Faking it with Damian Black by Louise Jane

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Chapter 68

-DAMIAN-

“You good?” I asked Ana as we packed the last food container for my date with

Millicent.

After asking Robert and Lenny for permission to take Millicent out later, they

allowedto use the kitchen in their restaurant, too. It was past lunchtime.

The kitchen staff were lounging after the busy lunch hour.

To Robert’s credit, his business was in a good state. Dad mentioned that this

was a good investment he’d also been thinking of venturing into. Apart from the

wedding, I witnessed the fiow of diners in the restaurant and guests checking in

at The Villa over the weekend. Apart from the wine he already put on the

market, there’s also a lot of profit potential for Roberts’ vineyard.

Seeing Summerfield Acre’s beauty and allure, I understood why Robert left

Roslin City. It’s an excellent place to retire or start a family.

Ana shrugged, accepting the salad I handed her and stuffing it in the basket I’d

bring to my date later. “Yeah.”

I might not know much about Ana but I knew women’s tell. They say one thing

and mean

the other.

Gathering the vegetable scraps from the counter and throwing them in the

trash, I then wiped the counter with a white cloth. “Thank you for helping me,” I

said.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, letting out a breath as she laid the plaid picnic

blanket on top of the basket.

“You don’t have to go to town with me, Ana,” I insisted. I still had a few things to

buy in town for tonight. There were still a few hours before I pick up Millicent,

but my heart was already galloping inside my chest. The wait would killif I

stayed idle in one place. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

I tried to ignore this giddy feeling in my belly. I’ve never felt this nervous about

a date. It’s like I am a teenager all over again.

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“I promise I’ll help, and I never go back on my word.” Her tone was sharp.

“Alright,” I sighed. I wanted a distraction? I got a temperamental one.

We spent the drive to town in silence, but Ana kept blowing out heavy breaths

every ten seconds as she gazed at the window. This was one of women’s

annoying antics. If she was tired or in no mood to go with me, I clearly insisted

she didn’t have to. Why would she force herself to cand putin the

torture of her bitter company?

Halfway through the drive, I felt like the vein in my forehead would snap. Even

Fight The Power by Public Enemy playing on the speaker wasn’t enough to

distractfrom Ana’s downcast mood.

“Ana, what the f uck is wrong? You’ve been sighing heavily like you want to blow

the windshield away,” my voice cout firmer than I intended to.

She whipped her head to the driver’s side, her eyes wide as the wind blew her

hair over her face. In her pink crop top and skinny jeans, Ana looked like a high

schooler that’s about to

cry.

I sighed. I didn’t mean for my words to cout like that, but I was already on

edge because of my date with Millicent. F ucking up this chance was not an

option. I’m already walking on thin ice; if I messed this up, I might lose her

forever.

“I know something is wrong. Just talk to me. You’d be surprised how good of a

listener I am.” To lighten the mood, I forced a smile.

Ana’s brows lifted, her l*ps twitching as she fought a smile. I looked like a

disemboweled Cheshire cat; I know. I was never good at faking my smile.

Once again, Ana let out a heavy breath and turned to the open window,

watching the scenic view of Clarke Bay. “What is it with Millicent?”

I frowned. Her question just cout of nowhere. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly my question,” she said in an irritating tone as if she was tired of talking

to an idiot. Ana had very little patience for explaining herself, but I honestly

didn’t understand what she was asking.

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For the sake of a peaceful conversation, I tried a different tactic. “You mean

what I liked about her?”

Ana hummed, brushing her hair out of her face.

“Millicent is different from all the girls I’ve met before.”

“Different, how?” Ana faced the windshield, her brows furrowed.

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Thinking for a moment, I realized I didn’t exactly know how to answer her

question. Settling with an honest answer, I said. “You know that feeling when

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you already have everything, yet something doesn’t feel right, like something is

missing? There’s a hole. inside you that’s gaping, and whatever attempt you

make to fill it up just isn’t enough? When I’m with her, that void goes away. She

makeswant to live in the moment and make every second count. I am happy

just being around her. No worries, no apprehension. She makesfeel that

being myself is enough.”

Ana stared at me, settingunder her scrutinizing gaze. “If she is that great,

why are you hiding the truth? Isn’t that ironic?”

I glowered. “I’m protecting her. It’s my choice. What’s with this attack on

Millicent?”

“Easy…” she raised her hand, heaving another breath. I swear if she blew out

another one, I’d throw her out of this car. It’s f ucking annoying. “I have nothing

against her, just wondering why you’d go to these lengths just for a date… and

for Gian to put this much effort into seeing her.”

My knuckles tightened around the steering wheel. I knew Gian had feelings for

Millicent, but what surprisedwas the bitterness in Ana’s tone. “You sound

like a jealous girlfriend. I thought you and Gian were related.”

“Is that what he told you?” She blench, then snorted. “G od… Do you even see a

resemblance?”

Counting one to five, it was my turn to let out a heavy breath, then focused on

driving. “I was in no position to ask questions when he assignedto babysit

you.”

That stopped Ana’s giggles. “I’m not a child. I don’t need a babysitter.”

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I huffed. “Those were Gian’s words, Ana, not mine. I’m merely holding my end of

the bargain.” Throwing her a glance, I pressed. “What is your relationship with

Gian, and why do you need someone to look after you?”

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“It’s safer for you if you don’t know shi t about Gian and I, D,” she said dryly,

ending the conversation. But I was tired of playing by their rules. Clearly,

something more is going on, and I’m caught in the middle of these two. I’m not

a docile babysitter under their payroll. And I have this gut feeling that

babysitting Ana will getin trouble one of these days.

“Safer,” I murmured, “so there’s danger around you too, huh?”

“Something like that. Whenever Gian is involved, trouble follows. It’s the same

reason he didn’t pursue Millicent. Like you, he wanted to keep her safe.”

Brows knitted together, I gritted my teeth. It must’ve been so loud Ana heard my

molars grinding. “You’re not blind, right? Gian has a thing for Millicent. He’s

been in love with her since they were in college.”

“What’s your point, Ana?”

She smirked. “What I’m saying is that Gian has a way of making situations bend

to his favor. If he wanted to take Millicent away from you, he could do that. So

while he’s allowing you to have Millicent, better up your game.”

Stepping on the brake as the red light on the intersection lit up, I faced Ana.

“Allowing me? We are not a puppet in his world, especially Millicent. She can

decide on her own if she wantedor not-”

“D… back up,” Ana was staring forward, her eyes narrowed to slits.

“You can’t talk shi t like that and expectto shut the f uck up. You’re no

different from that f ucking Italian-”

“Damian.” Ana’s voice fell an octave lower, her demeanor shifting to dangerously

calm. “Drive… left turn. We need to get to town.”

“What?” I looked forward and saw a fast-approaching SUV in front of us. Clouds

of dust bellowed behind the car, charging forward like a rocket, and we were in

its line of fire. They’re going over eighty miles per hour. Nothing unusual since

this highway was

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practically deserted. Then fear loomed overwhen a gun turned up from the

passenger side.

“Now would be a good tto step on the gas, Damian.”

If not for Ana callingby my name, I wouldn’t understand the panic in her

calm facade.

“F uck!” Shifting gears, I stepped on the gas. The tires of my rental SUV skidded

as I took a left turn. I don’t c

know where the f uck we were going, but Ana was on her phone,

givingdirections as though she had an eye on the sky.

“We need to get out of Clarke Bay,” she murmured. It’s like talking to a different

person. She’s not the pocket-sized Ana who grunts and groans whenever things

don’t go her way. This Ana was the epitof the calm before the storm, her

eyes blazing with unwavering determination.

“Yeah? The next town is like two hours away,” I said, surprised that I was also

keeping my cool.

“Out of town, not in another crowded place where innocent people will get

hurt.” Reaching “Out for the phone holder on the dashboard, she locked her

phone to it. A map of Clarke Bay was on the screen. Two dots were connected by

a broken line. One was at the marina, and the other was us. “Get to the docks.”

In the rearview mirror, a man was now peeking on the passenger side, and an

ArmaLite pointed in our direction.

This wasn’t the best tto ask what the f uck was going on, so I followed Ana’s

instructions. She’s confident and precise, as though she was used to being

chased by a speeding car with an automatic rifie aimed at the back of her head.

“How good are your driving skills?” She asked, reaching under her seat and

producing a handgun. She co cked it with the skill of a man using a weapon as

part of his job.

When the f uck did I put a gun under the seat? Oh yeah, I didn’t. Which meant

this little girl was the one who put it there.

“I fancied illegal racing when I was in New York,” I said, the days when I was still

a boy whose only desire was chasing adrenaline coming back to me.

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She hummed, pleased with my response. “Get creative. Try losing them in town

before we get to the docks.”

As if on cue, Clarke Bay gets into view, its famous brick road and brick houses

sprawled over the Golden Rise Highlands. Because of social media, the

magnificent view of the Bay and its white sand shore has beca popular

tourist destination.

The marina was on the other side of town. I took a sharp turn and drove

through the busy street, almost hitting a few pedestrians. With the fiowering

tourism also comes the prospect of business. There were coffee shops and

restaurants at every corner, and the alfresco dining encompassed the street

side.

The car was still tailing us, but they seemed to be avoiding gathering attention

as well, hiding the gun pointed at us earlier.

“F ucking amateurs,” Ana murmured. “Giveyour phone.”

“What?”

She glared at me. It was her favorite thing now, trying to threatenwith her

eyes. “Phone now,” she pressed, opening her dainty hand, waiting forto

comply.

“There’s your f u cking phone. Why do you have to use mine?” I don’t trust

women with my phone. They could turn to CIA agents digging files I didn’t even

know still existed in my device.

Lips pursed, she said. “To watch porn, you idiot.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m going

to call Gianni Squidward Romano.”

“Romano?” Taking another turn, I hissed when a child suddenly crossed the

street while I overtook another car. I almost hit him if it wasn’t for his dad

pulling him back. “It’s his surname, Molina?”

“Phone!” she groaned, showingthe impatient child Ana I’ve grown

accustomed to.

“No!” I protested, taking out my phone, dialing Gian’s number, and putting it on

loudspeaker. Ana huffed, stabbing daggers in my face with her eyes.

Gian answered on the second ring. “What do you want?” he groaned, annoyance

dripping

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Chapter 68

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“Someone wants to speak with you,” I said, tossing my phone on the dashboard.

“What do you want, Squirt,” Gian said in a bored tone.

I chortled at his pet nfor Ana. Cheeks fiaming red, Ana’s nose fiared. “Get

your as s out of bed and do your f ucking end of the deal, Snitch!”

Gian yawned. “I’d rather sleep than listen to your chirping.”

A disgruntled sound rolled from Ana’s throat. If she could spontaneously

combust, this car would’ve been on fire by now. “Someone’s following us. Get

your men out here and deal with them!” She grabbed my phone and ended the

call, cutting whatever response Gian was about to say.

Growing up with Candice introducedto the drastic changes in women’s

moods. Ana was in a phase where one poke and she’d blow up. I wanted to stay

alive for my date with Millicent, so I kept my mouth shut and drove around town

for another hour until our gas was only enough to get us to the docks. We lost

the car following us somewhere along the

market.

“Just dropon the marina,” was the first thing Ana said after the call with

Gian.

Glancing at the ton the dashboard, it’s already six pm. F uck! This was a f

ucking disaster, but what to do? I cannot just leave Ana.

Parking at the marina, she slid out without givinganother glance.

“Ana, wait!” I went after her, reaching her by the wooden platforms. Yachts and

small boats filled the docks. Seagulls gawked above us, and the wind

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temperature started to plummet.

“I’ll be fine, Damian. You’re gonna be late for your date with Millicent. Squidward

will be here soon,” she murmured, stepping up the cabin cruiser with the name

An alise scrawled on the side.

Following Ana, I watched as she moved around the captain’s deck, fiicking

switches here and there, and soon, the lights in the cruiser turned on, the

engine humming. Again, she surprised me. Who the f uck is this chick? Maybe I

shouldn’t be calling her names anymore.

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“I’ll wait until Gian arrives.” A lump grew drastically in my throat. My stomach

turned into knots as I thought of the distance I needed to cover in an hour to

get to Millicent in time. But I can’t just up and leave Ana like this. We might have

lost the car, but who knows what danger she is in?

Sitting on the couch available in the cabin, I let Ana do her thing and gathered

my bearings. This day had escalated quickly to one of the most confusing ones I

had ever had in a while. But when Gian was involved, I shouldn’t be surprised

there were guns and a car chase.

“What the f uck happened out there, Ana?” I couldn’t help but ask. Ana might

coff as temperamental, but she sure isn’t dangerous. She doesn’t belong in

Gian’s world. “And don’t tellit’s safer if I don’t know sh it. You seemed to

know more than you should about me, so even the fields, yeah?”.

She sighed and stopped scrutinizing the captain’s deck. “You’re right. I’m sorry

for putting you in this situation. Those men were afterbecause I am Gian’s

fiance.”

Like a golf ball hittingin the gut, I gaped at her, waiting for any signs that

she was playing tricks onagain, but she was pensive. She turned towards

the endless water of the Bay. “It’s an arranged marriage. I love someone else,

and Gian is also in love with….” she trailed off, careful not to mention Millicent’s

name.

“I know about his feelings for Millicent,” I murmured,

Ana swallowed hard, unveiling the loneliness she’d been hiding under that

attitude of hers. “Those were my father’s men. I ran away from hwhen I

learned about the arranged marriage, and Gian was willing to helpescape.

That’s how much he hated to be married to me. He’s willing to go high and low

to hide me.”

“That’s… that’s f ucked up.” I learned firsthand the grueling toll of an arranged

relationship. People will get hurt one way or the other.

“I know what you’re thinking. Your story with Millie is not like mine and Gian’s.

We were taught to hate each other. Our family’s confiict goes way back to the

father of our grandfathers.”

“Then why are you in an arranged marriage?”

“Because there’s a new rival that’s more powerful than each of our families. And

there goes

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the saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Our fathers think alike. Hence

this st upid marriage deal.”

I know nothing about their family. All I know is that we should have a choice

about who we should love or marry. But who was I to say my opinion on this? My

history with Milicent wasn’t a stellar one.

“It’s not your problem, but thank you for takingin.” Ana smiled atwhen I

offered no response. She pulled out her phone, grimacing. “You should go now.

You’ll be late for your date.”

“But-”

She shook her head, handingher phone. It was a message from Squidward.

‘I’m five minutes out, Squirt. Tell Pretty Boy not to mess up his date with Millie,

or I’ll take her away from him.’

I lifted my gaze to Ana, not because Gian’s ncalling offended-it did, but

because I knew how Ana felt.

“You gonna be okay?”

“I will be.” She smiled reassuringly. “Go now. You’re already late as it is.”

I nodded and headed out of the yacht.

“Hey, D,” Ana called as I jumped to the docks. “Stop putting other women’s

safety before Millie’s. If you want to keep her, she should cfirst. And tell her

the truth.”

Her words were weighted. She knew why I kept Millicent at arm’s length, and I

wonder if her last statement was about what happened today or with Sonja.

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