CHAPTER 2

Unexpected Face

Damian's POV

It was too quiet in the room.

I sat on the edge of the bed, my head and heart were beating fast. Sunlight came in through the hotel curtains and gave the tangled sheets a warm glow. I looked down at the guy sleeping soundly next to me. He had broad shoulders, dark hair that was all over the place, and the same peaceful face that had looked so wild and hungry the night before.

My stomach turned over.

What have I done?

Slowly, I rubbed my face, ran my hand through my hair, and grabbed my clothes. My thoughts were all over the place because of the booze and what we had done. The quick flashes of light the previous night. The dancing. The taste of vodka. His mouth on mine. His hands on my back. My voice whispering things I would never say out loud in daylight.

Things like this shouldn't have happened.

Not before my engagement.

I slid out of bed as quietly as I could. The floor looked like it was being shot at all the time. He moved around a little, said something, and then rolled over.

I held my breath, as if that could wake him up. But he didn't move. Still asleep.

I let out a sigh and quickly grabbed my clothes. With shaky fingers, pulled them on. I turned around and head to the door. I didn't look back. I might not leave if I saw him one more time.

And I had to.

I walked out into the hallway, my clothes half-buttoned and shoes in my hand.

What a mess!

Happy damn birthday to me.

~~~~~

When I got outside hotel, the morning air hit me like a slap. And as soon as I stepped into the street, my phone rang. A text from my dad, "Don't be late today, the press will be there.”

Another from Lila: "Don’t forget the engagement party. I have a surprise for you."

Wonderful.

I called a taxi. I had left my car at the club the previous night.

When I got in, I leaned back and watched the city go by quickly. The hangover made its way through me, up behind my eyes and around my chest. But there was something bigger underneath—a secret thrill that wouldn't go away.

I slept with a guy. Yes, I kissed a stranger in a club and couldn't stop touching him. That was my first time of having sex with my gender. My first time meeting him, and I barely knew his name. Well, I don't care anyway, since that would be the last time we'd see each other.

Now it's time to act like the perfect groom-to-be.

The engagement party was just a few hours away. My dad made it very clear: show on time, smile, shake hands, and play the perfect son. As an heir to Vale International no days off. Not even after a drunk one-night stand.

Not to talk of a gay.

At home, my dad was already pacing the living room. He was dressed very sharply and was very cold. Even though I sneaked in, he still turned.

“You smell like alcohol." Were you at any of those other places?"

I gave a shrug. "Just a bar. Not a big deal."

He made his eyes narrow. "Tonight is. Don't embarrass the family.”

Embarrass? As if being forced to marry a woman I didn't love for business reasons wasn't funny enough already.

I went up the stairs and locked myself in my room. A little relief came from the steam from the shower, but not enough. As I rubbed the towel across my face, I looked at myself in the mirror. I saw myself as a stranger for a moment. A scared man who was acting like someone else.

I hated it.

I hated the fake smiles, the suits, and the fake talks that didn't go anywhere. It hurt me that no one here knew the real me. I was a different person when I was in that stranger's arms last night.

That version didn't belong here, though.

When I got down, the hall was full. Guests chatted, cameras flashed, and champagne flutes clinked. I walked stiffly into the room and smiled at people I knew. The people who saw my last name didn't know how heavy it was.

I smiled on command.

My dad stood in the middle, talking to Mr. Bennett, who would soon be his in-law. They laughed like they were old friends. A girl in a pale blue dress stood next to them.

I knew who she was right away.

Lila Bennett. My fiancée.

We had met once before, briefly. She was nice, quiet, and almost shy. Not that it mattered. Our marriage had been planned for years. It wasn't about getting along. It was about making money.

I stood up straight and walked over to them.

"Damian," my proud dad called. "There he is. The man of the hour."

I said hello to Mr. Bradford and gave my dad a hug.

Lila gave me a smile. There was no force, and it wasn't warm either. Just like I had.. expected it.

"You look nice,” she said in a soft voice.

"Thank you. And you too."

Our conversation stopped in a strange way. We didn't know one another. We did not even try. I looked around the room for something to take my mind off. Anything.

That's when I saw him.

A man in a clean black suit stood by the drink table. He looked calm, and a little amused, and also took familiar. My body stiffened.

It was him.

The man from the hotel room. The strange man I kissed and touched the in the club when it was dim. In a nutshell, the man I had a one night stand with

I went cold.

What the hell was he doing here.

We looked at each other across the room. The noise stopped for a split second. It made my heart beat very fast.

The man raised an eyebrow as if he knew exactly what was going through my mind. His lips curled up in a slow, amused smile.

I took a step back and bumped into Lila.

"Oh," she said as she turned to me. "Damian, I want you to meet someone."

Meet who? I questioned through my mind, even she couldn't hear it.

No. No, no, no. This couldn't be what I'm thinking.

Lila gestured to the man. In the same smooth way, with confidence he walked toward us, and his eyes never left mine. The room spun around.

"This is my brother," Lila said happily. "He just flew in last night."

Brother?

My stomach dropped.

The man offered his hand. His voice was calm and pleasant, but there was a hint of teasing in it.

"Nice to meet you,” he said. "I'm Eliot."

My jaw dropped. I stood there, staring at him. Eliot's smile got a little bigger. He got close to me and whispered something to me only.

"Looks like we meet again... future brother-in-law.”