Post by Otonyi Gift (@OTONYI)

WHEN HIS SOUL FOUND ME

CHAPTER ONE
DAMIAN

Damian Blackwood had never believed in love.
He believed in money, power, intelligence, and the simple truth that almost everything in the world could be bought by the right person at the right price.
And if a woman claimed otherwise, Damian was usually the first to prove her wrong.
At twenty-nine, he was the only son of Richard Blackwood, the billionaire whose business empire stretched across continents. The Blackwood name opened doors that remained firmly shut to ordinary people. Their wealth influenced politics, their companies employed thousands, and their family gatherings attracted people who would happily wait hours for five minutes of Richard Blackwood's attention.
But Damian wasn't merely the privileged heir who spent his father's money.
He was a technology genius.
Cybersecurity experts had spent weeks trying to solve problems Damian could identify in hours. Companies paid extraordinary sums for his services, and even his competitors admitted, sometimes reluctantly, that he was exceptionally good at what he did.
Unfortunately, his brilliance was matched by an arrogance that made him almost impossible to tolerate.
Especially if you were a woman hoping to become more than another name in his phone.
"You're unbelievable."
Damian didn't look up from his phone.
He was seated in a private booth at one of the city's most exclusive restaurants, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. His watch alone cost more than most people's annual salaries.
Across from him sat a beautiful woman named Vanessa, who had spent the last forty minutes trying to convince him that their relationship meant something.
"Did you even hear what I said?" she demanded.
"I heard you."
"And?"
"And what?"
Vanessa stared at him.
"Damian, we've been seeing each other for three months."
"Congratulations to us."
Her mouth fell open.
"Are you serious?"
He finally put his phone down.
"Vanessa, if you have something to say, say it. I have a meeting in an hour."
She swallowed, visibly struggling to keep her composure.
"I want to know what we are."
He leaned back.
"Two adults who enjoy each other's company."
"That's all?"
"What else would you like us to be?"
She looked away briefly before meeting his eyes again.
"I want a real relationship. I want to know that I'm not just someone you call when you're bored."
Damian studied her for a moment.
Then he reached into his jacket, pulled out his cheque book, and wrote something.
He slid the cheque across the table.
Vanessa looked down.
Her expression changed.
"What's this?"
"Five million naira."
She stared at the figure before looking at him in disbelief.
"Are you trying to pay me off?"
"I'm trying to give you something useful instead of having the same conversation every week."
Her eyes filled with tears.
"You really think every woman has a price."
"No." He picked up his glass. "Some women are more expensive than others."
She slapped him.
The sound cut through the restaurant.
Several diners turned to look.
Damian slowly placed his glass on the table.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then he smiled without humour.
"Well, that was unnecessary."
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
"You know what? One day, you're going to meet a woman who doesn't care about your money. A woman who won't be impressed by your name, your face, or the fact that your father practically owns half the country."
She stood.
"And when you finally realise that you can't buy what you actually need, I hope it hurts."
She walked away.
Damian watched her leave, then returned his attention to his phone.
He had heard similar speeches before.
Women came into his life wanting affection, commitment, marriage, or some combination of the three. They all claimed they wanted him, but eventually money entered the conversation.
He had stopped trying to distinguish between the ones who were honest about their intentions and those who dressed their desires in prettier words.
To Damian, the outcome was always the same.
Everyone wanted something.
At least money never pretended otherwise.
His phone vibrated.
A message from his sister appeared on the screen.
VIVIENNE: Mother says you're expected at dinner tonight. Don't tell me you've forgotten again.
DAMIAN: Tell Mother I'm busy.
VIVIENNE: Doing what? Insulting another woman?
He smirked.
DAMIAN: You know me so well.
VIVIENNE: Unfortunately. One day, someone will teach you a lesson.
DAMIAN: I'll pay for the lesson.
VIVIENNE: You're exhausting.
He put the phone away, finished his drink, and stood.
He had a security review scheduled with an international client the following morning. There were vulnerabilities in their software that his team hadn't been able to isolate, and Damian intended to solve the problem himself.
He had no time for relationship drama.
He had no time for his family's lectures.
And he certainly had no time to wonder whether Vanessa's words might one day prove true.

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