Marry me(Part 2)

Book One—(Chapter 11)

(Marry me—Part 2)

She panted heavily as she walked into the diner, ignoring the greetings from her mother's regular customers, going through the kitchen and up the stairs into her room, slamming and locking the door immediately before anyone could come up to check on her. Estella sensed the anger in her daughter and dusted her apron as she made her way up the stairs, the door was locked like she expected when she tried to open it.

'Honey are you okay??'. She asked.

'I'm fine', Ana grunted, 'You should go back to the diner Mom'.

'But you don't sound—'

'I said I'm fine mom', she snapped and nipped on her bottom lip at how rude she was behaving towards her mother, 'Look I just had a bad night at the club but I'll be okay in the morning. Love you'.

Estella didn't persist and returned to her work, Ana made sure she didn't feel any lingering presence at her door before pouring herself a drink from the half filled brandy bottle she snagged from Jacob's bar. After the crazy encounter with Damon, a drink was exactly what she needed—Marriage?? was he out of his mind when he said that?, she thought as she poured herself another shot.

Surely he wasn't stupid enough to think that the ten thousand dollars given to her was going to make her leap into his arms, she needed and loved the money but she wasn't gullible—marrying a man like Damon Wyatt meant she would have to bear living in hell, she was one that liked her cold. Three more drinks later and she was already on the verge of becoming drunk, she placed the bottle gently under her bed to avoid her mother's bickering, murmured a goodnight and then slumped into unconsciousness.

******

'There is something called a manner of approach Damon', Erica tucked her hair behind her ear to feast on her breakfast sandwich, 'You just don't open your mouth and ask a woman you barely know to marry you'.

'Well I had no choice Erica'. He raised his hands in mock surrender, 'What else could I have said??'.

'Maybe you should've started with 'Hey I have another deal for you, are you interested?''. His sister's brows puckered and he sighed deeply. There was no one to ask for advice except his sister whom he had to ask to meet him, her breakfast sandwich was a reward for her advice which he really needed at the moment.

He scratched the back of his head, checked his watch and realized how late he was for his meeting with some investors, 'Damn it. I'm late for a meeting, tell me what I need to do Erica so i can leave'.

'You're a grown man for heaven's sake Damon, you don't need your 19 year old college sister to give you advice'. Her brows arched and he chuckled as he kissed raised her hand to kiss her knuckles.

'I might be 7 years older than you but you have the mind of a wise master', he said teasing her, 'Fill me with your pure—'.

'You are the dumbest elder brother I have ever had', she chuckled softly after taking the last bit of her sandwich into her mouth, 'All I have to say is. You can approach this Anastasia of yours in a much more open space, she thinks you're a creep so it doesn't help in any way if you try to meet her in a discreet place'.

'Mmmh mmmh I'm listening'.

'Try to make her understand why you need her so badly and give her an offer she can't refuse. Once you do that I'm very much sure you'll have on your hands a fake wife'.

He kissed her on the forehead, 'God I love you so much. A trip to Venice for you and your friends sweetheart'.

Erica giggled with excitement as she launched herself into her brother's arm. He kissed her cheek again and stroked her hair softly, he was seven years older than her and she was an adult but she was still a baby in his eyes, 'I'd love to see Anastasia some day'.

'You will Erica', he smiled mischievously, 'You definitely will'.

*******

Ana winked at the old man after she dropped his order on the table, wiping a sweat off her brow she went back into the kitchen to flip the burgers on the grill. She woke up in the morning with a hangover and the scent of grilling burgers was the perfect remedy to soothe her nerves.

Estella grinned warmly as she admired how much of a hard worker her daughter was, then her guilt wavered in again and her smile died instantly. Ana noticed this and blew a kiss at her mother, silently telling her that it was all going to be alright and she didn't have to worry about anything when Emily rushed into the kitchen with so much speed.

'Ana's boyfriend is here mom!!'.

'What?!'. Ana and Estella both said in unison.

'He's here', Emily panted as she fought hard for her breath, 'His car is outside and he wants to see you Ana'.

Ana's brows creased into a dirty scowl as she knew exactly who her sister was talking about, there was only one person who could pull of a stunt like this. She brushed past the crowd at the diner's window, ignoring all the murmurs about who could be the owner of the black luxurious car—her guess was right.

There Damon was, resting by the car door, looking handsome as ever, 'Ana we need to—'

'What the fuck do you want from me Mr Wyatt?!'. She yelled, not caring about creating a scene....all she wanted was him gone.

Damon pursed his lips as he wasn't comfortable having a conversation with her with some onlookers by the window of her mother's diner. She certainly did look very much different, from her disheveled hair to the dirty apron tied around her waist and the slides on her feet—never in his life did he think he would find someone sexy looking like this....he found her appearance very attractive.

'You know what?', He clasped his hands together, 'I'm hungry and in the need for a quick lunch, so I'm here for some delicious burgers'. He brushed past her and into the diner leaving her transfixed on the spot for a moment.... rethinking her decision on not killing him with the opportunity she once had.