CHAPTER 192

**WINTER**

He tapped his foot lightly behind him, then flashed that infuriating, smug grin.

“Say please.”

The words grated on me like nails on a chalkboard, sending a jolt of irritation through my veins. I forced a slow, deep breath, reining in the urge to hurl my bag at him and storm off.

“Seriously, Damien?” I snapped, my voice low and sharp as a blade.

“It’s my locker. I don’t need to say please to open it, and I sure as hell don’t need your permission.”

He arched an eyebrow, a smug smile playing on his lips.

“Oh, I know it’s your locker, Winter. But you see, asking nicely just makes everything so much more... entertaining.”

His grin widened, taking on a predatory edge that made my skin crawl.

“Besides, where’s the fun if you don’t play by my rules?”

I raised an eyebrow, shifting my weight onto one foot as I looked him dead in the eyes.

“Your rules? Wow. Let me guess—Rule one: You talk, I listen. Rule two: You flirt, I pretend not to gag. Rule three: I magically fall for your cocky rich-boy act?”

His smile twitched, but he didn’t deny it.

“Here’s the thing, Damien,” I continued, voice like ice,

“I don’t play by anyone’s rules—especially not yours. You might be used to girls melting over your half-smirk and daddy’s money, but newsflash: I’m not impressed. And I don’t need to ask permission to open my own damn locker.”

Stepping in just close enough for him to hear every word

“So here’s how this goes—don’t talk to me unless it’s about the assignment, don’t flirt, don’t push, and definitely don’t try to make anything ‘fun'. So if you want to get through this assignment without a stapler lodged in your expensive hair gel, I suggest you learn to keep that mouth of yours shut.”

He let out a low whistle, clearly amused.

“Damn. Feisty and dramatic. You sure you’re not secretly into me?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Positive.”

“Well, since fate—or whatever sick joke the universe is playing—dumped you in my lap as a partner, I’m the one calling the shots now. So, get comfortable with that. Say please... and maybe I’ll move away from your precious little locker.”

I didn’t even bother dignifying his smug little comment with a reply.

Instead, I raised my boot—and brought it down hard on his foot.

He let out a sharp grunt, stumbling back like I’d just detonated a landmine under him.

I smiled, slow and satisfied, as I stepped past him.

“Oh wow,” I said sweetly, my voice laced with venom.

“Didn’t even have to say please—and look at that, you moved all on your own.”

A wicked grin tugged at my lips as I yanked open my locker, the satisfying clang of metal, that nearly caught his shoulder again.

“Guess pain works faster than manners.”

He shot me a glare sharp enough to cut glass.

“You’re fucking crazy.”

“Locker’s mine,” I said, voice thick with smug satisfaction.

“Save your ‘please’ for someone who cares. And consider this a friendly warning—don’t ever, ever piss me off.”

Even I was surprised by how fierce I sounded, but those messages were gnawing at me, and Damien?

Well, he was the perfect outlet to unload all that tension.

Damien winced but quickly straightened, lips curling into that maddening grin like nothing had happened.

“Damn,” he said, rubbing his foot with a slow, deliberate motion, eyes locked on me with far too much amusement.

“You like it rough, huh? I can work with that.”

The girl hanging on his arm let out a breathy giggle, her eyes wide and sparkling as she soaked it all in.

“Babe, are you okay?” she cooed, reaching to touch his shoulder, like he’d just survived a war.

But Damien didn’t even glance her way. His gaze stayed locked on me—unblinking, unapologetic.

“Not bad, partner. You’ve got fire. Kinda hot, not gonna lie.”

I rolled my eyes so hard it almost hurt.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I muttered, grabbing my notebook and slamming the locker shut.

“Wasn’t trying to,” he said with a shrug.

“Just stating facts.”

His smirk widened as he leaned casually against the lockers again, unfazed.

“This business assignment’s gonna be fun.”

Fun wasn’t the word I’d use.

Hellish, maybe.

I shot him one last look.

“You talk this much when you’re actually working? Or is this just a pre-show?”

He grinned like I’d just confirmed all his worst instincts.

“Guess you’ll find out, Winter.”

God help me.

“Babe, why are you even wasting time on her? Let’s go somewhere quieter,” she cooed, reaching to touch his chest.

But Damien’s expression darkened as her hand slid lower, drifting down his chest. His eyes never left me—cold, sharp, and unyielding.

He grabbed her wrist with a rough grip, his voice low and dripping with venom.

“I hate desperate little sluts who throw themselves at me like I’m their last chance. Clawing for my attention —too easy, boring and too predictable. Honestly? I want a real challenge.” His eyes snapped back to mine, sharp and relentless.

“Now, fuck off.”

Her face flushed crimson, humiliation flashing across her eyes before she turned on her heel and stormed away, heels clicking sharply down the hall.

I stood there, jaw tight, burning with disgust as the girl stormed off, humiliated.

My skin crawled at Damien’s cruel words—how easily he tore people down like they were nothing.

What a jerk.

I wanted to spit at him, to tell him exactly what I thought of his arrogant, heartless attitude. But I bit back the words.

Not worth stooping to his level—yet.

I slung my bag over my shoulder and walked away before I lost my last shred of patience.

He took a step forward, falling into pace beside me like we were suddenly heading in the same direction. His hands slid into his pockets, casual and annoyingly confident.

“So,” he began smoothly, voice dripping with that cocky charm,

“What time do you want to meet for the assignment? I was thinking… my place. Quiet. Private. Minimal distractions. You know, the perfect environment for two brilliant minds to really click.”

I stopped dead and turned to glare at him, folding my arms like a shield.

“Absolutely not.”

Damien lifted a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, clearly amused—as if I’d just refused front-row tickets to some sold-out concert.

“Oh, come on. What, you think I’m gonna chain you to my couch and have my way with you? Although… now that I say it out loud, not the worst idea.”

I froze for a beat, stunned by his audacity, then and let out a slow, controlled sigh.

“Keep dreaming, Damien. The only thing getting chained here is your ego—and it needs some serious restraint.”

Damien chuckled, eyes glinting with that infuriating mix of cockiness and charm.

“Oh, Winter, you wound me. But don’t worry—I’m more interested in getting this assignment done than tying anyone up. Though I gotta admit, your fire might make this partnership a lot more entertaining than I expected.” He smirked, clearly enjoying getting under my skin.

He smirked, stepping closer, that cocky gleam sharp in his eyes.

“Look, we both know this assignment isn’t going to ace itself. So, whether you like it or not, we need to focus—and fast. Put all the distractions and whatever opinions you have about me—aside, an actually focus on getting it done?”

I stared him down, biting the inside of my cheek to keep my cool.

“Fine. But don’t get it twisted—I’m not stepping foot in your place. Library or my place. Take it or leave it.”

His eyes sparked with mischief, that cocky smirk stretching wider.

“Your place? Perfect. I’ll be there tonight.”

I shook my head, arms crossing like a wall.

“Not tonight. I’ve got plans. Tomorrow evening, at my place. End of story.”

He raised a perfect eyebrow, a slow, amused smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

“Tomorrow, huh? Consider it circled, underlined, and starred. Can’t wait to get started on this ‘assignment’ of ours… I have a feeling it’s going to be a lot more interesting than I expected.”

I clenched my jaw, fighting the urge to roll my eyes so hard they might fall out.

Interesting? Yeah, right.

I wasn’t in the mood to deal with him tonight.

The truth was, I already had enough on my plate.

Those messages haunted me like a relentless echo—words and that damn photo burned into my mind, like acid eating away at my calm. The feeling of someone watching me, lurking just out of sight, was suffocating.

The last thing I needed was Damien invading my space with his smug smirks and snarky remarks, acting like we were stuck in some twisted rom-com I never signed up for.

“Hey, where do you live and what time should I be at your place?” he called after me, that cocky grin practically audible in his voice.

Without breaking my stride, I glanced back just long enough to deliver the details.

“451 Willow Crest Drive. The big white mansion on the hill with the black iron gates and those huge oak trees out front. Five o’clock sharp. Not a minute before.”

He let out a low whistle, clearly impressed.

“Tomorrow it is. Can’t wait to get started on the assignment—see you then, babe.”

I fought the urge to whip around and ask exactly who he thought he was calling babe. But I swallowed it down. Not worth the fight. Not with him.

I just kept walking, trying to steady my pulse, trying not to let it show how tightly wound I felt.

Because it wasn’t just Damien’s antics getting under my skin anymore.

Something was wrong.

And deep down, I knew it was only a matter of time before whoever it was stopped hiding behind messages—and stepped into the light.

Another nagging thought crept in—I just hoped Zion wouldn’t lose his cool if Damien showed up at his place. Still, I’d feel a little safer knowing Zion was close by, ready to step in if things got out of hand.