CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER  6

(ALINA’s POV)

The sharp curse that left Damian's lips made me blink twice.

He was still staring at his phone, the light from the screen casting a glow on a part of his face.

I studied him quietly.

His brows had drawn together in a sharp crease. The muscle at the side of his neck was twitching.

 

“Damian…?”

 I called softly, leaning forward.

But before I could get the full question out, he was already on his feet.

Just like that.

His chair scraped lightly against the floor.

There was a brief silence, and then I slowly stood to join him too, more out of reflex than intention.

He didn’t speak at first, just glanced down at his phone again still looking distracted.

“I’m… so, so sorry,”

 he said finally,

“I just got an alert. Something urgent. I might have to end this abruptly.”

His eyes shifted as if checking the space around us for someone or something.

Then they landed back on me.

I could feel my confusion deepening at this point.

 I was trying to read him, but his walls had gone right back up.

His hand went to the breast pocket of his blazer.

Then, to my surprise, he pulled out a small stack of bills and held it out toward me.

“You should use this, to…uhm…get yourself home.”

I blinked at the money.

Then back at him.

A strange heat climbed up my chest, not quite anger, not quite shame just… something I couldn't exactly put a finger on.

I gently reached out and pushed his hand back down before he could press it into mine.

“You don’t need to,” 

I declined softly but firmly.

 “I have enough to get back. And… the cash you left for me before at the hotel…it’s still there.”

He froze, swallowed and then looked away.

A flash of awkwardness passed over his face.

 His eyes darted back to mine and then from mine again to the floor for a second, letting out an exasperated sigh, as he dragged a palm across his forehead.

“Right,”

 he eventually muttered under his breath.

 “Of course you do.”.

He returned the cash to his pocket, but his hand didn’t stay idle for long.

Instead, he reached into the other side of his jacket and pulled out a black card.

 He dropped it on the table between us.

My eyes went to it immediately.

It was matte, the edges lined with subtle gold trim. 

“I’ll call you”

he said, giving a slow nod. 

“Or… you can reach me through that.”

He didn’t wait for a response.

He stepped back, offered me one final glance that still had a mix of apology and something unreadable and then turned and began walking toward the exit.

I didn’t call after him.

I just watched.

Watched as he walked away.

His steps were sure, but I saw the tension in his shoulders.

 Like something grave was indeed waiting for him on the other end of that phone call.

Or someone.

And just like that, he was gone.

I remained there for a moment, still as stone, my arms folded lightly over my chest.

What the hell just happened?

Something about the way he left… didn’t sit right. It wasn’t just business and yet I couldn't also pointedly call it an emergency.

After a long pause, I finally lowered myself back into my chair. 

My gaze drifted back to the black card on the table.

I reached out and picked it up slowly, running my thumb across the smooth surface. 

Then I mouthed his name again. 

Damian Blackwood.

I had known him as Damian the man who had  stumbled into my life in a swirl of guilt and heat. But here, on this card, he looked like a world I had never belonged to.

I let out a slow sigh.

Then carefully slipped the card into my purse.

And sat there for a while longer, staring at the space he left behind.

Moments later, the taxi rolled to a slow stop in front of our house. 

I stared out the window, barely registering the familiar shape of the front porch. 

My thoughts were still hovering around everything that happened back at the restaurant with Damian. 

The card he left with me was now in my hand like it carried the answer to questions I couldn’t even form yet.

“Ma’am?” the driver called gently, pulling me from the haze. 

“We’re here.”

“Oh,” I murmured.

I pushed the door open and stepped out. 

I pulled a few bills from my purse and handed them to the driver without counting too carefully.

“Keep the change,” 

I added quietly.

He gave me a polite nod. 

“Have a good night.”

As the taxi pulled away, I turned to watch the taillights shrink into the distance. 

Then I looked down at the card still in my hand, the name embossed on it catching the last blush of sunlight.

I didn’t know what that call had been about. I didn’t know why Damian looked almost haunted when he left.

But I would call him.

Eventually.

Once I had settled. Once I had sorted through the pieces still scattered across my chest.

I drew a steadying breath and turned toward the house.

I got inside in about two minutes and right after I locked the door the next voice I heard behind me almost made me jump out of my skin with shock.

“Did you enjoy your little date?”

The voice sliced through the silence.

I flinched hard, my hand flying instinctively to my chest as I spun around, eyes wide.

A shadowed figure stood a few feet behind me, arms crossed. The voice, though calm, held a chill beneath its surface. A knowingness that twisted something deep in my gut.

I opened my mouth but no sound came out.

I didn’t know what was more startling what was said or person who had said them.

“What?”

The figure shrugged to ask further,

“I was only asking if you had a delicious time with your sumptous looking prince charming”