Adam watched Damian's drastic mood swings closely, as well as his contradictory actions and the coldness that instantly disappeared when his mother was present.
But there was nothing fragile or defenseless about this Omega, except perhaps his appearance. He exuded strength, fearless confidence. It surprised Adam, but it also enchanted him.
A warm smile lit up Lord Malcolm's face as the three of them approached. It was the first time in years that Damian felt the urge to smile. More than that, he wanted to return the kindness shown to him.
But his curious eyes soon met a fascinating figure sitting comfortably at the table, waiting for them. The protagonist of the encounter!
She radiated subtle elegance. Her brown hair was immaculately styled, her clothes were understated yet impeccably stylish, and her eyes showed shrewdness. She looked like a smart and confident businesswoman.
Damián smiled immediately, showing kindness and joy as he greeted her. "And you are..." He paused, pretending to remember quickly. "You are Taylor, Adam's assistant," he said in a soft, melodious voice.
Taylor greeted him with a professional smile. "Good morning, Damian," she said, studying him for a moment with sharp eyes. Damian responded with a smile that reflected a questioning gaze.
The Kadman mansion was imposing, but Damian showed no sign of discomfort in the surroundings. Taylor couldn't help but watch him. Damian was dressed like a true fashionista.
- A sensual, luxurious and stimulating look.
Taylor absorbed the surrounding atmosphere, and as her eyes turned to Damián, her senses were invaded by the scent of his pheromones, mingled with Adam's. In a matter of seconds, her gaze shifted to Damian's face. He wasn't the type of person Adam would typically choose to engage with or take to bed.
In Taylor's view, Damián seemed too extravagant, his lips excessively rosy, and his eyes overly flashy. He appeared fragile. Adam, on the other hand, was an Alpha Prime, imposing in muscles and strength, carrying intense emotions. He was constantly involved in physical and emotionally complex activities.
For Taylor, that challenging Omega before her didn't stand a chance.
During the meal, Damian flirted with Adam through intense glances but without physical contact. The connection between them was palpable. Taylor glanced at Lady Elisabeth, who, within a matter of days and with minimal encouragement, had already fallen in love with her Omega daughter-in-law.
As she watched Damián interact, Taylor noticed that he was causing an unusual commotion in that café, making the atmosphere livelier. She listened, perplexed, to his audacious and impudent apologies.
He simply fell asleep and left Lady Elizabeth and Lord Malcolm waiting for hours.
Internally, Taylor felt a wave of impatience and frustration. She had the urge to get up from the table and squeeze the Omega's delicate neck to death.
Meanwhile, Adam continued to smile. His smile illuminated the surrounding space, highlighting his white, shining teeth, making him even more irresistible.
Taylor knew every detail about him, every phase he went through. And that smile was supposed to be for her.
She observed the way he ran his hand through his hair when he was frustrated, a beautiful and sensual gesture to witness. The wrinkle that formed on his forehead when he contemplated something was unmistakable. When that happened, it was clear that something deeply bothered him.
Her heart tightened in her chest for loving something that now seemed unattainable. Perhaps Adam would never look at her in that way. Tears burned in the corners of her eyes, begging to be released, but Taylor remained resolute. She didn't want to appear pathetic. Instead, she thought to herself, "Pull yourself together, Taylor!"
Taylor had dreamt and fervently believed that one day Adam would finally notice her in the romantic way she so desired. However, that day never arrived, and Adam never saw her through that lens.
Working alongside Adam for five years had brought her closer to the Kadman family, but it hadn't been enough to capture his attention. Numerous suitors had passed through her life during that time, so many that it was impossible to count them.
Her mother, Lady Elizabeth, arranged meetings with the most prominent families in the world, but Adam had business ambitions that transcended borders. He yearned for the world with all its boundless achievements.
And even after years of tireless work and dedication, her moment had finally arrived. She had won by a knockout, with no rivals in sight.
However, by a cruel twist of fate, an unexpected Omega had stolen her happiness and her victory. This Omega's determination went beyond mere good intentions. There was no attempt or desire, just an unwavering will to do whatever it took to reach the top.
Damian wore a triumphant smile as he watched the somewhat perplexed and disoriented protagonist, challenging what she had always considered insurmountable limits.
Taylor, rising from the table, stated that she needed to leave due to professional demands. Damián, unnecessarily, thought, "What are you still doing here?" If it were him, he would have left by now and probably bumped into something. Wasn't she one of those damsels from books, always needing to be saved by the protagonist, or was she more like Wonder Woman, strong and independent? So many questions...
Internally, Damián was jubilant. He raised his head, straightened his posture, and continued the conversation with Lady Elisabeth.
He and Lady Elizabeth began a conversation about music, and Damian listened attentively. Time seemed to slow down. Seeing her son tuned into the same frequency as him made Lady Elisabeth incredibly happy. When Adam was a child, he didn't act like a typical child.
His demeanor was different, competitive, impeccable, and even antisocial. He didn't interact much with other children, and as an adult, he never spoke about his private life; there was no room for speculation.
Lady Elizabeth used to view this behavior as a negative trait, but she understood that he was an Alpha Prime, and perhaps this had influenced his personality.
When Adam reached the age to marry, she arranged meetings desperately, carefully selecting suitors with characteristics she deemed crucial for him.
A daughter-in-law: gentle, sweet, delicate, and elegant. That was Lady Elizabeth's preference. And those were the types of suitors that Adam immediately rejected. Over the years, Lady Elisabeth stopped making meticulous selections. All she wanted was for Adam to marry and give her a grandchild; it could be anyone.
However, a special affection had grown for Taylor. After all, Taylor was always by Adam's side, becoming, in a way, her informant. She often wondered what people would think if they knew that "The Great Lady Kadman" was practically excluded from her own son's life. A mother left behind!
When she saw Damián beside Adam that morning, she couldn't contain the desire to kiss and hug him. It was the realization of a great dream. Damian seemed to possess all the qualities of the perfect daughter-in-law she had always dreamed of.
On their first family meeting, Damián presented himself as a gift specially addressed to her, dressed like a beautiful and charming Omega doll.
Her daughter-in-law was indeed kind, charming, and delicate. Seated at the piano, he demonstrated exceptional musical talent, a rare gift that she personally would introduce to the world.
Upon meeting him, Lady Elizabeth noticed, for a brief moment, a cold gleam in his eyes that quickly disappeared. She knew Damian was an orphan, and that was not a problem for her. She longed to play the role of his mother. And when the long-awaited grandchild arrived, everything would be perfect! She was not willing to share Damian and her grandchild with anyone; they would be entirely hers.
On the other hand, she would continue to guide and support Taylor, searching among the noblest families for a worthy Alpha to marry her dedicated assistant. And this family would be supported by the Kadmans. Taylor would be recognized as protected and cared for by her own family.
Lady Elizabeth couldn't help but feel herself melting for Damián as she watched him smile. Everything seemed to be fitting wonderfully well.
Two days later, Taylor was seeking a way to approach Damián and initiate a friendly conversation that could gain his trust, as Lady Beatrice had suggested. Up to that point, he seemed indifferent to her presence. However, she couldn't help but notice that Damian did not view her favorably. There was a clear hostility in his gaze, as if he saw her as a threat.
Damián was not known for his restraint, but the treatment he gave Taylor was consistently icy, like a cutting breeze.
When Taylor finally decided to initiate the approach, she opted for a professional tone and said, "I want you to know that you can count on me during this transition. I've worked with Adam for five years, and I know him very well, from his habits to his dietary preferences, clothing, and relationships."
Damián smiled, finding an opening for his antics. "Damián decided to show he was quite the sweet and hypocritical bastard," he thought. He clicked his tongue with a shrewd look at Taylor. "I'll encourage you—get back your Alpha and be happy. The world already has enough unhappy people."
Damián opened a wide smile and let out a light laugh, dripping his poison. "Five years?" He questioned sarcastically. "Wow, five years, and you still haven't won him over. Miss, I'm in love with my Multibillionaire Boss!"
"You can't offer me advice," Damián continued with a sarcastic smile. "I engage in activities with Adam that you're not capable of performing, but I know you dream of doing them. Adam likes it when I'm on top, riding, riding, riding, and riding."
Taylor was visibly surprised by Damian's frankness. "You should be ashamed of yourself," she responded, shocked.
Damián, curious, asked, "Why? You can't try to shame me. Those frank eyes of yours – you don't think I'll fall for your game? No, the old story of 'more victims than culprits' doesn't work for me."
Taylor realized that Damián was like an enigmatic paradise but also treacherous like a snake. He was the kind of Omega Alphas fell in love with, even when they were warned not to.
Damián hit a sensitive point, revealing sharp and unexpected sincerity. Taylor felt a wave of hatred growing in her heart, absolute and disturbing confusion. How had everything veered so rapidly? She simply couldn't comprehend.
It was as if Damián before her was a duality: one part was balanced and healthy, while the other was pure and unexpected madness. The two parts didn't seem to fit together, but they coexisted somehow.
Despite her brilliant intellect, Taylor couldn't see that these two facets could harmonize.
When the butler Cecil approached the two of them, he sensed that something was happening and decided to probe subtly. He was remarkably perceptive, and although he was suspicious of something, he approached them discreetly.
Damián promptly explained, "Taylor was talking about our professional partnership with Adam." He looked at Cecil and continued with a mischievous look, "Five years of work, Cecil, and she still hasn't completely won over our esteemed Alpha."
Taylor, visibly embarrassed before the little cold and treacherous demon in front of her, heard Damián continue, "Taylor is very kind; she's concerned about me. She offered to tell me about the things Adam likes, to help me with him."
In an unexpected gesture, Damian took Taylor's hand with a clear expression of gratitude.
In a moment of pause, Damián looked at Cecil with a touch of humor. "In detective movies, the butler is always the killer, but in love stories, he's there to help the protagonist organize their feelings and their socks. It's a mix of defender of the weak, oppressed, and janitor. A mentor with various uses."
With composure and a hint of sarcasm, always maintaining his dignity, Butler Cecil replied, "Certainly, sir. In movies, butlers often play various roles, from the villain to the confidant of the protagonist. My role, however, is always to serve the interests of the family and ensure that order and etiquette are maintained. If you need anything else, I'm at your disposal."