49 A Peculiar Harmony Unfolds

As the night waned and the effects of the alcohol began to take their toll, Damon found himself in an unexpected role—carrying a drowsy Lia to her room. The usually composed business tycoon now navigated the hallways with a tipsy partner in his arms. Lia, her words slightly slurred, muttered, "You know, Damon, you're confusing. Sometimes you're so nice, and other times, you're like, 'Nope, I'm a grumpy boss.'" Damon, suppressing a smile, replied, "Life's full of surprises, Lia. Keeps things interesting." Lia, her head resting against his shoulder, sighed, "Can you, like, pick a lane? It's hard to keep up." Damon, reaching her room, gently placed her on the bed. He looked at her with a rare softness in his eyes, "You're not the easiest person to figure out either, you know?" Lia, snuggling into the pillows, teased, "Well, good luck with that, Mr. Mysterious. You might need it." As Damon turned to leave, Lia, in a sleepy yet sincere tone, said, "And hey, thanks for not