Chapter 5 - CHRISTMAS MORNING SURPRISESThe soft patter of tiny footsteps on hardwood woke Damon long before his usual 5:00 AM alarm.
He sat up in his king-sized bed, rubbing his eyes. The penthouse was quiet, save for the muffled sound of cartoons playing softly from the living room television.
Damon threw off his duvet, pulled on a pair of cashmere sweatpants, and walked barefoot down the corridor.
As he rounded the corner into the expansive living room, he stopped dead in his tracks.
The massive floor-to-ceiling Christmas tree—which Damon hadn't even bothered to decorate because he spent every holiday in Seattle boardrooms—was suddenly ablaze with warm, twinkling lights. Beneath the branches sat a mountain of improvised gifts: small paper bags, wrapped books, and a pile of colorful stuffed animals.
Cassandra was sitting cross-legged on the plush white rug in an oversized flannel pajama shirt, her dark hair tied up in a messy bun. Luke and Violet were tearing through wrapping paper like miniature tornadoes, shrieking with laughter.
“Look, Mama! A truck!” Luke yelled, holding up a bright red fire engine.
“And look at this, Violet! A singing bear!” Cassandra laughed, her face glowing with a genuine, carefree happiness Damon hadn't witnessed in years.
He leaned against the doorframe, a slow, unconscious smile spreading across his face—the very dimple Luke had pointed out the day before appearing in his left cheek.
Cassandra looked up and caught him watching.
The laughter died in her throat. The soft light in her eyes flickered, replaced instantly by caution.
“You’re awake,” she said, her voice dropping.
“I had help,” Damon said softly, walking into the room. He knelt down beside Luke, who looked up at him with a grin that mirrored his own. “Morning, partner.”
“Morning, Giant!” Luke declared, shoving a stuffed puppy into Damon’s hands. “This is Barnaby. He’s my best friend.”
“I’m honored to meet you, Barnaby,” Damon said gravely, shaking the stuffed dog's paw.
Cassandra stood up, brushing off her pajamas. She looked uncomfortable, as if she had been caught trespassing in a sacred space. “I... I hope you don't mind. I found some wrapping paper and ribbon in the pantry. I didn't want the twins to wake up on Christmas morning without anything to open.”
“It’s the best thing that’s ever been under this tree,” Damon said, his voice entirely sincere.
Cassandra looked away, walking over to the espresso machine on the marble kitchen island. Her hands shook slightly as she pressed the button.
“We’re leaving after breakfast, Damon,” she said quietly, her back to him. “My sister is expecting us for Christmas dinner in Aurora. I called an Uber.”
Damon walked up behind her, stopping just inches away. He could feel the heat radiating from her body.
“You aren't going anywhere,” he said gently.
“Damon, don't start this. We can't just play happy family because you had a sentimental epiphany on an airplane.”
“I’m not playing,” Damon said. He reached past her, turning off the espresso machine before it could start, and gently took her shoulders, turning her to face him. “I walked away from a $780 million acquisition last night without a second thought, Cassandra. Not because I’m reckless, but because for the first time in my life, I realized what I was actually building my empire for.”
Cassandra’s breath hitched. “You... you walked away from the Merritt deal?”
“It’s gone,” Damon said, his green eyes locked onto hers with absolute clarity. “And I don’t care. I want my family back, Cassandra. I want you. And if you think I’m going to let you walk out of this penthouse and into a cab, you don't know the man I've become.”
Before Cassandra could reply, the penthouse door security chime chimed loudly.
Ding-dong.
Damon frowned. Nobody had the security code to the top floor except Marcus.
He walked over to the wall-mounted intercom tablet and pressed the camera feed.
The blood instantly drained from Damon’s face.
Standing in the private elevator lobby downstairs, flanked by two armed corporate security guards and looking murderously furious, was Richard Vance—the billionaire chairman of Merritt Systems and Damon’s most ruthless corporate rival.
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And beside him stood a woman Damon recognized instantly.
Nora Beck.
