Chapter 2

She immediately smiled.

This was exactly what she had been missing.

People were laughing, dancing, shouting over the music, and moving from one side of the huge house to another with drinks in their hands.

Nobody was asking where she was going.

Nobody was reminding her about tomorrow's lecture.

Nobody was telling her what was best for her.

For once, she was simply Liana.

"Liana!"

Maya rushed toward her and pulled her into a hug.

"You actually came!"

"I told you I would."

"I thought your parents would lock you in your room."

"They almost did."

Maya laughed.

"So how did you escape?"

Liana gave her a proud smile.

"Balcony."

Maya stared at her.

"You climbed down your balcony?"

"Don't look so shocked."

"I am shocked. You've officially become a rebel."

Liana laughed.

"Maybe I have."

Maya grabbed her hand.

"Come on. Everyone is outside."

They walked toward the backyard where the party was even louder.

A swimming pool stretched across the center of the garden, surrounded by people.

Music blasted from enormous speakers.

Colored lights moved across the crowd.

Liana felt something loosen inside her chest.

She belonged here.

Or at least, she wanted to believe she did.

Then she noticed him.

A tall young man stood near the pool with his back against a pillar.

Black shirt.

Dark jeans.

Messy hair.

His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.

He wasn't dancing.

He wasn't drinking.

He wasn't even talking much.

He was simply watching everyone around him with an amused expression.

Maya noticed where Liana was looking.

"Oh."

Liana glanced at her.

"What?"

"You don't know him?"

"No."

"That's Damon Black."

The name meant something.

Liana had heard it before.

The Black family owned several major businesses, and her father occasionally mentioned them during business conversations.

"He's a troublemaker," Maya added.

Liana raised an eyebrow.

"Seriously?"

"His family has money, but apparently he doesn't care about behaving like a respectable rich kid."

Liana looked at him again.

"Interesting."

As though he felt her eyes on him, Damon turned.

Their eyes met.

Liana quickly looked away.

Too late.

A few seconds later, a voice came from beside her.

"Are you planning to keep staring?"

Liana turned.

Damon was standing there.

She blinked.

"I wasn't staring."

"You were."

"I was looking."

"That's what people call staring when they want to sound innocent."

Liana folded her arms.

"And you're always this annoying?"

"Only when people are pretending."

Her eyebrows pulled together.

"Pretending what?"

"To be rebellious."

Liana stared at him.

Damon smiled.

"You climbed down a balcony to come to a party, didn't you?"

Her mouth opened slightly.

"How did you—"

"Maya talks."

Liana looked at Maya.

Her friend immediately raised both hands.

"I didn't tell him anything!"

Damon chuckled.

"Relax. I saw you come through the garden."

Liana's embarrassment turned into irritation.

"So?"

"So nothing."

He shrugged.

"Except you look like someone who has never broken a rule in her life."

"I break rules."

"Clearly."

His eyes moved briefly over her outfit.

Then returned to her face.

"But you're still wearing the expression of someone worried about getting caught."

Liana scoffed.

"You don't know me."

"True."

He took a step closer.

"But I know your type."

"My type?"

"Rich girl. Perfect family. Perfect grades. Perfect future."

Liana's smile vanished.

"You really like making assumptions."

"And you really like proving people wrong."

"I don't have to prove anything to you."

"Good."

Damon stepped back.

"Then don't."

For some reason, that annoyed her even more.

He turned to leave.

"Wait."

He looked over his shoulder.

Liana wasn't sure why she had stopped him.

Maybe she simply didn't like losing an argument.

"What makes you think you're so different?"

Damon smiled.

"Because I don't pretend I'm obedient."

"Maybe you're just irresponsible."

"Maybe."

He walked away.

Liana watched him disappear into the crowd.

Maya appeared beside her.

"You have got to be kidding me."

"What?"

"You were flirting."

"I was arguing."

"Same thing with you two."

Liana rolled her eyes.

"I'm not interested in him."

Maya laughed.

"You've known him for two minutes."

"Exactly."

Across the yard, Damon glanced back at her.

Their eyes met again.

This time, neither looked away immediately.

Then Damon smiled.

Liana's heart skipped.

She immediately looked away.

"No," she whispered.

Maya grinned.

"Oh, yes."

Liana shook her head.

She had come to the party to rebel against her parents.

She hadn't come to develop a crush on the most irritating man she'd ever met.

Unfortunately, Damon Black seemed determined to become a problem she couldn't ignore.