First off I would like to thank everyone who decided to read this, and putting this on alerts. It makes me smile so big when I get an email :) And thank you to my amazing, amazing beta, Brynne, who feeds me wonderful ideas, and supports me so much :D Thank for the wonderful comments too! :D

& Elena's outfit is located here: lexosmolderhalderx dot polyvore dot com


CHAPTER 3; sink or swim.

Walking into the large building by herself, Elena lowered her head as thoughts ran through her head at an alarming pace. It wasn't that she was ashamed; she was just at his mercy now and that worried her greatly. He had the power make or break her company.

She took the elevator in silence, and walked through to her office breathing a sigh of relief as she saw Caroline sitting at her main desk.

"How did lunch go?" she questioned. Elena couldn't help but appreciate the concern Caroline showed her on a daily basis. The girl had her back no matter what, and she loved her immensely for it.

"Can you come to my office with me, please?" Elena sighed, rubbing her temples in a circular motion. Her distressed mind was overrun by thoughts of the elusive 'Shark', and the events of that day.

Bubbly Caroline walked into her office following behind Elena, and shut the door quickly.

"What's up?" she asked.

"That man," she clenched her teeth as she talked to Caroline.

"What happened between you two, 'Lena?" she questioned. Caroline grimaced at her friend. Elena leaned up against her desk and proceeded to tell her every little detail about what had happened.

"Damon Salvatore is what happened. He's so arrogant all the time; you know lunch added up to over 200 dollars, for which he refused to allow me to pay for myself. Then, in the deal he wanted 70/30 in the shares of the company, asking for more just like you said he would. I told him absolutely not, and eventually caved in at 50/50," she rambled.

"Well, that's still okay right?" she questioned. Elena sighed and stood up immediately, beginning to walk backwards and forwards across her office. Caroline leaned against Elena's desk and watched the troubled woman walk around until she finally stopped and turned to the blonde.

Elena hung her head in shame. "No, he still has power in this company; a 50/50 means all the deals need to be approved by both of us." she bit out, in sheer frustration. "What is his problem, anyway? I mean, seriously, he kept looking at me with those icy blues. I feel like he was ready to seduce me by looking right into my soul."

"Can't blame him, you guys would be hot together." she smiled devilishly.

"Caroline Forbes. I did not just hear that." Elena said throwing up her hands in angst.

Caroline giggled. "Sure you didn't. Let's face it, though; he's hot. Damon Salvatore is sex on legs." she said teasingly.

"Whatever, I guess you could say he is. He's very attractive…especially when he smirks," she groaned at the fact that she was obviously affected by him. Suddenly Caroline was motioning for Elena to cut it out, but she continued unknowingly, "There happy? I said it. He affects me far more than I let on; now it's out in the open!" As she said this, Elena wondered what Caroline was waving her arms for.

"I'm not happy, 'Lena, but he probably is," she murmured pointing behind the woman.

Elena spun around quickly, dread in her heart because she already knew it was him before their eyes met. Damon was leaning up against the door frame with his arms crossed.

"So I am very attractive, huh? Do tell me more," he snickered.

"You don't have enough decency to knock?" she gasped out as her cheeks reddened in embarrassment.

He smirked, "Well, Elena, if I did, then I wouldn't know about all your naughty little fantasies."

Elena huffed, "What do you want, Mr. Salvatore?"

Damon chuckled, "I need you to sign these papers. This is the contract; I just need you to look it over and finalize it with me."

"Elena, I have some work to do, if you'll excuse me," Caroline smiled at them both, feeling the obvious tension in the room, and closed the glass door behind her.

Elena grimaced at the thought of being left alone with him, and reminded herself to thank Caroline for nothing. She looked at Damon.

"So? On with it, then." she demanded.

"Oh, dominant, aren't we?" he quietly chuckled to himself.

"You aren't helping this situation run smoothly with those kinds of comments." she snapped; obviously not amused by his antics.

He rolled his eyes, "Can't take a joke I see?"

"I don't joke; especially not about this." she muffled.

She sighed and leaned back in her chair, as he took the seat across from her whilst adopting a professional air. He explained every detail of the things to come, and his main ideas for helping to increase the company's sales, and in turn their profit. Every paragraph was explained to Elena is thorough detail; Damon showed Elena how everything would work in the favor of Miranda and Co. if his deal was to be taken.

When Elena next looked at the clock, it read 5:30 pm. She sighed and sat up in her seat stretching, noticing out of the corner of her eye as his started to roam her figure. He did not discontinue talking however, and Elena pretended not to notice his attentions.

"Alright, we're done. Just sign this one last line, and we can get out of here." he grinned, handing her the ball point pen in his hand. They're fingers brushes when she took it and Elena felt as Goosebumps travelled up her arm. She pulled her hand back quickly and stared at the pages intently as to avoid his penetrating stare. She exhaled gruffly before signing quickly on the dotted line by his elegant script.

"There," she said as she finished laying down the pen, "Welcome aboard, Mr. Salvatore." Elena reached out her hand reluctantly; hoping that he wouldn't accept it so her reaction to his touch would not become so obvious.

Unfortunately, his hand reached out and slid comfortably around hers.

"Oh, so you're officially swimming with the sharks now?" Damon teased, and for a moment she didn't think his statement had anything to do with their deal. Ignoring the sensations she felt, she waited as he finally let go of her hand and gathered his books and shoulder bag full of documents.

Elena was silent, crossing her arms.

"Well, I'll be here tomorrow to get started then." he smirked almost at the door.

"Wipe that smug smirk off your face, Salvatore." she stated.

"Why? You seemed to like it well enough earlier, if I recall correctly."

Before she could even think about her actions, she removed her high heel shoe swift and threw across the room, aiming at Damon. He ducked, laughing in slight surprise at her actions, and left her office quickly.

Elena hobbled over to get her shoe, and as she proceeded to grab it from the floor, she looked up through her transparent door to see Damon still standing there, still smirking at her. "Really?" she shrieked, although a smile threatened to break across her own face.

She held her shoe up in the air, as her eyes threatened to wipe the smirk from his face, but of course it only widened. She strode the extra few steps the door it; seeing him try to run down the hallway and out of sight before she made it.

Elena sent the shoe flying - hitting Damon in the back. He shook his head and turned around slowly, his lip twitching from suppressed laughter.

"Is throwing things at me going to be a common occurrence with you?" he questioned, bending down and picking up her shoe off the floor.

"Depends if you keep being an ass." she challenged, with a sarcastic smile crossing her face.

He walked up to her, and handed Elena's shoe back. Her doe eyes met his icy stare. "Maybe if I'm lucky, you'll be throwing yourself at me someday."

Elena glared at Damon and scoffed, turning to walk back to her office. Passing Caroline's desk on the way there, she heard the chair squeak and heels following her into the office.

"What Caroline?" she sighed sitting back down in her leather chair.

"He likes you," she stated, wagging her eyebrows. Elena knew that look that Caroline gave her. She assumed just because she and Damon fought, that she automatically had a thing for him built from sexual tension Elena refused to acknowledge.

"The hell you say! He is just a world class dick," she defended herself.

"Do you like him? Because I have to say, you look like Cupid just shot at you with a love arrow," Caroline teased.

Elena sat back in her chair quickly and stared at Caroline. "I do not under any circumstances, like Damon Salvatore. The only reason he is here is because I have no other choice." she pushed in a defensive manner.

Caroline giggled and cocked one of her eyebrows. Eventually she shrugged to Elena, and gave up on that line of interrogation, turning to go back to her desk; her beautiful curls bounced over her shoulder. She knew Elena had a hard time keeping her feelings under wraps, and that eventually everything would come spilling out.

"Oh! That reminds me!" Caroline spun around walking back towards Elena's desk.

"Yes, Caroline?" she grumbled staring at papers lying on her desk and not looking up in hopes that the blonde would not pursue the previous matter.

"Don't forget, the celebration we're throwing for Bonnie Bennett, because her new book was so successful. Elena the dance, remember?" Caroline tried to stir Elena's thoughts.

Elena realized immediately, and shuttered. "What are you implying?"

"Maybe you should ask Damon to come with you." Caroline suggested softly.

"What? I told you I didn't like him, Care," she muttered, speaking through her teeth. Elena felt her breath lodged in her throat.

Caroline smiled uneasy. "He is a part of the company now, so it wouldn't hurt. Maybe he could get sales going. These conventions are a great way to form business alliances; all the big shots will be there."

Elena sighed.

"Whatever, I'll think about it." She stated finally, defeat already tainting her words.

All she could imagine was Damon making a big deal over everything. It sickened her. The celebrations for her authors were Elena's favorite event; they were important to her because they showed the accomplishments that were happening, and have her hope for the company's future.

"Elena, the party is tomorrow night. You have got to be there for Bonnie, and if he doesn't get an invite - it's not going to be pretty. It's basically his company too now, and he deserves to know what's going on." Caroline spoke hesitantly.

The blonde had stated what Elena knew deep down, but refused to acknowledge. Elena nodded at her friend solemnly, and watched as Caroline exited her office quickly. She hung her head in grief, trying to get him out of her head.

He is going to play you, Elena. Every way he can. Her brain was on a rollercoaster ride of conflicting emotions and she couldn't stop a breath. She knew she had to watch her back at every second, knowing that with the effect he had on her, Damon could trip her by his charm. Elena could already feel that she was beginning to fall, and needed to catch herself before she completely fell in.

As the clock on her brown wall struck 6:00pm, Elena decided to finally head home. She wasn't too happy about today, and all she could think of was the fact that she now had to see him tomorrow too.


Elena unlocked the door to her condominium, and sighed as she walked in, flicking on a table lamp nearby for some light. Throwing her purse quickly on her couch, she headed to the kitchen and pulled off the high heels, discarding them to the side. Her fear had finally set in, but she only knew this would make her a stronger businesswoman.

She couldn't let Damon win; It wasn't in her nature, or her blood. Her father wouldn't want her to hand the company over to some greedy, manipulative tycoon. Even if he only owned half the company, Elena felt as though he was trying to consume it all; including her.

The clock on the microwave read 6:34 pm. This was going to be a very long night.

Searching her fridge intently, Elena looked for any kind of food she might have, as her stomach rumbled with hunger. She sighed when her cell phone began to ring, wondering if the day would ever end.

Elena gazed at the number on the caller ID, but it was unrecognizable. She cocked an eyebrow and shrugged, pressing accept.

"This is Elena Gilbert," she greeted.

"Hello, Miss Gilbert," his velvet-soft spoke into the handset. Her eyes widened, and she was silent for a long moment before she answered him.

"Mr. Salvatore, can I help you?" she questioned finally.

He chuckled. "What is the matter, dear Elena? Cat got your tongue?" he purred inquisitively.

More like a Shark, she thought to herself.

"You are the matter, what do you want?" she pushed.

"I heard there's a celebration for Bonnie Bennett's first book. Have you made plans?" he asked Elena straight forward.

"Well of course I have, I have to be there; I am the host after all."

He spoke up again. "No- I want to know, if you are going with anyone." he corrected her assumption in a deep voice.

Her heart sank. Caroline told him. "I usually go by myself," she replied honestly. It was true, though. Elena never went with anyone and she never went on dates. Her job had become the center of her life, and she was never much of a social butterfly to begin with.

Elena was quiet for a moment as she waited for him to say what she knew he was going to say.

He cleared his throat. "Would you allow me to accompany you?"

"You don't have to do that, I'm perfectly fine getting there on my own." she contradicted, before biting her bottom lip at the haste in which she had rejected his offer. Suddenly, a new side of Damon came out – a gentlemanly side that she'd never seen before.

"Oh."

He is upset. She thought in shock. She knew immediately that he'd genuinely wanted to escort her to the party. She was silent for a moment as she thought. It wouldn't hurt, I suppose. It's just one night out after all, nothing special. Maybe if she brought him with her, she'd be able to see him at work. With Damon with her she'd be able to keep a solid mind, and not be distracted by her worries knowing that he would be taking the opportunity to scout business clientele.

"But I want to," he replied to her silence.

As he whispered those four words, she closed her eyes in shame.

"Alright," she said softly. "But, don't pull any shit, please? This is a big night for Bonnie. It's her first book, and she needs to have this party to welcome her in," she pleaded.

"Done; I'll pick you up tomorrow night. At the office or your home?" he asked, going back to his usual demeanor.

"The office is quite alright." she smiled in a ramble; thinking of him in her house was just too much right now.

"Goodnight, Elena."

"Goodnight, Damon," she replied in a soft tone while hanging up the phone.

Elena grabbed her cup of freshly brewed tea, and headed to her bedroom. Damon ran through her head constantly and she knew she needed to fight it, but every time she tried it seemed as though her walls fell down. What if this was a horrible set up on his part? What if he was screwing with her?

Setting the ivory mug down carefully, Elena began to search for the remote to her television, but eventually gave up when she realized how tired she was. She couldn't fight it anymore; the day was exhausting. Curling up in a ball, she quickly dozed off.


Who doesn't love a cocky Damon Salvatore as a CEO? :)) Very big chapter coming up.

Thank you for reading!

Reviews are amazing. :D

-lexi xo