The Billionaire's Intern (Maya Thompson) novel Chapter 48

Chapter 29: Fear Beneath the Flame-1

Damien’s Penthouse

The shower was hot, almost scalding, steam clouding the glass as water poured over him. Blood-not his, but Beckett’s-ran down the drain, washing away like a curse being purged. As if scrubbing him from the world.

And still, it wasn’t enough.

The anger didn’t fade.

Neither did the traces of her-Maya’s-that clung stubbornly to his skin.

It lingered in his chest, a sharp, cold flame that refused to die.

He clenched his jaw, feeling it deep in his bones.

But underneath the rage pulsed something else.. something worse.

Fear.

An unfamiliar, unwelcome weight.

Fear for her.

For Maya Thompson.

For what could have been taken-her innocence, her spirit, her light.

Her.

The woman who, without even trying, had managed to slip past his defenses. Past the walls he’d spent a lifetime building.

Into his mind. Into his emotions.

Into a heart he thought had been dead for years.

So he believed. Until her.

He pressed his palms hard against the cold tile wall outside the shower, eyes shut tight.

He could still see her face-the moment Beckett first approached.

Caught off guard.

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Chapter 29: Fear Beneath the Flame-1

The awkwardness.

The hesitation.

The worry.

All of it raw, unmasked, flickering across her eyes like a silent scream.

He replayed it over and over.

The hours she was missing.

The silence so loud it burned.

And then-his rage.

The fury that flooded his veins at the thought of her being hurt, scared, taken.

But beneath the fury was something else-something deeper.

The desperation.

The thought was a double-edged blade.

He toweled off slowly, eyes dark and stormy in the mirror.

She matters. More than anyone in a long time.

But would that be enough?

Could he truly protect her this time? Or would he fail again-just like he did with the woman who once held his heart?

What if history repeated itself? What if the moment Maya fully stepped into his world… it destroyed her?

He exhaled, jaw tight, chest aching with the truth he could no longer outrun.

I need to do it right. I need to take it slow. I need to find a way to make her want me-choose me. Be willing to stand beside me, live in my world, fight with me… for me. Without breaking her. Without stealing her spirit. Her innocence.

I want her attention. Her love. Her trust. All of it. All of her.

You’re mine, Maya. Only mine.

Hospital Room 614

The slow rise and fall of Jamie’s breathing was steady now-finally asleep beside her. His small body curled tight in the chair, exhaustion digging dark trenches beneath his eyes.

Ms. Janice packed silently, careful not to disturb the fragile calm.

“I’m going home,” she said softly, voice almost a whisper. “You need rest. Jamie needs rest. I’ll be back with something warm for you. Don’t worry… Monroe offered to drive me.”

Maya nodded, every muscle heavy, her mind swimming in pain and fatigue.

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