Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Damien
What the fuck was with these people, and their paying it forward?
I couldn’t believe this woman. The nerve of her. Who the hell did she think she was?
“Sharlene, it’s okay,” London spoke as she placed her hand on her arm. “I’ll be okay. This is just a little setback, nothing I can’t figure out. Trust me. This is nothing compared to what I’ve been through.”
London gave her one last hug and started heading toward the elevator. I followed behind.
“Where are you going to go?” I asked.
“I don’t know yet. When I get to the lobby, I’ll look up some hotels on my phone.”
We reached the lobby, and she took a seat in one of the chairs and started typing away on her phone.
“I guess I’m going to go. Good luck with everything,” I spoke.
“Thank you. I appreciate it.” She softly smiled at me.
I took in a deep breath, tucked my hands in my pants pockets, and walked out of the building. While I stood at the curb and signaled for a cab, I couldn’t stop this gnawing feeling inside me. I didn’t need this.
I remember what she said to Sharlene about how this was nothing compared to what she’d been through. I had no idea what that meant, and I didn’t want to know. In fact, I wanted to wash my hands of London Everly. A cab pulled up to the curb, and I climbed inside.
“Where to, buddy?” the driver asked.
I sat there for a moment and didn’t answer him.
“Hey, buddy? Are we gonna sit here all day?”
Fuck.
“Stay right here. I’ll be right back,” I firmly spoke.
I climbed out of the cab, walked back inside London’s apartment building, and grabbed her suitcase.
“Come on, let’s go,” I said as I walked away.
“Wait. What are you doing? Where are we going?”
“Back to my place. You’re going to stay with me until you find another Airbnb.”
“No, Damien. You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t. But you did do me a favor last night, and this is the least I can do. Just get in the cab, London.” I threw her large suitcase in the trunk and climbed in next to her. “829 Park Avenue,” I spoke to the cab driver.
“You didn’t even ask me if I wanted to stay at your place,” she spoke. “You just grabbed my suitcase and walked away like the rude person you are. I know you’re not doing this out of the goodness of your heart because, to be honest, I’m not really sure there’s a lot of good in you.”
“Oh snap.” The cab driver laughed.
I narrowed my eye at her.
“Don’t look at me like that, Mr. Prescott.”
“Again, who the hell do you think you are talking to me that way?”
“A woman who doesn’t drop to her knees when you snap your fingers.” She arched her brow.
“Wow. Did you really just say that?”
“I did, and I’ll say it again if I have to. I don’t understand why you can’t leave me alone. It’s obvious you don’t like me and trust me. I’m fine with that because I don’t like you very much either.”
“Is that so?” I asked.
“Yeah. It is so.”
“I’m giving you a place to temporarily stay so you don’t have to sleep in some cheap fuck of a hotel in an unsafe city, and you’re being very ungrateful.”
“Oh, so now you think you’re my knight in shining armor, rescuing the poor damsel in distress?”
“I’m nobody’s knight in shining armor, London, and I never will be.” I turned and looked out the window. “I’m done arguing with you. You’re staying at my place and will appreciate what I’m doing for you.”
The cab driver pulled up to my building. I slid my credit card through and handed him a nice cash tip.
“This is for having to listen to all of that,” I spoke.
“Thanks, buddy. You two are like a freaking soap opera.” He laughed.
I sighed as I climbed out of the cab and took London’s suitcase from the trunk. As we walked into the building, she stopped and talked to Sammy, the doorman.
“Hi, I’m London.” She extended her hand.
“Hello, London. I’m Sammy.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Sammy. I’m going to be staying with Mr. Prescott for a couple of days, so I thought I’d introduce myself.”
“My, aren’t you a breath of fresh air.” He grinned. “The pleasure is all mine.”
“London, come on,” I spoke with irritation as the elevator doors opened.