26 Chapter 28
Chapter 28 – The Handsome Benefactor Revealed
The hospital staff fussed over my temple wound more than necessary, but I didn’t mind. The more dramatic my bandage looked, the better for what I had planned.
“You really don’t need such extensive bandaging for this minor laceration,” the doctor said, looking confused as I requested the most visible dressing they had.
“Actually, I do,” I replied with a sweet smile. “I’m headed to the police station next.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes. “Ah, I see.” He obligingly wrapped my head with enough gauze to suggest I’d survived something far more serious than a glancing blow from a paperweight.
Perfect. Eleanor wouldn’t know what hit her.
At the police station, I presented the security footage from my office with my dramatically bandaged head. The officers viewed the recording with increasingly grim expressions.
“This is clear assault with intent to harm,” Officer Lin stated, pausing the video where Eleanor hurled the paperweight at my head. “Combined with the destruction of property and your medical report, we have more than enough evidence.”
Eleanor, who had been brought in earlier, looked significantly less composed than when she’d stormed into my office. Her mascara had run, creating dark rivulets down her cheeks, and her expensive blouse was wrinkled from her time in the holding cell.
“I want to press charges,” I said firmly.
Eleanor’s eyes widened. “You wouldn’t dare. Think about your father—”
“My father?” I interrupted. “The man who abandoned me when I needed him most? The man who stole my maternal family’s business? I don’t think I’ll be considering his feelings in this
matter.”
After two hours of paperwork and statements, the verdict came: ten days‘ administrative detention for Eleanor, a substantial fine, and a court–ordered apology to me.
When she was brought out to deliver the apology, I savored every second of her humiliation.
“I… apologize for my actions,” she muttered, unable to meet my eyes.
“I’m sorry, what was that? I couldn’t quite hear you,” I said, cupping my ear theatrically. Several officers struggled to hide their smiles.
“I apologize for assaulting you,” Eleanor repeated, louder this time, her face red with rage and
embarrassment.
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I nodded, satisfied. “Apology noted, though not accepted.” I turned to the officer. “I’d like a restraining order as well.”
As they led Eleanor away, I thought of my mother–how she’d withered under this woman’s cruelty, how she’d never had justice. “This is for you, Mom,” I whispered.
The next evening, I scrutinized my reflection in the mirror, turning slightly to examine my profile. I’d chosen a deep burgundy dress that hugged my curves without being overly revealing, with a delicate neckline that accentuated my collarbone. My makeup was soft but polished, focusing on my eyes while keeping my lips a subtle nude shade.
I’d removed the excessive bandaging, replacing it with a small, discreet adhesive bandage at my temple. I wanted to look put–together for Damien, not like I was fishing for sympathy.
Wait–why did I care so much about how I looked for him? This was supposed to be a business dinner to discuss my mounting debt to him.
Yet here I was, on my third outfit change, fussing over my appearance like… well, like a woman getting ready for a date.
“It’s not a date,” I reminded my reflection firmly. “It’s a financial discussion.”
My reflection didn’t look convinced.
I arrived at The Imperial Garden thirty minutes early, not wanting to risk being late. The hostess recognized me immediately and led me to the private room Victoria had arranged.
“Ms. Leighton said to tell you she’s dining in the main hall tonight with some investors,” she informed me. “She–mentioned she might stop by to say hello later.”
Perfect. Victoria was nearby but giving me space. The room was elegant without being ostentatious–richly paneled walls, soft lighting, and a table set for two with fine china and crystal. A window overlooked the garden that gave the restaurant its name, the carefully tended plants illuminated by subtle landscape lighting.
I was just settling in when my phone buzzed with a voice message from Victoria.
“Hazel! Oh my God, there’s a man who just walked in who is absolutely DIVINE. I’m not even exaggerating–he makes every other man in this room look like they’re a different species. He’s tall, dark–haired, movie–star handsome but somehow… more intimidating? The whole restaurant just went quiet when he walked in. The hostess is practically tripping over herself. I think he might be someone famous but I can’t place him. Anyway, just had to share-”
The message cut off, and I chuckled. Victoria had always been boy–crazy. I was scrolling through social media when the door to my private room opened.
I looked up and my heart skipped.
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Damien Sterling stood in the doorway, somehow even more handsome than I remembered. His tailored charcoal suit fit his broad shoulders perfectly, his white shirt crisp against his tanned skin. His dark hair was styled impeccably, and those intense eyes fixed on me with a warmth that made my stomach flip,
“Hazel,” he said, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. “I hope I’m not
late,”
I stood, suddenly conscious of my racing pulse. “Not at all. You’re right on time.”
He approached, his gaze falling on the small bandage at my temple. His expression darkened. “What happened?”
“Just a small disagreement with my stepmother,” I said lightly. “Nothing serious”
His jaw tightened. “Your definition of ‘not serious‘ concerns me”
Before I could respond, my phone buzzed frantically with a call from Victoria. I was about to silence it when I realized Damien wouldn’t mind.
“Excuse me for just a moment, I said, answering the call. “Victoria, I’m in the middle of-”
“HAZEL!” Victoria’s excited whisper–shout nearly blew out my eardrum. “That gorgeous man I just messaged you about? He just went into YOUR private room! Is that–is that your mystery benefactor? Mr. Sterling?”
I glanced at Damien, who had taken a seat but was watching me with those perceptive eyes. “Yes,” I answered simply.
“Holy shit! Why didn’t you tell me he looked like THAT?” Victoria demanded. “I thought you said he was an older businessman! This man is like… he’s like a god walking among mortals!”
“I need to go now,” I said quickly. “We’ll talk later”
“You better call me the SECOND you’re done!” Victoria insisted. “I want every detail!”
I ended the call, my cheeks warming under Damien’s curious gaze. “Sorry about that. My friend Victoria–she, um, she was just checking in.”
A hint of amusement played at his lips. “Was that the same Victoria Leighton who was staring at me rather intensely in the main dining room?”
I groaned internally. Of course he’d noticed. “Probably. She’s… enthusiastic.
“I gathered that, he said, his smile widening slightly. “Especially given the barrage of messages I can see lighting up your phone even now.
I glanced down to see my phone indeed buzzing repeatedly with new texts from Victoria:
“OMG HAZEL WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL ME???”
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“HE’S BREATHTAKING!”
“IS THIS WHY YOU’VE BEEN SO MYSTERIOUS?”
“CALL ME THE SECOND HE LEAVES!”
“How did you even MEET him???”
“The entire restaurant is buzzing about who he is!”
I quickly flipped my phone over, mortified. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“Don’t be,” Damien said smoothly. “I’m flattered that your friend thinks I’m… what was it?
‘Divine‘?”
So he’d heard Victoria’s voice message. Great. My embarrassment must have shown because his expression softened.
“Shall we order?” he suggested, kindly changing the subject.
As we discussed the menu and I recommended some of The Imperial Garden’s specialties, my phone continued to vibrate against the table. Eventually, I turned it off completely.
“Victoria seems very invested in our dinner,” Damien commented as I put my phone away.
“She’s my best friend,” I explained. “And she’s naturally curious about… well, about you.”
“Me specifically, or your relationship with me?” he asked, his gaze holding mine.
The directness of his question caught me off guard. “Both, I suppose. I haven’t told her much about… our arrangement.”
“And what exactly would you call our arrangement, Hazel?” His voice had dropped lower, more
intimate.
I hesitated, suddenly unsure how to categorize whatever was developing between us. A server’s timely entrance spared me from answering immediately as they took our order and poured
wine.
After they departed, Damien leaned forward slightly. “You never answered my question.”
My phone suddenly lit up again with a message that somehow broke through even though I’d turned it off–a special emergency override Victoria had insisted on programming into my phone. The message flashed briefly before the screen went dark again:
“Hazel Ashworth, you’re not a good friend! You saw such a gorgeous man at the Sterling estate and didn’t tell me a word! And he’s so good to you! What’s going on between you two?”
Damien glanced at the message and then back at me, one eyebrow raised in question, waiting for my answer with that same enigmatic half–smile that made my heart race.
What exactly was going on between us? I suddenly realized I had no idea how to define it–but
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as his dark eyes held mine across the table, I knew I needed to figure it out, and soon.
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