Chapter 4: An Unexpected Offer

On that night, Aurora hardly slept.

Of course she didn't understand, but for some reason, the young man who was arrogant in the café clung to her. The short meeting was nothing special. He was but another rich paying customer, aloof, impersonal, and certainly used to receiving what he wanted.

She pushed it out of her mind.

She would never be able to be with some people like Damien Kingsley.

All she had was unfinished homework, unpaid tuition and hospital bills in her world.

Theirs were luxury cars, designer watches.

It was unlikely that they would ever meet again.

Or so she believed.

The Architecture Studio was in full swing, with students scurrying around, finishing up their newest design project.

Before checking the time, Aurora had put the final touches on her model bridge.

10 minutes prior to class.

She was happy when she smiled.

"Morning."

Emily Carter put her backpack down on the table next to her.

"You look terrible."

Greetings also to you in the morning.

Emily laughed.

"I mean it. Have you had any sleep at all?

"A little."

You've been saying 'a little' for 3 days.

Aurora turned her head away from her friend.

Emily sighed.

"The tuition?"

Aurora nodded.

There is nothing else that I can do!

Emily took out something from her bag.

There's a little money that saved up…

"No."

“You don't know how much more.”

"It doesn't matter."

"Aurora—"

No I won't take your savings.

Emily frowned.

You would do the same for me."

"I know."

Why not come on board and help me?

That's because I know how hard you worked for it.”

Emily knew that he was right and that arguing was futile.

However, Aurora's pride wasn't getting her on to her back side.

It was dignity.

She was just not going to be somebody's burden.

Across campus...

An elegant black SUV stopped outside the Business Faculty.

Pupils instinctively stepped away.

Staring down the glare of the attention lavished on him, Damien Kingsley exited the scene.

Shortly after, Lucas Morgan ran to his stepbrother.

You've been rather silent this past week.

"I'm thinking."

"Dangerous."

Damien smirked.

"I need a favor."

Lucas groaned dramatically.

I already don't want to go where this is going!

"I need information."

"On who?"

Damien stopped walking.

Last night's lady.

Lucas blinked.

"The café girl?"

The one that has the ponytail.

Lucas stared.

You don't even know her name?

"No."

Look I thought she was perfect," said I.

That she would be useful," I said, "she will come in handy.

Lucas put his hands on his arms.

"Useful for what?"

Damien smiled.

"Vivian."

Lucas immediately understood.

“It's not serious, can't you?”

"I'm completely serious."

“So you are going to do it for your personal gain to make Vivian jealous, using an innocent girl?”

Damien shrugged.

"If it works..."

Instinctively Lucas shook his head.

"You're unbelievable."

Will he or she be able to find her or not?

Lucas sighed.

"Give me an hour."

By lunchtime...

Lucas returned a student file.Lucas returned a student file.

"You owe me."

Damien picked up the file.

"Aurora Bennett."

He quietly read through the information.

Second-year Architecture student.

Scholarship recipient.

Excellent academic record.

Outstanding tuition balance.

Part-time café employee.

Lucas looked his face carefully.

"What?"

Damien looked up.

"Nothing."

You appear to be on the verge of giving me a headache.

"What look?"

“It's the one that's the trouble-maker.”

Damien closed down the file.

"She needs money."

Lucas frowned.

"How do you know?"

"It's right here."

He included a note, attached to the financial report, which expressed his highly commendatory opinion of the excellent tuition.

Lucas looked uncomfortable.

Did you have anyone look at the university records?

"I asked."

“You used the surname of your family incorrectly.

During my time I took my resources.

"There's a difference."

Damien ignored him.

“If she really wants to,”

Lucas interrupted.

"No."

"No?"

I don't want you to do this!

Damien gave an eyebrow lift.

“You haven't heard my plan yet.

"I don't need to."

Lucas spoke softly.

“Damien…people are not pieces on a chessboard.”

Damien's expression hardened.

"This is temporary."

"For you."

He met Lucas's eye.

But what about her?

Damien didn't answer.

That evening...

When it was out of class time, Aurora ran around campus.

She had to be at the cafe earlier than her working time started.

While she was lost in thought she didn't notice someone stepping out from around the corner.

Thud!

Her books are strewn all around the street.

"I'm so sorry!"

She immediately dropped to her knees, collected them.

A finely made leather shoe left one of her sketchbooks.

She didn't get to it before someone reached out and picked it up.

Aurora looked up.

Damien Kingsley.

He quickly looked at the cover.

"Architecture."

He handed it back.

"Thank you."

She quickly stood.

I didn't pay attention to the place I was going.

"No."

"You weren't."

This was because he was so cool and she was panic stricken.

They both were silent for a bit.

Damien studied her much more than at the café.

No expensive makeup.

No designer clothes.

No effort to please him.

She was as if she was a lot drained.

There were dark circles under her eyes.

But she still gave him a courteous smile and thanks.

It did get him hot under the collar but he couldn't say why.

The character "you" is an employee at a Moonday Café.

Aurora blinked.

"You remember?"

"I remember people."

She was afraid that she did not believe that.

"I should go."

“This always takes a short time to get ready Mr. Watters?”

"I have work."

He noticed the old backpack, the patched zipper and the old shoes she had been wearing for years.

No one was as different as she was from the people who typically sought him out.

"You need money."

Aurora stiffened.

"What?"

I have posed a question.

Her face broke out in a frown.Her face became wrinkled.

She lost her smile.

Don't ask me, it's none of my business.

But she passed him by and would not listen to his words; she did not wait to hear.

Damien turned around and saw her get away.

Please don't get this as an insult to…

He smiled.

For the first time in the last couple of weeks.

There was a man named Lucas who was standing nearby, going up to them.

"Well?"

It was along this line that Damien walked amongst the crowd after Aurora.

"She's different."

"I told you."

Damien took his hands in his pockets.

She answered no."

"Most people would."

"Exactly."

Lucas sighed.

Ask “Please tell me you've changed your mind?”

Then, it was across the way to a café that was Demian's next focus.

"No."

His voice was calm.

"If anything..."

Once more he started to smile.

“Now that I am more interested.”

Meanwhile, Aurora arrived in the café, unaware that a rich and determined student of Kingsbridge University has just made a decision that has altered her life's path forever.

At the end of the week:

He was going to take her out on a date she wouldn't soon forget.