Chapter 38 - When Passion Burn, Control Burns Even Hotter
**Lisa**
Damon was insufferable. He not only beat the not-so-innocent man to pulp, he also kicked everyone out of the restaurant so that we could be alone and trust me, it didn’t feel romantic one bit.
“Really?” I asked, building with anger.
“What. Now we have some privacy.”
I stood from the table in anger.
“Take me home.”
“You haven't—”
“Now!”
He sighed, running his hand through his hair. “Fine. Home it is then.”
The ride home was silent. We were both too mad to say anything. I tore the door open and ran to my room.
“Lisa” Damon called after me but I shut the door in his face and bolted it.
“Lisa* he shouted, banging the door.
“Go away, Damon. Not tonight.” I said. He resigned.
Why did he have to be so barbaric? Hitting a guy just because he winked at me and then kicking everyone out of the restaurant. So immature.
Why did he have to embarrass me like that? I washed my face and got into more comfortable clothes. I couldn't sleep immediately because I had spent most of the day sleeping. So, I called my Dad.
“Hey, Dad.” I said. I heard a shuffling sound in the background and hushed voices before he spoke.
“Hey, Lisa. You called.”
“Yes, Dad, I’m so sorry for not coming over. I’ve been super busy.”
“It’s alright. I understand.”
“How have you been?” I asked.
“Good.” He said curtly.
“How’s the food there? I know you always hated those pickles so much.”
I expected my Dad to laugh or make a joke about how terrible the food was but he only said a curt, “Better.”
“What’s with the one word answers? Are you mad at me? I already explained how busy I’ve been.”
“That’s not it, Lisa. I’m busy right now, in the middle of something. Can we just talk later? I promise you’ll have my full attention.”
“Matthew.” I heard someone call my dad in the background before the line went off. He didn’t even wait for me to respond. Something was clearly off here and I promised myself that I would get to the root of the matter. Who was he with? What was he up to? The person even called him by his first name. Nobody calls my Dad by his first name, bankrupt or not.
…
I was literally trapped in my own room for most of the morning just because I wanted to avoid Damon but when the hunger pangs rolled in I knew I had to leave. Although, Damon would most likely be distracted by a meeting and wouldn’t pay much attention to me. Or so I thought…
When I opened the door, Damon was sitting on the floor, right behind my door. His eyes, tired, as if he hadn’t gotten any sleep all night. He was still in his clothes from last night and his hair was in a tangled mess. His red-rimmed eyes searched mine with stubborn intensity, as if trying to read me, I erased every iota of concern and worry from my face and walked past him.
“Good morning to you too,” he grumped, his voice was husky, my knees buckled. I ignored him. His dishevelled morning look told me he had been fighting his demons all night, and it made me waver for a brief second. But I quickly put myself together. I wouldn’t be the first to crack.
“Lisa?” He called out.
I strolled into the kitchen, ignoring him.
I picked a coffee mug, ready for my morning dose of caffeine and Damon mirrored my actions. While the coffee brewed, I searched the cabinets for food. I needed something quick and fast to prepare. I eyed the pack of chinese ramen and a box of cereal.
“I could make the cereal for you. It would be ready in no time.”
At that, I grabbed the box of cereal and poured its content into a bowl and searched for the milk carton.
“You’re being childish. Let’s talk things out like adults.”
I continued ignoring him and dug into my cereal.
Damon took a seat across the table, watching my eat.
“Urgh!” I sighed loudly.
If I’m going to survive this morning I would need that coffee right about now. I ditched the cereal and went ahead with finishing up the coffee. As I sipped slowly from my mug, Damon leaned against the counter opposite me. Staring. Again.
Äre you really going to keep ignoring me? He asked.
I threw the empty mug into the sink and went back to the cereal. I needed the strength to deal with Damon this morning. For someone who’s barely had any sleep he was rather chirpy.
He took a seat opposite me again but I didn’t bother to look up. My eyes were fixed on my plate the entire time.
“How long are you going to keep this up?” He asked again.
I chewed quietly, saying nothing but I was already boiling up on the inside.
“Come on, Lisa.” He begged.
I heard him release a long breath, I could tell he was losing his patience, “Look, I understand why you might be upset but I did what I had to do.”
My eyes burned holes into his pretty face, and I raised a disapproving brow at him.
“What? I have no regrets. If it happens again, I would do the exact same thing.”
Ï suddenly lost my appetite. “Even if I turn a blind eye to you beating up a guy for just winking at me. I wouldn’t forgive you for sending everyone home after ruining their dinner. You were wrong. How can you not see that!” I shouted. I think I might need another mug of coffee.
“What do you want from me Lisa? What? I’m supposed to fold my arms and watch him disrespect you?” His jaw tightened.
I shook my head in disbelief, “You are deviating from the point. It wasn’t about me. It was all you, Damon. It was about how you felt about what he did.”
That shut him up. At least for now.
After a long stretch of silence, I asked. “What if I wasn’t there to stop you? What would have happened?” I sighed. “You need to get a hold of your temper. It burns too hot.” I finally say, standing from the chair.
Damon watched my movements, quietly but he didn’t say anything.
I disposed of the soggy leftover cereal and cleared the sink but Damon remained in his seat. Quietly watching. He had been quiet for too long. No comeback. No half-hearted excuse. Nah. That was never a good sign.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“The restaurant. He said, titling his head to the side and studying me.
“What about it?”I asked.
With a maddening calm that made me want to aim my cereal bowl at him rather than the plate rack, he said, “It’s mine now.”