Damien Doukas’ POV
“Come on, dickhead, open the fucking door!” Drake’s voice called out through the door. In response, I swigged the whole beer bottle and grimaced when I realized there wasn’t any more left.
“Come on, Damien. Let us in,” Olivia called and knocked the door gently. I simply ignored them and stood up to get another bottle. My head spun, and I gripped the table for support.
“Damien, you have to let us in. I can smell the alcohol from outside your house! And I brought reinforcements,” Olivia coaxed before yelling the last sections.
In response, I swallowed a mouthful and coughed as it went down my throat. “All right, that’s it.” Drake cursed, and after a series of clicks, the door bursts open, and Drake and Olivia walked in, followed by another good friend of mine, Slade Kolosov.
“Get out!” I slurred as Drake grabbed the bottle from my hand, and Olivia stared me down. “Damien, come on.”
“I didn’t say you can come in. Ahaha… ‘Come in’ sounds like ‘coming.’” I laughed, and Slade rolled his eyes before socking me in the jaw.
“Slade, was that really necessary?”
“What the fuck?” I shouted angrily and rubbed the sore part of my jaw. Bastard. Why the hell was I friends with him, anyway?
Slade shrugged. “He looked like he needed it.”
Drake stifled a laugh and stopped when Olivia turned to glare at him. “Both of you are here as moral supports, not to make fun of him!” She turned to me with concern in her eyes. “Come on, Damien, tell us what happened with Adri. She was crying really badly when she arrived at our home last night.”
Her face suddenly turned deadly serious. “You didn’t hurt her or anything did you?”
I scoffed took another mouthful of the beer bottle. “No, I just gave her a ring and asked her to marry me. She started smiling and then ran off,” I said drunkenly, and my heart ached. Why did she leave? Did Adrianna not love me anymore? Or did she realize what her father about me had said was true?
Slade let out a long whistle. “Man, you’re pathetic.”
Olivia glared at Slade. “And you’re not helping. Frankly, why did Drake even call you?”
“Seriously, why the hell do both of you want to get stuck with one woman for the rest of your life?”
Olivia rolled her eyes. “Said woman is standing right here.” Drake laughed before kissing Olivia’s head.
Slade grimaced at sight, “No offense or anything, Adrianna was the maid of honor at your wedding, and I was the best man. Shouldn’t I be the one together with her?” He smirked.
“Don’t you dare go near her?” I roared angrily, and Slade burst out laughing.
“Okay, enough. Both of you get out! You are definitely not helping!”
“Why do I have to go?” Drake grumbled, and Slade shrugged.
“I was only seeing if Damien was jealous that I was your best man.”
Olivia rolled her eyes again. “You called him over, and both of you are poking fun at him so leave!” Drake rolled his eyes before leaving, and Slade blew a kiss to Olivia before following Drake out.
Now, that they were gone, Olivia stared at me. “I’m disappointed in you.”
I sighed heavily and glared at her, “I am not in the mood for this Olivia. Please go away and leave me alone.”
Olivia shook her head and glared at me. “Are you simply just going to give up and drink the rest of your days in liquor then?”
I simply grunted in response, and Olivia continued, “Where’s the Damien that never gave up when he was pursuing Adrianna? He was someone that never gave up when he wanted something. You should’ve gone after her when she left, not lick your wounds with alcohol!”
“What do you want me to do, Olivia? She was the one who ran off not me! What can I even do? Force her to stay and marry me when it was obvious she was only using me as a rebound to get over her damn ex-fiancé?”
Olivia glared at me. “You darn well know that Adrianna loves you! She wouldn’t have given you her heart, her virginity or even defended you from her father back in Spain! The question now is do you love her enough that you will swallow your pride and go after her?”
I hung my head in defeat. “I know. I am in love with her. But what can you expect me to do? She ran out on me, and I do not even know why! One moment, she was shocked and pleased, and the next, she started crying before leaving. I do not know how to fix anything.”
Olivia slapped my head, and I glared at her. “That hurt! What the hell was that for?”
“You are so bloody dense! What is wrong with you? Where is the Damien I know, the one who wouldn’t take no for an answer? He would be with Adrianna right now, demanding an explanation and insisting that she say yes to his proposal. Instead, here you are, sulking and drinking your life away just because she freaked out. It isn’t the first time she turned you down. You should be taking this in stride and continue to pursue her. I know all the methods you have done to win Adrianna over. So why aren’t you using them? It shouldn’t be that difficult. You love her, and she loves you. What else is do you need?”
Olivia was right. I could not give up. If Adrianna wanted to turn me down, she had to tell me why. “You are right. Where is she?” I stood up from my position on the floor and winced when I took a glance in the mirror. Shit, I looked like a homeless man on the street.
Olivia let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness. I thought I would I have to get Slade and Drake to drag you all the way back to my apartment and lock you in a room with Adri.”
I shot her a strange glance before rinsing my mouth and running my hands through my hair to look presentable. “Oh, and I thought you would give up on Adri and your child, but thank goodness you came to your senses and—”
My eyes widened, and I turned around and stared at Olivia. “What? What child?”
Olivia froze and paled before stammering. “Uh, you know. I meant, uh…” she stopped and thought frantically for an excuse.
“Adrianna is with my child?” I asked astounded. Excitement bloomed in my chest, and I became breathless. The idea of Adrianna pregnant with my child stole my breath away. I stiffened. Why the hell had she not told me?
“Yeah, I thought you knew. She was going to tell you yesterday. Don’t worry she only found yesterday as well.” Olivia soothed as she saw my irritated expression.
I relaxed, grabbed my car keys and opened the door just as Slade and Drake walked in. I pushed them aside as they called out. “Hey! Where are you going?” I ignored them and made my way to my car.
Adrianna was pregnant…
With…
My…
Child…
I was going to be a father! This time, I wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer. I sped through the streets and went into Drake and Olivia’s home. Their bodyguards let me in without question, and I made my way to Adrianna’s room before bursting the door open.
“D-Damien?”
“We have to talk, Adrianna,” I said determinedly. I was not going to be turned away this time.