Chapter 264 - Any Chance?

As Damien came closer, Katherine wondered if it was really just a coincidence that he was there too. He didn't stalk her, did he? That was highly unlikely.

Watching him walk towards her, she noticed that he wasn't alone. On his left was a gorgeous blonde woman who looked like the same woman he was with outside the hotel last night. She saw him with her two days in a row already — if it was only last night, she didn't want to dwell too much on it or jump to conclusions, what was she supposed to think now?

Flustered, Katherine could only mutter his name, "Damien…"

"President Park." Matthew slightly bowed.

Damien's gaze shifted between her and Matthew, thinking that he was lucky to see her but deflated to see her with that man.

Katherine didn't know what to do at this point. They had a talk last night and then went on their separate ways. She hadn't expected to see him this soon.

The awkwardness that lingered in the air was cut when the woman next to Damien gasped.

"Oh, my god. Y-you're Matthew Jeong. Y-you are, right?" Eve stuttered, her eyes round and starry as she gaped at Matthew.

Their heads turned to her and saw her blush. She looked really starstruck.

Matthew flashed his megawatt smile and nodded, "Yes, I am."

"My name is Eve. I am such a huge huge fan!" 

Noticing Damien staring at her, Eve knitted her brows at him, "What? I watch his movies. Alright?"

Looking back at Matthew, she bashfully took out her phone and wiggled it in the air. "Can I get a picture with you? My niece and sister will freak out if I didn't. And I personally love to, of course. If that's okay? It's okay, right? I'm babbling. I'm sorry."

Matthew found her adorable — of course, he had to agree. He was already used to it so he didn't mind at all. "Sure, Eve. Here, let me take it for us." He extended his hand as he offered and the two of them started snapping photos and chatted.

Damien moved closer to Katherine as the two of them watched the other two. "Out on a date, huh?" he probed without looking at her, making it look casual.

Katherine raised a brow and did not face him either. "I could ask you the same," she muttered under her breath.

Damien's head snapped towards her upon hearing her retort. All the while he thought that she wouldn't think anything like that, so hearing her statement caused his heart to flutter. "What?"

"You and Eve? Weren't you with her last night too?" She remembered that he received a call last night and mentioned her name, so she was right with her assumption that this woman was the same one from last night. 

"Oh." He didn't realize that Katherine saw him with her. "You think I and Eve—oh no." He huffed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. Of course, she would misunderstand. "You don't know who she is, do you?"

His question annoyed her. Folding her arms in front of her chest, she challenged, "Am I supposed to?"

Damn it. Taking a deep breath, Damien looked apologetic. "Sorry, you're right. Eve is actually kinda famous around here, so I thought you've heard of her. She's one of the most influential therapists in the country whose clients are mostly important figures. And the truth is… Eve is my… therapist."

It dawned on Katherine that Eve indeed looked familiar, maybe she had seen her somewhere before—but that wasn't what really surprised her. Straightening up, she faced him and probed, "You're seeing a therapist? Since when?"

Damien didn't answer and just continued to look at her as she processed the information. Soon, she followed up with another question, "Did I do this to you?"

Matthew cut in their conversation before Damien could answer, "Excuse me. Um, Katherine? Didn't you need to catch your appointment? It's almost three."

"Oh shoot. Right." She completely forgot that she had to meet Amelia and Styles back at her apartment.

"You need to go somewhere?" Damien asked.

"I just need to meet my friends." She briefly looked at him in the eye and he guessed that she was going to meet the people he saw last night.

When Eve came up to his side, he formally introduced them to each other. "By the way, Katherine, this is Doctor Evangeline Reed."

"A pleasure," said Eve, shaking hands with Katherine. "You can call me Eve."

After their brief greeting, Damien turned to Katherine again and told her, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Not knowing what he wanted to talk about, she was hesitant at first but what can he do in broad daylight and in a public place? She nodded at Matthew and the latter excused himself to get the car while she gave Damien a few minutes — Eve had also excused herself, leaving the two of them some privacy.

Handing her a small paper bag without saying anything, he feared that she wouldn't accept it. And Katherine sure was hesitant. After taking a peek inside, she saw a tube of Arnica Gel.

"What is this?" she wondered, receiving the paper bag and inspecting the content some more.

"It's for your bruise," he replied, referring to the bruise on her thigh from last night.

"And you carry this with you all the time now?" Katherine found it amusing, she couldn't help but draw a small smile on her face.

"I was going to drop that off at the Young Mansion later…" He rubbed his nape, seemingly shy.

"But that's all the way to the north? Are you traveling?"

Damien scoffed, realizing he's making a fool of himself. "Okay. Fine. I meant to go there on purpose to give this to you."

Katherine tried so hard not to blush at his confession and she desperately hoped she was doing a great job at it. "Um… thanks? But… you know… I'm actually not staying there."

"Oh…" He pressed his lips together. He wanted to ask where she was staying but he knew she probably wouldn't tell him anyway. Realizing another matter, he gave her the other paper bag in his hand. "Here."

"Wow. Two gifts? I don't think it's my birthday today." She was starting to get uneasy by all his gestures. She tentatively received the bag and was surprised to see a cell phone box inside. 'Damn it, Damien. Why?'

"You didn't have to. I was going to get one today." She tried to return the bag but he pushed it back to her.

"Please, just take it. Consider it a welcome gift."

Knowing that he wouldn't stop if she continued to refuse, she composed herself and nodded. "Fine. Thank you, then." 

Seeing the conservative smile on her face made him feel better. So much better.

Digging his hands in his pockets, he asked, "Any chance I could drive you to that place you're going to?" He was pushing his luck today but he didn't care. He just had to do something.

Just then, Matthew's car stopped in front of them. Matthew patiently waited and didn't urge for Katherine to hasten. However, Katherine wanted to get out of there already, afraid that her heart was going to jump out of her chest if she didn't leave fast. 

"Thank you for these... I really appreciate it." She made an awkward wave before getting in Matthew's car.

Despite seeing her leave, Damien didn't feel as bothered—at least she didn't reject what he got for her. And when she turns on her phone, she would find that it wasn't the only gift she accepted. Feeling satisfied that she didn't push him away, a suppressed smile formed on his face as he turned around and went on his way.