Chapter 1

I spend six years helping Damian Moretti fight his way to the top, and almost every powerful man in New York’s business elite has seen me at his side.

By day, I handle investors, private dinners, and business deals for Moretti Holdings. By night, I am the woman Damian keeps hidden.

Now he is finally the Don, and tonight’s victory dinner is packed with people who came to celebrate him.

My name is not on the guest list.

-

I still come anyway, carrying a report that says I am seven weeks pregnant.

I stop outside the private dining room when I hear Luca DeLuca ask, “Claire stayed with you through the worst six years of your life. You’re really not going to marry her?”

Damian turns his glass once in his hand.

“She’s been around too many men for too long. She’s not wife material.”

My fingers tighten around the report.

Luca lowers his voice. “What if she gets pregnant?”

Damian does not even look up.

“Then I’d want a paternity test first.”

Four words, and six years disappear.

I fold the report in half.

Tonight, I will hand him my resignation.

As for the baby, he will never get the chance to test anything.

And as for Damian Moretti, I am done.

Inside the room, Luca speaks again.

“So what makes Sofia different?”

“Claire is my assistant.”

Luca laughs. “An assistant who’s been in your bed for six years?”

A few men chuckle.

Damian does not deny it.

“Love is one thing. Marriage is another.”

My hand slowly closes around the door handle.

Luca asks, “And Sofia? I heard you two already made it official.”

A glass touches the table.

“A month ago.”

For a second, I cannot breathe.

A month ago, Damian told me he was leaving New York to meet investors.

He was not meeting investors.

He was marrying Sofia Romano.

“What happens to Claire?” Luca asks.

“She can keep the apartment. I’ll transfer enough money for her to live comfortably.”

Damian pauses.

“She gave me six years. I won’t leave her with nothing.”

“You think she’ll stay after she finds out?”

Damian says nothing.

I let go of the handle and walk away.

Victor Caruso steps into my path before I reach the elevator.

He is one of Moretti Holdings’ business partners, and he has never bothered hiding the way he looks at me.

“Claire. Big night for your boss. Have a drink with me.”

“I’m off the clock.”

I move around him.

His arm locks around my waist before I can take another step, and his hand slides down the side of my dress.

“Stop pretending you’re too good for this,” he says. “Everyone knows how you helped Moretti win deals. You think those men were paying attention to your spreadsheets?”

I shove him hard.

“Take your hands off me.”

Victor’s face darkens.

He has tried this before, but Damian once warned him to keep his hands off me. That had been enough to make Victor back off.

Tonight, rumors about Damian and Sofia are everywhere.

Victor clearly thinks there is no one left who would make him regret touching me.

He grabs my wrist.

“Don’t embarrass yourself.”

People begin turning toward us.

The dining-room doors open.

Damian walks out.

Our eyes meet.

For one stupid second, I think he will come to me.

Instead, he looks past me.

Sofia Romano is approaching with several members of her family.

Damian steps forward to greet her.

Before he goes back inside, he says quietly to one of his men, “Get Claire out of here. Don’t let her ruin tonight.”

I stare at him.

He knows exactly what kind of man Victor is. The last time Victor harassed a junior employee, Damian personally called him and made him stop.

But tonight, he chooses not to see me.

Victor’s grip tightens.

I reach for the nearest glass and throw the drink in his face.

The hallway goes silent.

Victor freezes, then raises his hand.

I grab the bottle from the table beside us.

“Touch me again,” I say, “and everyone here will know exactly what Victor Caruso does to women at a Moretti event.”

His hand stops in midair.

I set the bottle down and turn away.

Behind me, Damian’s voice cuts through the hallway.

“Claire. Stop.”