Taming the Storm

The office buzzed with its usual rhythm, but Damien was in no mood for routine. His gaze kept drifting to the wellness center, where Serena was standing, her head tilted as she laughed softly at something Ethan from marketing had said. Damien's jaw tightened. He hadn't liked Ethan much to begin with, but now, the sight of him so openly engaging with Serena stoked a fire in him he couldn't explain.

It wasn't just irritation—it was jealousy, raw and unrelenting. And Damien Storm hated feeling anything he couldn't control.

Clara knocked on his door, snapping him back to reality. "The board meeting starts in ten minutes, sir," she reminded him.

"Reschedule it," he said curtly, not even glancing at her.

Clara hesitated, knowing better than to argue when he was in one of his moods.

---

Meanwhile, downstairs, Serena was trying to gently extricate herself from Ethan's persistent attempts to prolong their conversation.

"Ethan, I really need to get back to work," she said, offering him a polite but firm smile.

"Sure, sure," Ethan said, though he lingered for a moment longer. "But think about what I said, okay? Dinner, no strings attached. Just good food and great company."

Serena sighed as he finally walked away. Ethan was a nice enough guy, but his persistence was beginning to wear on her. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, but she also didn't want to give him any false hope.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sudden arrival of Damien, who stormed into the wellness center like a thundercloud. The employees glanced at each other nervously, immediately sensing the shift in atmosphere.

"Miss Bennett," Damien said, his voice sharp and commanding. "A word."

Serena blinked, startled by his tone. "Of course," she said, quickly following him out of the room.

Damien didn't stop until they were in his office. He closed the door behind them with more force than necessary, the sound echoing in the quiet space.

"Is there a problem, Mr. Storm?" Serena asked, her voice steady despite the unease swirling inside her.

Damien turned to face her, his expression cold and unyielding. "Yes, there is. I expect my employees to maintain a certain level of professionalism during work hours. That includes you."

Serena's brows furrowed. "I don't understand. Have I done something unprofessional?"

"Chatting with my staff like you're hosting a social event isn't exactly what I hired you for," Damien said, his tone biting.

Realization dawned on Serena, and with it came a wave of anger. "If you're referring to my conversation with Ethan, I was being polite. He approached me, and I didn't want to be rude."

"Polite?" Damien scoffed. "It looked more like flirting to me."

The accusation hit Serena like a slap. "Flirting?" she repeated, her voice trembling slightly. "How dare you assume that? I have always conducted myself with the utmost professionalism, and for you to suggest otherwise is completely out of line."

Damien's eyes narrowed. "Out of line? You're here to do a job, not to entertain—"

"Stop," Serena cut him off, her voice shaking now with a mixture of anger and hurt. "You don't get to talk to me like this. I've done nothing wrong, and I won't stand here and let you humiliate me."

Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and Damien froze. The sight of her standing there, trembling but defiant, struck something deep inside him.

"I'm sorry for not meeting your impossible standards, Mr. Storm," Serena continued, her voice breaking. "But maybe you should take a moment to reflect on your own behavior before judging others."

With that, she turned and walked out, the first tear slipping down her cheek as she left his office.

---

The door clicked shut behind her, and Damien was left standing alone, his chest tight with emotions he couldn't name. Guilt washed over him like a tidal wave. He hadn't meant to hurt her, but he had.

The image of her tear-filled eyes haunted him, each moment replaying in his mind. He sank into his chair, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

What the hell was wrong with him?

---

Serena barely made it to the empty break room before the tears came in earnest. She hated that she was crying—hated that Damien Storm had gotten under her skin like this.

"Serena?" Mia's voice broke through her thoughts as her roommate stepped into the room, a look of concern on her face. "What happened?"

Serena shook her head, wiping at her eyes. "Nothing. It's stupid."

"Doesn't look stupid," Mia said, sitting down beside her. "Did Damien say something?"

Serena let out a bitter laugh. "He accused me of flirting with Ethan. Can you believe that? I've never been so insulted in my life."

Mia's expression darkened. "That arrogant jerk. Do you want me to go throw a coffee at him or something?"

Despite herself, Serena let out a watery laugh. "No, but thanks for the offer."

"You know he's probably jealous, right?" Mia said, leaning back in her chair.

"Jealous?" Serena scoffed. "He barely knows me."

"Exactly," Mia said with a smirk. "That's why it's driving him crazy. Guys like him don't know how to handle feelings, so they lash out. Classic."

Serena sighed. "Even if that's true, it doesn't give him the right to treat me like this."

"No, it doesn't," Mia agreed. "But it does make him human. And maybe… just maybe, there's more to him than you realize."

---

Damien spent the rest of the day in a haze of regret. By the time the office emptied out, he had made up his mind. He wasn't good at apologies, but he knew he owed Serena one.

When he arrived at the wellness center, it was quiet. Serena was still there, organizing some papers. She looked up when he entered, her expression guarded.

"Mr. Storm," she said, her voice cool.

"I—" Damien hesitated, the words sticking in his throat. He took a deep breath. "I owe you an apology."

Serena blinked, clearly not expecting that.

"I was out of line," he continued, his tone softer than she'd ever heard it. "You didn't deserve what I said. I'm… sorry."

For a moment, Serena didn't say anything. Then she nodded, her expression softening. "Thank you, Mr. Storm. I appreciate that."

Damien gave a curt nod, unsure of what else to say. As he turned to leave, he hesitated. "And Serena?"

"Yes?"

"You're good at what you do. Don't let anyone, including me, make you doubt that."

Serena watched him go, her heart a little lighter. Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Damien Storm than met the eye.

---