Chapter 35

Elara's POV

The crowd gasps, and I instantly realize I must have offended someone powerful. The wide-eyed stares around confirm it, and the man's glare alone is enough to make anyone feel like they're being sliced in half. Surprisingly, I don’t feel as scared as I expected for someone who just crossed a big shot. Not even as scared as I’d felt around Lorenzo. And now, here this man is, calling me “Ara.”

“Excuse me, sir. I am not Ara. You must be mistaking me for someone else.”

“Yes, yes, sorry.” He nods, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “My name is Damien Rossi. Nice to meet you.”

“Very nice to meet you too, sir. I’m Elara Walker.”

“Elara Walker,” he repeats, as if testing how it sounds.

“Oh, and about your shirt, sir, I’m truly sorry. It was an accident.”

“Yeah, I know it was.” He shrugs it off. "Well, do you want to take a stroll out to the yard? I know a beautiful garden around here."

“Well, it’s not like I’m doing anything here,” I reply, accepting his invitation with a small smil