Taming the Storm

The morning air in the office was unusually tense. Serena felt it as soon as she walked in, the subtle whispers and the way people quickly looked away when her eyes met theirs. Something had happened, but no one was forthcoming about it.

Shrugging it off as office gossip, Serena headed to the wellness center to prepare for the day's activities. She was determined to push through the lingering unease after the incident with Ethan the previous day.

Midway through her preparations, Clara walked in. The assistant rarely visited the wellness center unless it was important.

"Good morning," Serena greeted, attempting to sound cheerful.

Clara gave her a tight smile. "Morning. Just thought you should know… Ethan won't be bothering you anymore."

Serena froze. "What do you mean?"

"Mr. Storm fired him," Clara said bluntly. "Early this morning. HR escorted him out."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Serena blinked, her mind racing to process the revelation.

"He fired Ethan?" she repeated, almost in disbelief.

Clara nodded. "Let's just say Mr. Storm doesn't tolerate that kind of behavior in his company. It's rare for him to get involved personally, but…" She trailed off, her expression unreadable. "Anyway, I thought you'd want to know."

With that, Clara left, leaving Serena standing in the middle of the room, her thoughts a chaotic jumble.

---

The news sat with her all morning, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside her. She didn't know whether to feel relieved, guilty, or something else entirely.

Later that afternoon, she found herself crossing paths with Damien near the elevators. He was speaking to a senior manager but paused when he noticed her.

"Miss Bennett," he greeted with his usual composed tone.

"Mr. Storm," Serena replied, her voice steady despite the unease simmering within her.

Their eyes met briefly, and she wanted to ask him about Ethan. To thank him—or maybe to demand an explanation. But something about the way he held himself, calm yet unyielding, made her hesitate.

"Was there something you needed?" Damien asked, tilting his head slightly.

"No," she said quickly. "Nothing at all."

"Good." He nodded and turned back to his conversation, leaving Serena standing there, her heart pounding.

---

That evening, back at her apartment, Serena relayed the day's events to Mia.

"He fired Ethan," Serena said, pacing the small living room. "Just like that. I didn't even know until Clara told me."

Mia, sprawled on the couch with a cup of tea, smirked. "Of course he did. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Broody probably didn't like someone messing with you."

"It's not like that," Serena protested. "I mean, it's not about me personally. He was just doing what any CEO would do."

Mia arched an eyebrow. "Any CEO? Serena, be real. Most CEOs wouldn't notice, let alone care enough to intervene. He fired Ethan because of you."

Serena sighed, flopping onto the couch beside her friend. "Even if that's true, it doesn't make sense. He doesn't even like me. Half the time, he's snapping at me or glaring at me like I've ruined his day."

Mia laughed softly. "You're so clueless, it's almost cute. The man is obviously into you, Serena. He just doesn't know how to deal with it."

Serena shook her head, dismissing the idea. But a small part of her wondered if Mia might be right.

---

Damien sat in his office long after most employees had left for the day. The paperwork in front of him blurred as his mind wandered back to Serena.

Firing Ethan had been an easy decision, one that he didn't regret. But the nagging thought of Serena's reaction—how she might feel if she ever found out the real reason—unsettled him.

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. For someone who prided himself on control, Serena Bennett was proving to be an exception.

With a sigh, Damien shut his laptop and stared out the window at the city skyline. He had done what was necessary to protect her, but the emotions tied to his actions were something he wasn't ready to face.

Not yet.

---