CHAPTER TWO

NADIA’s POV.

I walked back into the arena, the whole place was already filled and I saw Bethany seated near the front. I used to always sit there, Zane made sure of it but somehow she was now the one seated there.

Jealousy enveloped me as I lowered myself on the chair next to Grace, her face broke into a smile when she saw me.

“I almost thought you left.”

“No, I was in the bathroom.”

I was still talking when I saw Damian walk into the Arena and I could see almost everyone ogling at him. He was a heartthrob of many even if a few more preferred Zane.

“Isn’t he gorgeous?” Grace beamed but I didn’t reply. My mind wandered off to the encounter I had with him in the bathroom and my heart actually skipped. He sounded so sure of himself when he called himself my savior, I almost wanted to believe him.

My attention shifted when I saw a shadow cast above me and I raised my head to see Bethany. She had a smile on her face, a strained one at that.

“I’m hoping you can move out today” she said in a mock whisper, “something came up.”

“What?” I exclaimed, “I can’t leave today. How—

“I am sure you will figure it out. Zane asked me to let you know since he won’t be able to say anything about it.”

“Bethany!”

“Bye, sweetheart.”

She scoffed and turned to leave. She didn’t like me and I didn’t like her either but then. How could I leave today?

I pulled out my phone and sent Zane a text message which he immediately replied to like he was waiting for it.

“Yes, I told her to tell you. I am sure you will figure out a way.”

My exams were a few days away and I couldn't afford to be stressed about my accommodation right now.

“What’s going on?” Grace asked me, “what was that snob saying?”

“It’s nothing.” I shrugged.

“Are you sure?” She asked again, “does it have anything to do with what you posted on the school page?”

“Oh. You saw that?”

“Hmm” she nodded, “we are already four in our apartment and it’s almost—

“It’s fine,” I gently cut her off with a smile, “I am going to handle it, don’t worry.”

“Hmmm. I’m glad that's settled.”

She returned her focus to the rink while I picked up my phone again. At this point, I didn’t have an option. If he actually wanted to help me, maybe this was the time. I couldn’t have an apartment issue right now.

I quickly typed a message to him and replaced my phone before standing up. I suddenly didn’t have the energy to watch them again but as soon as I stepped out of the arena, my phone beeped with a message from him.

“Meet me after the exhibition.”

I nodded and headed back to the apartment. I didn’t know if he was going to agree but I was about to go pack a few things.

I didn’t pack much, just a duffel bag and I was out of the apartment.

Luckily, by the time I reached the rink again, they were almost done so I waited for Damian.

A few minutes later, I saw him walk out of the ice rink towards a maybach that was parked a few feet away from me, I didn’t know that it actually belonged to him. He was walking fast and I guessed he wanted to leave before the reporters got him. I followed him and in no time, I was standing face to face with him.

His face broke into a mocking smile as soon as he saw me.

“Get in the car.” He immediately ordered as he slipped in.

When we were safely seated, he turned his attention to me, that smug smile still on his face. For the fact that Zane hated him was enough, even if he was my helper—I hated him too.

“You couldn't wait for me to start the savior thing, yeah?” He asked.

“I had no choice.”

“We always have a choice, red head.”

“Do not call me red head!” I hissed and he smiled but he didn’t say anything else.

“I just need a place to stay for a few days, I will be out of your hair soon.”

“Why exactly did he throw you out?

By he, he meant Zane and I swallowed hard. He was going to be all alone with Bethany in that house, I couldn’t help but wonder what the two of them would do most of the time.

“That’s none of your business, Damian” I told him, “but I am trying to figure something out. I could pay if you—

“First of all,” he cut me off as he leaned against the headrest, “I hate Zane and seeing that I get to keep you for a few days is already enough for me. Anything to spite that bastard.”

“What?”

“You wouldn't understand.” He replied, “but keep that at the back of your mind. For now, let’s get out of here,”

“But why are you helping me, Damian?” I couldn’t help but ask. The two of us have never met aside from today, we have never even had a conversation before.

“Let’s talk about that after we get out of here”

Before I could respond, he turned on the ignition of the car and zoomed off.

The car was silent as he drove, I was already regretting my decision to come with him and I knew Eva was going to lose her mind when she heard but this was the only option I had at the moment.

Half an hour later, he pulled up in front of a gate and I watched as it opened up for us. He drove the car straight into the compound and my jaw dropped as soon as I saw the mansion in front of us.

One word? Stunning. It was like a palace with the huge acres of land and the beautiful flowers that surrounded the entire place. The fountain was massive and for a moment I wished I could go underneath it.

I didn’t know what I was expecting but this was way better than my imagination. It was perfect.

I hadn’t even said anything when I saw a woman walk towards us and her face broke into a smile as soon as she saw us.

“Young master, you are back.” She said and he nodded.

Her gaze dropped to me and a look of confusion flashed through her face.

“And you are?”

“My name is Nadia Singh, ma'am,” I replied.

“Okay?”

“She is my guest, Bridget.” Damian spoke up, “she will be staying here for a few days.”

“Does your parents know?”

“I will talk to them later and moreover they won’t be available until next year. Have dinner ready, I’m sure she hasn’t eaten anything”

Without saying anything else, he started walking towards the house and I followed after awkwardly bowing to her. I thought he was going to take me to his school apartment, not his fucking house.

“Is this where I will stay?” I asked as I reached him.

“Do you have a problem with that?”

Annoying much!

“Yes. Your parents—

Damian abruptly stopped walking and I almost crashed into him.

“Fuck!” I hissed.

“You have no place to stay so I am offering you one and now you want to make decisions?”

“That’s not what I meant but—

“Come on, red head.” He interrupted me again, “at least let’s go in first and we can talk. I’m fucking tired having to go to that your boring school.”

He walked away again and I followed. This was becoming a very bad idea.

I didn’t say a word again until we both entered the house and I was more wowed. Whoever designed this house surely knew his work.

Damian walked straight to the wine rack and I watched him pour himself a glass of whisky which made a huge frown appear on my face—was he supposed to do that?”

“Are you supposed to be drinking?” I asked him.

“What? You think I’m 12?” He mocked.

Well, I shook my head. He was a billionaire heir, he could do what he wanted.

“Tell me, Damian” I said after a while, “why exactly are you helping me? I know it’s not because you hate Zane.”

He was silent for a few seconds but his eyes never left me. For a moment, I didn’t see the flirty Damian Blackwood anymore and somehow that didn’t settle well with me.

“Be my girlfriend!” He finally dropped the bombshell and I froze, my jaw almost hit the floor.

In all twenty one years of my life, I have never been this dumbfounded.

“My pretend girlfriend,” he continued, “then you can stay as long as you want.”

“Are you joking?”

This was much more intense than my mother telling me to go back to India to somehow find a groom. I find that unacceptable because I have never even stepped foot in that country before but somehow I was supposed to find a groom there.

But the chances of that happening was way higher than Damian Blackwood asking me to be his pretend girlfriend.

“Six months.” He continued, “there is something I am working on and I need a girlfriend for six months. After that, you are free to leave and I will reward you handsomely.”

“I think you are joking” I laughed but his face remained stoic.

He wasn’t! He was actually very serious.

“Damian?” I was disgusted, I couldn’t lie, “how can you ask me that? I don’t even know you that much?”

“Are you going to refuse because you don’t know me that well or because you are head over heels in love with your apartment mate?”

“What?”

“Come on, red head.” He mocked as he sipped his drink, “everyone knows how bad down you are for him. You practically chewed me out when I broke his nose.”

The image of Zane’s nose wound its way into my head again and fresh anger welled up inside of me.

“Only that bastard is too blind to see it.”

“He is not a bastard.” I cut him off.

“But he left you on the streets.”

That was not a lie but then I couldn’t let Damian have that satisfaction.

“It was a mutual agreement, Damian”

“Hmm” he nodded, “I’m sure of that. Anyways, tell me. Are you in or out?”

“You can’t just drop that on me.”

“Okay.” He shrugged, “I have practice tomorrow night with the boys. I will expect your answer after that. Bridget will show you to your room and dinner will be ready soon”

He didn’t wait for me to say anything, he only turned and made his way towards the stairs while I stood—too surprised to even say a word.