Chapter 12

Damien’s POV

“What's with the sullen look little brother,” Damien looked up from his chair. Where he sat with his office desk in front of him in his CEO office.

And of course, it had to be his troublesome brother Aleksander coming to disrupt him. The only person who could barge into his office uninvited as even his assistant Ben was afraid of him. Aleks was always calling him little brother, loving to throw it in his face that he was older and should never forget that.

But Damien was still thankful for if not for Aleksander, he would have been made to inherit their family's other shady side of the business.

The Payne Mafia Empire.

Aleksander stepped up and was now the billionaire Mafia boss while he, Damien got to handle the cleaner side, the legit side companies, and businesses.

Sometimes he worried about Aleksander’s safety as his brother had now dominated the whole city, making it his whole turf and was now the Mafia King. Taking down all his competitors and who knows how many assassination attempts he had dodged and survived through.

Between them, Aleks was the rougher, tougher, and stronger one. And handled the family’s safety too. Even back in school as kids, no one touched Damien who was a technology loving geek. It was from knowing that his big brother Aleksander would smash their teeth out and get away with it.

Aleksander also knew how to inspire loyalty in his men and handle any situation that came his way. The Mafia King even had the police eating out of his hands and was untouchable.

Whereas Damien was the techy business survey one. An expert in all things business and the money generator of the family.

Both were the pride of joys to their Father for their accomplishments and talents which had made his legacy grow to what it was now.

“Is it about Ava?” Upon hearing him say her name, Damien quickly turned and glared at his brother, wondering how he already knew about her.

Was it Ben? Had his assistant run his mouth?

Damien could not help but wonder.

“What do you know about her,” Damien replied with more glaring, “Oh, you know, just that she rejected you,” Aleksander replied, with a smirk and started laughing at him.

“That she did,” Damien replied, sitting back on his chair with a sullen and annoyed look. Wondering how he could win her and have her give him a chance. He was desperately in love with her.

Most of his thoughts seemed to revolve around her.

And he had never felt like this for any woman! Heck, he had supermodels, celebrity actresses, and singers all wanting to date him. But he had never been interested. Yet this normal beauty from a small hometown seemed to have done something to enchant him.

“So boring, I was expecting you to defend yourself or something,” Aleksander spoke now with a bored frown, taking his own seat, and placing his legs on his brother’s desk as if he was just lounging on some beach.

“So, what are you going to do, to win her,” Aleksander finally added, giving his brother an amused look at how whipped he was looking.

“I have no idea yet, brother. My money and position seem to not impress her too,” Damien replied, passing over the note she had left. It contained her handwriting and demands.

About moving out of the luxurious suite penthouse he had chosen for her and not wanting any favors from him. Also, how at work she wanted for him to treat her as if she was any other ordinary intern employee. And was grateful for the job.

“This is why I already like her. She has some spunk and seems totally different from some of the women you have dated before.” Aleksander commented while also thinking of how she had proved herself too, during the kidnapping. She showed that if she ever became a future Payne, she would be able to handle their family's other shady side of the business.

“She is also not a gold digger too,” Aleksander added, trying to show Damien that he really did approve of Ava.

And would not meddle in their relationship if he decided to pursue her. For he was overprotective of his little brother Damien ever since that past gold digger had shattered his heart. He now made sure to test and evaluate anyone that Damien would show interest in. And Ava he liked.

“But how do I win her, she looks like she wants nothing to do with me,” Damien spoke, staring at his brother for advice.

“Well easy, make her jealous and see what she is missing,” Aleksander replied with a smirk, as he placed the note back on the table. Unlike his sappy little brother, Aleksander was a total self-proclaimed playboy. He did not, do love and exchanged women like he changed clothes.

But still, there was one thing his playboy ways were good for. He always knew what women want or how to handle them and leave them thirsting for him even when he broke their hearts.

Damien nodded, ready to follow through with whatever plans were cooking in his brother's head. For Ava, the billionaire extraordinaire was willing to try anything.

>>>>

Ava’s POV

I arrived at work and headed for the lower floor where all the interns were. Instead of heading to the upper floor, where Damien had tried to get me to.

Yes, he now knew from the note I had left him yesterday. It said, treat me like every intern here, or I will quit and will not be able to work here.

I also knew that by now he was already aware that I had left the billion-dollar suit he had tried to make me live in.

After having his mafia brother kidnap me and accuse me of being a gold digger, I was glad that I had done so. I was an independent woman who had studied my ass off and I would not live off anyone’s money!

That is not how my mother raised me.

Lisa looked excited to see me and even Mrs. Fay too.

And the whole day, my second day for work went by normally without any sight of Damien.

But just as the day was about to end, Mrs. Faye, called us all to gather around her.

In her hand was a letter.

“Tomorrow Friday night, a company event party will be held. All employees are greatly encouraged to attend and show their support. You will be allowed to drink with drinks on the house.” As soon as Mrs. Fay said the last part about free drinks, some of the guys quickly cheered at that.

“This is exciting! Let's go shopping for what to wear tomorrow!” My eyes widened as Lisa said that to me. I had not even thought yet about attending.

I wanted to spend my Friday night home, in the blankets and watching Netflix instead of partying with my coworkers. But seeing the excited look in my new friend Lisa’s eyes I ended agreeing. Not wanting her to go alone.