Chapter 78: The Devil Obeyed His Sweet Slave
The bright morning sun streamed through the sheer drapes of the master suite, painting the room in soft, golden light.
Ana stood by the edge of the plush king-sized bed, her small hands carefully smoothing out the crisp lapels of a tailored suit she had pulled from Damian’s sprawling walk-in closet.
It wasn’t his usual dark, lethal charcoal or intimidating obsidian black.
It was a three-piece suit in pristine, striking white. White vest, white trousers, and a immaculate white blazer.
The frosted glass door of the master bathroom slid open, releasing a fresh, subtle scent of mint and rain. Damian stepped out, a dark towel slung low around his waist, damp black hair hanging carelessly over his forehead.
He stopped short, his obsidian eyes locking onto the radiant, eye-catching ensemble laid out on the bed... and then sliding to Ana, who stood beside it with a quiet, unyielding resolution in her dark eyes.
Damian raised a dark eyebrow, a slow, amused smirk tugging at his lips. "What is this, Anastasia?"
Ana smoothed the lapel one last time before raising her chin, meeting his sharp gaze without flinching.
"I told you last night that I want you to act like a gentleman," Ana spoke, her voice steady and clear despite the rapid fluttering in her chest. "And since you clearly don’t know how... I am going to help you become one."
Damian stared at her, caught between sheer disbelief and dark fascination.
"I want you to wear this suit today," Ana instructed, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "The whole three-piece set. And when people at the office ask why the ruthless Damian Sterling is wearing white... you will tell them that I chose it for you."
Damian let out a low, deep rumble of a laugh, the sound rich and echoing off the high ceilings. He shook his head, rubbing the towel through his damp hair. "You’re joking."
"I am completely serious," Ana countered, stepping closer to him, her eyes burning with an undeniable spark of determination. "A gentleman isn’t afraid to honor his wife’s wishes in public, Damian. If you want me to stay beside you... you play by my rules today."
Damian’s laughter slowly faded, replaced by a dense, suffocating stillness. He looked down at her small frame, taking in the fierce, stubborn pride radiating from her.
For the first time since she had returned into his life, she wasn’t cowering under his shadow... she was stepping directly into his light, taking the reins into her own hands.
Slowly, Damian tossed his towel onto a nearby armchair, stepping into her space until his towering frame eclipsed the morning sun. He reached out, his long fingers gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, his thumb brushing over her soft cheekbone.
"You want to feel in control for once, sweet angel?" Damian purred darkly, his tone dropping into a quiet, dangerous whisper that sent a shudder straight down her spine.
Ana held her breath, refusing to look away.
"Fine," Damian murmured, a lethal, breathtaking smile spreading across his sharp features. "I will play along with your little game today. I’ll wear your white suit, and I’ll tell the world you picked it."
He leaned down until his lips brushed against her ear, his warm breath fanning across her skin.
"But remember this, Anastasia..." Damian warned softly, his voice laced with an intoxicating, possessive promise. "If I play your game today... I am taking something very sweet from you tomorrow."
Ana’s heart slammed against her ribs. A wave of deep conflict washed over her... a dangerous mixture of fear, thrill, and uncertainty.
She knew trading favors with a predator like Damian was playing with fire, but looking at the white suit on the bed, she knew she needed this victory.
She needed to stand on equal ground, even if it was just for one day.
"Deal," Ana whispered, taking a step back to meet his burning gaze. "Now put it on."
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The executive lobby of Sterling Global was usually a place of sharp and rigid corporate discipline. Security guards stood like stone pillars, and high-ranking department heads shuffled past with hurried, anxious steps.
Until the private double doors swung open.
Damian Sterling stepped into the main atrium. Beside him walked Anastasia, her posture straight and her expression composed, though her heart was pounding like a war drum against her ribs.
The silence that fell over the floor was instant and absolute.
It was as if someone had sucked all the oxygen out of the building. Interns froze midway through printing documents. Senior analysts stopped mid-sentence. Security personnel blinked in sheer shock.
Damian Sterling... the dark titan, the ruthless billionaire who practically bled charcoal gray and obsidian black... was wearing a striking, immaculate three-piece suit in crisp, blinding white.
The pristine fabric framed his broad shoulders and commanding height perfectly, turning his dangerous, predatory aura into something undeniably regal.
He didn’t look like a man who had just dismantled an elite family twenty-four hours ago. He looked like an emperor attending a coronation.
Ana could feel dozens of eyes burning into her skin, but she kept her chin held high, walking right beside him as their footsteps echoed across the polished marble floor.
"Mr. Sterling..."
A voice broke the heavy silence. Killian Jade... a veteran senior board member who had been with Sterling Global for over a decade... stepped out of the main conference hallway.
He stared at Damian’s attire, his jaw slightly slack before he caught himself and cleared his throat nervously.
"Good morning, Mr. Sterling. Miss Vance," Killian stammered, his eyes darting down to the pristine white vest and back up to Damian’s unreadable face. "I... forgive me, sir. In all my twelve years here, I have never seen you wear... white. Is there a special occasion today?"
Ana’s breath caught in her throat. She shot a quick side-glance at Damian, her chest tightening as she waited to see if he would actually follow through with his promise.
Damian stopped in the center of the grand foyer. He didn’t look annoyed or embarrassed.
Instead, a slow, devastatingly handsome smile curved his lips... a look so devastatingly charming it made several passing female executives freeze in their tracks.
Damian reached out, smoothly placing a firm, warm hand on the small of Ana’s back, drawing her just a fraction closer to his side so the entire floor could see them together.
"No special occasion, Killian," Damian spoke, his deep, velvet baritone carrying effortlessly across the silent atrium, ensuring every single employee heard his words. "My wife chose this suit for me today."
KIllian blinked, thoroughly stunned. "She... Miss Vance chose it?"
"Indeed," Damian purred smoothly, his obsidian eyes briefly sliding down to meet Ana’s wide, astonished gaze before returning to the board member. "What Anastasia wants, she gets. I simply obey."
A collective, quiet gasp seemed to ripple through the lobby.
Ana felt a sudden, intense heat rush up her neck into her cheeks. She knew he was laying it on thick... playing his role with the dramatic, terrifying perfection only Damian Sterling could pull off.
But hearing him publicly submit to her choice in front of the entire corporate hierarchy sent a powerful, undeniable wave through the company.
The message was crystal clear to everyone in the building... Anastasia Vance wasn’t a fragile temp worker or a helpless pawn in his war. She was the woman who held the titan’s leash.
"I... see," Killian managed to say, bowing his head respectfully toward Ana. "An exceptional choice, Ms. Vance. Excellent taste."
"Thank you, Mr. Jade," Ana murmured, forcing a polite, composed smile onto her face despite the crazy adrenaline rushing through her veins.
As they stepped onto the private executive elevator, the heavy glass doors slid shut, hiding them from the wide-eyed stares of the lobby.
Ana let out a long, shaky breath, leaning her head back against the mirrored wall. "You... you actually said it."
Damian turned toward her, unbuttoning the top button of his white suit jacket with effortless grace. He stepped into her space, his shadow completely consuming her as he trapped her against the glass, his dark eyes burning with a dangerous, triumphant light.
"I promised I would play your gentleman’s game today, sweet doll," Damian whispered darkly, leaning down until his lips hovered a breath away from hers. "And I play to win."
His long fingers reached out, lightly tracing the line of her collarbone, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake.
"So enjoy your command while the sun is up, Anastasia..." Damian purred, his baritone dropping an octave into a low, breathless warning. "...because midnight is coming. And tomorrow belongs to me."