Chapter 68

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Chapter 68

-DAMIAN-

“You good?” I asked Ana as we packed the last food container for my date with Millicent.

After asking Robert and Lenny for permission to take Millicent out later, they allowed me to use the kitchen in their restaurant, too. It was past lunchtime. The kitchen staff were lounging after the busy lunch hour.

To Robert’s credit, his business was in a good state. Dad mentioned that this was a good investment he’d also been thinking of venturing into. Apart from the wedding, I witnessed the flow of diners in the restaurant and guests checking in at The Villa over the weekend. Apart from the wine he already put on the market, there’s also a lot of profit potential for Roberts’ vineyard.

Seeing Summerfield Acre’s beauty and allure, I understood why Robert left Roslin City. It’s an excellent place to retire or start a family.

Ana shrugged, accepting the salad I handed her and stuffing it in the basket I’d bring to my date later. “Yeah.”

I might not know much about Ana but I knew women’s tell. They say one thing and mean

the other.

Gathering the vegetable scraps from the counter and throwing them in the trash, I then wiped the counter with a white cloth. “Thank you for helping me,” I said.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, letting out a breath as she laid the plaid picnic blanket on top of the basket.

“You don’t have to go to town with me, Ana,” I insisted. I still had a few things to buy in town for tonight. There were still a few hours before I pick up Millicent, but my heart was already galloping inside my chest. The wait would kill me if I stayed idle in one place. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”

I tried to ignore this giddy feeling in my belly. I’ve never felt this nervous about a date. It’s like I am a teenager all over again.

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“I promise I’ll help, and I never go back on my word.” Her tone was sharp.

“Alright,” I sighed. I wanted a distraction? I got a temperamental one.

We spent the drive to town in silence, but Ana kept blowing out heavy breaths every ten seconds as she gazed at the window. This was one of women’s annoying antics. If she was tired or in no mood to go with me, I clearly insisted she didn’t have to. Why would she force herself to come and put me in the torture of her bitter company?

Halfway through the drive, I felt like the vein in my forehead would snap. Even Fight The Power by Public Enemy playing on the speaker wasn’t enough to distract me from Ana’s downcast mood.

“Ana, what the f uck is wrong? You’ve been sighing heavily like you want to blow the windshield away,” my voice came out firmer than I intended to.

She whipped her head to the driver’s side, her eyes wide as the wind blew her hair over her face. In her pink crop top and skinny jeans, Ana looked like a high schooler that’s about to

cry.

I sighed. I didn’t mean for my words to come out like that, but I was already on edge because of my date with Millicent. F ucking up this chance was not an option. I’m already walking on thin ice; if I messed this up, I might lose her forever.

“I know something is wrong. Just talk to me. You’d be surprised how good of a listener I am.” To lighten the mood, I forced a smile.

Ana’s brows lifted, her l*ps twitching as she fought a smile. I looked like a disemboweled Cheshire cat; I know. I was never good at faking my smile.

Once again, Ana let out a heavy breath and turned to the open window, watching the scenic view of Clarke Bay. “What is it with Millicent?”

I frowned. Her question just came out of nowhere. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly my question,” she said in an irritating tone as if she was tired of talking to an idiot. Ana had very little patience for explaining herself, but I honestly didn’t understand what she was asking.

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For the sake of a peaceful conversation, I tried a different tactic. “You mean what I liked about her?”

Ana hummed, brushing her hair out of her face.

“Millicent is different from all the girls I’ve met before.”

“Different, how?” Ana faced the windshield, her brows furrowed.

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Thinking for a moment, I realized I didn’t exactly know how to answer her question. Settling with an honest answer, I said. “You know that feeling when you already have everything, yet something doesn’t feel right, like something is missing? There’s a hole. inside you that’s gaping, and whatever attempt you make to fill it up just isn’t enough? When I’m with her, that void goes away. She makes me want to live in the moment and make every second count. I am happy just being around her. No worries, no apprehension. She makes me feel that being myself is enough.”

Ana stared at me, setting me under her scrutinizing gaze. “If she is that great, why are you hiding the truth? Isn’t that ironic?”

I glowered. “I’m protecting her. It’s my choice. What’s with this attack on Millicent?”

“Easy…” she raised her hand, heaving another breath. I swear if she blew out another one, I’d throw her out of this car. It’s f ucking annoying. “I have nothing against her, just wondering why you’d go to these lengths just for a date… and for Gian to put this much effort into seeing her.”

My knuckles tightened around the steering wheel. I knew Gian had feelings for Millicent, but what surprised me was the bitterness in Ana’s tone. “You sound like a jealous girlfriend. I thought you and Gian were related.”

“Is that what he told you?” She blench, then snorted. “G od… Do you even see a resemblance?”

Counting one to five, it was my turn to let out a heavy breath, then focused on driving. “I was in no position to ask questions when he assigned me to babysit you.”

That stopped Ana’s giggles. “I’m not a child. I don’t need a babysitter.”

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I huffed. “Those were Gian’s words, Ana, not mine. I’m merely holding my end of the bargain.” Throwing her a glance, I pressed. “What is your relationship with Gian, and why do you need someone to look after you?”

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“It’s safer for you if you don’t know shi t about Gian and I, D,” she said dryly, ending the conversation. But I was tired of playing by their rules. Clearly, something more is going on, and I’m caught in the middle of these two. I’m not a docile babysitter under their payroll. And I have this gut feeling that babysitting Ana will get me in trouble one of these days.

“Safer,” I murmured, “so there’s danger around you too, huh?”

“Something like that. Whenever Gian is involved, trouble follows. It’s the same reason he didn’t pursue Millicent. Like you, he wanted to keep her safe.”

Brows knitted together, I gritted my teeth. It must’ve been so loud Ana heard my molars grinding. “You’re not blind, right? Gian has a thing for Millicent. He’s been in love with her since they were in college.”

“What’s your point, Ana?”

She smirked. “What I’m saying is that Gian has a way of making situations bend to his favor. If he wanted to take Millicent away from you, he could do that. So while he’s allowing you to have Millicent, better up your game.”

Stepping on the brake as the red light on the intersection lit up, I faced Ana. “Allowing me? We are not a puppet in his world, especially Millicent. She can decide on her own if she wanted me or not-”

“D… back up,” Ana was staring forward, her eyes narrowed to slits.

“You can’t talk shi t like that and expect me to shut the f uck up. You’re no different from that f ucking Italian-”

“Damian.” Ana’s voice fell an octave lower, her demeanor shifting to dangerously calm. “Drive… left turn. We need to get to town.”

“What?” I looked forward and saw a fast-approaching SUV in front of us. Clouds of dust bellowed behind the car, charging forward like a rocket, and we were in its line of fire. They’re going over eighty miles per hour. Nothing unusual since this highway was

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practically deserted. Then fear loomed over me when a gun turned up from the passenger side.

“Now would be a good time to step on the gas, Damian.”

If not for Ana calling me by my name, I wouldn’t understand the panic in her calm facade.

“F uck!” Shifting gears, I stepped on the gas. The tires of my rental SUV skidded as I took a left turn. I don’t c

know where the f uck we were going, but Ana was on her phone,

giving me directions as though she had an eye on the sky.

“We need to get out of Clarke Bay,” she murmured. It’s like talking to a different person. She’s not the pocket-sized Ana who grunts and groans whenever things don’t go her way. This Ana was the epitome of the calm before the storm, her eyes blazing with unwavering determination.

“Yeah? The next town is like two hours away,” I said, surprised that I was also keeping my cool.

“Out of town, not in another crowded place where innocent people will get hurt.” Reaching “Out for the phone holder on the dashboard, she locked her phone to it. A map of Clarke Bay was on the screen. Two dots were connected by a broken line. One was at the marina, and the other was us. “Get to the docks.”

In the rearview mirror, a man was now peeking on the passenger side, and an ArmaLite pointed in our direction.

This wasn’t the best time to ask what the f uck was going on, so I followed Ana’s instructions. She’s confident and precise, as though she was used to being chased by a speeding car with an automatic rifle aimed at the back of her head.

“How good are your driving skills?” She asked, reaching under her seat and producing a handgun. She co cked it with the skill of a man using a weapon as part of his job.

When the f uck did I put a gun under the seat? Oh yeah, I didn’t. Which meant this little girl was the one who put it there.

“I fancied illegal racing when I was in New York,” I said, the days when I was still a boy whose only desire was chasing adrenaline coming back to me.

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She hummed, pleased with my response. “Get creative. Try losing them in town before we get to the docks.”

As if on cue, Clarke Bay gets into view, its famous brick road and brick houses sprawled over the Golden Rise Highlands. Because of social media, the magnificent view of the Bay and its white sand shore has become a popular tourist destination.

The marina was on the other side of town. I took a sharp turn and drove through the busy street, almost hitting a few pedestrians. With the flowering tourism also comes the prospect of business. There were coffee shops and restaurants at every corner, and the alfresco dining encompassed the street side.

The car was still tailing us, but they seemed to be avoiding gathering attention as well, hiding the gun pointed at us earlier.

“F ucking amateurs,” Ana murmured. “Give me your phone.”

“What?”

She glared at me. It was her favorite thing now, trying to threaten me with her eyes. “Phone now,” she pressed, opening her dainty hand, waiting for me to comply.

“There’s your f u cking phone. Why do you have to use mine?” I don’t trust women with my phone. They could turn to CIA agents digging files I didn’t even know still existed in my device.

Lips pursed, she said. “To watch porn, you idiot.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m going to call Gianni Squidward Romano.”

“Romano?” Taking another turn, I hissed when a child suddenly crossed the street while I overtook another car. I almost hit him if it wasn’t for his dad pulling him back. “It’s his surname, Molina?”

“Phone!” she groaned, showing me the impatient child Ana I’ve grown accustomed to.

“No!” I protested, taking out my phone, dialing Gian’s number, and putting it on loudspeaker. Ana huffed, stabbing daggers in my face with her eyes.

Gian answered on the second ring. “What do you want?” he groaned, annoyance dripping

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“Someone wants to speak with you,” I said, tossing my phone on the dashboard.

“What do you want, Squirt,” Gian said in a bored tone.

I chortled at his pet name for Ana. Cheeks flaming red, Ana’s nose flared. “Get your as s out of bed and do your f ucking end of the deal, Snitch!”

Gian yawned. “I’d rather sleep than listen to your chirping.”

A disgruntled sound rolled from Ana’s throat. If she could spontaneously combust, this car would’ve been on fire by now. “Someone’s following us. Get your men out here and deal with them!” She grabbed my phone and ended the call, cutting whatever response Gian was about to say.

Growing up with Candice introduced me to the drastic changes in women’s moods. Ana was in a phase where one poke and she’d blow up. I wanted to stay alive for my date with Millicent, so I kept my mouth shut and drove around town for another hour until our gas was only enough to get us to the docks. We lost the car following us somewhere along the

market.

“Just drop me on the marina,” was the first thing Ana said after the call with Gian.

Glancing at the time on the dashboard, it’s already six pm. F uck! This was a f ucking disaster, but what to do? I cannot just leave Ana.

Parking at the marina, she slid out without giving me another glance.

“Ana, wait!” I went after her, reaching her by the wooden platforms. Yachts and small boats filled the docks. Seagulls gawked above us, and the wind temperature started to plummet.

“I’ll be fine, Damian. You’re gonna be late for your date with Millicent. Squidward will be here soon,” she murmured, stepping up the cabin cruiser with the name An alise scrawled on the side.

Following Ana, I watched as she moved around the captain’s deck, flicking switches here and there, and soon, the lights in the cruiser turned on, the engine humming. Again, she surprised me. Who the f uck is this chick? Maybe I shouldn’t be calling her names anymore.

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“I’ll wait until Gian arrives.” A lump grew drastically in my throat. My stomach turned into knots as I thought of the distance I needed to cover in an hour to get to Millicent in time. But I can’t just up and leave Ana like this. We might have lost the car, but who knows what danger she is in?

Sitting on the couch available in the cabin, I let Ana do her thing and gathered my bearings. This day had escalated quickly to one of the most confusing ones I had ever had in a while. But when Gian was involved, I shouldn’t be surprised there were guns and a car chase.

“What the f uck happened out there, Ana?” I couldn’t help but ask. Ana might come off as temperamental, but she sure isn’t dangerous. She doesn’t belong in Gian’s world. “And don’t tell me it’s safer if I don’t know sh it. You seemed to know more than you should about me, so even the fields, yeah?”.

She sighed and stopped scrutinizing the captain’s deck. “You’re right. I’m sorry for putting you in this situation. Those men were after me because I am Gian’s fiance.”

Like a golf ball hitting me in the gut, I gaped at her, waiting for any signs that she was playing tricks on me again, but she was pensive. She turned towards the endless water of the Bay. “It’s an arranged marriage. I love someone else, and Gian is also in love with….” she trailed off, careful not to mention Millicent’s name.

“I know about his feelings for Millicent,” I murmured,

Ana swallowed hard, unveiling the loneliness she’d been hiding under that attitude of hers. “Those were my father’s men. I ran away from home when I learned about the arranged marriage, and Gian was willing to help me escape. That’s how much he hated to be married to me. He’s willing to go high and low to hide me.”

“That’s… that’s f ucked up.” I learned firsthand the grueling toll of an arranged relationship. People will get hurt one way or the other.

“I know what you’re thinking. Your story with Millie is not like mine and Gian’s. We were taught to hate each other. Our family’s conflict goes way back to the father of our grandfathers.”

“Then why are you in an arranged marriage?”

“Because there’s a new rival that’s more powerful than each of our families. And there goes

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the saying the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Our fathers think alike. Hence this st upid marriage deal.”

I know nothing about their family. All I know is that we should have a choice about who we should love or marry. But who was I to say my opinion on this? My history with Milicent wasn’t a stellar one.

“It’s not your problem, but thank you for taking me in.” Ana smiled at me when I offered no response. She pulled out her phone, grimacing. “You should go now. You’ll be late for your date.”

“But-”

She shook her head, handing me her phone. It was a message from Squidward. ‘I’m five minutes out, Squirt. Tell Pretty Boy not to mess up his date with Millie, or I’ll take her away from him.’

I lifted my gaze to Ana, not because Gian’s name calling offended me -it did, but because I knew how Ana felt.

“You gonna be okay?”

“I will be.” She smiled reassuringly. “Go now. You’re already late as it is.”

I nodded and headed out of the yacht.

“Hey, D,” Ana called as I jumped to the docks. “Stop putting other women’s safety before Millie’s. If you want to keep her, she should come first. And tell her the truth.”

Her words were weighted. She knew why I kept Millicent at arm’s length, and I wonder if her last statement was about what happened today or with Sonja.

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