The elevator door opened, and Elena Gilbert walked towards her reception desk. The click of her heels was the only sound echoing through the empty offices. She clutched the cup of coffee in her hand almost desperately, relying on it to get her through a long day. She shouldn't complain. She should be grateful to have a decent paying job. But, it was Monday, and she would rather be at home in bed, curled up with a book than be stuck here all day. She had been looking for a new job for a month now. Truth be told, she was too damn stubborn to leave this place. That would mean that he had won, and she couldn't have that.

Getting out of bed on Monday morning was not an easy task for Elena. How much easier it must be to be a man, she reflected not for the first time. No makeup to apply, no hair to straighten, no legs to shave. They didn't even have to sit to pee, the lazy bastards. Just shower, shave, wham-bam, out the door in ten minutes.

"Good morning, sir," Elena greeted Alaric Saltzman, one of the four lawyers who worked at the firm.

"Morning, Elena," he said, smiling warmly as he stopped by her desk. "Did you bring me my coffee?"

"Did you bring me my chocolate?" She fired back, a private joke between them. When she first started working as a legal receptionist at the firm, the men would ask her to bring them coffee every morning, which wasn't in her job description. At least, she didn't think it was, nor did she want it to be. She told them if they expected coffee, she better be getting something in return, because they were all equal in the workplace. Luckily, they found her amusing, and she got to keep her job.

"Tomorrow," Alaric replied, grinning. "When is my first client due again?"

Elena looked at her watch. "You have thirty minutes."

Alaric nodded and entered his office, closing the door behind him. Two more of the lawyers arrived, and she wished them a good morning, then opened her laptop and turned it on. When he arrived, however, she didn't bother to look up. Yes, Damon Salvatore was also a lawyer here, and yes, he was good at what he does. He was a criminal lawyer and, at thirty years old, he had done extremely well for himself. But that didn't mean she had to like him.

"Elena," Damon said, and she pretended that the deep baritone of his voice didn't have any effect on her. She was really good at that, pretending.

"Mr Salvatore," she said, still not looking up at him. She knew she was rude. She, essentially, worked for this man, and he could have her fired, but he hadn't yet. Elena didn't know why—guilt, probably. Maybe he just liked to torture her. He was a bastard anyway.

Damon sighed and put a folder on her desk. "New client. Can you add her details to the system?"

Elena nodded, reaching out for the file. When she grabbed it though, he put his hand on top of hers, stopping her movement. She raised her gaze, their eyes locking. His blue-grey eyes looked back at her, framed in thick lashes, assessing, always assessing. His dark brown, almost black hair was growing a little too long, and in need of a trim, but he managed to pull it off. He was wearing a crisp white shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and she knew that shirt probably cost more than she made in a week. With striking, intense blue-grey eyes contrasting wonderfully against darkened lashes and eyebrows, a "bad boy" smile, Damon Salvatore could be described as relatively athletic, tall, strong, sexy and seductive. This man was a danger to women. He was the one who should be locked away.

"Let me go," she demanded, now looking down at their hands, keeping her expression impassive. "I don't remember giving you permission to touch me."

He looked almost sad for a moment, before he shielded it. He let go of her hand—reluctantly, it seemed. "Are you always going to be like this? It has been a week. Why don't you just—"

"Why don't you just walk into your office and leave me alone," Elena said quietly, so no one else could overhear. She forced a fake smile on her face. "Your first client will be here soon. Have a nice day, Mr Salvatore. If I'm lucky, today is the day you will be run over by a car."

His jaw hardened, and he opened his mouth to say something, but then thought better of it. Instead, he walked into his office, closing the door behind him harder than he needed to.

How mature.

Well, was she surprised?

No.

Because he was a bastard.

She picked up her coffee and brought it to her lips, taking a long sip.

He had a bad reputation. She should have known better to get involved with him.

She was being silly and reckless.

Why?

Maybe it was those eyes.

Most probably it was his body.

Or maybe it was his quick wit, easy charm and the way he made her feel so at ease.

Damon Salvatore was the reason Elena now hated her job, but he was also the reason she wouldn't quit. If she did, he would know it was because of what happened between them, and she couldn't let that happen. No, she just needed to forget all about him. He was nothing to her now, just someone she used to know. Someone she once trusted.

Someone who broke her heart.

To all my readers, this is my new Delena story. I'm hoping I can bring out the chemistry and dynamics of Delena in this new story again. This story won't be very dramatic - it will be strictly about Damon and Elena's relationship. Hopefully you guys/gals will still like it:)

I can't thank you guys/gals for all the support and kind reviews that I have received so far!