It Hurts When It's True (Affaire de Coeur, #1)

Chapter 14: Ruined for any other girl

Damian had prevented himself from getting in touch with Maggie ever since they had last gone out for a cup of coffee. In fact, he had kept himself busy reading— and rereading — his script for the new season of his television series. Yet despite his persistence in practicing his lines, he had suddenly found himself drifting back to the time he had last been in the company of the nurse which was exactly three days ago.

They had parted ways casually as though they were just mere acquaintances who happened to have met each other accidentally while crossing the street. She had just given that practiced smile of hers, which he was finding more and more charming. Surprising even himself, he had simply waved at her in a dismissing way — quite not like him at all given how good he was at charming the female populace.

Lying lazily on his sofa, he contemplated on the development of his relationship with Maggie. He imagined her face in his head and it made him shudder to even think about doing it. The nurse was apparently plump — too curvy in all the wrong places — plus she was not physically stunning. 

Unbelievably so, it seemed that she had a power over him. That time when she insisted that he acknowledge the presence of the awful-looking fan in the street had shocked him to the core. He did not like being friendly with followers, especially when he was not working. And he did not like being told to do something he did not want to do.

But just a straightforward look from her dark eyes had instantly made him fold.

That won't do, he thought.

Reaching out for his mobile phone, he immediately scanned through his long list of lady friends. And when he found a name that he thought was absolutely familiar, he decided to tap on the call button.

"Hey, Katie," he said.

"Damian!" the woman replied ecstatically.

"Care to have a drink tonight?" 

"Absolutely! Where?"

Damian paused at that, considering a place where they would be inconspicuous. Terry would surely be aggravated if he was ever seen with a woman who was not his leading in the TV series. Knowing his manager, he would definitely get an earful if ever an unpleasant story about him would spread by the media.

"How about at Magenta?" The actor asked.

"Oh, brilliant! I'll be there at nine." The lady responded.

"Awesome."

Click.

All of a sudden, he felt some sort of nagging feeling in the back of his mind after dropping the call. He perspired coldly and chill had run up his spine which is then followed by shallow breathing. Quickly, he jumped up the couch and made his way toward the sideboard across the room.

Picking up a tumbler, he poured himself a small amount of whisky and drunk everything leaving not a single drop in the glass. He felt the burning sensation left in his throat and that at least had lessened the uneasiness that he was feeling.