Disclaimer: This story is based on characters created by L.J. Smith, as portrayed in the TV series created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec. All rights to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.

Author's Note: This story is based on a Mills & Boon's novel by Carole Mortimer, whose title I don't know in English (No copyright infringement intended). I read this many years ago, and this idea popped into my head just as I was finishing my story Elena's Escape. I still have two stories already going, so I don't know why I insist on starting new ones… I don't write M-rated stories, but this book would probably be just that. Therefore, I'm cleaning it up a bit, and changing a lot of the details to suit the TVD characters. I don't have it in front of me, so I'm basically taking the storyline as I remember it.

Setting: AU (obviously). AH. For the purpose of this story, I'm making up a career that probably doesn't exist. In the book, the protagonist is a painter, but I see Elena more as a writer. As for the characters, you'll get to know them as the story progresses. You will HATE some of these characters at first… Remember, though, things are not always as they appear… Enjoy!

Bittersweet Taste of Revenge

~ I~

Grey silk sheets, piercing blue eyes. They haunted her. Even now, ten years later, she could remember every detail of that fateful night. The excitement, the thrill, the pleasure - and the utter humiliation that followed. It had been her first and last sexual experience.

Elena Gilbert hadn't thought about that night for a long time now, or at least so she thought. The truth was, she would never be able to forget it. The reason she was reliving it now, though, was the call she had received from her agent this morning. Damon Salvatore wanted to hire her to do a customized biography on his latest mistress, Andie Star.

Over the years, Elena had made a lucrative career from writing mini biographies for the rich and famous. Her pieces were highly sought after, and now she had attracted the attention of film mogul Damon Salvatore. Her first instinct had been to tell Matt, her agent, that she was too busy to take on new clients, and she had tried to do so. However, Matt insisted this was too big of an opportunity to pass up, and that Damon Salvatore could make her life very difficult if he chose. Elena had no reason to doubt his conviction. She had experienced Damon Salvatore's cruelty first hand.

She hadn't wanted to go to the party at the Salvatore mansion in the first place, but her best friend Bonnie had convinced her it was just what she needed to take her mind off all the drama in her life. It was the last big party before graduation, and Caroline Forbes was hosting. The three girls had been friends all through high school, but had started to drift apart their senior year. Caroline had started dating Stefan Salvatore and basically dumped her childhood friends. This party invitation was a form of peace offering from Caroline, and it would be incredibly rude to refuse.

Elena's parents had recently died in a tragic car accident, and she was left in the care of her aunt Jenna. It had been a rough couple of months, and Elena agreed with Bonnie. She needed to take her mind off the drama in her life.

When Bonnie and Elena entered the Salvatore mansion, they were taken aback by the sheer amount of people in the house. The parlor was impressive, to say the least, and the place was teeming with local and non-local guests.

"Who are all these people?" Elena whispered to Bonnie.

"I have no idea," Bonnie said.

They were soon spotted by Caroline, who bounced over to them, grabbing two flutes of champagne on her way over and handing them over as she kissed them on the cheek. "Hi guys! I'm so glad you came! This is crazy, right?" she said, gesturing to the room.

"Do you know all these people?" Bonnie asked Caroline.

"God, no," Caroline rolled her eyes. "Most of them are business associates of Damon's."

"Damon?" Elena frowned.

"Stefan's brother," Caroline said in a 'duh'-tone. "You've never heard of him?"

Of course Elena had heard of Damon Salvatore. He was a notorious ladies man whose wife finally divorced him after years of him repeatedly cheating on her. It had been in all the papers. He was also described as ruthless when it came to business, and even at a relatively young age – he was 28 years old – had created a small fortune for himself. His wife, Katherine Pierce, was said to receive half in the divorce. With everything he must have put her through, she was sure to deserve it, Elena thought grimly.

"Ok, well, I have to go talk to some of my other guests. Try the shrimp," Caroline said and disappeared into the crowd.

Elena and Bonnie shook their heads at their old friend and started making their way through the room.

Elena was just getting a second glass of champagne when her heart stopped. Across the room, there was a man downing a tumbler of an amber liquid like it was water. He was gorgeous. His raven hair brought out the blue in his eyes. She was mesmerized by him. He looked so distraught, as if he had fallen victim to some great injustice. Meanwhile, there was sensuality to his lips, which at the same time had a hint of cruelness to them. Dressed all in black, the man screamed danger. Still, Elena was unable to avert her eyes. When his piercing gaze met hers, her breath got caught in her throat.

"Elena?" Bonnie came up beside her, snapping her out of her trance.

"Uh…"

"What's wrong?"

"That man," she breathed, looking at the space the mystery man had previously occupied.

"What man?"

"He was… he looked at me as if… he was undressing me with his eyes."

"O…kay… sounds creepy," Bonnie frowned.

"No… it was… um… never mind," Elena shook her head.

"You sure you're ok?" Bonnie said, eyeing her friend suspiciously.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just… I need some air."

"Ok, I'll come with you."

"No, that's ok… go have fun. I saw Luka before, he was looking at you."

"He was not," Bonnie blushed slightly.

"I'm positive," Elena laughed. "Go on, have fun. I'll see you later."

"Ok."

While Bonnie headed into the crowd, Elena went in the opposite direction, out onto the back porch. It was deserted and Elena leaned against the railing as she took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the cool night air.

"Was it getting too hot for you in there?" a velvety voice drawled behind her. Elena felt a shiver go through her, and not from the chilly night. Warm hands caressed her bare arms. "What do you say we get out of here?"

Elena turned around in surprise and looked into pools of blue. She suddenly found herself unable to form words. She didn't know what came over her, but she nodded. The man took her by the hand and led her around the house, over to his car.

What am I doing? Elena asked herself as he held open the car door for her and she slid into the seat. She could smell the alcohol on his breath as he got into the driver's seat, and it mixed with his cologne. Together, they created a heady scent and Elena felt intoxicated by him. This was ludicrous, she told herself. They had barely said two words to each other, and still she willingly got in a car with him. With a complete stranger. Ok, so he wasn't a complete stranger. She recognized him from the papers, but he was so much more in person. From the moment their eyes met across the room, she had known this was where it was headed. He was her destiny. God, could she be more of a school girl?

As he pulled over to a posh apartment building, the nerves started to get to Elena. He was taking her to his apartment, where they would be completely alone. She should ask him to take her back, she should tell him…

But then he opened the car door for her and held out his hand. She took it, not daring to meet his eyes again.

The tension was thick as they rode the elevator to the penthouse in silence. Halfway there, Damon's lips crashed down on hers and she responded instinctively.

The next hour or so was a blur. Grey silk sheets, cool against her naked skin, was what Elena remembered most from that night. No, that was not correct. The thing she remembered most was the feeling of utter bewilderment and humiliation when Damon declared he was going to take a shower and he expected her to be gone when he got back. And of course the folded bills he threw on the bed as he passed her on his way to the bathroom.

"What… is this?" she breathed.

"It's not enough?" he scoffed. "Honestly, I think I'm being generous. You should really work on your performance. It was all a bit… mechanical… to me. It was fun, though."

He disappeared into the bathroom and Elena gathered her clothes off the floor, tears threatening to spill. She didn't want anything to do with the money, but at the last moment, she decided to keep it. As a memento of the man that paid her 2 000 dollars for her virginity.

Elena opened her top drawer and glanced at the objects in the box she kept there. The bills he left her that night were still there, untouched. So was the journal she had kept during one of the most difficult times of her life. The memory no longer brought tears to her eyes; she had shut out that pain a long time ago. Ten years later, the contents of that box only filled her with one clear emotion. Vengeance.