Alpha Damien's Breeder: The first night
Chapter 84: Damien won’t ease Aurora’s mind

Chapter 84: Damien won’t ease Aurora’s mind

"Long time no see, Mr. Damien," a man dressed in a gray suit extended his hand for a handshake as he approached Damien, making the remark.

"Indeed, it has been a while," Damien responded politely, shaking the man’s hand with a smile.

Aurora found it rather unusual that Damien appeared neither repulsed nor indifferent towards the man he was engaging in pleasantries with. It was the first instance she had witnessed him responding courteously to someone since she had known him.

"Our stocks experienced a significant rise thanks to your brilliant strategy. I believe a collaboration is in order," the man expressed his gratitude for the successful partnership that had benefited them both.

"Absolutely, and your willingness to place trust in my judgment contributed to our favorable outcomes," Damien confidently pointed out, articulating the words as though any endeavor he undertook was destined for success.

"You are too kind!" The man exclaimed, blushing in response to Damien’s praises.

"I received a proposal from one of the individuals you recommended, but their budget seems rather untrustworthy. If you have some free time, I would appreciate your advice. It’s been a while since I have had an advisor," the man disclosed and suggested, prompting Damien to offer assistance with a deal he was encountering difficulties with.

"Consider it done, Mr. Cole. Just beware of lurking sharks," Damien replied, offering a caution that piqued Aurora’s curiosity regarding the context of the metaphor.

Was Mr. Cole involved in something related to fishing? However, given his appearance, he seemed more like a businessman. What could Damien’s reference to "sharks" imply in this scenario?

"Thank you for the guidance," Mr. Cole responded, and they both shared a knowing chuckle. As they conversed, Aurora got bored, but she refrained from leaving due to the authoritative presence of the man beside her.

Shifting her gaze to the assembled crowd in the hall, she observed the warm greetings exchanged among some individuals and the expressions of disdain on others’ faces.

Her eyes then settled on the stage, where a huge banner bearing the words ’ALL STARS’ was prominently displayed. Given her limited interest in social media even before her parents’ passing, she remained largely unfamiliar with celebrities and events like this. Except for going to ballet shows, and accompanying her parents to some business events, she never indulged in being socially inclined.

"I am convinced she will secure the award for best actress," a group of women standing nearby engaged in a gossip that captured Aurora’s attention. So, the event was the "All Stars" award ceremony?

"She’s a hypocrite, hardly deserving of the title. Suzy would be a more suitable choice," one of them opined.

"Why do you say that? Suzy went to great lengths, even sleeping around with men to land roles. Lola is the rightful contender," they continued their discussion, exhibiting differing opinions about two actresses.

Aurora had never been one to indulge in or appreciate gossip, yet she found herself surprisingly intrigued by their conversation.

"You are only defending her because she helped your failing cosmetics business," a woman mocked, the one advocating for Suzy, relaying her statement with an exaggerated eye roll that clearly irked the latter.

"What? You audacious wench! Wasn’t it Suzy who boosted your late husband’s career? Who knows, she might even be involved with your husband," the targeted woman retaliated, publicly shaming the other woman’s husband and igniting a heated argument.

"How dare you speak of my husband in such a manner? You despicable hag!" The accused woman unleashed a fit of curses, leading to a confrontation that garnered the attention of onlookers.

"You initiated this," the first lady refused to back down.

"You witch!" The second woman hurled insults and grabbed the first by her hair, inciting a physical combat.

"Let go of me!"

"I will teach you a lesson!"

"Your child should be ashamed of having you as a mother!"

The verbal speech, hair-pulling, and tugging continued as neither party seemed willing to relent.

"They are like oil and water, unable to coexist yet constantly at odds over trivial matters," a woman within the observing group commented with a sigh, accustomed to witnessing their bickering.

"Shameless women," a passerby spat in disgust, casting disdainful glances at the brawling women.

Two security personnel intervened, attempting to separate the fighters, only to become entangled in the conflict themselves and inadvertently exchanging blows while struggling to restore order.

"Leave them be, they never seem to tire of it!" Someone shouted, advising the security guards to retreat from the scene to avoid further physical confrontation with the combative women.

Aurora’s anxiety grew as she witnessed the spectacle of two beautiful women engaged in a heated fight. Worriedly biting her fingernails, she feared that if their confrontation continued unchecked, it might escalate into a significant disaster.

In contrast, Damien appeared utterly bored, sipping from his glass at intervals, displaying an air of indifference toward the shameless altercation occurring at a public event.

"Do you think you would fight another woman over me?" Damien asked, suddenly moving closer to Aurora with a playful grin, as if teasing her.

"What? Why on earth would I do that? That’s absurd," she quickly countered, shaking her head at the mere suggestion. The idea of publicly disgracing herself for a man, especially someone like Damien, seemed utterly preposterous.

"Why is it absurd? Would you watch someone steal your partner away without taking action?" He continued his playful teasing.

At the mention of "stealing a partner," she thought of the woman Lucas had chosen over her. Recalling how calmly she had accepted his rejection and refrained from fighting for his affections, she questioned whether her approach had been correct.

Furthermore, she pondered the futility of fighting for someone who had already rejected her based on false accusations.

"I don’t have a partner to fight for," she responded, avoiding direct eye contact with Damien.

"Sure you don’t. But, if you did, what would you do?" Damien asked with dramatic flair.

"I’d let him choose, and if he chose her, I’d step aside," she replied, her expression betraying none of the words she uttered. Her response confirmed Damien’s suspicions about her past experiences.

"Everyone, the event is about to begin. We need your attention!" Just as Damien was about to delve deeper into the conversation, an event host called for everyone’s focus.

The two women who had been fighting managed to extricate themselves from their altercation and were leaving the hall.

"Should we follow them?" One woman from the group asked, concern evident in her voice.

"They will be alright," another dismissed the idea, facing the event host as they prepared to start.

The ceremony commenced, and numerous celebrities were honored with awards. Companies that had contributed to movie production were also recognized.

"CEO Silver Damien, Best Company Sponsor of the Year!" Just as Aurora was contemplating whether Damien would receive an award, his name was called, and suddenly all eyes turned towards them.

"No!" Aurora protested as Damien seized her wrist and started leading her toward the stage.

"Is he bringing her up there?"

"It looks like he’s infatuated with her."

Whispers and murmurs spread as they made their way to the stage.

"What are you doing?" Aurora managed to whisper, attempting to hide behind Damien as they ascended the small set of stairs, avoiding the curious stares.

"Bringing my girlfriend on stage," he replied nonchalantly, as if it were the most natural thing, ascending the stairs with her.

"Congratulations again, Mr. Damien," the woman presenting the award purred, flashing a seductive smile.

As she extended the award, she attempted to touch Damien’s wrist, but he deftly avoided her touch, dismissing her with a gesture related to swatting away a nuisance.

A pang of sympathy hit Aurora, but she could only empathize internally, as she herself was subject to Damien’s rebuke.

"I dedicate this award to my girlfriend and myself. Our combined efforts have led to this achievement, and we eagerly anticipate expanding our legacy by welcoming our future child," Damien’s speech resonated clearly through the hall, surprising the audience with his mention of a child.

"Is their relationship truly that solid?" Curiosity swept through the room, and individuals who hadn’t previously taken note of Aurora were now scrutinizing her with newfound seriousness.

As seconds ticked away on the stage, Aurora’s heart raced, and nervousness set in. Damien was engaged to someone else, yet he was publicly proclaiming intentions to have a child with his apparent mistress.

This situation could be dangerous, potentially ruining her efforts to gain the affection of Laura and Sarah.

"My girlfriend and I will be announcing our engagement soon," Damien added, stunning the crowd even further.

Aurora recognized that her predicament was now dire, so she released a resigned sigh and allowed Damien to rattle on.

"Thank you," Damien finally concluded and promptly left the stage, urging Aurora to follow suit.

"Congratulations on your impending marriage!" Well-wishers greeted them as they returned to their spot.

Offering a bitter smile, Aurora acknowledged their greetings and followed in Damien’s footsteps.

"Why did you lie to the public? There was no part in the contract requiring a fake marriage," she inquired once the crowd’s attention began to wane, her frustration palpable.

"As I mentioned, you are mine for the duration of the contract," he responded with an air of finality.