before leaning in close, his voice a low growl. “Come near her again, and I will kill you. Got it?”
Damien nodded, clutching at his jaw, his arrogance replaced by fear, and I knew he’d remember Luca’s words long after the bruises faded. Getting to his feet, he stumbled out of the office, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
Luca turned to me, his expression softening, and in that moment, all the adrenaline that had been keeping me upright finally drained away. My legs felt like jelly, and I sank back against my desk, trembling. Stepping closer to me, he took me in his arms and held me.
“Are you alright, babe?” Luca asked, his voice gentle now, full of concern as he murmured the question against my hair.
I nodded, though I didn’t fully trust my own voice. “Yeah, I just… I didn’t expect him to…”
Luca reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face, his touch grounding me. “Let’s get you home.”
I stood shakily, gathering my things with Luca’s help.
“What are you doing here? I thought Vlad was taking me home as usual?” I asked, my voice a little steadier now.
“Thought I’d surprise you. I was just heading back home from work myself when you texted me and made a detour. Trigger’s waiting in the car. I sent Vlad home for the night,” he said, holding me close into his side as we slowly walked to the lift.
As we passed Damien’s office, I glanced inside. Damian was there, hunched over in his chair, a cloth held against his bloodied lip and reddened jaw—the aftermath of Luca’s wrath. Fury, fear, and disgust filled me. What would come of all this? Neither of us would report the incident to the police; I wouldn’t want Luca to get into trouble for beating Damien, and Damien wouldn’t want a sexual assault charge against him. But that didn’t mean he wouldn’t seek some form of revenge. The reality was, as a partner in the firm where I was employed, I would have to interact with him regularly. Could we truly maintain a professional working relationship after this? Would this incident jeopardise my future here? As I gnawed on my lip, a knot of anxiety twisted in my stomach. I couldn’t shake the worry that my career was now hanging by a thread.
Luca followed my gaze, sensing the turmoil brewing within me. He pulled me closer, his arm tightening around my shoulders in a protective gesture. “Don’t worry about him right now. Let’s focus on getting you home and safe. Everything else can be dealt with on Monday.” His voice was firm, grounding me amidst the chaos in my mind. The warmth of his presence offered a flicker of reassurance, but the weight of uncertaintylingered. I needed to find a way to navigate this mess without compromising everything I had worked for.
I nodded, leaning against him as the lift doors opened. Once inside, the silence was heavy, broken only by the soft hum of the machinery. I felt Luca’s eyes on me, a mix of concern and something deeper, something I wasn’t ready to confront.
As the lift descended, I replayed the events of the night in my mind, the horror of Damien’s attack juxtaposed with the fierce protectiveness Luca had shown. It left me feeling raw and vulnerable, but also grateful.
“I’m so glad you arrived when you did,” I finally said, breaking the silence. “I’m not sure what would have happened?—”