Chapter 4: Kissed by a stranger

Derek was driving home from a late business meeting that particular night.

Usually he would let Jeremy drive him instead. Most times, he would go with a large convoy with lots of security following ahead and behind.

But on this particular night, he decided to drive alone. He took the less classy car so he wouldn't draw attention to himself. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts.

Painful memories plagued him, memories from the past. Memories he had succeeded in blocking out.

There was a reason why women were off-limits, why he didn't have one by his side. His heart had been shattered once, by his very first love, a woman he had loved wholeheartedly.

Years ago before he inherited his father's chain of companies, his fiancée had ripped out his heart and destroyed it, turning him into a cold hearted man with zero feelings.

He tried not to think about that day he gave up on love, but someone had mentioned her name at the meeting earlier and all his memories came cascading back.

He didn't love her anymore. All he felt for her was hate, an extreme hate that threatened to consume him.

A car sped past, its headlights bright and glaring. Derek ducked quickly, shielding his face. Driving that late and all alone without a single bodyguard was a very big risk.

He stretched his hand to the back seat and grabbed a facecap which he quickly put on and pulled the brim low over his forehead.

In the split second it took for him to look away from the road, a woman dashed out from the side of an alley, right into the front of his car.

"FUCK!" He yelled and slammed hard on the brakes. He twisted the wheel and the car swerved to the right, then to the left, before coming to a halt just inches away from the woman.

He was about to get out of the car when she hurried over to the other side and yanked the door open.

"Woman are you insane?" Derek yelled out furiously.

She turned and faced him, and he received another shock. It was the same woman he saved some days ago, the one who collapsed in front of his car.

"You?"

Why did fate keep throwing her towards him in unlikely situations?

But Camilla looked terrified and she kept glancing behind the car. She didn't even recognize him.

"Please you have to help me." She cried. "A gang of robbers attacked me in the alley and tried to assault me."

"What?"

"I managed to escape but they're after me. They took my stuff. Please I'm begging you, help me." She pleaded frantically.

Derek didn't waste another second. He floored the pedal and the car zoomed off. Camilla kept looking behind her, making sure they weren't being followed. There was a bloody cut on her lip and a thin trail of blood trickled down the side of her head.

"You're hurt." Derek observed, keeping his eyes on the road.

"One of them hit me when I tried to fight back." Camilla replied, keeping her eyes on the cars behind them.

"You can stop looking behind you. You're safe now."

Camilla let out a deep sigh and leaned against the side of the door. Her hands were trembling violently and she was finding it difficult to hold her tears.

Derek silently handed her a napkin and she whispered a 'thank you' before wiping the blood on her lip and her head. Then she dabbed at the tears that spilled down her cheeks.

"You know, you shouldn't be walking all alone at night, in quiet alleys." He said after a while. "The streets of New York can be dangerous, especially for a woman like you."

Camilla remained silent and just kept staring out the window.

Derek watched her from the corner of his eyes. She was still wearing the same dress he saw on her at the hospital and her hair was matted and filled with dirt.

"Where do you stay?" He asked. "It's late and you should be home. I'll drive you there."

"I-" Camilla trailed off, thinking of another lie to tell. "You can just drop me at the intersection. I'll find my way home."

"You really shouldn't be walking on your own after what you just went through." Derek argued. "I'm not trying to find out where you live. I just want to help you."

Now that Camilla had calmed down a bit, she realized something. The stranger's voice. It sounded so familiar. Deep and smooth, with a raspy tinge.

Could it be the same man who saved her that first time?

She stole a quick glance at him, but the cap covered most of his face. She couldn't see him clearly.

"Ma'am I'm just trying to help you."

"Look, I'm grateful for your help." Camilla finally replied. "But I can't tell you where I live."

"Why? Are you afraid I would become a stalker?"

She looked at him again, wondering if he was serious or teasing her, but his eyes remained on the road.

She sighed tiredly and shook her head. "I don't have a home."

Derek glanced at her for a moment before turning back to the road. He hadn't been expecting that.

The car turned silent for another few minutes until Camilla noticed the intersection.

"If you can drop me here, I'll get out of your hair. I'm really grateful for your help."

But Derek zoomed past the intersection without stopping. He didn't know why, but he felt the need to protect this fragile woman. He couldn't leave her on the streets, homeless and alone.

"I'm not leaving you stranded." He replied her questioning look.

Camilla didn't know what to make of his reply, so she remained silent and just leaned back on the seat.

A few minutes later, the car slowed to a stop in front of a motel.

"You'll be safe here, for a few days." Derek said, breaking the silence. He didn't bother to tell her he owned the motel. She didn't have to know that.

"Thank you... but I don't have any money."

"Don't worry about that." Derek answered. "It's no business of mine, but I can't just leave you back on the street. I'll give you some money to help you find your feet until you get an apartment."

Camilla was beyond grateful and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "No one has offered me help in a long time. Thank you so much mister..."

"Jeremy." Derek said, using his assistant's name.

"Mr Jeremy, I'm really grateful for your help. This is the second time a total stranger is helping me out."

"What's your name?" Derek asked suddenly.

"Camilla Rosenberg."

"Miss Rosenberg, stay safe."

Camilla nodded and got down from the car. Derek got down from the driver's side, making sure the cap obscured his face perfectly.

He handed her a thick wad of dollar bills and stepped back.

"I hope this is enough."

"Mr Jeremy, it's more than enough. I'm extremely grateful for your help. I hope I can repay you someday."

Derek let out a small smile and nodded. Just then, a group of people coming from the side caught his attention. He turned slightly and his eyes widened when he recognized them.

It was Jeremy his assistant, and a few of the workers in one of his company. What were they doing there?

He couldn't let them see him. They would recognize him immediately and misunderstand the whole thing. Imagine their boss taking some hobo to the motel. And before anyone knew it, it would be all over the media.

He had to do something. Without thinking, he grabbed Camilla and pulled her against him.

Before she could protest, he leaned down and closed his lips over hers in a hot kiss.