CHAPTER 1: Be My Woman 1

CHAPTER 1: Be My Woman 1

ROSE POV

My name is Rose Ashford.

I met Damien Radar the night my father opened his New company headquarters.

I was barely twenty years old, and the Idea of dating an older man was exciting.

He was thirty, ten years older than me, maybe not much... but enough to make my stomach flutter when our eyes locked across the table.

“Rose, this is Damien Radar, my business partner,” Dad said, gesturing between us.

Damien took my hand, kissing it softly a second too long.

“My pleasure, Rose,"

"Same here, Damien"

"I haven't seen you at my Dad's company before."

He kept looking at me, which made my cheeks blush.

I'm his new partner.

I didn't know your Dad had a daughter as pretty as you.

He had you well hidden, he said, as he took a sip of his wine.

“I don’t live with him; I have an apartment with my cousin Fay.

Dad thought it was time we became independent, and my uncle thinks the same.

So we have been living alone for a year now"

He listened intently, his gaze never blinked.

It wasn’t just polite interest—it felt like he was memorizing me. It made my skin tingle in a way I couldn’t know if it was exciting or unnerving.

My boyfriend Joseph arrived shortly after, and I said goodbye to Damien and went to him.

We decided to leave the party; there were many cameras and people that neither of us knew.

We were celebrating our first month together, so he accompanied me home to change clothes to go watch a movie.

Later that night, my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.

Enjoy the rest of your evening, Rose. – Damien.

I stared at it; my heart skipped a bit.

How did he get my number? But I didn’t reply.

The next morning, I received a call from my Dad; he was going to make a small meal at home for his birthday.

After my last class, I headed home straight away.

Daughter, how nice to see you, as he hugged me.

I didn't have time to buy you a gift, Dad, I said as I entered the house.

It doesn't matter, as long as you are here.

The dining room was full of businessmen, so I went to my room.

I changed into a simple but flattering dress from my old room.

“You’ve grown so much,” Mom said, hugging me tight.

“That dress is a little short, though…”

I laughed it off. “I should bring more clothes back; these have been sitting here for a year.”

Dad called us downstairs, and we went to greet the guests; I immediately recognized Damien.

He smiled the moment he saw me approaching, that same intense look in his eyes.

“So nice to see you again, Rose,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss my cheek.

The brief contact sent warmth spreading through my body.

“I didn’t expect you here either,” I said, smiling.

“I sent you a message, but there was no response, Rose.

“Sorry… I’ve been busy.” I had forgotten.

No problem... He tilted his head.

“Do you have plans tonight?”

When I shook my head, he lowered his voice.

“Have dinner with me at my place tonight, just the two of us.”

I should have said no.

Instead, I heard myself accepting it.

His gaze held mine, and something in it made me want to know what would happen if I stepped closer to the fire.

*****************************************

The night arrived faster than I expected.

His driver came to pick me up.

Damien’s mansion was breathtaking—modern and luxurious.

He greeted me at the door with a bouquet of deep red roses.

They’re beautiful,” I whispered, inhaling their scent.

We sat at a candlelit table while his maid poured wine.

Damien watched me openly and unapologetically.

The silence stretched until I couldn’t take it.

“Why do you stare at me like that?” I asked, taking a sip to steady my nerves.

“Because I like looking at what I want.”

I nearly choked.

“What? I don't understand what you're talking about,"

He set his glass down, expression serious. “I’ll be direct, Rose,"

" I want you, not just for one night. I want to make you mine—for a year, we can put it in a contract if that makes you more comfortable.

You’ll have every luxury, protection, and freedom… except you’ll belong to me.

Your time, your body, your pleasure.

All mine.”

"You are joking, I laughed nervously, but the sound died when I realized he wasn’t joking.

"I'm not joking," he said.

“This is crazy, you are crazy, and you barely know me.”

“I know enough; you excited me, and I think you feel the pull too.” He leaned closer.

“Tell me, I’m wrong.”

"But why me"

"Because I like you"

Okay, tell me about the contract. —A smile lit up his face.

As I told you, you will be my woman; you will do what I tell you, and whenever I need you.

Even in sex, you will be only mine.—He said.

"That's crazy," I said, getting up from the chair, ready to get out of this damn place.

Is it the sex thing that bothers you?.

I blushed.

My heart started beating faster; the contract sounded insane—possessive, controlling but the way he looked at me, like I was the only thing in the room worth wanting… it stirred something reckless inside me.

He must have seen the conflict on my face.

Are you a virgin? —He asked.

“Yes,” I said, and he smiled.

I won't do anything you don't want, and... we can wait for that. —He said, coming closer to me, caressing my down lip with his thumb, looking at it.

Before I could respond, he cupped my face and kissed me, and I kissed him back.

It was slow at first, then deeper, and I was lost in the heat of it, until he pulled away.

Think about it, but the most important thing is that you can't tell anyone about this; it's confidential. —He said.

I nodded.

"I have to go"

"But why? You just got here," he said.

"I have to go to school tomorrow"

"Okay"

His driver took me home, and I kept touching my lips the whole way home, replaying the kiss and his outrageous offer.

So I blocked him.

The whole thing felt dangerous—too fast, too intense.

My father was his business partner, for God’s sake