CHAPTER 4

"I don't believe what you're telling me dude," Chase announced. His eyes staring at Damon the whole time. "Do you mean to tell me that you, Antonio Damon Sinn, the cousin I've known for ages took a drunk girl to a hotel and even slept on the same bed with her? No! That's too hard to process" Chase Cackled.

They were in Damon's house. After Chase picked him up from the hotel, Damon wouldn't tell him what he was doing at the hotel until they got to his house and after telling him what happened, Chase stare at him like he had lost his senses.

Moving over to the mini wine bar situated at the corner of the dinning room, Damon took out a bottle of wine and headed back to the sitting room.

"I don't expect you to believe. It's too hard for me to process also. I didn't even see her face properly" Damon slumped on the couch, his hands massaging his neck. 

"Wait, you aren't pulling my legs? Ofcourse you don't joke around" Chase realized and immediately dropped the wine he was about to pour for himself. "You really were with a lady huh? He jerked up, his mouth stretching into a wide smile. Wow! Incredible!"

"Nothing is incredible about that Chase. Don't overreact, Nothing happened between us." Damon interrupted.

"Nothing needs to happen between you both for me to be excited. Do you realize what you've just told me bro? That you were with a lady and you slept on the same bed with her without getting irritated. You were comfortable and you allowed her sleep on top of you..." Chase paused imagining how the scene would look like. He gasped.

"Not to mention, you carried her in your arms and took her to your car and then you pecked her cheeks! Damn! This is too much of a good news" Chase muttered. 

He was overwhelmed with joy. The Damon he know hated the contact of ladies. He doesn't stay in the same space with them except for work. 

Chase doesn't even remember the last time his friend and cousin touched a lady not to talk of kissing and carrying her in his arms. No this lady must be a superhero" nothing would make him believe otherwise.

"Don't exaggerate Chase. She was drunk. You don't expect me to leave her there at the club do you?" Damon tried putting his friend and cousin in check but he couldn't.

"I am not exaggerating my dear cousin. When did you start having compassion over drunk ladies?"

"By the way, what's the name of this drunk lady that manages to hold you down" chase asked.

"I don't know... I didn't ask her" Damon muttered.

"So how do you intend to find her or won't you?"

I don't... I don't feel anything for her Chase. I just didn't want leave her there" Damon muttered and stood up.

"What? I know you will man. It's written all over you. I know the feelings".

"You can stay here and get imaginary scenes into your head, I'm leaving".

"To where? To find her?" Chase teased also getting up.

"In your dreams. I'm going to work. Damon answered and headed to the staircase.

"What a boring man" Chase yelled, relaxing back to enjoy his drink.

Meanwhile a woman tiptoed out from a corner which she was hiding and left the house smiling from ear to ear.

********

Ria dragged her tired self down the street with her box which she had collected from the security man. Her eyes wandered around in lost.

Her head threatened to split into two. She has no idea of her next destination. She's just walking without hope.

She found a closed store and luckily, there was a chair at the corner of the store. Climbing up the few staircase that lead to the store, Ria dropped her box and slumped on the chair.

Her stomach churned, reminding her she hasn't eaten since yesterday. Remembering the chips she bought at the entrance of James apartment before she was met with the shock of her life. Ria dipped her hand into the back of her suitcase and brought out the chips. It would be enough to silence the worms in her stomach for a while.

Her mind travelled back to the event of yesterday. From the happy and sad moment to the crazy moment with the stranger. She wonder what he thinks of her. Maybe a psychopath.

She had never taken alcohol before until last night but she knew how people acts when drunk. Ann had once gotten drunk and Ria knew what she and Sam went through trying to get her sane.

"Sam... Ann!" Oh shoot!" Her family. She didn't call them to inform them she arrived safely and they must be drained with worry.

Ria searched for her phone and finally found it, switched it on and quickly dialed Sam's number. He picked immediately and Ria knew he had been waiting anxiously. 

How could she allow James mess with her mind to the extent she forgot how worried her family would be.

"Ria why wasn't your number reachable?" Sam's worried voice call out. It rang all through yesterday but you didn't pick and then it was switched off earlier morning".

"I'm sorry Sam. I know you all must have been worried. A lot has happened and I'm sorry I forgot to call".

"What do you mean by a lot has happened? Are you okay? Did something happen to you?" Sam's voice echoed. "What happened to my daughter... Is sister alright brother Sam?" She heard her mother and sister's worried tone at the background.

No, she shouldn't tell them she's walking around the street of New York homeless. She can't bring herself to get them worked up. This is her cross and she has to carry it afterall, she was the one who wanted to move to New York without any backup plans.

Her mother had no idea she had a boyfriend and she certainly doesn't want Sam knowing his fears came through.

"Ria?" Sam's voice called, dragging her out from her scattered thought.

"Nothing happened Sam. It was just the flight. You know it's my first time and I got a little sick from it but I'm okay now" Ria lied. 

"Hmm?" Are you sure that is the problem Ria?" Sam asked.

She knew Sam wouldn't buy that. He could tell when she's telling a lie but she had to and must keep the truth from him. Atleast not now.

Maybe sometime later when he isn't with their mother. The poor woman has a weak heart and she could collapse if she finds out.

"Yes. I am very much okay now. I need to go Sam, I still have a lot of unboxing to do. Kiss mum for me and send my regards to Ann. I know she must be worried sick"

"Okay I will. Take care of yourself and call me if you're in any sort of trouble" Sam muttered and ended the call.

Ria wiped off the drop of tear that trickled down her eyes. She shouldn't cry. Tears doesn't solve a problem.

******

A woman dressed in a luxurious gown walked into Sapphire suite. A glance at her would tell you she's rich and powerful. Her stiletto clicked as she catwalked to the reception.

"Good day ma'am" the young man at the counter greeted the woman. He wondered what she was doing at their hotel. Her type doesn't patronize the hotel as it isn't a five star hotel. 

Looking closely at her, he found out she was none other than Lady Lizbeth Sinn. The mother of the almighty Billionaire Antonio Damon Sinn of the fashion world.

His throat dried out in fear. "What can i...I do for...you ma'am" he stuttered, his hands shaking out of fear

Lady Lizbeth was no one to mess with. She commands power and tramples on anyone that gets in her way. It was normal for the receptionist to fear her. They had to fear her.

"My son was seen here with a girl last night. I want the footage of their entrance".

"Yes ma'am, I will get it immediately" The receptionist bowed and quickly placed a call.

 Lady Lizbeth glanced around the hotel and shook her head. What a dirty place. She couldn't believe her son left all the nice hotels and came to a place like this. 

Crunching her nose, she walked out of the hotel leaving her guard to pick up the footage.

Lady Lizbeth peered into the screen. It was really true. Her son was carrying a lady who looked drunk on his arms. Her hands were clamped tightly to his neck. Her face was barely visible. It was hidden between Damon's chest.

Lady Lizbeth stared at the footage in front of her. Her eyes beginning to water.

Damon was really holding a girl. Her son was holding a girl and he wasn't irritated. He was holding her like an egg that would break if mishandled.

She swiped to the next photo and there it was. Her face was showing. Lady Lizbeth could barely contain her happiness.

She had earlier gone to Damon's house to force him to another date. She had been on a war with her son. She kept on arranging dates for him but he turned all down without showing. When he agrees to show up at some, he says horrible things to the girls.

Lady Lizbeth was fed up. Damon would be turning thirty three soon and as her only son, She wanted him to get married and have an heir. He wasn't getting younger and knowing how her husband, Damon's father acts, Lady Liz was scared her son would lose all his inheritance to his younger step brother.

She recently found out her husband had an affair few years after their marriage and had a son with another woman. Though Damon doesn't know about it, Lady Lizbeth knew her husband's mistress would try to manipulate him into giving out her son's inheritance to his illegitimate son. 

Lady Lizbeth needed to act. Damon has to get married and produce an heir. That would guarantee the safety of his inheritance.

Though her son feels he doesn't need his father's property as he was well to do on his own. Lady Lizbeth would never be alive to see her husband's wealth go to a stranger.

On getting to Damon's house and hearing the conversation between Chase and Damon, lady Lizbeth was filled with joy. She would find this lady that her son wasn't irritated by and she would get her to marry him.