Chapter 4

After a few drinks Cleo was up dancing and dragged me with her. Although, I had a few drinks in my system, I was nowhere near enough inebriated to enjoy being on the dance floor the same way Cleo did. Cleo headed to the bar for more drinks. We were in the fifth round of drinks and there was no sign of Cleo slowing down.

I tried my best to convince her, but she was having too much fun to slow down. The guys who brought us drinks had arrived about an hour after we did. Cleo spotted them on round 4 of the drinks and asked them to dance. They were more than happy to oblige. I ensured that I was the one getting the drinks for each round so that I could make mine nonalcoholic. I needed to make sure that I was in a fit state to meet my mum for lunch the following day, even if we got in at silly o’clock in the morning.

I was fetching round number 8 of drinks when there was someone next to me at the bar.

“Hey, pretty lady. Wanna dance.” The voice was creepy, and his hand was around me.

I gently pushed his hand away and politely declined. He tried to push the issue, but I refused again. The bar tender came back with the drinks, and I picked them up. I managed to walk away without an issue, or so I thought. Halfway across the floor, there was a strong arm around my waist that pulled me backwards. The shock made me jump and spill the drinks.

So, much for the white t-shirt. I thought.

“Dance with me,” he growled into my ear as he pressed himself against me.

“Let me go!” I screamed.

In the jostling, I dropped the drinks completely. Glass smashed around my feet. I dug my nails into his forearms as hard as I could, and I heard a deeper growl escape his lips as he loosened his hold. It was enough for me to force his hands apart and escape. I spun to see him behind me. By the look on his face he was pissed, in every sense of the word. Just then I saw a reaction, and he lifted his arm to swing at me.

It was like I was watching it happen in a slow motion. A shadow appeared between us and caught his arm.

“I believe the lady said, no.” His voice was smooth and intoxicating.

It was low but somehow broke through the music like it wasn’t even there.

“Walk away while you still can.” He threatened.

The smoothness of the threat made him sound so dangerous; it sent a shiver through me.

I looked up to see a slightly older gentleman in a black suit, crisp white shirt. He was handsome with a dangerous edge. I watched as he hooked his finger under the knot of his tie and loosened it. His gaze on me made me feel weak in my knees. The guy pushing his luck with me quickly scrambled and ran away.

“Thank you,” I said shakily.

“You are welcome.”

He turned and walked away. It was like him jumping in was nothing. I was confused by the interaction. It wasn’t until he walked away that I let out a deep breath. I hadn’t realised I was holding my breath under his presence until that moment. Shakily, I headed back to the table.

“Did you forget the drinks?” Cleo asked.

She then saw the mess of my shirt.

“What happened?” She slurred.

“Some guy tried his luck and wasn’t taking no for answer.” I explained.

“Where is he?” She staggered out, looking past me.

“It’s ok, some guy stepped in.”

Cleo wanted more information, but there wasn’t really anything else that I could tell her. We looked around the pub quickly but whoever it was that stepped in was no longer there.

Damian POV

Being cooped up inside the office for days on end was driving me stir crazy, I needed to get out. If I wasn’t working at the office, then I would be working at home, and it was none stop. I grabbed my phone and messaged a friend. They agreed to drinks. There was a quiet bar we usually went to, but I was beginning to hate the quiet; it was trapping me in my own thoughts. The business was not doing so well, and I needed to find a way to turn it around. I picked Will up at his house and we headed into town. 

“Damian Blackwood, as always a pleasure to see you.” Will joked.

“Alright, just get your ass in the car before I go without you.”

I found the first bar I could go to on the main street. I parked the car and we were heading inside. The music was loud, the bar was busy, and I absolutely hated it, but it was the noise I needed to drown out my own thoughts. 

“I never thought I’d catch you dead in a place like this,” Will laughed.

“I’m full of surprises.” I quipped him. 

Will grabbed the drinks while I found a table out of the way of the bumping bodies near the dance floor. We were towards the back away from the speakers at the front, so it was a little quieter but not much.

“So, how's things with the business?” He asked.

“Not good, there’s failings across the board. I have no idea why. It seems, by all reports, that everyone is doing everything they can do but it just doesn’t seem to be working.” I explained while nursing the whiskey he brought me.

“You need a distraction. How’s the love life?” He laughed.

I scoured at him, “Work leaves no time for things like that.”

“Oh, come on. You need to let go once in a while. You can’t stay Mr. Uptight forever, you know.”

“What I need is to fix what is wrong with the business.”

“What about those,” He pointed out some girls on the dance floor. “See no matter how hard a workweek they may have had, they are letting their hair down and having fun.”

I watched it carefully. One of them, I must admit, I did find attractive. She held a shyness about her. 

“It doesn’t matter how much I let loose; Written Ink is still failing.”

“Then get on the ground at the site and see what is going wrong. Surely, your father can help.”

“Do you really think they will be themselves if they know I am going to be there? They will tidy everything up and make sure everything is in order if they know I was visiting.”

“Then don’t tell them. Just surprise them and show up unannounced. The site will be exactly as it should be, don’t take anyone with you, don’t give them chance to make things prim and proper.”

“Will, you are a genius. You’ve just given me an idea!”

“Oh no, your ideas are not normally the best. Do I dare ask?”

I shook my head and downed my whiskey. If my idea was to succeed only one person would be able to help me, do it, and that was my father. We talked a little longer, but I found my attention drifting over to the women that Will had pointed out earlier. One seemed to be entertained by a couple of guys while the other seemed to be at the bar. I saw a guy put his arm around her while she was waiting for her drinks and she pushed his hand away.  Will caught me watching her and was commenting on the interaction. 

“It appears someone has caught your attention, friend. That is unusual to see.” 

I clenched my jaw and my fist around my glass as I saw the guy at the bar go after her. She was fighting her way through the dance floor with her drinks. He lunged at her and grabbed her around her waist. I took to my feet, as Will’s hand landed on my arm.

“Damian,” He warned me.

I pulled my arm from his hand and stalked over as she was fighting him. She fought well and managed to escape his hold, but in the flash of an eye, he raised his hand to go and hit her. Rage burned through me and stepped between them.

“I believe the lady said, no.” I spoke plainly. “Walk away while you still can.” I threatened.

Luckily, he listened and walked away from her. I felt flustered, Will was right, the behaviour was not normal for me. This woman had gotten under my skin without ever saying a word and I had no idea why or how. I had to loosen my tie as I felt constricted and like my breathing was tough.

“Thank you,” she said.

Her voice was intoxicating.

Who is she?

“You are welcome.”

I turned and walked away while I could. I grabbed Will and we exited quickly. 

“Wow, she’s really gotten to you.” Will laughed. “I’ve never seen you flustered before.”