Chapter 57
Although Autumn had been right about Damien wanting to teach Olivia a lesson, overhearing him give the order personally was an entirely different experience. Everyone had people they disliked. Most of the time, it didn’t matter—so long as they didn’t cross paths. But the moment they did, even a fleeting encounter could leave a bitter aftertaste. Seeing Damien again reopened old wounds. Yet, to her surprise, Autumn found that it didn’t hurt as much as before; in fact, she felt nothing at all. It was as though every emotion had been scrubbed clean from her.
The moment Autumn stepped out of the washroom, Damien caught sight of her. He wasn’t about to tiptoe around her feelings. After telling Scott what to do, he hung up and then really looked at her. On the surface, he appeared indifferent. But he couldn’t help looking at her a little longer than usual. Autumn seemed different. She was dressed in a crisp white suit. Though he couldn’t tell the brand, the cut was exquisite, and the fabric was of high quality. The suit highlighted her cool, composed air, giving her a quiet authority that unsettled him. That was what made Damien uncomfortable.
“Why are you here?” he asked coldly, taking the initiative. Autumn had no intention of telling him the truth. Olivia was her friend, and she had offended Emilia on her behalf. If someone else had crossed Emilia, Damien would simply teach them a lesson and move on. But if Autumn were involved, he’d fly into a rage. He couldn’t stand her being disobedient. She remembered a time when Hank was seriously ill. She couldn’t reach Damien, so she’d gotten his schedule from his secretary. That alone had enraged him. He didn’t return home for a month.
Now that Olivia had offended Emilia—Damien’s beloved—Autumn knew the punishment wouldn’t stop at losing a few business deals. And that, more than anything, showed just how little Damien valued her. He didn’t care about her friends, her family, or any part of her life. With that thought in mind, Autumn replied coolly, “I’m having dinner here.” Damien’s scowl deepened before fading back to indifference. Playing hard to get only worked on men who cared. He wasn’t one of them. No matter what she did, she never seemed to catch his attention. But her answer annoyed him. With a sneer, he said, “It’s been two weeks since you were home. Do you still remember how to cook?”
Autumn clenched her fists. To Damien, cooking was all she was ever good for. She shot back, “I never liked cooking in the first place, so it’s likely I’ve forgotten how.” Damien heard the sarcasm in her voice and frowned. “So what?” She met his gaze, her own steady, “I won’t cook for you again.” Then she turned and walked away.
Damien watched her go, stunned. After all these years, he’d only ever known the version of Autumn who tried to please him. She would always tread carefully, attuned to his moods, speaking only when she was sure he wasn’t upset. But now? He was clearly displeased, and instead of shrinking back, she met him with cool sarcasm. He knew Britney was right. Autumn had changed, and not in a way he liked. She no longer tried to win him over or mold herself to fit his preferences. He was being foolish. Regardless, Damien knew precisely why she was throwing a tantrum and avoiding home. But he didn’t care. He wasn’t interested in what had made her grow distant. The result would be the same. Eventually, Autumn would come back to him. Talking to her now was a waste of breath. With a second glance, Damien turned and went back to his private room.
Inside, Emilia had finished her conversation with Jayden and suddenly recalled something about Magnus. Although Olivia had offended her, Lupi-X was still a highly valuable asset. And Magnus, who worked at MegaTech, could be useful. He might be able to spy for her. The thought made Emilia curl her lip in disdain. There were plenty of losers like Magnus. He should be grateful she even contacted him. Honestly, it was probably the best thing that had ever happened in his pathetic life.