In Damien's Keeping

Chapter 7

I held my face up from the pillow and saw that it was soaked with my tears and my runny nose. I wiped all of them with tissues and got up from bed.

Never ever, Mark had shouted at me or even tried to lift a finger at me. How dare Damien say those things to me? How dare he!
With an angry swipe of my hand I wiped some stupid tears which had escaped.

I wasn't hungry usually before going to bed but after crying, I was. But after what happened, I didn't have the courage to walk out of my room and face anyone.

My gaze went to my phone, which was lying on the floor. When I came to my room, I had dropped my purse on the floor. I picked my phone and saw that I had a dozen messages and missed calls from Norah.

My phone started ringing and Norah was again calling me but could I blame her for not knowing? I blew my nose in the tissue and accepted her call.

"Liaaa! Where are you?" I heard Norah's panicked voice.

"I am home." I said and tried to keep my voice a little less hoarse.

"Home? Are you okay? You could have told us that you were going." Norah said in anger.

"Damien came and there was an emergency so we had to get home. Don't worry about me. I am good." I said and looked around my room.

"But you told me Damien had gone to Italy."

"He came back today. Listen, I will give you details the next time we meet." I said in an urgency.

"Fine, but take care of yourself. You scared me to death when you disappeared in air." Norah said.

"I am fine, don't worry. Go to sleep now. Bye."

"Yeah, I just came home. Bye." Norah said and hung up.

I slept after the call.

When I woke up the next morning, I was oblivious to what happened yesterday. It was like a new page of life had opened for me with a future awaiting for me. I got ready and strutted out of my room towards the dining room for breakfast.

I was just walking when I heard Maria's voice from a room, by which I was passing. The door to the room was left ajar.

"Caro, listen to me. I did as as you said. That file-" Maria said.

"That file wasn't what I wanted. Damn it! You have been given a job and you can't do it properly. What the hell can you do!" Damien's furious voice filled my ears. I peeked inside the room and found them standing opposite to each other and Damien held a file in his right hand and he was glaring at Maria.

I remembered the way he was glaring at me, last night and I shuddered. For a second, I felt pity for Maria but after a moment I wished I hadn't felt pity for her.

Despite Damien being angry, Maria wasn't scared. She came closer to him and put her hand on his chest and I didn't miss the sight of Maria pushing herself against Damien. I gasped silently and my hands itched to do something violent.

"I can do whatever you want, caro."

"Stop it right now or you will regret it." Damien hissed and grabbed her hands which were planted on his chest. With her wrists in his hands, he threw her on the nearby couch. My eyes widened at the scene. I didn't know that Damien could be capable of such anger towards anyone. He was arrogant but seeing this sort of anger, I wished I could send him to anger management classes.

In my own thoughts, I ignored the fact that Damien was now coming out of the room. When I realized that he was indeed very close to the door, I turned around and ran as fast as I can. I couldn't be the target of his anger again. No, not again in my whole life.

After a bit of running, when I believed Damien wouldn't see me, I stopped and panted.

"May I help you?" Someone said from behind me. I shrieked and jumped on the spot where I was standing. Putting a hand on my mouth, I quickly turned around to find Casper standing with a worried and shocking expression on his face.

"What are you scared, Signora Lia?" Casper asked. I shook my head and put my hand against my chest to calm down the breathing.

"You took me by surprise, Casper. I was coming for breakfast." I said and saw Casper nodding in understanding.

"sì... I will get you breakfast." Casper said and we were about to turn around and walk towards the dining room when a voice stopped us from going.

"Casper! Where's my breakfast?" There was an edge in his voice and we turned around to find Damien walking towards us. He was frowning at Casper and Casper seemed to be lacking for words.

"Signore, it's- it's ready." He managed to say while Damien glared at him. Casper, immediately, began to leave but not before bowing, lightly.

I was about to go with him when Damien's gaze fell on me and he did a double take. I looked down instantly then began observing the house.

Behave normal, Lia... I chanted in my heart and observed the painting of a beautiful woman on the opposite wall.

"Lia..." Damien's voice made me look at him. How could I avoid a man who was standing right in my way and speaking to me?

When I looked up at him, I found that his expression had softened and he was staring at me. My eyes widened a bit and I gulped. I didn't know why, but my heartbeat sped up. My heart hammered against my chest, protesting to come out.

Was it fear that I was feeling? Definitely.

My palms started sweating as I remembered last night's event.

"Lia, I..." Damien said but didn't complete his sentence. He looked away and winced when he couldn't complete the sentence. What did he had to say now?

I frowned at him and felt the need to tell him, how badly he had behaved yesterday but why should I show that I was hurt by his words.

"I-I think I forgot something in my room." I said when I saw he was trying to say something again. After saying, I turned around and fled to my room.

That day passed just like that. I took all my meals into my room, even asked to bring a jug of water to my room so I didn't have to bother for the water.

It was late at night when I felt thirsty. I just had a glass of water and I was thirsty again. This must had been due to hot weather.

I turned to my right and grabbed the jug from bedside table, only to find it empty. I shook it and turned it over. Not even a drop of water was left.

Groaning, I got up from the bed and grabbed the jug then walked out of my room.

I reached kitchen and found the bottle of icy water placed on the counter and I dashed across the kitchen for it. I found a glass and poured the water in it then drank in pure bliss.

After drinking, I placed the glass on the counter. I was filling my jug with water when I saw a shadow behind my own on the door of the refrigerator.

My eyes widened in horror and I turned around so fast that my elbow collided with glass on the counter and threw it on the floor, making it break into pieces behind my feet. Ignoring the broken shards of glass, I kept gaping at the person in front of me.

"Lia, careful. There are pieces of glass." Damien said and extended his hand to me which I tried to avoid and stepped on the shards of glass.

Sharp pain exploded my left foot and I winced.

"Shit! You stepped on it. I told you to be careful!" Damien hissed and I looked down at my feet to find the little blood seeping from my left foot.

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