It didn't phase Hera that the whole club was looking at them, it didn't phase her when Amaani screamed like she was dying, neither did it phase her when the duke looked at her in shock.

Hera would tolerate a lot of things from the princess, but blatant insults of that level was something she wasn't going to listen to anymore. She has had enough of it.

Hera grabbed her clutch that she had placed on the table and graciously slung it over her shoulder before she let out a dirty glare directed at Daman as well as Amaani who was moving around like a spider fighting for their lives. It's just wine for Pete's sake.

"Daman!" Amaani hissed and all the duke could do was offer her his handkerchief as he tried calming her down. Hera was long gone by then, already out the exit and she didn't bother to look for Johan, instead she hitched a cab taking a couple deep breaths to settle herself.

Hera slammed the door shut and instructed the driver to just drive, however a millisecond before he could step on the accelerator, the other side of the cab was yanked opened and Daman haphazardly sat inside.

"I said drive," Hera told the cabbie a little rudely not wasting her energy in trying to usher Daman out. She knew it would be pointless. As long as Amaani wasn't here she could put up with Daman.

Hera crossed her arms and looked out the window. Daman sat quietly as well. He didn't want to anger her even more and what Amaani did was a low blow. But how could she dance with Adam like that and throwing her wine at the princess was just not it.

But Amaani deserved it.

Daman sighed frustrated and demanded for the cab driver to pull over.

Hera was snapped out of her reverie when she saw Daman take her hand and pull her out as well. He left a few bills on the front seat and harshly slammed the door shut as the cab drove away.

Daman had reached his limit now. He'd pulled Hera with him a few blocks up and he was grateful that she curbed her protests and followed him. He guided them both into a mid-range hotel that seemed decent enough.

"Any rooms?" he asked the receptionist straight to the point not caring for the pleasantries.

"Plenty," the 40 something year old lady replied and popped her gum. "Standard room?" she further inquired when she saw Daman get out his wallet and look for his ID and debit card.

"Just.. whatever," Daman said and threw the two cards on the desk so that the receptionist could give him some keys already. He looked back at saw Hera hugging herself as her back was turned to him looking out at the street.

He was pissed at her. She was pissed at him. They hadn't had a proper conversation for the longest time and locking them in a room uninterrupted seemed like the only way to get their shit sorted out.

"Room 24. 2 floors up, 4th door on the right. Take the stairs it's quicker." The receptionist handed him a pair of key cards and he let out a small thanks walking back to Hera. Once again he took hold of her had and basically dragged her up the stairs but he made sure to be gentle in his handling. He didn't want to hurt her.

Opening the door, he pulled both of them inside allowing Hera to go in front as he closed the door. "I've had enough of this," he began exasperated.

Hera thought that was really rich coming from the Duke. He was the one who was so busy allowing the princess to do what she was doing. "Enough of what exactly?" she asked with a boat load of sass.

Daman held out his hands in front of him gesturing to her whole being. "This attitude of yours!" Daman exclaimed fed up.

Hera looked the other way at the duke's comment. Her attitude was solely because of him. He was responsible for their whole fight. "Had you not went and met Mikael behind my back then this attitude wouldn't be here. You didn't even apologize to me."

Daman rummaged around the room for the air conditioner remote. It was getting hot in there and their back and forth still had some way to go.

"I'm not going to apologize to you," he said and pressed the power on button to let some cool air in. "You won't get an apology from me for meeting with your ex. I set my boundaries straight and I believe it's justified. I'm a duke, Hera. I have a lot on the line."

Hera was fuming with the blatant disregard Daman projected. She didn't ask for him to put everything on the line. It was his choice, his idea and his offer.

"You act as if you're the only one who has a lot on the line. You offered this whole charade and I accepted because I was desperate. You think that if something goes wrong that only you will face backlash?" Hera was boiling over with her anger.

Daman placed his hand in his pockets and daringly looked at Hera who faced him with the same amount of courage. Granted what she was saying held some truth in it, but the way they were acting couldn't go long for any longer.

"What the hell is this really about?" Daman asked in a tone that held no room for faffing. "Tell me what this is really about now?" Mikael couldn't be the sole reason for Hera's despair. Daman knew that much at least. He could always read her like a book, but right now he was at a loss.

"It's about you being an asshole all this time!" Hera gritted out and threw her clutch onto the vanity allowing the contents to spill out. She took a step closer to the duke and pointed her finger at him aware that she was being uncouth and rude. But she was so furious.

"Talking to Mikael and not telling me was one thing, but to not even address the fact that your grandmother wants us to be married in days! You didn't even take time to come and speak to me! I hope you're not expecting me to go through with that. I draw the line there."

Daman was observing her hellcat tendencies as she lost control. He was going to speak to her about it, but he simply couldn't find the time in the past 30 hours. However, deep down he was trying to avoid the topic. He himself didn't even know what was going to pan out hence he was unintentionally procrastinating the subject.

"Let's talk about it now then." He offered and shrugged his shoulders. No use pushing it back anymore. They had enough privacy to talk about it now.

Hera scoffed and turned around so fast that the ends of her hair slapped Daman. The sting was felt.

"I'm in no mood to converse about it now. But my decision is final. Marry the Princess of Ajmal. You two are close anyways. It won't be me sitting next to you at that altar that's for sure."

Hera made a swift move to careless pick up the contents from her clutch and shove it inside. "I'm done, Daman. I can't do this with you any longer." She took quick steps to the door almost jerking it open and walking out but Daman was quick to slam it back shut with one hand.

"Let me leave!" Hera screeched as they both were pushing and shoving for the door handle. Daman was determined to keep it closed whereas Hera was putting all her strength in to open it.

"Stop it. We need to figure this out," Daman said whilst they both continued the battle for the door handle. Reaching his peak, the duke was gone all red in anger. "Enough!" he yelled which had them both freezing.

Crap. He'd never used such a harsh voice with her before and he didn't mean to but they were acting like children who were fighting for a toy.

"Enough," he repeated calmer and Hera looked at him agape. Thinking that was her moment, she quickly hauled the door open and was out of the room before Daman comprehended what she was doing.

Obviously, running in heels was a risk for spinal injury but it was a risk Hera was willing to take. Nevertheless her attempts were futile as the duke caught up with her in a few seconds and he picked her up in one motion carrying her back into the suite.

He deposited her onto the bed and knowing that Hera would fight back he hovered over her and took her wrists pining them to the bed beside her head.

"Why?" he asked as he looked into her breathtaking brown eyes. He felt as if he could physically see the fear that lurked deep within them. He knew she was scared, he was scared as well but neither knew for what precise reasons they were scared.

"Why? Why can't you marry me?" He asked softly as his breath fanned over Hera's lips.

Hera could feel her heartbeat pound in her chest as the duke looked at her like that. Their bodies were pressed together on the bed in such a comprising position with only a thin barrier of clothes between them and a ton of adrenalin pumping through their veins.

"I-I I just can't, Daman!" Hera was at odds with her feelings. It was hinderance to her logic specifically at this point in time. "The princess... Amaani-"

Daman was quick to cut her off upon mentioning the princess. "Fuck Amaani. To hell with her. To hell with everyone! Tell me Hera, everyone else's opinions and shit aside, why can't you marry me?"

All Hera could do was keep silent as she pondered over his question. Everyone aside, there was no reason for her to not marry him. Daman was everything any woman would want in a man, he was royalty, a successful businessman, an attractive individual in every sense, strong and ambitious.

Maybe that's why Hera was hesitating, because he was everything she was not.