**DAMON**
His brows wrinkled as he sucked on his cigarette, letting the smoke "dribble" out of his mouth while slowly exhaling. Normally, Damon would relax when he smoked, but not just now. His emotions are raging. He is unsure about his feelings.
He wasn't sure why he had earlier saved that girl. There is nothing in his plan to save the woman from killing herself. He planned to steal her from his cousin, but it turns out that he ended up saving her instead. He can still picture the woman walking in the center of the street with her eyes dead and tears streaming down her cheeks. He just saw himself running to save the girl.
* Isn't the situation in your favor? You can easily gain her trust now.* His mind responded. He smoked a cigarette again. He carefully thought about what happened.
He had no intention of saving the girl, but the situation seemed to work out better for him. Now that Roseana is close to him, he can carry out his plan easily. All he had to do was win Roseana's heart and make her fall in love.
The corner of his mouth rose. Based on what he saw earlier, that woman is pretty vulnerable. It seems like she's easy to goof with. Damon couldn't tell if the woman was thinking or just being stupid. He merely helped her, and she went with him that easily. She didn't even ask where he took her.
His thoughts were interrupted when his cellphone rang. He lazily placed his cigarette between his lips and frowned as he took out his cellphone from his pants pocket.
It was the man he ordered to investigate Roseana. The man forwarded him the information about that woman. He looked out his office window for a few minutes, watching the passing cars, before deciding to read through the files that had been sent to him. Damon can't deny that Roseana piqued his curiosity. After all, there is nothing special about the woman. She is not rich and has nothing to be proud of. So he wonders why his useless cousin, Cedrick, is smitten with her. What does Roseana have that other women don't have? Why did Cedrick leave Viviane and decide to pursue this woman instead?
"I guess I’ll find out," he mutters to himself. He opened his computer and scanned the information forwarded to him.
Roseana Fuentebella was the girl's name. She came from the province. Her biological mother died giving birth to her, and she's living with her stepmother. It looked like Roseanne and her stepmother didn't get along well.
Damon looked more at the information sent to him, but all of it was trivial information about Roseanne. His question was still not answered. He still doesn't know why Cedrick is chasing her. He didn't want to think Cedrick loved her because that's not how he saw the situation. The last time he remembered, Cedrick's type was like his ex-girlfriend, Viviane, who was wealthy and educated. That's why Cedrick stole Viviane from him, right? He wanted a trophy girlfriend—the one he could display and brag about to everyone just because she was elegant and came from a prominent family. He knew Cedrick was jealous of him for having Viviane as his girlfriend, so he stole the girl from him.
Roseana, on the other hand, is nothing like his ex-girlfriend. She does not talk much. She appeared to have little self-esteem as if she couldn't stand on her own. For fuck's sake, her family makes the minimum salary!
He smashed his fist fiercely against the table. It made a loud thump, but he didn't seem to mind. His jaw was chattering, and he was about to throw his computer against the wall. "That sht, I can look for this information myself," he snarled. He received meaningless information from that private investigator. He just wasted money.
He reclined in his swivel chair. He clenched his fists, angry. While trying to guess Cedrick's movements, his head hurt. He is certain that he is hiding something. He knew his cousin wasn't stupid enough to waste time on a girl like Roseana. Damon is sure that whatever this woman is, he has something to gain from her.
His brows drew together when he heard faint footsteps. The careful closing of the door did not escape his hearing either. Moments later, a sweet yet fresh vanilla scent invaded his nostrils. He opened his eyes, searching for the little woman. He didn't have to guess who made that little noise. He can easily identify that it was the woman he brought into his office's bedroom just by the smell that soothes his nose.
In the dark, he saw the Roseana walking to the door on tiptoe. She walks very carefully so as not to make any noise. He can't help but grin. What a silly woman she is.
*Did she think she could escape from me?*
He mocked.
*Roseana, you belonged with me the moment my body decided to save you from death; you thanked me for saving you without realizing that reaching for my hand is worse than being with Cedrick.*
Damon purposefully cleared his throat. "Where are you going?" He noticed how surprised the girl was when he heard her. She's probably not expecting to be caught.
The woman pushed her head toward him like a robot. He cocked his brow. This woman is strange, he can say.
"Ahm, I was wondering if I could go home now. You know, I've troubled you a lot. It's not your obligation to help me, but you still did. You even brought me here..." she surveyed the room, "to your place. I don't want you to think I'm abusing your kindness. I feel fine now."
Damon wanted to laugh at what he heard the woman say. He? Kind? When has he been nice? In Damon's entire life, Roseana was the only one who told him that he was kind. She really had no idea what kind of person he was, and it made him thrilled. He can't wait for the day that Roseana will get to know who he truly is—the ruthless Damon.
He turned on the light in his office using his phone. Roseana gasped loudly. The woman was surprised when the light suddenly turned on.
"I don't know who's after you, but I am sure they won't stop until they get you,” he said in an authoritative note.
*That's a lie. Don't you know your cousin, Cedrick? You clearly knew who was after her.*
Damon stubs the tip of the cigarette butt on the ashtray. He got up from his swivel chair, walked to the single sofa, and sat. He knew Roseana's eyes were following his every move. He crossed his legs and lazily threw a glance at her, who was standing near the door. He motioned for her to sit on the long sofa in front of him.
He watched the woman walk toward him. The hem of her white, spaghetti-flowy dress dances with her every step. The fabric glides against her rosy, delicate skin. Her hair is loose, emphasizing her heart-shaped face.
*God, she's beautiful.*
Damon remembered Roseana's silky body. She appeared frail and small in his arms. That's what he was thinking earlier while she was in his arms. He couldn't believe there was someone so vulnerable—someone who anyone would consider protecting simply because she was so fragile.
*God, she's beautiful.*
When he saw the cuts on her elbow, something inside him twitched. Her pale skin made the bruises on her skin stand out.
Something inside him tugged when he looked at the wounds on her elbow. Her fair complexion made the bruises on her skin so visible.
Roseana modestly sat down on the sofa before giving him a soft smile. She can't look directly into his eyes.
"Thank you for treating my wounds," she softly muttered. Her nose and cheeks flushed, and Roseana's eyes became even brighter.
*The damsel in distress is shy, huh?*
"Also, thanks for lending me this dress; I'll just give it back to you after I wash it, or just tell me how much it is, and I'll just pay for it," she shyly added.
*Oh, darling, I doubt you can pay for it. Esmeralda only wore branded clothes, so I'm sure that the ones you are wearing are branded ones.*
"You don't have to. I'm sure my cousin wouldn't mind."
"But still—"
He cut her off. "Why don't we just talk about what happened earlier? Who are you running from? How long have they been doing that?" He asked, trying his best to sound concerned.
Damon wanted to applaud himself. He sounded so sincere. Anyone will think that his concern for Roseana is real. Even he almost fooled himself.
Roseana looked at him hesitantly. Uneasiness is visible in her eyes. She nibbled the inside of her cheeks.
"Oh, how rude of me. If you're not comfortable talking about it, that's fine. I'm just worried because you almost died earlier because of those people, and I thought if I knew the whole situation, I might be able to help you," Damon stated.
Roseanne shook her head. "No, it's fine," she muttered in a low voice.
I just don't want to bother anyone about my problems. The issues I'm dealing with are far too complicated. I don't want to cause you any problems."
He raised an eyebrow at what Roseana said. He wanted to laugh at what he heard. She doesn't want to cause him any problems. Funny because she was the one in trouble the moment Damon decided to get involved in her life.
"I guess, given the circumstances, whether I like it or not, I am already involved in whatever mess you are in. You get me involved in your mess," Damon said sarcastically. When he heard how haughty his voice sounded, he flinched. He had forgotten that he was acting nice in front of her. It's really hard to be nice if you’re not really nice.
There was a long silence between the two of them after he said that. It looks like his disguise will be revealed sooner rather than later. He boasted too soon. He didn't think clearly before opening his mouth.
Damon expected Roseana to be upset with him, yet the opposite happened. The woman's head was bowed, and Roseana's face was almost covered by her hair. She fidgeted with her fingers.
*Okay. What kind of drama is this?*
He was staring at her idly, wondering what she was doing with her head lowered, when he heard her sob. His brow furrowed in perplexity. The woman's accented sobbing took his breath away. Damon couldn't move from his seat. He kept looking at the woman because he didn't know what to do.
Roseana's shoulders were shaking. Damon can tell that she is trying to keep her sobbing but to no avail. He can still hear her.
He is panicking inside and has no idea why. He didn't know what to do. The thought of Roseana crying made him want to comfort him. He suddenly felt the need to console her. He couldn't figure out why he felt that way. He had never felt like this before. It's not the first time he's witnessed a woman cry in front of him. The truth is, he has seen a lot of women cry for him and most often beg for him, but it has never affected him in this way. His heart felt like it was wrenched at the sight of Roseana crying.
"It's okay. I will help you. I am here now. I will not let anyone hurt you again, he softly said.
He felt Roseana froze at what he said. Even he was stunned by what he said. He couldn't believe he said that. And he couldn't believe it even more when he realized that he was now holding Roseana in his arms, softly patting her back to keep her from crying.
*Fuck.*
*
**