Chapter 9

Listening to Vanessa bitch and moan for the thousandth time today was honestly not how Damon had foreseen his Monday going. It didn't help that he had a huge headache, and her was pretty sure that her way too high-pitched, whinny voice was worsening it.

“You were in her office?” she almost screamed at him. He gave her a dry look. Vanessa was beautiful, in every sense of the word. Her skin glowed, and she gave off a very elegant look. She was tall, at 5'8, taller than most at least, and her long, honey colored hair fell down her back in waves. Makeup framed her face, which was oval in shape. Her eyes were green, like emeralds and they glistened with every word she spoke. Nicely shaped eyebrows rested above those green orbs. If he hadn't been absolutely appalled by her sickening attitude, he might've had a thing for her. “What the fuck were you doing there? I've been calling you for the past thirty minutes.”

Instinctively, his hands reached for his phone. True to her word, he saw thirty missed calls from her. His eyes snapped back to her standing frame, shrugging nonchalantly. Pissing her off was something he enjoyed doing once in awhile.

“Really?” she questioned. “You're not going to explain yourself?”

“I don't see the point. You're just going to jump to conclusions anyways. Speaking of which, I'd love to get you a trampoline.” He leaned back in his chair, letting a smug smile take over his features.

“Don't tell me you have a thing for that chick. Does she know you're engaged to me?” she snorted.

Instantly, his eyes grazed over, throwing her a dark look. He had to fold his hands together to keep them from reaching up and strangling her. “If you even as much as repeat that again, I'll kill you myself.” His voice was eerie, sounding foreign to his own ears.

He could see the fear shine in her eyes for a brief moment, before a blatant proud smile took over. “You can't touch me, and I know it kills you. We both know you wouldn't want to see the other side of Dad,” she leaned forward, placing both hands on his large desk, amusement swirling in her eyes.

His jaw clenched and unclenched. She was right and he hated it. The only reason Vanessa was in his office, staring him in the face and spitting out crap, the only reason she was in his life at all was because of her father, Jackson Stone. He was not someone Damon wanted to mess with. Didn't turn out well the last time. Thank God the man was nowhere near New York.

“What are you doing here?” he snapped, eyeing her carefully. Since she never bothered to call before dropping by, the entire office thought them to be a relationship. He didn't deny it, but he didn't confirm it either. It was easier to let her think whatever she liked; Damon couldn't care less. But seeing as she'd thought of calling, there was obviously something she wanted to say.

Her eyes glistened, sincere happiness reflecting in her two sparkling green orbs. “He's here.” She smiled. “Jackson's back. And he wants to talk. He is your future father-in-law after all. Proper introductions are in order.”

Damon felt his entire world crash the moment the words flew out of her mouth. To hell with proper introductions, he never wanted to see Jackson again. He never even thought he'd see him again. At once, his veins boiled with rage. All this wouldn't be happening if Vanessa had just gotten over her stupid infatuation with hi\m. Instead, like a lost puppy, she's followed him here with hopes of marriage. He'd be damned before he ever let her bear his last name.

He'd rather stick pins in his eyes.

Whatever it was Jackson wanted, he wasn't going to get. Damon made up his mind. Not this time. He was done with Jackson Stone.

Damon had done his dirty work for him in the past, had let Jackson use him as he wanted, even landed himself on the wrong side of the law, all because he'd lost his way. When he’d finally gathered courage to free himself of that burden, he was glad it hadn't been too late. Cleaning up his act had taken longer than expected, but eventually he finished high school, went through college, and graduated.

But through all that, he'd always watched his six. Maybe because he knew, deep down, that Jackson wasn't one to let people go so easily. His pride and insecurities wouldn't allow it. And Damon was right.

If Jackson was back, then he wanted something. And Damon feared that 'something' would be him.

“Get the fuck out of my office,” he shot at her, his irritation increasing with each passing minute.

Her mouth twisted in frustration, taking in several breaths. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, and when she opened them, a mocking smile took over her features.

He didn't have to say it twice. Sensing his anger, she turned and strutted out of the office, her heels clicking with every step.

Vanessa halted just before she crossed the threshold. She swung around, her hair flying over her shoulder, as she smiled ruefully. “Bring him along, yeah? You always did make a good team.”

****

“No, Lee. I don't think they're going to mind if we added a little—”

Gabriel's words were cut off abruptly by Damon’s barging into his office unannounced. Seated beside him was Lena, and even though he was in a state of anxiety, he couldn't help but notice how exquisite she was.

Her brown hair rested snugly on her shoulders, and he quite liked that they weren't too long. Her brown eyes were wide with apprehension, no doubt due to the fact that he'd busted through the door like hid ass was on fire.

For the first time since Vanessa dropped the bomb on him, it dawned on him that Lena could be caught in the middle of this because he'd already started having feelings for her. Because of his selfishness, she could get hurt.

Somehow, that didn't hold any appeal to him at all.

A frown formed on his face. He couldn't talk about Jackson with her in earshot. Not exactly. She didn't have to know, and he personally didn't want to involve anyone else in the mess he'd created.

Sensing his hesitation, Lena spoke up, her eyes travelling from his to Gabe's. “I'll… uh... I'll get going.”

A small sigh of relief escaped his lips unknowingly, and he couldn't be more grateful for her sense of perception. She'd saved him from an awkward conversation.

“You sure?” Damon asked. “I could always come back.”

She shook her head. “No, it's fine. I was on my way out anyway, so...” she drew out, picking up some files from the desk as she swung around to face him.

Her eyes shone with curiosity, and he could tell it was killing her to know. But that was impossible because he wasn't about to enlighten her on things that could very well end in her getting hurt. Or worse, death. And he was sure Gabe wouldn't either.

Her gaze left his as she walked past him to the door. He heard the knob turn, the door open, and then shut again. He waited for five minutes, just to be sure she'd gone far, then snapped his focus to Gabe.

Damon only had to say two words to him. “Jackson Stone.”

Slowly, Gabe watched him as understanding dawned on him. His blue eyes widened in comprehension, and his legs stood. “What?”

“You heard me.”

“But... how? When?” His stuttering wasn't making things any easier. If anything, it only fueled Damon’s apprehension.

“Don't ask stupid questions, Gabriel.” His hands instinctively ran through his hair, pulling the strands in annoyance. This was something he didn't want at all. He so wasn't looking forward to it. Jackson was bad news.

“Well, what does he want?” Gabe asked, as his taut jaw clenched and unclenched. Underneath his firm resolve, his eyes showed subtle signs of fear.

Damon gave him a dry look. “How would I know?”

“Fuck,” he muttered.

“Fuck’s right.” Damon swallowed. “Because he wants to meet.”