28.
Hiding from Julia
Why will Julian come here today out of all days? And at this time. This exact same time that I’m here with another man.
Did Damien plan this?
Did both of them plan this?
Had Julian been testing me all along?
Was this Aaron’s doing?
Shit! I’m so nervous.
“I’m impressed by your taste, Mr Julian. My partner and I didn’t know a sophisticated restaurant like this could be found in New Everest.” One of the men said with a thick Italian accent.
“I agree. This is good dining.” The other man added with an equally strong Italian accent.
“Don’t tell me, Mr. Anton, that you doubted my taste and promise to give you both a swell time while we walk over our pending agreement,” Julian replied.
Hearing his deep, baritone voice made me weak in my knees. It’s really him!
“Absolutely not.”
“You are a fine gentleman. We do trust in your taste,” Anton’s partner added.
“Good to hear.”
Julian was saying when he stopped close to my seat as though he had smelled my scent. His back was turned to me, but he looked to have sensed something. If he sees me with Damien, the consequences will be devastating!
Shit!
My heart started to beat alarmingly fast, and I almost hid under the table if not for the fact that I knew it was too late. I could make a sound while at it, drawing Julian’s attention. Damien looked at me, perplexed by my decision to avert my face, but his confusion dissipated when Julian continued walking, and he caught sight of him.
“Julian is here?” I whispered to Damien, my gaze fixed on my thighs. I loosened my hair from the rubber, letting it cascade down my face.
“Yeah, I can see that,” Damien replied with annoyance.Text content © NôvelDrama.Org.
I couldn’t care less what made him annoyed. I just wanted to disappear into thin air so I won’t have to deal with the drama of being here with Damien after fucking Julian last week.
Oh my God, Samantha, now that I think about it. That’s so messy. What was I thinking?!
It’s not like Damien gave me a choice, though. It was either this or getting exposed as a nosy teacher breaking all the rules. At best, I would have been sacked, and at worst, I could have been arrested. Damien had me in a tight corner. He had been right when he said he held all the cards.
I was between the devil and the deep blue sea, and I had chosen the Devil.
Yes, I had been enjoying the Devil’s company, but…
Everything would have been perfect if only Julian didn’t appear here.
This doesn’t look like a coincidence.
“Why don’t you look surprised? Did you know this all this while? Was this your plan all along to make Julian see the both of us together so you can ruin whatever we are trying to build?” I asked Damien, getting angry. My voice came out louder than I expected it to be.
All the likeness I have felt for Damien disappeared into the wind. He is a snake!
“That was not my plan, but I don’t see it as something that I would have rejected happening. I want you, Samantha, and I want him to know that.”
“Well, I don’t want you. I want him.” I snapped.
“Wow!” Damien shot back. I could tell he was upset, too,
He became quiet, and so did I. My face remained hidden for at least five minutes. I was too scared to follow Julian’s movement.
What if he sees me? It’s better to keep my face down like this.
Damien exhaled loudly, pulling me out of my head.
“Julian is upstairs now. He is not going to see us, okay? You can stop hiding your face like a wanted criminal now,”
Damien’s voice carried a subtle undertone of irritation that left me with a distinct sense of discomfort. I don’t know how I felt exactly, but I know it upset me. I wasn’t happy that I made him angry, even though I was pissed at him.
I refused to lift my face.
First, I did not trust that Julian was upstairs and would not see me like Damien assured. I mean, he had made it clear that he was Julian’s rival. I couldn’t trust his words when it concerned I and Julian. Secondly, my mood plummeted because I made Damien upset.
I’m such a confused woman!
“How can you be so sure of that?”
“Because I own this place and built it so that one could have optimal privacy and be discreet if they choose to. That’s why it’s used mostly for top secret businessmen and government agencies. You asked me to take you to an inconspicuous place, and I complied. You either choose to trust me now or not.”
I looked up at him, surprised, “You own this place?”
“Is that the only thing you got from what I said?”
I shrugged. “Well, yea,”
He seemed to like the surprise in my voice. “You thought I was a useless son just feeding off of my mother and the title of being a Prince, right? I’m not. And I never felt the need to prove myself to anyone.” He paused. “Maybe to you, but that’s just it.”
I swallowed, nodding, “I’m sorry for judging you harshly.”
“You only saw what I allowed you and everyone to see, and you made your judgments, so I don’t blame you. But I am more than what the blogs and magazines say about me. More than the renounced crown prince of New Everest,”
Now, I feel stupid for judging him
“I shouldn’t be too quick to judge. We can both agree on that.”
Damien stayed silent.
Presuming he was still upset, I glanced up.
Our eyes met, and my heart skipped a thousand beats.
Fuck!
His blue eyes are too intense. I just noticed how well-trimmed his beard was today, and then the temptation to touch it came out of nowhere.
I swallowed.