Faking it with Damian Black by Louise Jane

Chapter 40

-MILLIE-

“You sure I can’t convince you to stay?” As I walked Gian to the door. I toyed with

the ring on my forefinger. Andrea and Candice decided to stay the night, both

already snoring in the guest room where I left them. “We have plenty of room in

the house, you know,

“As much as I miss your cooking. I have to finish a few paperwork before

enjoying my vacation here in Roslin City,” Gian explained, facingwhen we

reached the entry. “We only dropped my luggage in the hotel,” he chuckled.

“Then those t kidnappedto go grocery shopping for this surprise party”

I giggled. “They knew you have the tendency to go off the grid. I landed a playful

punch on his shoulder.

“Aw,” Gian pouted. “I was working.”

“Working on what?” 1 folded my arms in my middle. Before he went hto

Italy two years ago, Gian Molina was an open book toat least. Then I started

to feel this wall slowly springing up between our friendship. I noticed his out-of-

town trips becfrequent. He never called or even toldwhen he’d come

back. That was unusual for him since he toldeverything. I waited for him to

open up to me, but that didn’t happen. The next thing I knew, he resigned from

work and focused on their family business,

From what I know, his family owns an import and export business in Italy.

“You don’t tellthings anymore,” I said with furrowed brows.

Gian stared down at me, all humor leaving his eyes as they darkened. “I don’t

tell you things because I can handle my own shi t, Millicent

I paused, surprised by this quick shift in his mood.

“You, on the other hand, obviously can’t.”

“Hey-

He shook his head, cutting off my protest. “Tellwhat happened.”

I feared he’d askthat, but I cannot lie to Gian, just like with Candice. Our

friendship goes deeper than that. And I knew, at spoint, he’d tellwhat’s

going on with him when he’s ready. He went back to the US for me, and that was

a big thing. The least I could do was tell him the truth. “About the assault?”

He nodded. I took a deep breath and told him what had happened from the

hotel to my parent’s place as precisely as 1 could. Talking to Hunter was easier

than telling Gian the truth, because I knew he’d be furious.

Eyes blazing with anger, he spit out a string of curses in Italian. He stepped out

the door and paced back and forth on the threshold, hands balling on his side.

“Why the f uck didn’t you call me?”

Even off the grid, Gian always replied to my emails and text messages, and he

specifically toldto call him if I ever needed anything.

“I didn’t want to bother you.” I dropped my gaze at my red toenails. I couldn’t

look him in the eyes because he would see through my lies. Calling him didn’t

cross my mind because Damian was there for both assaults on me. Damian

madefeel safe. He was everything I needed and more

“Bother me?” he huffed. “You were never a bother to me, Millicent. I’d take the

first fiight to the US if you calledthe first tthis happened. I had to learn

from Candice that you were attacked, for f uck’s sake!”

“Gian, I’m fine. Damian was there-”

“That’s another thing. You were so f ucking in love with Hunter. I don’t believe

this s hit you’re tellingabout you and Damian. You were about to marry that

stronzo!”

Sat, Feb 10

Chapter 40

S hit. I knew he didn’t buy my story. But I cannot tell him about our agreement.

He’d go crazy mad if I did.

“It just happened. Gian.”

“Don’t givethat cr ap. Is he threatening you as well? Do you wantto deal

with him?”

I shook my head vigorously. “No! Damian is the good guy here.”

“How is he the good guy?” he pressed. “As far as I know, Damian couldn’t even

keep a relationship, even if his life depended on it. That’s how Candice

described him in highschool”

My heart was drumming in my cars, anger bubbling in my chest. His attack on

Damian makeswant to throw a punch in his face. “People change, and you

don’t get to judge him when you don’t even know him, Gian. That’s out of line.”

He blew a harsh breath, raking a hand through his messy, dark hair. “And now

she’s defending him. You can’t blme for doubting this perfect relationship

you’re blabbering about, Millicent. You were head over heels in love with

Hunter.”

“That’s enough. Gian. I think it’s best if you should leave.”

“Really? You’re throwingout?”

–

“Nah, Millicent. What is it. huh? Is he a rebound? This is

isn’t you. You don’t need a man to make you forget that b astard ex of

yours-

Damian is helping me, okay?” This conversation was quickly getting out of hand.

“Helping you? With what?”

“He’s helpingsave my name, Gian!” I said, ch*st heaving like I ran a

marathon. “That’s all I have left after what they’d done to me, okay? I lost my

fiance to a friend living under my roof. They made a fool out of me. Then Natalie

nameda fraud.

Gian stood frozen before me, his dark eyes regardinglike the old Gian I met

in college, without judgment. He’s ready to listen.

I wiped the tears that rolled down my cheeks harshly and pinned Gian with a

determined gaze.

up at the

“That night, I drank myself to oblivion so I could forget what Hunter and Natalie

did to me. I still had to show f ucking reunion like everything was fine. Seeing

Natalie there wasn’t the worst part, Gian. It’s the fact that she’s wearing my

engagement ring hours after I found them f ucking!”

“That f ucking b astard…”

“Then I saw Damian there. Everything started because of me, Gian. Damian

didn’t need to pretend to be in love with me, but he did. He didn’t need to help