The evening had settled in, and Damian was already deep in thought, his fingers running over the digital blueprint of his villa as if he could imprint his plans into his mind. Outside, the city hummed with the usual noise—cars honking, people talking—but it all seemed so distant, he knew that the humming was soon to be left behind, replaced by chaos.
His mind raced through every possible scenario, every contingency plan, and every decision he had yet to make. The preparation was overwhelming, but he couldn't afford to falter.
The sound of a knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. He didn't need to look to know who it was.
"Come in," he called, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling inside.
Ramon stepped in, dressed in his usual tactical black, his expression unreadable. In his hand, he held a sealed envelope.
"The contractors are ready to start tomorrow," Ramon reported, his voice low. "The teams are also set to begin reinforcing the perimeter by the end of the week. We've secured all the supplies from the other properties. Everything's on track."
Damian nodded, his mind already moving to the next task. "Good. Make sure everything stays quiet. No unnecessary attention. I don't want anyone to know what we're doing here."
"Understood," Ramon replied, his eyes scanning Damian's face. He seemed to pause, as if weighing his next words. Damian knew Ramon was a sharp individual and would definitely suspect something was up, after all the villa was going to go under construction. Ramon had seen the blueprints, what would become of the villa, of course it would spark curiosity.
Ramon's gaze lingered a moment longer than usual, but Damian didn't flinch. He kept his expression neutral. He didn't have to look at Ramon's face to know that his loyal security chief was reading between the lines, piecing things together.
"Anything else?" Damian asked, his tone more of steering the conversation that to ask for further details.
Ramon's eyes narrowed slightly, his instincts sharp, but he chose not to push the topic.
Ramon hesitated for just a moment longer before answering. "The perimeter will be ready soon, but... if there's something specific you want done with the workers, or any other arrangements... now would be the time to mention it."
Damian's lips pressed into a thin line. He wanted to keep things as low-profile as possible. "Nothing specific. Just ensure the workers stay discreet. I'll deal with the finer details myself."
Ramon nodded and stood there for a moment longer, his eyes sharp, but staring at him like that wouldn't make him spit out the truth. The silence hung between them for a beat. "You're dismissed, Ramon." Damian finally said.
Ramon lingered for a second, then nodded. "Understood. I'll report back tomorrow morning." He turned on his heel and left without another word, his heavy footsteps fading down the hall. Damian leaned back against the cool, smooth leather of his seat, his fingers tracing the blueprint of his villa before letting out a deep breath.
He had already spoken with a blacksmith known for his craftsmanship—one of the few people who could make weapons tailored to his exact specifications.
He typed a quick message to finalize the order:
"I need a custom machete. Steel blade, full tang. Handle made of blackened wood with reinforced rivets. Blade length: 22 inches. It must be well-balanced for both hacking and slashing, but also light enough for quick strikes. Make sure the steel is high-carbon for durability and corrosion resistance. A slight curve to the edge, but nothing too extreme. And make it look... intimidating."
He paused, reviewing his message. His fingers hovered over the screen before he added one last detail:
"Engrave my initials into the blade. 'D.LC.'"
He hit send.
Hours later, the blacksmith responded with a confirmation, and Damian could already imagine the weight of the blade in his hand.
_______
Theodore's POV
The drive back was uneventful, the familiar route taking him through streets that felt like they belonged to a past life. His thoughts were still tangled around the events from the morning—the tenderness in Damian's touch, the quiet concern in his voice. It all felt like an illusion, something too perfect to be real. And yet, the more he thought about it, the more unsettling it became.
As he pulled into the villa's driveway, he was immediately struck by the scene in front of him. His heart skipped a beat. Workers milled about, their heavy boots leaving imprints in the fresh gravel that had been poured. The sound of construction echoed in the distance, hammering and the screeching of saws filling the air.
Damian never mentioned anything about renovations. But was this even.. renovations?
Theodore parked his car, his gaze sweeping over the flurry of activity. Large scaffolding surrounded the villa's outer walls, and construction trucks lined the edges of the driveway, their engines idling as workers unloaded supplies.
Theodore's footsteps slowed as he approached the entrance, his eyes narrowing in confusion. He wasn't sure what he was expecting to see, but not this. The grand front gates, usually polished and clean now looked battered, as though they were in the middle of being fortified. He spotted a worker high up on a ladder, drilling into the frame of the gate, and another setting up some kind of security system along the perimeter.
His mind flipped through every possible explanation. Maybe Damian had decided to upgrade the security, given recent events in the city, or perhaps—no, that didn't make sense either. Damian never mentioned anything about such drastic measures. Damian wasn't the type to worry about those matters.
Theodore's hands clenched at his sides as he walked toward the villa's entrance. The sight of workers everywhere, the sound of metal clanging, the tools scattered on the ground.
He reached the front door, hesitating for just a moment before pushing it open. Inside, the atmosphere was no different. Workers were everywhere, some lugging materials into rooms, others measuring or sketching out designs on their notepads.