125 Chapter 128
Chapter 128 – New Relationship, Old Rivalry
Being Damien Sterling’s girlfriend still felt surreal. As I sat across from him in the restaurant, watching him sip his espresso, the enormity of our new relationship status hit me again.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Damien said, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “I can hear the gears turning from here.”
I sighed, tracing the rim of my teacup. “I’m just processing everything. Do you realize how many people photographed us during lunch? The tabloids are probably already churning out stories.”
“Does that bother you?”
“Honestly? A little.” I bit my lip. “I’m used to being Hazel the designer, not Hazel the girlfriend splashed across gossip sites.”
Damien reached across the table, his warm hand covering mine. “The noise will die down eventually. But if it’s any consolation, you looked absolutely stunning in every photo they could have taken.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Smooth talker”
“Only speaking facts.” His phone buzzed, and he glanced at it briefly before returning his attention to me. “You know, being with me doesn’t change who you are. If anything, it just gives more people the chance to see how remarkable you are.”
“That’s a nice way of looking at it,” I said, though uncertainty still lingered. “I just don’t want to be known as the girl who needed Damien Sterling to save her reputation.”
His expression softened. “Is that what you think this is?”
“No–I mean “I fumbled for words. “That’s what people might think.”
“People will always talk, Hazel. But we know the truth. We make each other stronger, not weaker.” His thumb stroked over my knuckles. “Speaking of which, I’d like you to meet my family. Properly this time.”
My heart skipped. “Your family? As in, formal introduction?”
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He nodded. “My mother’s been asking. She was quite impressed with you at the party
“When were you thinking?” I asked, trying to sound casual while mentally cataloging every suitable outfit I owned.
“This weekend, perhaps? Nothing elaborate, just dinner at the estate.”
The estate. Sterling Heights. The legendary family compound I’d only heard whispers
about.
“I’d love to, but I can’t this weekend,” I said regretfully. “I have the court hearing against Giselle on Friday, and then I’m flying to Milan on Saturday for that fabric supplier meeting.”
“Of course,” he said without hesitation. “Your work is important. There’s plenty of
time.”
His easy understanding made my chest warm. “Thank you for not pressuring me.” “I would never.” His phone buzzed again, more insistently this time. He frowned as he checked it. “I’m sorry, but there’s an urgent situation at work I need to handle.”
“Go,” I said, waving him off. “Duty calls.”
He stood, dropping a quick kiss on my lips that still managed to make my pulse race. “I’ll call you tonight?”
I nodded, watching as he left, admirably ignoring the stares that followed him. After he disappeared, I stayed for another cup of tea, not quite ready to return to my empty apartment.
On impulse, I called Victoria.
“Please tell me you’re free tonight,” I said when she answered.
“For you? Always. What’s up?”
“I need a normal night out. No Sterling spotlights, no paparazzi, just drinks with my best friend.”
“Meet me at Sky Lounge in an hour,” she said without hesitation. “I’ll reserve our usual table.”
there
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Sky Lounge was one of those exclusive social clubs where the wealthy young elite of the city gathered. Victoria’s family had connections everywhere, which meant we never waited in lines.
I arrived before Victoria, settling at our corner table with a perfect view of the city below. The hostess had just delivered my martini when a familiar voice cut through the
ambient music.
“Well, well. If it isn’t Hazel Ashworth.”
I looked up to see Bianca Sinclair, my former college rival and perpetual thorn in my side. She stood there in a designer dress I recognized from Milan’s latest perfect blonde hair cascading over one shoulder.
runway,
her
“Bianca,” I acknowledged coolly. “I didn’t know you frequented Sky Lounge.”
“Oh, I go wherever the interesting people are,” she purred, uninvited but sliding into the seat across from me anyway. “And you’ve certainly become interesting lately, haven’t you? Damien Sterling’s latest conquest.”
I refused to rise to her bait. “Is there something you wanted?”
Her perfectly manicured finger traced the rim of my glass. “Just curious how you managed it. Damien Sterling has rejected women far more suitable than you. From better families. With cleaner histories.”
“Perhaps he prefers substance over pedigree,” I replied, taking a deliberate sip of my drink.
She laughed, the sound like glass breaking. “Oh, that’s cute. But we both know it won’t last. The Sterlings are practically American royalty. Did you know I visited Sterling Heights last month? For the charity gala?”
My hand tightened around my glass, but I kept my face neutral.
“Grandfather Sterling was quite charming,” she continued, watching me for a reaction. “So traditional in his values. Very concerned with appropriate matches for his grandchildren. I wonder what he thinks of you?”
The barb found its mark, but years of dealing with my father had taught me not to show pain. “I suppose I’ll find out when I meet him.”
“If you meet him,” she corrected with a smirk. “Word is, he’s not exactly thrilled about
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Damien’s little downtown dalliance.”
Before I could respond, Victoria’s voice cut through the tension. “Bianca! What a surprise to see you here instead of at home practicing your backstabbing techniques
in the mirror.”
Bianca’s smile froze. She and Victoria had history–namely, Victoria had once publicly exposed Bianca’s cheating during finals.
“Victoria,” she acknowledged stiffly. “Still playing bodyguard for y
friends, I see.”
less fortunate
“Only when there are vultures circling,” Victoria replied sweetly. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be? Perhaps a corner where people might actually want your company?”
Bianca stood with forced dignity. “I was just leaving anyway. Enjoy your… moment in the spotlight, Hazel. They never last long.”
As she strutted away, Victoria slid into her seat. “What did that viper want?”
“Just twisting the knife about my relationship with Damien,” I sighed. “She claims his grandfather won’t approve of me.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “And you’re listening to Bianca Sinclair about relationship advice? The woman who’s been engaged three times and dumped each time before making it to the altar?”
Despite my worries, I laughed. “Point taken.”
“Good. Now, I invited some people to join us. I hope you don’t mind.”
Soon our table was filled with Victoria’s fun, carefree friends. They treated me normally, not asking about Damien or the drone show, and for the first time in days, I felt like just Hazel again.
Several hours and too many drinks later, we moved to the casino section of the club. I’d never been much of a gambler, but tonight I felt reckless and free. Unfortunately, my courage far outpaced my skill.
“I’m cleaned out,” I announced after losing my fifth consecutive h “Completely broke.”
1
of blackjack.
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Victoria laughed, counting her own considerably larger stack of chips. “Amateur?
My phone rang then, Damien’s name lighting up the screen. I stepped away from the noisy table to answer.
“Hey you,” I said, my voice slightly slurred. “How was your emergency?”
“Resolved,” he replied, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “You sound like you’re having fun. Where are you?”
“Sky Lounge with Victoria. And I just lost all my money gambling.”
His rich laugh warmed me through the phone. “All of it? How much?”
“Two thousand dollars,” I admitted sheepishly. “Which is basically my entertainment budget for the month. This is your fault, you know.”
“My fault? How do you figure that?”
entire
“You make me feel invincible. Like I can do anything.” I leaned against the wall, suddenly missing him intensely. “It’s dangerous.”
His voice softened. “Give your phone to the cashier.”
“What? Why?”
“Just do it, Hazel.”
Curious, I walked to the cashier’s booth and handed over my phone.
“Mr. Sterling would like to speak with you,” I explained.
The cashier’s eyes widened as she took the phone. After a brief conversation, she handed it back to me along with a stack of chips.
“What did you do?” I gasped into the phone.
“Reimbursed you for losses incurred while under my influence,” he replied smugly. “Since it was my fault, after all,
“Damien! I can’t accept this.”
“Consider it an investment in your gambling education. Next tim “ll teach you some proper strategy.”
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I shook my head, though he couldn’t see me. “You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told. Enjoy your night, Hazel. Don’t lose it all in one place.”
After we hung up, I stared at the chips in my hand, a mixture of emotions swirling through me. Gratitude, warmth, but also a nagging sense of doubt.
Bianca’s words echoed in my mind. A bird and a fish could fall in love–but where would they live? Damien and I were from different worlds. His family had generations of wealth and power; mine had a legacy of betrayal and bitterness.
But as Victoria waved me back to the table, her face bright with laughter, I pushed those thoughts away. There would be time enough for doubts tomorrow. Tonight was for celebrating what I had now, not worrying about what might come later.
Still, as I rejoined the game, Bianca’s smug face haunted me. If Grandfather Sterling really did disapprove of me, what would that mean for Damien and me? How long could a relationship survive when half of it belonged to a world that might never accept the other?
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