Chapter 6

Like cats on fire, Summer and I both return to our respective stations in seconds rather than minutes. Kevin had already dropped down on the 3rd floor but since Summer and I both are on the top floor along with Damon, he had to leave us alone.

I quickly arrange the tiny mess on my table from drinking cups and cups of coffee and paper works.

If I know one thing for sure about Diana Dolohov, it was that she hated any kind of mess. Any sort of mess led her to bursting out at anyone in any close proximity of hers.

I picked up the phone to let Damon know that his mother is here.

"D, your mother is here," I say as soon as he picks up and then as quickly as I called, I hang up.

As soon as the mess on my desk is sorted and I look somewhat professional and capable, I sit myself down to start working again.

A knock on my door followed by someone entering before I can even say 'come in' makes me stand up.

"Damon's new personal assistant," I hear Diana's voice say. My head is down which is probably why she did not recognise at first. "Look up, girl. What is your name?" She asks, crossing over to stand closer to my desk.

"An-" I start saying before someone else enters after Diana, successfully removing Diana's attention from me.

"Mom?" Damon asks. His face is blank, his voice sounds blank, it seems like he is trying to figure out his mother's intentions for being here.

"Damon. My darling," Diana says, her voice softening for her son.

"Let's go to my office. We'll talk there," Damon says, ushering his mother to his office.

I keep my head down the whole time, thanking anyone above for postponing the confrontation for at least now. I don't think I am ready to face her yet.

As Damon and his mother leave the room, I exhale a sigh of relief. If I was afraid of meeting anyone in Damon's family, it was Diana. Summer says Diana is harsh and rude, but she has no idea to what limit.

The first time Diana met me, it was on a sudden, unannounced visit to Damon in college. I spent the night in Damon's apartment since Liana Hargreaves, my roommate, had her boyfriend there overnight. To give them some rare quality time due to their long-distance relationship, I quietly removed myself from the premises.

Diana walked into us, not so discreetly, making out. The most awkward moment in my entire 19 years of life. Even now, that moment is still the most awkward moment of 28 years of my existence.

Damon didn't seem phased though. By the way he casually picked me out of his lap and set me on the couch, it looked like he was used to the fact that his mom just walked in on us.

On the other hand, his mother didn't seem so cool about this. She had a look of disgust on her face as she gave me one-over. I felt...dirty. I didn't look so bad, but the way she made me feel wasn't the nicest thing.

When Damon noticed the way his mother looked at me, that's when he reacted. He glared at his mother till she scoffed and left his apartment.

I was surprised that she walked out. I felt guilty, like it was somehow my fault that she was gone. I had given a worried glance at Damon and I remember him just tucking me in his arms and kissing the top of my head affectionately and in assurance.

Later that day, he had made me feel somewhat better by saying that he will talk to his mother and we will have an official dinner so that I could redo my first impression.

Lets just say, nothing about the first impression changed much.

Out of Damon's whole family, the only people that saw me and knew me were Diana, Damon's younger sister Elle, and Damon's cousins Raymond and Josette. The others might even be clueless about my existence.

I shake my head. I don't need to waste my time here thinking about the past. Right now, I need to build my kids' futures, and for that, I need to work properly.

After a while of sorting the rest of the paperwork left on my desk by Doug, I checked Damon's schedule.

I had already sent Damon's schedule to Damon but, knowing him, I have a guess that he will forget that he has a meeting in exactly 40 mins.

I think about calling him and letting him know. But, I can't be sure since, Diana hasn't gotten out of Damon's office yet.

I am not sure whether I should interrupt or not. As far as I remember, Damon hated talking about himself with his mother. Do I go there and risk the possibility of Diana recognizing me and save Damon from being interrogated to death from his mother? Or just sit idle, knowing he's going to miss this meeting.

And after checking all the company's data and everything, I kind of figured out that this meeting is of great importance.

'Oh f**k it,' I think before abruptly standing up and reaching over to the door.

As soon as I start to pull the door open, someone else pushes the door on me. My feet stumble and I am about to fall when an arm, a strong, muscly arm grabs my waist out of nowhere and steadies me.

I look up to see the dark brown eyes that used to make me feel like getting lost in there and never come back, staring back at me. My whole heart stops, and after taking a moment of surprise at this close proximity, I stand myself and quickly mutter a 'thank you'.

My mind is yet again reeling with questions that I don't have enough guts or in fact, rights to ask about.

Damon fakes a cough and gestures towards my hand watch.

"Shall we? We are already running late," Damon says and walks out the door before I can say anything at all.

I pick up the necessary things that I would need during a meeting and follow Damon out.

As I walk beside Damon, the rest of the staff stand up in respect to Damon. I feel a strange need to be alone with Damon. To do what? That , I am not sure about.

Damon and I soon reach the elevator, and that's when my absurd wish of being alone with Damon comes true. He enters first and I follow and as the elevator door closes behind us, I wonder why I would even wish such a thing as being alone with the person who is my ex and the father of my children.

Damon looks at me, and although the elevator is quite big for two people, he is so close to me that I can feel his arms brushing against mine.

I move a little to the side. Him being close to me brings up memories and feelings that I would rather keep buried.

As the elevator keeps moving, I hope that somebody will enter the elevator right now and put an end to this awkward silence that is growing on between Damon and I. If someone doesn't come in right now, I will end up forgetting the sick play Damon is playing on me and ask him the questions bothering me for the last 5 years.

Why did he suddenly break up? Why over a text and why not face-to-face like normal people?

When on the 7th floor, the elevator door dings open to allow another passenger in. I sigh quietly in relief.

I look at the person who unknowingly saved me from bursting out and almost jump up and hug the familiar man in front of Damon and I. Kevin. Thank the Lord.

Kevin casts a glance between us and then discreetly raises an eyebrow at me.

I know the question is playing on his mind. 'Why are you so stiff around the boss?'

I wish I had finished telling him and the rest of my friends today at the café that Damon Dolohov, the new CEO of Dolohov Industries was the father of my kids.

No one actually knew who the person was that broke my heart. I hated discussing him or even talking about him. So, naturally, nobody ever even knew his name.

But now, I can't escape this any longer. Damon Dolohov had been my past for the last 6 years, now he is my present. And although in a totally different way, I have to endure him and face the facts.

Doesn't mean I am going to tell him that he is a father, though. I know I probably should but, I am not sure how he would take the news and I am not even sure if he would even acknowledge it.

So, as long as Damon doesn't face his past with me, talks to me, or asks me about it, my lips are sealed shut.

Doesn't matter how I feel. I am not letting my kids get hurt.