Damian's POV

 As soon as I reached the room, I picked up my phone. I needed a place to sleep tonight. I packed a few things, Nolan slowly helped me, silently folding clothes and handing them to me like he knew words would only make this harder.

I picked up my bag and left through the back door without informing them. I grabbed my coat, my hands trembling slightly. I was ready for this. Or at least I kept telling myself I was.

 I walked out through the gate, leaving behind the only car that I had once loved and cherished-the one my parents gave me when I entered medical school. I walked out of the house for the last time, leaving behind the house I had spent most of the beautiful memories I had after staying at a foster home for some time. I sighed, the sound heavy and broken.

 I walked through the streets of New York, looking for a cab I could hail hoping to get to the best hotels that were available.

 As everyone passed through the street. I couldn't bring myself to think about all the things I would do to prove my parents wrong.

The clouds began to darken, just as doubt started to settle in. As I flagged a cab who stopped almost immediately. I opened the door and slid inside.

 "Good day," I greeted quietly. He responded with a nod. "Take me to a hotel far away from here," I begged, my voice barely above a whisper.

 He glanced at me through the mirror and drove off without asking questions. "Bad day uh?" He asked gently. I nodded, afraid I would completely break down at that moment. He looked through the mirror and chuckled softly.

The rest of the ride fell into silence until we reached the hotel. I handed him the money and walked straight into the hotel.

 At the reception desk, I forced a smile at the lads whose face flushed slightly the moment she saw me. "Good day. I'd like to book an exclusive room," I said.

She battled her eyelashes, as she checked the prices on the laptop. "That would cost you $500 per night," she replied.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my card. She took the card and swiped it through the machine.

It beeped.

Her expression changed instantly.

 She cleared her throat. "I'm sorry....your card has been declined." I raised my eyebrows at her, fear slowly start to creep in.

My chest started to beat rapidly. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. I had enough money on that card to last me a month.

I ran my hand across my hair, my foot tapping uncontrollably against the floor. "Could you try it again?" I asked, my voice strained.

She swiped it again-this time faster.

It beeped once more. She looked at me with pity. A look that I hated more than anything. "It's still the same."

My parents had gone that far. They froze my card. I had nowhere to go. I was alone and all I had left was the $50 in my wallet that could barely buy me a burger and a drink.

I knew I needed help; a shelter just for this night. And I knew exactly who to call. Derek.

 I dialled his number just immediately. His voice sounded tired as he answered on the phone. "Where are you?" He knew something was wrong.

I gave him my address. "I'll meet you there. Just stay right there," he said. The moment the call ended. I struggled to breath.

I pressed my fingers into my chest. I hardly called anyone for help. This was something I wasn't built to do. But tonight, I had no choice.

****

Few minutes later, Derek was here.

"It's okay", he assured me. We got into the car and we went home. So many thoughts filled my mind as I thought of what my parents had done.

This night was gone already. Tomorrow is a day to get ready and start putting out proposals. Derek interrupted my thoughts.

 "I was just leaving the hospital when you called," he pressed the wheel of the car.

I heaved a heavy breath. "With the look of things. I was sure that did not go well with them," he continued.

I nodded my head abruptly.

"You can stay at my place till whenever you get back on your feet."

I shook my head slightly. I couldn't leech on him because of my stupidity.

 "You can have a room to yourself," he said, immediately reading my mind. Where was Derek staying? He had more than one room. He must be staying with his parents too.

"My dad hardly comes home because of work." He held the wheel tightly.

"So you have nothing to worry about." I sighed deeply, feeling grateful for having him to stick around.

In no time, Derek got to the front of his house... mansion.

The building stood elegantly beautiful as the cream colour displayed its specialty. Derek laughed at me seeing the way I was too stunned to speak.

"It's nothing" he chuckled, while he turned off the ignition. This was something. It was bigger than my foster parent's house.

"Let me carry your bags for you." He grabbed the big bags. "There are no maids in this house."

***

"This is your room" Derek took me to the last room by the right upstairs.

The bed was bigger than my bed at home. It had enough space for my artworks. I wish I could stay here forever, but I had to leave and do some things for myself. I needed to find a way to get my talent.

Everyone needed to see me. And I wasn't going to bound myself just because my parents don't want me to become an artist.

 He dropped the bag and tapped my shoulder. "Just freshen up and come downstairs. I'll fix us something to eat."

He shut the door slightly, while I drowned in the seas of my thoughts.

Damian's POV

 FOUR WEEKS LATER

 I had been in my room since I arrived. Derek knocked on the door several times before leaving for work.

Today was an exception- he was still standing outside the door. "Open up," he nudged me, his thick accent echoing around the empty mansion. I walked over and pulled the door open.

He stood there in his scrubs battered and tired, exhausted, dark circles forming beneath his eyes.

 "How have you been?" He asked softly, touching my shoulders, squeezing gently against the shoulder bone.

 I pushed my hair back and ruffled it. It had been weeks-weeks of trying to map out every single thing, uploading my artwork on countless sites for people to notice and buy.

 But, there was nobody to buy. Nobody was getting it. I looked down, unable to meet his eyes. I felt I was staying for way too long.

 He understood. "I brought us some meals."

"Let's go and eat," he moved away, walking towards the stairs.

 I slipped a shirt over my body. And went downstairs, this time taking in the designs of the exclusive mansion.

 The railings on the staircase took a beautiful ancient design. I couldn't get my eyes over every single design, the chandelier stood magnificent in the middle of the big room. We got to the dining and pulled the chairs so we could silently eat.

 Each arrangement reminded me of home. We all sat down to eat together. We waited for everyone to get back before we eat dinner.

 I had not received any calls since I got here. Nobody reached out to me, including Nolan.

They were serious about it and I had already made up my mind already.

 Derek picked up the bowl of creamy broccoli and stilton and carefully poured them into his plate. "I just called the restaurant to cook us something very nice," he said silently. I put a spoon of creamy broccoli and Stilton into my mouth, relishing the taste of the beautiful soup.

It tasted better than home.

The rich taste of the soup slid beautifully in my tongue. I shut my eyes tightly.

 "Do you like it?" Derek asked, carefully studying my face.

 I nodded slightly.

 As we silently devoured each of the foods that was brought. Derek stood up immediately, checking the time on his wristwatch. "It's time to go" I nodded, with foods in my mouth.

 "Take care of yourself," he spoke. I finished the food and picked every plates and utensils to get them washed.

 I rinsed them thoroughly placing them in the dishwasher.

 A loud, rich baritone voice came from outside the mansion. "Derek," the smooth voice called from outside.

Was Derek's brother here to see him ?

My heart raced. "Derek," the voice called from outside, this time a little angry.

I left the plates and walked towards the door to meet the person and see who he was.

I opened the door slowly, preparing myself for the humiliation that could come after. "Der-" he stopped abruptly, seeing that I was a totally different person than his brother.

He walked towards me slowly.

My breathing rapidly increased. "Who do we have here?" He spoke, his cinnamon rich scent wafting and filling the whole place.

I opened the door properly so he could enter inside.

My lips quivered, afraid to speak.

His presence filled the empty mansion. He had a confidence you could mistake for pride. His hands kept firmly in his pocket, he moved towards me shutting the door behind.

"Derek did not say a word to me about his visitor.

"Did he?" He asked. I stuttered. "He... I...m so sorry"

He arched his eyebrow.

He looked more muscular than Derek. His broad smile played on his lips. His shirt stretched across his broad chest leaving a few buttons to expose his hair.

I just wanted to trail my hands over his abs.

 He was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

 He smiled lightly. "Just kidding. I'm Nikolai. Derek's Dad."

Derek's Dad???

 He looked younger than Derek. I stared into his eyes.

My words refused to spill out of my lips. I was too careful with my words. Careful I was going to say something to upset him.

 I bowed my head slightly. "G...oo day Mr sokenvji" He nodded his head slightly, stretching his hands forward.

"Call me Nickolai instead." "Thank you, Mr...Nickolai" I thanked him.

 His beauty captivated me in ways I couldn't explain. His black suit complimented his deep blue eyes like the sea. I just wanted to stare deep into his eyes.

 "Nice chest by the way" he said, making my cheeks flush. I stared at him. I couldn't take my eyes off him.

 I hadn't noticed when Derek came into the house. He cleared his throat.

The timer on the dishwasher dinged caused a whole distraction to the whole tension that was already created. "Dad," Derek faced his dad immediately, ignoring the tension between the two of us.

"You didn't tell me you were coming. I just forgot something and I thought I should come back," he said, watching between me and his dad.

I turned away quickly and walked into the kitchen, while my ear lingered into their conversation.

"This is my house, remember?" He joked lightly, his gaze never fully left me.

 "I forgot something and decided to come back." Derek's eyes moved between us.

 "I see you've met Damian already." He paused.

 "Not properly," His dad answered, causing my thighs to tremble.

The way he looked at me-like he could see through me.

 And that made me feel

Vulnerable.

Exposed.

Seen.

Afraid he was going to point out my insecurities, afraid and it made me feel seen.

And that terrified me. "Damian," Derek called, pulling me back into reality.

"I'll be leaving now," he said gently. "And I apologize about my Dad," he smiled.

 I nodded quickly and stepped away, moving towards the kitchen.

His voice followed. "See you soon."

 I froze for a second , before walking away finally. It wasn't until I got to my room, closing the door behind me that I realised I had been holding my breath the entire time.

And I wasn't sure if I was more afraid of him. Or the fact that part of me wanted him to come back.