Chapter 22 Chapter 22
"So it was a give or take situation." Luna arrived at a conclusion.
If it were before, when Luna believed he was behind her family's downfall, she would have been gravely repulsed by his words. But now, she felt they seemed fair. If she despised him at first, she only hated him now.
They should be able to make it work with simple hatred.
"It's not much really." Luna brought the situation down a peg. The way he seemed interested, it was as if he expected her to ask him to name one of his properties to her.
"It must be 'something' for you to come all the way here to find me." His deep eyes could see through all her schemes and anxieties.
'What was the little girl up to now?' Daimen was positively looking forward to it.
Luna kept a neutral face. "I have a friend. S-She wanted to visit me when I came here." She hated the stutter that betrayed her calm expression.
'Fuck!'
She was so fucking nervous in front of this Daimen. But she didn't want him to think she was some coward.
At the break of her words, there was a slight twinkle in Daimen's eyes. "Sierra from the Lane family, I presume?"
Luna looked at him wide-eyed. "How do you know?"
Daimen chuckled. She looked like a cat whose tail had been pulled.
"I have means, little girl."
Luna pouted, dissatisfied with the words he used for her—'little girl'. Of course, she was like ten years younger than him. But it felt so demeaning to be called little. It was as if they were not equal. Of course, they were not equal, but still.
First 'Lulu' then 'little girl.'
The myriad of emotions that flashed across her face didn't go unnoticed by Daimen. "So you want me to grant her open access to the estate?" Daimen asked when Luna wouldn't speak.
"Yes—I mean no. I mean, I need to know first. What I'll have to give up in return?" She looked directly into his eyes, which seemed to belittle her. He wasn't taking her seriously.
"What you'll have to give up." With a playful smile upon his lips, Daimen straightened back against the chair. He took off his glasses and closed them. It appeared he was thinking. And he was taking a long time to think. Too long.
Luna started to grow impatient. She started fidgeting.
Daimen, on the other hand, appeared to be enjoying the display of her nervousness.
She was an interesting girl with a rich personality.
"Well?" Luna urged.
"What's the rush? Let me think. It's such a big decision."
'Fucker. I'll get back to you for this one day! Mark my words!' Luna screamed internally, but outside, she was very well behaved. She even offered a fake smile. "Take your time."
"Well, well," Daimen's fingers drummed against the armrest as he drawled.
The smile on Luna's face grew strained.
"Well, what you'll have to give up in return is a tomorrow."
"Huh?" Luna blinked, unable to grasp his words.
"Your friend can come meet you anytime. She'll have free access to you as long as she doesn't do anything that is unacceptable. And in return, you'll spend tomorrow with me."
'Is that all?' Luna was surprised. Why did he even need to ask her permission to have her spend a day with him? He could easily force her to spend each and every day with him. This didn't make sense.
And why did he even want to spend a day with her? Was it some kind of date?
Luna didn't think further about his intentions. He just asked to spend a day. It wasn't much.
"What is unacceptable?"
"Everything extending from your safety to interference in our matters."
So she wasn't allowed to discuss him with Sisi. That was gonna be hard. Because the first thing Sierra was gonna do was bomb her with questions regarding Daimen and badmouth him to the most dirty extent.
"Alright, I'll be available to you tomorrow. Can she come today?"
"Of course."
Luna's expectant eyes lit up. "Thank you so much!" She excitedly got up. She hated him. That was established. But for a brief moment, she didn't hate him that much.
She didn't waste another moment inside the luxurious estate study and stormed her way out.
Just as her presence receded from the study, the genuine smile on Daimen's face also receded, replaced with a pensive look. His eyes stared in the direction she went out.
…
Luna didn't waste a second to call Sierra and inform her of the good news. Sierra, who had been worried sick for Luna's sake, was equally happy to know that she could visit.
She wasted no time getting inside the car and ordering her chauffeur to lead her towards the Blackwell Estate. Driver, the old man, was surprised because that was an off-limits property. Only after Sierra repeatedly assured him that she had the passage did the old man agree to head that way.
Sierra was equally taken aback by the level of security and luxury as the car crossed several checkpoints and finally made its way to the magnificent estate. Luna was already awaiting her at the entrance.
Just as Sierra got out, she didn't waste a second to hug Luna.
"Oh my God, Lulu, how have you been? He didn't hurt you, did he?" Like a worried mother, she checked over Luna's body to inspect any signs of injury. She only let go of Luna when she made sure that she was alright.
"Stop nagging! I'm alive and active."
"You look happy," Sierra eyed her suspiciously. Then, as if a strange possibility exploded inside her head, her eyes widened. "Don't tell me you two—"
Before Sisi could spout some nonsense, Luna quickly put her hand over her mouth and shut her off. She still remembered the no-interference condition. "Let's talk inside. This place is very beautiful. There are a lot of places I want to show you."
She quickly dragged Sierra towards her bedroom before she could blurt out something that Damien's staff would convey to him. Once within the security of the room, she closed the door and took Sierra to bed.
"Now we can talk."
"You are acting like you are under 24-hour surveillance."
Luna remained silent.
Sierra’s brows slowly pulled together. "Wait… Don’t tell me you are?" Sierra made a strange face.
"I have confirmed. There are no cameras in the bedroom. I've got my privacy here." Luna revealed, allowing Sierra to unleash the flurry of questions she had been restraining in her belly ever since she arrived here.
Sierra leaned closer, lowering her voice despite the closed door. "Lulu… listen carefully."
Luna frowned. “Why do you look like that?”
Sierra grabbed her hands, her expression serious—too serious. "Don't trust him. Not even a little. I know you think you have things under control, but Daimen Blackwell is not someone you stay comfortable around. You need to keep your guard up, Luna."
Luna blinked, taken aback by the intensity in Sierra’s eyes.
“Sisi… what do you mean?”
Sierra’s voice dropped to a whisper, her words sharp enough to cut through the room’s air.
“Because men like him don’t offer anything for free. And whatever he wants from you… it’s never small.”
The warning hung in the air like a cold shadow.