Elena felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her. Had he been laughing at her naivety this whole time? Playing some kind of game with the clueless nurse who’d stumbled onto his private jet? Her phone buzzed again with another text from Tommy. Hello, are you dating a billionaire? I am not dating anyone, Elena typed back furiously.
And I’ll explain everything when I get home. A knock at the door made her jump. Wrapping herself in the plush hotel robe, Elena peered through the peephole to see a hotel staff member with a rolling cart.
Breakfast, Ms. Morris, the young woman. Announced cheerfully when Elena opened the door. Compliments of Mr. Carter.
Before Elena could protest, the woman wheeled in a cart laden with fresh pastries, fruit, coffee and a small vase holding a single red rose. Mr. Carter asked me to inform you that he has a business meeting this morning, but hopes you’ll join him for lunch at noon in the lobby, the woman said, handing Elena a small envelope. After she left, Elena opened the envelope to find a handwritten note.
Elena, business calls, unfortunately. Feel free to explore the hotel or rest this morning. The concierge can arrange anything you need.
Looking forward to lunch and showing you more of Paris before your flight tonight. Damien, Elena set the note down. Her feelings a complicated mix of anger, confusion and, she had to admit, a lingering attraction that hadn’t been dimmed by her discovery of Damien’s true status.
She ate the breakfast, which was delicious despite her turmoil, then showered and dressed in another of the outfits that had been delivered, a simple sundress that fit her perfectly. Instead of waiting in her room, Elena decided to explore the hotel. The concierge offered to arrange a spa treatment or shopping excursion, but she politely declined, preferring to wander the elegant public spaces on her own.
In a quiet corner of the hotel’s library, she found herself staring out at the Paris skyline, trying to make sense of the last two days. How had she gone from her normal struggling life to being in Paris with a man who could apparently buy and sell her hometown without blinking, penny for your thoughts? Elena turned to find Damien standing behind her, looking slightly less formal than yesterday in dark jeans and a light blue button-down shirt that matched his eyes. I think they’re worth a bit more than that, Elena replied, a hint of challenge in her voice, especially to a billionaire.
Damien’s expression shifted, a flicker of what might have been guilt crossing his features. Ah, you’ve been doing some… Research. My brother did, actually.
Elena crossed her arms. Were you ever going to tell me or was watching the clueless nurse fumble through your world too entertaining? Elena, no. Damien stepped closer, his voice earnest.
It wasn’t like… that at all. Then what was it like? Because from where I’m standing, you’ve been less than honest with me. Damien ran a hand through his hair, looking surprisingly vulnerable.
You’re right, I should have been upfront about who I am. He gestured to a nearby couch. Can we sit, please? Elena hesitated, then nodded, keeping a careful distance between them as they sat.
When you first walked onto that plane, Damien began, I was… intrigued. You clearly had no idea who I was, which almost never happens anymore. And then you told me about your life, your real life, with real problems and challenges, and… I just… He paused, searching for the right words.
I wanted to stay in that space where I was just a person to you, not a headline or a net worth figure. So you lied to me. I didn’t lie, Damien countered.
I just didn’t volunteer information. That would have changed how you saw me. That’s splitting hairs, Damien.
Maybe. He looked at her directly. But can you honestly tell me you would have been as open with me yesterday if you’d known the full story? Elena wanted to say yes, but she knew it wasn’t true.
She would have. Been guarded, self-conscious, probably even suspicious of his motives. That’s not the point, she said instead.
The point is that I deserved the chance to make that choice for myself. You’re right, Damien admitted, his shoulders slumping slightly. I’m sorry, Elena.
Truly. His apology seemed sincere. And despite… Her anger, Elena found herself softening.
Why did you do it, really? Damien was quiet for a moment, looking out at the Paris skyline. For the past year since Mark died, people have treated me differently. Like I’m made of glass, or like I’m nothing but a walking checkbook.
My business partners tiptoe around me, afraid I’ll walk away from the company. Women approach me with… Dollar signs in their eyes. He turned back to Elena.
And then there was you, exhausted, annoyed, completely unimpressed by me or my plane or any of it. It was… Refreshing. So I was a novelty, Elena said flatly.
No. Damien shook his head. Firmly.
You were… Are real in a way that almost nothing in my life has felt since Mark died. Yesterday, showing you Paris, talking to you… It was the first time in a year that I didn’t feel like I was just going through the motions. There was such… Raw honesty in his voice that Elena found it hard to maintain her anger.
Still, she wasn’t ready to let him off the hook completely. You should have told me. I know.
Damien nodded. And I was going to. Tonight at dinner.
I just wanted one more… Day of being just Damien to you. Elena studied his face, looking for signs of manipulation or dishonesty. But found only genuine regret and something else.
A vulnerability that seemed at odds with his public image as a tech titan. I don’t know what to say, she finally admitted. Say.
You’ll still have lunch with me, Damien suggested, a hopeful note in his voice. And dinner before your flight. Let me make it up to you.
Elena knew the sensible thing would be to walk away now. To protect herself from getting any more entangled with this complicated man and the complicated feelings he stirred in her. But the thought of spending her last day in Paris alone seemed unbearably sad.
Okay, she agreed cautiously. Lunch? But I want you to be honest with me from now on. No more convenient omissions.
Deal. Damien’s relief was palpable. Complete honesty from here on out.
Lunch was at a small cafe overlooking the Seine, far from the luxury hotel and the touristy areas of Paris. As they ate simple but delicious French food. Damien answered all of Elena’s questions about his life.
He told her about growing up with wealth but distant parents. About meeting Mark at MIT, where they’d bonded over their shared interest in computer security. And about the wild, early days of their company.
We were living on ramen and working 20-hour days, he recalled with a small smile. Even after we got our first big investment, we kept our office in Mark’s garage for another six months. We were too busy coding to bother moving.
When did he? You know you’d made it, Elena asked, genuinely curious. There was this moment, Damien said, his eyes distant with memory. We’d just signed our first government contract.
Mark and I went to this dive bar we used to hang out at in college. And ordered the cheapest beer on the menu. Same as always.
The bartender recognized us from a story in the business section of the newspaper and tried to give us champagne on the house. Mark just laughed and said, We’re still beer guys, maybe always will be. Damien’s face clouded.
That was Mark. Always grounded. Always authentic.
After he died, I lost that anchor. Is that why you’ve been traveling so much? Elena asked, gently. To find a new anchor? Damien looked at her with surprise, as if she’d articulated something he hadn’t quite figured out himself.
Maybe, I’ve been calling it clearing my head. But yes, I think that’s exactly what I’ve been trying to do. They spent the afternoon walking along the Seine, talking with an ease that belied their short acquaintance.
Elena found that knowing the truth about Damien actually made it easier to connect with him. The invisible barrier that his secret had created was gone, allowing a new kind of intimacy to develop between them. Can I ask you something personal? Damien said as they paused on a bridge to watch a tour boat pass below them.