Chapter eighteen

Sophie’s POV

“Oh, Sandy didn't come with you ?” asked Dr. Damien when he saw me outside his office .

I nodded. “She said she still has something important to do.”

“Hmm, I see.”

“So, where shall we play?” he suddenly asked me as he put his blue denim jacket on.

“Hmm, I-I don’t know.”

He thought for a while then he looked at me again with a smile on his face. “I know a place. Let’s go?”

“H-Huh? O-Okay.”

We started walking and I could see Mila following us. I just texted Massimo already telling him I would be late tonight ,good thing he agreed. He said that we won’t be able to play cards tonight too since he has a lot of work to do tonight. I think I’m somehow lucky because he’s not that strict with me. Though he’s a real pervert.

I don’t actually feel comfortable now that I am with Dr Damien. After what he told me the last time I felt like I was crossing a boundary I shouldn't,I can't even make proper eye to eye contact with him “There we go.” He said and that’s when I raised my head up. “It’s a coffee shop where people can play games while eating. I just discovered it the other day although I haven’t tried going there yet.”

“Y-You haven’t gone here yet?”

He nodded. “Aside from my colleagues I don’t have anyone to play cards with though.”

“O-Oh…”

“I felt special for a moment because I was the first person he brought here”

“What would you like to order, Eva?”

Dr Damien asked me.

“I-I’ll just have what you order too…”

He smiled.“Then we’ll have Two tiramisus,” “and two double espressos.”

Two tiramisus,” “and two double espressos.” Anything else sir?

“That's all for now”

The waitress finally left, and Dr. Damien reached into the drawer beneath our table, pulling out a deck of cards. The interior of the shop was completely card-themed. The chairs were designed to resemble playing cards, and the floor was patterned in bold black and red “This coffee shop looks really amazing, doesn’t it?” Dr. Damien said again.

“Y-Yeah.”

“I think the owner really loves playing games and cooking at the same time. He thought of something that he could make while playing games and voila, he came up with a coffee shop theme idea, Brilliant.

“R-Right…”

Ah, I really feel nervous. I’m more nervous being with Damien than when I’m with Massimo. I feel nervous with Damien while I feel scared whenever I’m with Massimo.

“Shall we begin now?”

“Okay.”

He set the deck neatly on the table, and we both picked our cards. After shuffling, he nodded at me.

“You go first,” he said. “Start with either card in front of you.”

“I understand…”

“Before you throw out your strongest cards—the king, queen, or even your trump—start by playing the smaller ones. Let them clear space, test the waters, give you room to attack later.”He was explaining it all to me with a real serious face and I couldn’t help but stare.

I’ve never been so close to him like this before.

“And when it’s your turn, always ask yourself, ‘What did my opponent’s last play do? What’s he planning?’ Is he setting a trap for your high cards? Then decide your own move. Always think through your options. Look first for plays that let you win a trick, capture points, or force him to react.”

I just kept on nodding like a fool. I didn’t understand anything that he said because I was more focused on his face. I just came back to my senses

when he suddenly looked at me. “Did you understand?”

“H-Huh?”

“Did you understand it now?” he repeated in a calm tone.

What am I even doing? I should be focusing on how to learn some tactics to win against Massimo,not on how handsome Dr Damien is. “I-I’m sorry, but can you explain it to me again?”

Dr Damien laughed. “Sure, sure. You don’t have to rush yourself anyway. You just need to feel relaxed and comfortable while playing it and make sure that the opponent won’t feel that you’re nervous. You need to think very carefully and think how your opponent would probably respond to it.”

“I understand.”

He just taught me about the different tactics in playing cards and this time, I listened to him very carefully. I want to win against Massimo I don’t want him to claim me fully. I don't,want him to think that I like whatever his doing or desperate to be with him.

Damien is the only man my heart seems to accept,I don’t care if he already has someone that he loves. I’m not planning to take him away from that woman but I just want to love him from a distance,even if he doesn't know about my crush on him.