Page 36 of Interview with the Billionaire

[Nikki laughs.]

Nikki: He would too. My husband is very resourceful.

Damien: And formidable. Don’t forget that.

Nikki: How could I?

Bridge: Actually, I want to talk about those resources in our next interview, particularly Stark Security. But for now, was there ever a time you feared that your relationship wouldn’t survive.

[They share a look, dark and meaningful. For a moment, I fear I won’t get an answer, or if I do, it will be an obfuscation.]

Nikki: Yes, actually. After Germany. I was terrified.

Bridge: By Germany, you’re referring to the trial? When Damien was charged with murdering his tennis coach?

Nikki: Yes. The court received some horrible images. They were sealed, but apparently someone else had them, too. They threatened to release them. Damien … well, he left me.

[I have heard this from the other interviews, and of course I remember the outcome from the coverage at the time. But I try to react as if this is the first I’ve heard of it.]

Damien: I was a fool. That’s the bottom line.

Nikki: You were. But you left for me. He was trying to protect me. He thought I wouldn’t be able to handle the media when the images went wide. Honestly, I wasn’t entirely sure, but I was determined to prove to him I would be fine.

Damien: She was brilliant. She proved to me just how strong we both are.

Bridge: I remember the press conference. You were brilliant.

Nikki: Thank you. That means a lot.

Bridge: And you did release those photos? You and Sofia. You were—

Damien: As I said, that topic is off-limits. Go back to old articles and fill in the details if you feel compelled to write about it. But for now, drop it.

Bridge: Of course. But I do have one question that I don’t believe has been covered, and it’s not directly about the abuse.

Damien: I’m listening.

Bridge: Sofia. Were you ever involved with her. Was she ever your girlfriend?

Damien: No. We were just friends. Friends in a bad situation. And that’s all I’ll say, except that I’m done being ashamed of that time in my life—of running because of that shame. I did that—ran far and fast—and I almost lost the person I cherish most in this world. It was a mistake.

[He pauses, clearly fighting strong emotions.]

Damien: The irony is that my leaving brought us even closer. But never again.

[He takes her hand.]

Damien: The sun won’t ever set for us.

[Nikki’s smile sparkles. So do the tears in her eyes.]

Bridge: Nikki, you went to Germany, too. You were clearly in a deeply committed relationship. But not only did he not tell you about what happened in the past, but he left you when it was at risk of being disclosed.

Damien: Careful, Maggie.

Bridge: I just want to know if it bothered you. The fact that he didn’t tell you any of that despite your intimacy.

Nikki: Of course, it did.