Chapter 1 Strangers in the Night
“Excuse me, that’s my cab!”
Lila De Laurent slammed the door shut, glaring at the audacious man attempting to steal her ride. It had been a disastrous evening. Between a failed charity gala where no one cared about her cause and an unfortunate run-in with her ex-fiancé, all she wanted was to escape to her penthouse and let the night disappear behind her.
“Your cab? I was here first, kardia mou,” the stranger retorted smoothly, his thick Greek accent laced with an infuriating calm.
Lila’s jaw clenched. “Listen, Mr. Greece, this isn’t Santorini. We queue for cabs here in Monaco.”
The man’s dark eyes gleamed with equal parts amusement and challenge. He adjusted his suit jacket, a man clearly accustomed to getting his way. But Lila wasn’t just anyone. She was the daughter of Elias De Laurent, one of the most powerful patriarch men in Monaco.
“You’re quite charming when you’re angry, kopela mou,” he said with a faint smirk. “Fine, take the cab. But as you can see” he gestured to the rain pounding against the pavement. “it’s pouring, and I’m stranded. Let me share it.”
“Not a chance.” She climbed into the cab, slamming the door behind her.
Before she could revel in victory, the driver interjected, his tone apologetic. “Sorry, ma’am, but this cab was booked by him.”
Lila whipped her head toward the stranger, her irritation palpable. “You booked it?”
He leaned against the window with an infuriating grin. “What can I say? I like to be prepared.”
Her pride bristled, but the rain was already soaking through her dress, and the driver’s weary expression told her he wasn’t taking sides. With a reluctant groan, she scooted over. “Fine. Get in before I change my mind.”
The cab pulled away from the curb, navigating the slick streets. Lila folded her arms, staring out the window as the rain intensified. The silence between them was as heavy as the storm outside.
Fifteen minutes into the drive, the car jolted as it hit a deep puddle. The driver slowed and muttered a curse in French.
“What now?” Lila asked, exasperated.
The driver turned his face to a mask of concern. “The rain is getting worse, mademoiselle. The streets ahead are flooding, and it’s no longer safe to drive to your destinations. I can’t take you all the way.”
“What do you mean you can’t take us?” Lila’s voice rose, frustration lacing every word. “Where are we supposed to go?”
The stranger leaned forward, his tone calm and authoritative. “Take us to the hotel where I’m staying. It’s closer, and we can wait out the storm there.”
The driver nodded, relieved to have a plan. Lila, however, turned to the man with an incredulous glare.
“Absolutely not. I’m not staying anywhere with you.”
“Do you have a better option?” he countered smoothly. “Unless you plan on swimming to your home, this is the safest choice. Just one night, kardia mou.”
She stared at him, weighing her options. The rain was relentless, and the driver clearly wasn’t going to risk further travel. With a resigned sigh, she muttered, “Fine. One night.”
By the time they arrived at the hotel, the rain had escalated into a full-blown monsoon. Lila stepped into the grand marble lobby, her mood as dark as the storm outside. She moved swiftly to the concierge desk, eager to put distance between herself and the stranger.
“I’ll get my own room,” she announced, tossing her damp hair over her shoulder.
“About that,” the man drawled as he appeared beside her, his smirk firmly in place, “there’s a small issue.”
Lila turned to him, her patience fraying. “What issue?”
The concierge, a nervous young man in a too-tight bow tie, spoke up. “I’m terribly sorry, madame, but due to the storm, the hotel is fully booked. The only accommodation left is a single suite, which has been double-booked.”
“Double-booked?” Lila echoed, her voice sharp.
The stranger’s grin widened. “Looks like we’re roommates, kardia mou.”
Her glare could’ve melted steel. “Over my dead body.”
_
Forty minutes later, Lila was pacing the lavish hotel suite, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She shot daggers at the man lounging on the sofa, his tie loosened and his demeanor infuriatingly relaxed.
“This is ridiculous,” she snapped. “You’re a stranger! I don’t even know your name.”
“Damien,” he said casually. “Damien Vasilis. And you are?”
“None of your business.”
Damien chuckled. “Alright, Ms. None-of-Your-Business, I’ll take the sofa. You can have the bed. Fair?”
Her eyes narrowed. “Why do I get the feeling you’re secretly plotting something?”
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “I’m many things, kopela mou, but I’m not a villain.”
Lila huffed and grabbed the room key from him. “Good. Stay away from me.” She retreated to the bedroom and slammed the door behind her.
Hours later, Lila awoke, parched and restless. She crept into the living room, her bare feet silent against the floor, only to find Damien sprawled on the sofa, his shirt unbuttoned and a half-empty bottle of champagne on the table.
“Seriously?” she muttered.
He stirred, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Couldn’t sleep,” he said, sitting up. “Want a drink?”
She hesitated, then sighed. “Fine. Just one.”
Damien poured her a glass of wine, and they sat in tense silence, the storm still howling outside.
“Why were you so desperate to get to your penthouse?” he asked casually.
“Why do you care?”
“Call it curiosity,” he said, his tone unassuming.
She sighed, the wine loosening her guardedness. “I needed to get away from my father. He’s... controlling.”
Damien nodded, his expression softening. “Fathers can be complicated.”
“And you? Why Monaco?”
“Business,” he replied vaguely, his lips quirking into a smirk. “And maybe a little pleasure.”
She rolled her eyes. “Typical playboy answer.”
“And you’re a typical woman who judges without asking,” he shot back.
Despite herself, Lila chuckled. She hated that he was funny.
By midnight, the wine had blurred the edges of their sharp banter, and they found themselves sharing stories. For the first time in a long while, Lila let her guard down.
“So, Ms. None-of-Your-Business,” Damien said, leaning closer, “what’s your real name?”
“Lila,” she admitted reluctantly.
“Lila,” he repeated, his voice low and deliberate. “A beautiful name for a beautiful woman.”
“Don’t push your luck, Vasilis,” she muttered, though her cheeks flushed.
The air between them shifted, tension crackling like the storm outside. When Damien leaned in, his dark eyes locked with hers, Lila’s breath hitched.
“May I?” he murmured.
Her heart pounded. Against her better judgment, she nodded.
The kiss was slow and deliberate, stealing the breath from her lungs. But just as her hands slid to his shoulders, Damien pulled back, his expression serious.
“We should stop,” he said, his voice hoarse.
Confused, Lila blinked. “What?”
“You’ve had a long day,” he said softly. “I don’t want to take advantage.”
For once, she was speechless.
“Goodnight, kardia mou,” Damien whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows as Lila awoke, memories of the previous night rushing back. When she emerged from the bedroom, Damien was gone, but a note on the table caught her eye:
‘Until we meet again, Lila.’
Her phone buzzed. She opened the notification, her stomach lurching.
A photo of her unique birthmark, the crescent on her left shoulder was circulating online. A reward was offered for anyone who could identify her.
Her blood ran cold. Only Damien had seen it.
“What have you done?” she whispered, clutching her phone.
The storm wasn’t over. It had only just begun.
