Ah, hello all! Brand new story. It's been in the works for a whilee. This isn't edited much, but I wanted to release it for a tease. I'm really excited to get busy on it. Thank you again for everyone's extremely kind words for Hostile Takeover. It pretty much makes me smile everytime I see someone new or a comment. I hope you all love this fanfic. I personally do, if you haven't figured out, it's based on Taylor Swift's song & music video, "I knew you were trouble." It's Alternative Universe, but Damon does have some lovely secrets. ;) Thank you again guys! xo

Preface:

I guess it's the fact I lost myself. I lost myself in everything I did, and everything he was. I loved it. He's so much of an angel, with his smile. I was putty in his hands, with every action he did, and every secret he exposed. I was trapped, and I didn't choose to escape his grasp. I didn't feel like I should, or could. I didn't have the will. I knew that was for sure.

Chapter 1;

"What do you mean he dropped me?" I scream into my silver iPhone, walking around my apartment feeling flustered. On the other line is Caroline Forbes, one of my best friends. I could hear the heavy sigh exiting through her mouth.

"He is going to be Katherine's manager, you know, Katherine and her pushy demands," Caroline reminds me. Katherine Pierce was Billboard's hottest leading lady on the charts, and everyone seems to adore her…at least almost everybody. I roll my eyes flipping through the People magazine that was lying on my coffee table.

"I know," I groan in my most disgusted tone. "That's how it goes, Care. Two weeks before my album release and boom, there goes Stefan with some other client. I don't care, right? Stefan asked for too much in our contract anyway. He was too precise with everything I was doing with my life."

Stefan Jefferson. He's tall and charming, just turned 28 years old. I remembered our friendship as it was yesterday. Stefan was first starting out as a manager, for an indie recording artist, and I was across the hall of the condominiums at Hayden's Peak. He heard me singing one day, and boom that's where our story started. We both gave each other the push we needed to succeed in the cruel entertainment world.

We were a team, and I enjoyed playing on that team. Now, Stefan is playing with the major league of the recording artists, and dropped me when it came to a chance to advance.

Caroline agreed. "It doesn't help you two dated either…" Of course this is exactly why I have Caroline on my side in everything, bringing up my dreaded past, that inspired most of my songs. The sigh in Caroline's voice was depressing. "You know you gotta release another single, people are waiting."

I roll my eyes. Ugh. I'm doing everything by myself. Was my album not good enough? Did Stefan ditch me because he had a love for the pop princess? I feel like I'm going to barf up my lunch. "I know! Nothing is helping this situation. I should quit now when I'm ahead," I sound like I'm giving up, maybe I am. This is the change of everything. I've always wanted my own album and this is ruining my plans. "Write a song about this too…" I chuckled to myself, as the persistent joke between Caroline and I continued.

"Then really show him a lesson!" Caroline giggled to herself.

"Oh, of course it will."

"So, what are you going to do now?" Caroline questions me with a shrug. You could hear it perfectly, oh, and the nosiness.

"I'm meeting with a new one today," I sigh to myself enough for her to hear my answer.

"Oh really?! And who's that?" she egged on another question.

"His name is Damon… Tyler Lockwood was talking about him one night. He doesn't have clients at the moment, and apparently he's pretty damn good," I explain to my best friend, making myself comfortable on my leather couch.

"…Damon."

"Yes?"

"Damon Salvatore?!" Caroline gasps.

"Uh, I guess, so…" Was I missing something? I think I was.

"You can't work with him, that dick!" She screams as I yank my phone quickly from my ear, and place it on speaker phone, even though that is not needed at the moment. I set it on the table and listened.

"And why is that, Caro? I need this going. I don't care. I need this to work," I was tripping over my words, but I was dying to know what Caroline was yapping about.

"He is a world class dick. Damon has sold so many albums it's fucking insane, and he loves the publicity, and he isn't the best candidate for your problem."

I roll my eyes again. "I'll find out for myself." I finish picking out an outfit to arrive at Salvatore Incorporated. I wasn't too big on finding a new manager, but hell, I needed one. The building wrapped in a silver wall, and glass windows was out of this world. I, myself was shocked. I rolled my eyes again, entering the Valet Parking area, and handing my keys to the young man, who soon took my red '98 Chevy. I walked to the elevator, making sure I was going the right way as I entered. I pressed button 13 as it lit up, and closed the doors.

I escalated through the many floors of the large business building. I felt the goose bumps creep up my arm and my back awaiting my fate.

I waited patiently. This was a first for me. Was I going to have to audition in front of him? Would I be good enough? What did Caroline mean exactly?

Entering the business office, I finally spotted the room down the long hall, which read Damon Salvatore: Manager of Salvatore Incorporated.

I scrunched my face, and opened the door quietly, viewing the large business office. It was extravagant, and do I mean extravagant. This place would blow anyone away. There was a large, mahogany-colored desk, with a receptionist sitting behind it, staring attentively at her computer.

"Hi, I'm here to see Damon Salvatore," I lean barely over the counter as the receptionist glanced up.

"Oh, I see. He'll be through with his meeting in a minute. I'll let you know, Miss-?"

"Gilbert. Sorry. Elena Gilbert," I stuttered falling over my words again. Stefan's aura of plan of action was very much different than this. I had never had to practically beg for someone to be my manager. I have no other choice. That's the song and dance I keep saying to myself.

I find a seat, on the large white cushioned couch, and place my sweaty hands in my lap. My time seemed to tick slowly, so I gaze around admiring the many things plastered on the walls before me. There were plaques, and golden records lining the whole wall. I was flabbergasted by this man.

"Damon Salvatore will see you now."

I snapped out of my daydreams, and removed myself from the couch. I enter his office, and found out quickly of how much he was liked and hated. This was already moving too fast. I sit down, not realizing the man wasn't even present. Oh, I see how this is going to go. I'm dreading my decision before it even begins. "What are you doing in my office?" I hear a growl from behind me. My eyes scanned the man quickly up and down. His black leather jacket was an eye catcher. I felt myself gazing at him constantly. His pushed back, black locks were layered, and his smile was perfect. Soon, it turned into a smirk.

"I'm Elena Gilbert, the girl who needed a manager. I'm about to go on tour," I ramble, and then stop in the middle of my sentence watching him slide his hands into his tight jeans' pockets.

He shrugged carelessly, "So you want my assistance? Who did you lose it to, that Taylor Swift girl or Lady Gaga?" He chuckled to himself as I cock my eyebrow with disgust.

You're not funny, sir.

"Neither, it was Katherine Pierce," I rebutted.

"Ah, Miss Katherine, taking the entertainment world by storm," he roll his eyes, making his way to the leather chair sitting behind the desk, then propping his feet on the desk. Seems like a fan. NOT.

I stare blankly, then at his worn biker boots. "Isn't she?" I sarcastically threw back at him. I didn't have time for this bullshit. I was in there to make a career out of myself, and I need his help.

"You don't seem too pleased with a rival, Miss Gilbert," he shrugs while stating the obvious.

I could not stand Katherine. She had the media putty in her hands. I was quiet, and he caught on quickly to my silence. Of course, I didn't! Katherine got everything she ever wanted.

"Fine, what do you want from me? You want me to make you into the best recording artist ever? Or do you want the easy version of you getting famous like a snap of a finger?" he snapped his fingers and smirked. His blue eyes were piercing. I didn't like it. One bit.

"I just want to make a name for myself, and get my career going. I can leave if you want, since you are so uninterested."

He laughs.

I stare at him; actually it was more of a harsh glare. I could even feel it. "What are you laughing at?"

"How do you know I am not interested? I love offers. It's what I do."

What have I gotten myself into? He is not manager material. I'm just another client on his long list of singers.

I roll my eyes at him. "Fine."

That wasn't a very good answer. Shit. Gilbert, you can do far better than that lame comeback.

"Oh calm down, I can see your blood raging at me. I'm harmless, I swear," he smirks again and I sit in disgust. If I was an animal, I would have already ripped his face off. But I could not even do that.

"I do not enjoy being patronized, Mr. Salvatore. I am a human being," I rebutted. I didn't like him, but he might be my only hope. He was strict and to the point, and cynical. I hated everything about him, but at the same time, he seemed to know exactly what he was doing.

My eyes lowered as I planned on giving up. "That's better, put the claws away," he folded his hands on his desk.

"Now, please explain to me what music means to you."

His voice was gentle and tender. I was scared he was going to attack me at any moment. He was too sly for my own good. I was already dissecting everything about him!

"It's a passion of mine, it always has been. I want to get out there, and I can't without a good manager, and my other one dropped me."

"That's what I like to hear," he nodded.

I vision myself begging in front of him on bended knees, completely at his mercy. Tyler Lockwood knew exactly who and what not to deal with, even if this one might be the death of me. "When does your album release?" Damon asked.

"Two weeks from now."

"Do you have a single out?" he questioned. He was very sharp and to the point with his questions, which I kind of liked.

"I have a one playing on radio, and that's it." My stomach dropped. Stefan was so slow on the process of being a manager; I had nothing on the table to offer except a finished record and a single.

"Oh boy, you are going to be some work, I guess I can do it," he commented.

My body tensed up. I smiled unpleasantly, and nodded, "Alright, Mr. Salvatore."

"No, no, please call me Damon, unless you prefer calling me Mr. Salvatore," he whispers coyly. He is completely full of shit. I want to hit him.

"Don't flatter yourself, just because you have a bunch of platinum-selling recording artists under your belt."

He cocked his eyebrow and chuckled with a cynical-tone attached, "Isn't the saying, 'don't bite the hand that feeds you?"

I couldn't help but stare with disbelief of him. He was out there, in his own world, and probably never coming back to earth either.

"So, are you interested in releasing a music video? Or has that never crossed your mind?" he questioned again. He needs to stop opening his big mouth.

I was shocked; he was actually going to try to help me, even though he seemed to not care one bit. "That sounds great. When do we start?"

So what did you guys think?! I want to hear about it. Reviews are lovely!