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Danielle's POV

I woke up feeling the absolute worst this morning. My hair was all scattered, looking like an angry bird's nest and I had a funny taste in my mouth that made me feel nauseous.

Letting out a groan, I pushed myself up from my bed, rushing to the bathroom to puke out the contents of my stomach... violently, if I may add. After I was done, I leaned back on the wall to catch my breath and that was when the unpleasant memories of last night began to invade my mind.

I remembered how they laughed at my humiliation and whispered to each other. I remembered Jordan and how he also referred to me as a "dirty, little stripper". I should have known something was off when he first asked me out. It took him three years to finally take note of my existence, and I was blinded by my attraction to him.

I gave my first kiss to him, only for a stupid bet? My father was right about me being stupid after all. How did I ever think he'd date someone like me?

I felt my tears threatening to fall, but I held it back this time, feeling like I'd had enough of the self-pity. I had to go prepare Oliver for school.

I instantly jerked up at the thought of my little brother. Looking at my wall clock, I realized we were already running late and, at this rate, we wouldn't be catching a bus on time. The sound of kitchen utensils suddenly attacked my ears, making me storm out of my room to be met with the most surprising sight.

Oliver, my little brother, was all dressed up, helping himself to some tea and sandwiches. Alarmed, I ran over to take the hot tea-pot from him.

"What do you think you're doing, Mr.?" I scolded, gently pushing him onto a chair.

"I'm making breakfast." He shrugged, making me raise an eyebrow at him.

"I figured you'd be too tired to do that this morning and I decided not to bother you." He explained, as I poured out some tea for him.

I bent down to his level, patting his head fondly and smiling at him. Oliver was growing up to be a smart, considerate, young man and it warmed my heart.

"I'll never be too tired to take care of my little nugget," I said to him.

"Didn't seem like that last night." He muttered, rolling his eyes and causing me to frown. What was he talking about?

"What was that?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me.

He let out a sigh, before answering my question.

"Well, I didn't stay at Stacy's place all night. I later returned to find you crying your eyes out in your room." He said, making my eyes widen.

" I tried to ask you what was wrong, but you just kept crying and crying. You asked me to leave you alone." 

"I... did?" I managed to ask, earning a nod of agreement from him. I couldn't believe he saw me in that state.

"Yup...and you kept calling yourself stupid." He rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Alright... that's enough. We have to get you to school." I suddenly said, hurrying to pack up his backpack and lunchbox.

"Aren't you going to school too?" He asked, making me pause for a second before answering him.

"Um... listen, I'm not feeling too well today." I tried to explain, while he just squinted his little eyes at me. 

I wasn't about to tell him the whole reason I was avoiding school today. Matter of fact, I might be avoiding it for the whole of this week, as I just wasn't ready to face Jordan and his friends yet.

"Riiight!" He drawled, before jumping off his chair and taking his plate to the sink. I just shook my head at him.

Soon enough, I was dragging him along to his school, which happened to be surprisingly easy this morning. I walked back home, covering my head with a hoodie and avoiding eye contact with people passing by.

Stepping into my apartment, I let out a sigh before heading towards the kitchen to make myself something to eat. I knew my savings were slowly running out and sooner or later, I'd need to get myself a decent job... even if it doesn't pay as well as stripping.

A gasp left my lips, as my eyes suddenly met with the same pair of icy, blue eyes from that night. He was right there in my apartment, smirking at the expression on my face.

"Gotta say, carino! You've got a really nice place." He said, his arms folded behind him, as he casually walked around. I was literally dumbfounded.

"Friendly neighborhood too." He continued, running his hands over some of my family portraits.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed out, feeling fear and anger creep up inside me. How the hell did he get in here?

He looked down at my curled up fist, before raising an eyebrow and scoffing at me.

"I could also ask the same," he replied, without so much as an ounce of concern.

"Excuse me? You're in..." 

"Invading your privacy? You're supposed to be in school, no?" He clicked his tongue at me, shutting me up.

"I'll take it, yesterday's date didn't really go well?" He asked, finally making himself comfortable on the sofa and looking up at me.

He was clad in a suit that looked like it could cost more than my whole existence. I swallowed thickly, looking away from his steely gaze and wondering how he got to know about what happened last night.

"You've been stalking me?" I asked, feeling a surge of anger flowing through me again. He said nothing.

"You have no right to do that." I yelled, taking threatening steps towards him, while he just regarded me calmly.

Beads of sweat were running down my face and my breathing was uneven, as I glared daggers at him. 

"Are you done?" He suddenly asked nonchalantly, making me even more furious. Who the hell does he think he is, walking into my house and getting all comfortable?

"Get out!" I spat.

"Get out before I call the cops on you."

He just scoffed at my words, before standing up from the sofa and taking slow steps towards me. I felt my anger slowly getting replaced by fear. This man was clearly a Daredevil in a suit. 

"Danielle Owens." He drawled, making my eyes widen in shock. He knew my name?

"24 years old, studying business administration at Bayard College." He continued, taking more steps towards and making me back away.

"Lives with a drunk father who beats her to a pulp and collects whatever she earns, so many bills and debts on her neck, it's frankly embarrassing." He continued with a grimace, his eyes never leaving mine.

At this point, I was already backed up against the wall with no more room for movement. My heart was beating really fast and my imaginations were running wild. How does this total stranger know so much about me? Who the hell does he think he is to go digging into my personal life?

"I can help you." He suddenly said with a small smile.

"I can settle all your debts and pay every single bill."

"I can protect you and your little brother from your deadbeat of a father," He said, making me frown in bewilderment.

"I can make your little boyfriend pay for the humiliation of last night. I can make them all regret treating you like you're nothing."

"And why would you do that?" I blurted out, before I could stop myself.

"Why, that's a good question now." He smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief.

His hands were suddenly wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me close enough for me to smell his cologne. The more I looked into his eyes, the more I realized just how dangerously dashing he really is.

"I want you to be mine, Danielle."