Chapter 79: The Devil Have To Ask For It
By noon, the entire building was practically vibrating with gossip.
The news of the CEO appearing in a white suit... and publicly declaring that his wife had chosen it... had spread through every department like wildfire. Inside the marketing bullpen, employees were speaking in hushed, awe-filled whispers every time Ana walked past.
The fallen temp worker had transformed overnight into the undisputed queen who held the Dark Lord of Sterling Global under her thumb.
Ana sat at her desk, staring at her computer screen with a soft, triumphant smirk. She was thoroughly enjoying this shift in power. But as she listened to the whispers around her, a sudden, mischievous idea struck her.
If he wants to play the doting husband... let’s see how far he’s willing to go.
Ana pulled out her phone, dialing Damian’s direct line.
He answered on the third ring. "Anastasia," his deep baritone hummed through the receiver, smooth and commanding as ever.
Ana leaned back in her mesh chair, lowering her voice into a soft, quiet murmur so none of her curious coworkers could overhear her. "Damian..."
There was a brief pause on his end, the rustle of papers coming to a sudden halt. "Why are you whispering?"
"Because I have a request for my gentleman," Ana purred softly, a sweet, teasing edge in her tone. "Since everyone is admiring your lovely white suit... I think we should celebrate your proposal today."
"Celebrate?" Damian repeated, sounding mildly suspicious.
"Yes. I think you should provide lunch for the entire marketing department today," Ana declared smoothly, her chin tilting up even though he couldn’t see her. "A lavish, doting gesture from the CEO to his wife’s team."
A low, flat sigh echoed through the speaker. "Forget it."
"Damian!" Ana gasped softly, feigning disappointment. "If you want to maintain your image as a man who dotes on his wife, this is the right way to do it! Everyone will talk about how attentive and generous you are."
"I don’t care about their talk, Anastasia," Damian countered coldly, though there was an underlying thread of dark amusement in his voice. "It’s useless. No one in this building would dare say a word to my face regardless of what I do."
Ana squeezed her phone a little tighter, leaning closer to the receiver, her voice dropping into a gentle, persuasive murmur that hit right where it mattered most.
"Maybe they won’t say it to your face..." Ana whispered softly, "...but if you want to claim me in front of the world, Damian... this is the gentleman’s way to do it. You don’t just own me in private. You honor me in public."
Silence fell over the line.
Ana held her breath, hearing the quiet rhythm of his breathing on the other end. She could practically see him sitting at his broad mahogany desk, dark brows pulled tight, completely cornered by her logic.
"Besides," Ana added with a mischievous little smile, dropping her final, lethal trap. "You promised to play along with my ways today. Are you breaking your word already, Mr. Sterling?"
A long, heavy beat passed. Then, a low, gravelly chuckle rumbled through the phone... dark, dangerous, and dripping with effortless charm.
Ana could hear the villainous smirk in his voice as he spoke.
"You are playing a very dangerous game, sweet angel," Damian purred softly, the leather of his executive chair creaking as he leaned back. "Fine. Lunch will be served. But remember..."
His baritone dropped an octave, sending a sudden, intoxicating shiver straight down her spine.
"...the sun sets in ten hours. And I expect to be fully compensated for my generosity tonight."
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An hour later, the quiet hum of the marketing department was completely shattered.
The private elevators chimed, and a team of white-gloved caterers streamed into the office, pushed behind Damian’s senior secretary and chief personal assistant.
They carried heavy, insulated trays and tiers of high-end patisserie from the most exclusive restaurant in the financial district.
The secretary stepped forward, clapping her hands gently to gather everyone’s attention.
"Attention, everyone," she announced with a polished, beaming smile. "Mr. Sterling has sent a gourmet lunch spread for the entire department today to celebrate his proposal to Ms. Anastasia."
The floor erupted into instant cheers, gasps, and enthusiastic applause.
Surrounded by envious and congratulatory looks, Ana felt her face burn red, though a small, victorious smile danced on her lips. Across the room, Marcus looked up from his desk.
He gave her a subtle, polite nod... a quiet gesture of support, though the smile on his face didn’t quite reach his heavy, worried eyes.
Clara stepped out of her corner office, leaning against Ana’s cubicle with a cup of black coffee in her hand.
She surveyed the absurdly expensive spread of wagyu steak, lobster tail, and vintage sparkling cider, then turned her sharp eyes onto Ana.
"Okay," Clara murmured, raising an eyebrow in complete disbelief. "What exactly is going on here, Vance? Because this is so entirely out of Damian Sterling’s character it’s almost terrifying."
Ana let out a soft laugh, leaning back in her chair. "Let’s just say... I am getting compensated for all the insane things that have happened lately."
Clara burst into a genuine, bright laugh, shaking her head. "Good. Squeeze every single dime out of him."
"Hey, everyone!" one of the senior interns called out, holding up a gourmet lunch box. "The weather is amazing today... let’s take our trays up to the sky terrace and eat outside!"
A chorus of agreement echoed through the floor. The entire team of interns and junior analysts gathered their food and headed up the private staircase leading to the lush, open-air rooftop garden overlooking the city skyline.
Ana grabbed her tray and followed the group, enjoying the cool afternoon breeze as the double glass doors to the terrace swung open.
The laughter of the interns died down instantly.
Standing near the glass, framed by the towering skyline, was Damian. His broad, towering frame stood out sharply against the bright sky... still clad in the striking, pristine white three-piece suit.
He held a thin, lit cigarette between two long fingers, a soft plume of gray smoke curling into the air.
He turned around slowly, his obsidian eyes locking directly onto Ana.
The female interns gasped, immediately breaking into giggles as they gathered the courage to walk up to him. "Mr. Sterling! Thank you so much for the incredible lunch!" one of them squealed politely.
Damian gave a smooth, dismissive nod, his tone polite yet distant. "Enjoy."
Ana smiled quietly, attempting to slip past the group with her tray to find a quiet bench near the garden beds. But as she walked past him, a large, warm hand reached out, wrapping firmly around her wrist and pulling her back against his hard chest.
Ana gasped softly, her eyes widening as she glanced over her shoulder. Several interns were looking back at them, hiding their blushes behind their hands as they quickly turned away to give them privacy.
Damian ignored them completely. He took one final, long drag from his cigarette, exhaled the soft smoke away from her face, and stubbed it out in the sleek outdoor ash bin nearby.
Without giving her a second to recover, Damian leaned down, his handsome face closing the distance as his dark eyes locked onto her lips.
Ana quickly raised her free hand, resting her palm against his jaw, stopping him an inch away.
Damian froze. He tilted his head slightly, his dark brows pulling down in feigned hurt, a low, smooth purr rumbling from his chest. "After everything I’m doing for you today, sweet doll... you’re going to deny me a kiss? How heartless."
Ana almost laughed out loud at his ridiculous drama. She tilted her chin up, looking at him with a mischievous, sparkling gaze.
"A gentleman always asks for permission first," Ana reminded him smoothly.
Damian’s jaw tightened playfully, a dangerous, breathtaking smirk curving his lips as his grip on her wrist tightened just enough to draw her flush against his suit vest.
"You are mine, Anastasia," Damian purred, his tone dropping into a quiet, possessive murmur that made her knees feel weak. "Why should I ask? I only take."
Ana rolled her eyes, pushing gently against his jaw, her voice laced with playful defiance.
"If you want it, Mr. Sterling..." Ana whispered, her lips brushing against his cheek as she taunted him, "...then ask for it."