CHAPTER 165: CHAPTER 165

Kira’s POV

Damien?

My boss. My actual boss. Damien Wellington was standing in front of me, slightly hunched over from my blow, but straightening up with a wry smile that made my stomach drop to my feet.

How? What? Why?

My mind was racing at lightning speed, panic flooding every nerve ending.

He’s going to recognize me. Oh God, he’s going to recognize me. He sees me every single day as Kyle. How did I not think about this? How did I not consider that I might run into him as a woman?

My hand flew up to touch my short hair - the hair I’d cut for this stupid disguise - and I cursed internally. At least if I still had long hair, I could have used it to partially hide my face. But no, I’d gone and chopped it all off to look more masculine as Kyle, and now...

Breathe. Just breathe. You’re wearing makeup. Your hair is styled differently. You’re in a short sexy dress. He won’t recognize you. He can’t recognize you.

I stood frozen, my mind still spinning with how I could possibly avoid this situation safely, when Damien straightened fully and smiled at me.

"I love a woman who can throw a punch," he said, his voice amused despite the fact that I’d just assaulted him.

My heart was hammering so hard I was sure he could hear it over the music. I remained perfectly still, like a deer caught in headlights, trying to decide: run or stay? Panic or play it cool?

Then Damien extended his hand, that charming smile still in place. "I’m Damien. And I have to say, I’ve been watching you dance for the past few minutes. You’re... captivating."

He doesn’t recognize me. Oh thank God, he doesn’t recognize me.

The relief was so intense I almost laughed. Or cried. Or both.

"I’m sorry for grabbing you like that," Damien continued, still holding out his hand. "You just reminded me of someone I knew. That’s no excuse, but I hope you can forgive the terrible introduction?"

He thought I was someone he knew. He thought I was someone he knew. The irony was almost painful.

My mind was still racing, trying to calculate every possible angle. Should I run? Should I make an excuse and leave? Should I...

No. Running would be suspicious. Panicking would be suspicious. The only way to get through this is to act completely normal.

I forced myself to take a slow breath, to center myself. Panic won’t solve anything. Stay calm. Stay in character. You’re not Kyle right now. You’re Kira. Just be Kira.

"Why did you hug me from behind?" I asked, proud of how steady my voice sounded.

"Like I said, I thought you were someone else," Damien replied. "Someone I’m... close with. But it was completely inappropriate, and I apologize." He tilted his head, a playful smile on his face. "Am I forgiven?"

Despite my panic and the danger of this situation, I found myself smiling back.

This is your boss. Your BOSS. The man you see almost everyday. And he has no idea who you are.

There was something almost thrilling about it. Standing here as myself, as Kira, while Damien Wellington looked at me like I was a stranger. Like I was someone worth his attention.

"Maybe," I said, adding some playfulness into my voice. "Depends on whether you can dance without grabbing people."

His smile widened. "I can certainly dance without grabbing people. Scout’s honor." He held up three fingers in what was probably supposed to be a scout’s salute but looked completely wrong.

"Were you ever actually a scout?" I asked skeptically.

"No," he admitted with a laugh. "But I’m excellent at dancing. Would you give me a chance to prove it?"

This is insane. This is absolutely insane. You should walk away right now.

"Fine," I heard myself say. "But no touching. You keep your hands where I can see them."

"Deal."

We started dancing, but with appropriate distance between us. And I had to admit, Damien Wellington could move. Not the grinding, club dancing that I’m used to seeing here, but actual mad steps.

Focus. You need to focus. Don’t let him get too close. Don’t let your guard down.

But it was hard to stay on guard when he was looking at me like that. Like he found me attractive.

He doesn’t know who you are. He’s flirting with you and he has no idea you’re Kyle.

I was so caught up in watching him throw those great moves that I almost didn’t notice when Olivia suddenly appeared at the edge of the dance floor, rushing toward us like she was on a mission to rescue me.

But then she stopped short - literally skidded to a halt - when she saw who I was dancing with.

Her eyes went wide as saucers. Her mouth fell open. And then, in the most obvious about-face I’d ever witnessed, she turned around and practically ran back to where she’d been sitting.

I had to bite my lip hard to keep from laughing. Sorry, Liv. Can’t exactly tell you right now that I’m dancing with my boss.

"Friend of yours?" Damien asked, having noticed Olivia’s dramatic retreat.

"Yeah," I managed, still fighting back laughter. "She’s... protective."

"Good. Every woman should have protective friends." He kept dancing, turning smoothly, the movement bringing us closer. "So, are you going to tell me your name? Or do I have to keep calling you ’the woman with the excellent right hook’?"

Be careful. Don’t give too much away. But don’t be so mysterious that it raises suspicions.

"Kira," I said, because my first name was safe enough. "And yours is Damien, right?"

"Right." He smiled. "It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kira. Even if the circumstances were... unconventional."

We danced for a while longer, and I found myself relaxing a little. Damien was charming, not the fake corporate charm I saw him use at work. He was actually trying his best to make me laugh.

This is your boss. Remember that. This is your BOSS.

After a few songs, Damien leaned in closer to be heard over the music. "Can I buy you a drink? My way of apologizing?"

Say no. Say no and walk away while you still can.

"Sure," I said instead, because apparently I had a death wish. "One drink."

We made our way to the bar, and Damien flagged down the bartender, then turned to me.

"What would you like?"

"Surprise me," I said, settling onto a bar stool. "But nothing too strong. I’m a lightweight."

"Noted." He ordered something I didn’t catch over the music, then settled onto the stool next to mine. "So, Kira. Tell me about yourself."

Danger. Abort.

"How about you tell me about yourself first?" I asked instead. "You’re the one who assaulted me with a hug. I think I deserve to know about my attacker."

He laughed and I felt a little flutter in my chest that I absolutely could not afford to feel right now.

"Fair enough," Damien said, accepting the drinks from the bartender and handing one to me. "What do you want to know?"

"Everything," I said, taking a sip. "Start with what brings you to a club on a Tuesday night."

"Stress relief," he said, "work has been... a bit stressful lately. Sometimes you just need to get out and remember what it feels like to be a normal person instead of a..."

He cut himself off, like he’d been about to reveal something he shouldn’t.

"Instead of a what?" I prompted.

"Instead of someone with too many responsibilities," he finished, but I got the sense that wasn’t what he’d been going to say.

I was about to press further when I felt something slip against my arm on the bar.

A piece of paper. A note.

I glanced down and saw a folded piece of paper next to my elbow, like someone had just placed it there.

My head whipped around, trying to catch who’d delivered it, but whoever it was had already vanished into the crowd.

What the hell?

"Everything okay?" Damien asked, noticing my sudden distraction.

"Yeah, just..." I picked up the note, my fingers suddenly trembling. "Someone left this for me."

"Secret admirer?" He said it teasingly, but there was something in his eyes - almost like disappointment.

I unfolded the note with shaking hands, my heart already racing.

The handwriting was neat. The message was short:

Already falling for another man? The sight of you with him is too heartbreaking to watch.

Love - E

My heart stopped.