CHAPTER FIVE

AURORA

Catherine definitely had a list.

The list of people she wanted me affiliated with. They were all rich heirs but the worst kind—the womanizers, playboys, and rude jerks.

I had been on seven dates so far, and none of them were worthy enough to marry.

I pulled out the mirror from my bag to touch up my makeup. It was my eighth date, and, as usual, he was late.

I had barely finished applying the lipstick when a shadow blocked the light. I looked up angrily. The sight in front of me almost made me gag.

Victoria was on Julian's arm with a smile stretched on her lips. She blinked and said in a gentle voice,

“Aurora? What are you doing here? Are you here to eat as well?”

Before I could defend myself and tell her to get out because she was not worthy of being in a place like this, she continued.

She shook her head, eyes glistening as she had just discovered something groundbreaking.

“That's impossible. There is no way a broke college student like you would ever be able to afford to eat here.”

She looked around and lowered her tone.

“Are you working here? As a cleaner? Or probably a waitress?”

She eyed me, eyes widening in shock at the quality of the clothes I wore.

“Or maybe you are still stalking Julian, wearing those dupes hoping he will notice you." She shook her head. “How pathetic.”

Her words were enough to push Julian to the edge. He took a step forward and slammed his fist into the table.

“You persistent woman. I already said that there is nothing between us. You'll stop at nothing to get my attention.”

His hand snuck up Victoria's waist as he pulled her flush against his side.

“The only woman I would ever love in this lifetime is Victoria. You can stop all these petty tricks, or I will have you thrown out,” he spat.

I let out a laugh, shaking my head at him.

His eyes traveled up and down my body, probably noticing the difference in my appearance.

“Are you dressed like this hoping I will notice you? So you'll come back to me and beg like a dog?” His lips curved into a smirk.

The thrill of having both women at his beck and call was really getting to him.

“Or are you here in hopes of attracting a rich old man and warming his bed for some money? After all, you are just a promiscuous, shameless slut," he mocked.

My pulse was raging. I couldn't believe that I had given my time and energy to a scumbag like him. I felt disgusted that he could even think this way. Without thinking, I rose and slapped him across the face without thinking about it.

He staggered back, trembling fingers raised to his face as he threw a death glare in my direction.

“Who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that? For someone who keeps saying he doesn't want me, you seem awfully obsessed with me.” I spat in his face.

His face twisted in rage. He stepped closer, grabbing my wrist, his finger digging into my skin. He was breathing so heavily one would think he was in a marathon.

“You filthy gold-digger. You think your dressing up changes who you are?” he let out a menacing laugh. “You are still the same nobody I used and threw out.”

His voice was loud enough to attract the attention of the crowd around us. They were whispering, probably trying to make sense of the scene.

I winced in pain, wiggling and trying my best to break free from his grip while Victoria stood to the side, beaming with pride.

Julian’s actions had caused so much commotion that even the manager had to come out. When Julian saw the older man, he rushed toward him, pulling me along.

“Your waitress has such poor customer service, bullying customers and being rude,” Julian shot at the manager. “I demand that you fire her now,” he demanded.

The older man met my eyes and slowly took a step forward.

“Miss Sterling...”

Julian was so immersed in his role as the rich heir that he didn't hear what the manager had said. He put one foot down, his grip tightening.

“What are you waiting for? Fire her this moment!”

When the manager didn't move, he took a step forward.

“I demand you fire her. I am the heir to the...”

“I apologize, but Miss Aurora is a VIP of our restaurant. I would like to ask that you let go of her now,” the manager finally cut him off.

Julian’s brows furrowed, and he was unable to hide the shock of hearing that I was miles ahead of him.

“Impossible!” he screamed. “Did this bitch already seduce you? Is that why you are covering for her?” he snapped.

He turned to me and dragged me closer.

“I will teach you a lesson, and even this old man wouldn't be able to save you,” he screamed, raising his hand, ready to hit me across the face. 

A deep, commanding voice cut through the chaos. 

“Remove your hand from her." 

Alexander stood by the entrance, tall and dark, looking dashing in his perfectly tailored suit. Before I could process the situation, he moved in one swift motion, taking Julian’s hand and twisting it just enough to let me go before he pushed him. 

Julian stumbled back, hitting the floor like the trash he was. 

Alexander took his place beside me.

“Are you okay?” he asked, worried eyes traveling over my body as he inspected me for any more wounds.

I nodded to reassure him as I rubbed my wrist to ease the pain.

Julian stayed on the floor, wincing in pain, while Victoria rushed to his side to try and help him up. He tossed her hand to the side and threw me a look that made my spine shiver with disgust.

“Who the hell do you think you are sticking your nose in my business?” he screamed, staring at Alexander, whose eyes stayed on me.

An older man rushed to us. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Alexander, his brows furrowing with worry.

“Mr…” He took a step forward.

Alexander cleared his throat and subtly shook his head.

The manager nodded and turned to Julian.

“Good thing you are here.” Julian scrambled to his feet and rushed to the manager. 

“I demand, as a VIP of your restaurant, that you throw those two bitches out of here this instant, or I will file a complaint against you,” he spat, pointing a wagging finger at Alexander and me.

The manager took a step forward, and Julian beamed with pride. He shot me a smug look before facing the manager again.

“Throw her out now!” he demanded.

“I am sorry, sir, but you need to leave this instant,” the manager said in a firm voice. “You have created a nuisance for our guests. Your VIP status has been revoked, and you have been banned from all our restaurant chains,” the manager added.

“I didn't say you should ban me. I am a VIP here. This woman is the one who…”

“This way, sir.” The manager pointed to the door.

The security men held them and pulled them both out as they hurled curses at me. I waved at them with my head slightly tilted. 

The joy of watching them being treated like the trash they were spread in my chest. 

The entire floor fell silent with everyone's eyes still on us.

I looked up at Alexander standing by my side. His scent caught my nose with how close he stood.

I took a deep breath and took a step to the side to create some distance between us.

“Thank you for helping me out with them.”

My lips were still parted.

He pointed to my wrist and then looked back up at my face. The look on his face was cold and sent a shiver down my spine, yet I could detect a bit of anger with the way his brows almost knitted together. 

Why was he angry?

“You need medicine.”

I looked at my wrist, red from Julian's grip. I shook it and forced a smile.

“It's nothing. I can handle it…”

He took my wrist, his grip softer than Julian's. He led me away until we were in a private room.

He left me alone in it and returned a few minutes later with a first-aid box.

“Come sit.”

He led me to a seat in the room.

He knelt down in front of me and began to use a Q-tip to apply an ointment to the reddened skin.

“Are you here today for a blind date?”

I sniffed and looked down at my clothes. Was it that obvious?

I nodded slowly.

“Was it your mother who arranged this blind date for you?” he asked again.

I nodded without looking up at him because I didn't know why my stomach was fluttering at the sight of him.

Chloe must have told him about the blind date. That was the only reasonable explanation as to why he knew so much.

“My family is pressuring me to get married too.” He paused and finally looked up at me. His hair was slicked back and styled.

Not like that morning in bed…

I snapped my eyes shut to stop the memories from flooding back. I had forgotten all about it. How could I go back to it?

“What about it?” I asked, feeling my throat close on its own.

“How about you marry me?”