His Reluctant Heart

hour, Mr. St. Clair. Before you e

the numbers as his fingers slid across the keyboard. Every figure and every cell had to line up precisely

and low, one that discouraged an

amian didn't tolerate trivial talk. He was always calculating, always serious. She had learned n

ked quietly, "You didn't eat anything during

ng over the most recent funding round, making changes, and waiting fo

up and said, "I

m to understand that his "fine" was frequently the opposite. She didn't push it, though. She had to learn that le

since given up on the little things, like sleep or food. Numbers, powe

n't even look at it. He didn't have to. His thoughts were entirely focused on the da

n empire. However, that was a long time ago before he understood that dreams were unimportant to t

ones that were essential. His concentration was unwavering, and every choice felt natural. Ther

he door. It was only a moment, but before the

yelled in an i

ure entered. Damian didn't need

ways a little more at ease than

n continued to browse through a few more report

in a bland voice

with people, how to build relationships, and how to be human, whereas Damian was all business. He had always been the St. Clair

e room, "I've been trying to reach yo

aise his head. "I ha

oice rising a little as annoyance began to seep in. And fo

and having to cope with them. He was constantly thinking about the next move, the next transaction. Drama i

oice, "I don't have time for this righ

ip on the desk's edge. He could see the fortress his brother had constructed to keep the ou

said, shaking his head. "Why do you fee

t his brother when the phone rang, his cold blue eyes locking with Julian's. There was only a sharp edge that had

clearly worried about his younger brother

ining the kind of comprehension that comes from years of being family. "I'

eakness, seemed alien to him. He couldn't bear the thought of letting someone in because he had spent so many years

n voice, "Maybe later." "At this m

slightly. Damian, you're not fooling me. You can i

d returned his focus to the task at hand. He had a steel trap of a

an turned and walked out of the room, his

erything else aside and went back to work. He felt the weight of

that mattered. The onl