Hi all! :) Here's another update, thank you for all the wonderful comments, and all the subscribers. You all make me so happy. :D I really like this update. There's not much I can say without spoiling it, but thank you again you guys! :D & you can find Elena's outfit on: lexosmolderhalderx dot polyvore dot com

- Love, Lexi


Damon found himself waking up to the bright window pouring in sunshine—almost right on cue. It was a new day, and after last night, he was going to miss waking up next to Elena. Glancing over, he viewed Elena sound asleep and peaceful almost tangled up into him. He gently leans down to kiss her forehead, trying his bed to not wake her.

As he slid out of her embrace, he heard her stir. Damon was finishing up the last few buttons on his shirt, and then his cuffs. "Damon?" she murmured groggily. He turned around and smiled at her stretching her arms.

"Shh, Elena, you need your sleep," he cooed softly. "You have work today."

"You're leaving aren't you?" she bit her lip and he nodded slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed rubbing her leg.

"When you are me, and you have a brother who is vice president for a certain reason, there's not much you can do when your company needs assistance. Stefan has no idea how to run a business. He has found some way to fuck it up."

Elena nods in agreement. "Can I at least take you to the airport?" That has suggestion, it surprised Damon; a new side of Elena.

"I suppose you can, that would be great."

Elena forces a smile she never thought she could pull off. "Um, let me go get dressed." She climbs out of bed, and hurries to her walk-in closet, searching frantically for an outfit.

Damon finishes tying his shoes, and sighs, waiting for her to finish also. She finally makes her presence soon after, and smiles again. "You ready to go?"

He nods, getting up, picking up his iPhone and his keys. He stops and pulls something from off the table and smiles. It was a scarf. A new scarf. Blushing, Elena wrapped her hand around the large, visible hickey on the side of her neck. Damon smiled. "Sorry, I get carried away sometimes," he whispers wrapping the long, beige scarf around her neck loosely. "It even matches what you are wearing," he jokes.

She smiles and picks up her purse leaving the condo soon after. Elena follows close to him to her car; even the short distance seemed long. He sat in the passenger seat, as she quickly got into the driver's side. Turning on the car, she looked over at him, who was engrossed looking out the window. The car ride to the airport was silent, not noticing how her heart was breaking.

"So, how long, Damon?" she muttered in a quiet tone.

He turned his attention to her and shrugged softly. "A few weeks to start out, depends of how much damage he truly did." Damon shrugs it off as if it was nothing, making Elena nervous to say anything else.

"Oh, I see." That's not the answer she was searching for, but at least he gave her an honest one.

He props his head with his knuckle and glances over at her again, watching her body language. "If my leaving is bothering you this bad, all I can say is, I'm out of your hair for a couple of weeks, you won't even know I'm gone," he said bluntly trying to make light out of it.

She stops at the red light and grins forcefully, "Yeah."

"Katherine will be there, all my managing crew is at the publishing company, you don't have a thing to worry about. There is nothing that can possibly happen when I'm gone. Don't worry, things will go fine, your business is doing better than ever. You're going to have more on your plate anyway, with all the authors and parties lined up. Isn't Caroline's wedding next week too? Really get your mind off of things the way you talk about how she plans," he chuckled.

Right, the wedding you were going to attend. Elena thought to herself. She was frustrated with him. Last night was wonderful and beyond her control of all the feelings brewing inside of her. Things were different, no matter how she looked at it. Damon Salvatore had the worst hold on her than any other person.

"Right, I will have plenty of distraction during your time of absence," she lied.

He smirked, "Good."

The rest of the drive was silent. She didn't have anything else to say. He was just practically her boss and that should be it—nothing more. A cynical man who didn't care about what he was doing or how he treated the person, but something pulled her back. The gentleness for one made her remember the little things he did, and the flirting, whether it was on purpose or accidental.

She pulled into a parking spot near the entrance seeing a good size helicopter. She glanced under her visor to look at it. "I assume that is yours?" she pointed to it.

He laughs, and opens the door. "One of the best things I have ever bought." Damon steps out of the car, wind blowing from the blades spinning furiously. It was ready to take him away.

She turns her car off, and walks toward him. "Stop pouting, Gilbert. It's not a good look for you," he said putting his arm around her gazing at the helicopter.

"Dean, everything set to go?" he yelled to the pilot.

"Yes, Mr. Salvatore."

"Perfect, thank you so much," Damon nods as the pilot heads back to the helicopter.

Elena finds herself only biting her lip trying her best not to cry. The raw emotion was eating her alive. He bends down to her level and smiles, wiping a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Don't cry for me… I'll be back. I promise. I just have to be away for a few weeks. I have business to take care of, Elena. I don't need anything hindering it, distance is a major problem."

She looked down to the ground as he grabbed her hand and smiled. "I can't imagine you not being here."

"You can do it without me. You have for too long, Elena."

It was lies; it wasn't the company at all. It was the fact he would be out of her life. Would he come back, or was that a lie too? Doubt filled the void beginning to create inside of her.

"Bye. Call me if you need anything," he said standing back up and turning around not waiting for her to say her goodbye.

Stumble through the long goodbye,
one last kiss and then catch your flight
Right when I was just about to fall
I told myself don't get attached,
But in my mind, I play it back
Spinning faster than the plane that took you

"Bye!" she cries out crossing her arms, hoping to God he heard her. He hears her faint goodbye, and turns around, racing back over to her.

He cupped her face and kissed her lips. Damon breathed out and stared into her eyes, wiping one last tear from her face. "I'll see you soon," he said to her in a sure tone, letting go of her hand, she had gripped onto as he kissed her. Her fingers trail off his fingertips and she stands there watching him get on the helicopter, not looking back.

Elena walks back to her car. She sits in the driver's seat and grips the steering wheel crying against her hands. This was probably the time she needed to head out to work, as she watched the helicopter rise from the ground into the sky and disappear quickly.

It bugged her terribly how bad she already missed him. She wiped her tears away, and put the car in reverse, driving off the airport's parking lot still trying to pull herself together.

And this is when the feeling sinks in,
I don't wanna miss you like this
Come back… be here.
I don't wanna need you this way

Now for the next weeks she had to face her company alone without her bodyguard and everything that comes with it—including Katherine. Maybe, she was building up Katherine as just a vision that made her afraid. She hit the highway to go back to work, not even caring if she was late. The closer she got to work, the more the distance was making her feelings hurt. For instance, the radio was her worst enemy.


Elena walked into her office, passing Caroline lifelessly not noticing her surroundings. She does everything like a habit not realizing what she was doing. She sits down and began fooling around with her iPad not being able to think of anything else. Elena found herself praying no one would interrupt her thoughts. She was too depressed to see anyone, at least today.

Soon after, her thoughts were interrupted as her door flew open and her other worst enemy was standing in front of her. "Damon leave?" Katherine questioned as Elena felt the need to sink into her chair.

Elena nodded softly, and looked up at her. Katherine was too intimidating for her own good right now, especially since Damon wasn't around.

Katherine giggled and shrugged, slamming her hands down on the desk and leaning closer to Elena. "Something wrong? Do you miss him?"

"You don't know me," Elena spitted out.

"Maybe, but I know Damon too well, and scarves are his favorite thing…" Katherine smiled in a sing song voice. Elena bit her bottom lip.

"What's your problem? Don't you have something better to do?"

"I was at work on time, sweetheart. I got my shit already done…not like some of us."

Elena rolled her eyes. "I was running late, you can't say you've never been late before."

Katherine nodded. "True, I was late that one time. But I must ask, why the scarf, Elena? It's almost 80 degrees outside; you can't be hot natured, am I wrong?"

Elena continues what she was doing on her iPad was Katherine rips the iPad away from her eye shot. "Don't pretend it's not bothering you, because it is. Damon does have a bite, doesn't he?" Katherine chomped her teeth together and smiled.

"What's your problem with me? I didn't do anything to you!" Elena defended herself.

"He found someone new, that wasn't me. He keeps me around for very clandestine-like reasons, have you found out why he loves scarves so much? Oh… I guess not," Katherine shrugged egging it on continuously.

Elena looked away as Katherine chuckled, grabbing Elena's chin and yanking to allow Elena to only be able to look in her eyes. "Was poor Elena just one of his one night stands, or did he make you feel really special?" Elena gritted her teeth in disgust. "Even his one night stands feel like queens, I've heard…"

Elena pulled away quickly and sighed looking away again. "Please leave."

"Oh, you have a little book to edit don't you? I'd get busy on that…" Katherine grinned walking out of the office leaving Elena wounded.

If Elena wasn't heartbroken then, she sure as hell was now. She was just a little toy in his games. Katherine and Damon had a past or have. Elena turned on her iPad's music, and automatically Patsy Cline croons through the speakers with "I Fall to Pieces." Maybe, Katherine was sabotaging every little thing that Damon and her had felt or discovered. Even if the back of her head was screaming out how horrible he was.

Soon, Elena had another visitor, but this time it was one of the two people she needed most—Caroline. Caroline had brought lunch from the deli across the street. Caroline raised her eyebrow hearing Patsy Cline still playing.

"Elena? What's up with the Patsy Cline music?" Caroline asked concern but confused at the same time.

Elena shrugged, "He's gone."

"Who's gone? D-Damon?" Caroline perked up setting the plastic bag on the desk, beginning to pull out the food platters.

Elena nodded again, seemed like the only thing she knew how to do today. "Is he coming back?"

Elena smiled halfheartedly and whispered, "Yes."

"Something else is bothering you, Elena? It's Katherine isn't it?" Caroline concluded quickly.

"Damon and Katherine have a past, or still have it…" Elena confessed. Elena looked up trying to not cry again. "I don't know why I can't find the strength to push him away. He's just a guy, but I can't talk myself out of him. What we have, what he does to me…"

"You're in love with him, more than you were…" Caroline blinked.

Elena leaned her head back, slouching in her chair and throwing her hands up. "I don't know what to do, Care. He's not around. He's not here, I feel a void inside, and it hurts."

"Katherine is probably just trying to get under your skin, Lena. She probably does that to any girl who gives Damon a second glance," Caroline tried her best to smooth it over, making it okay. Suddenly, a banner popped up to remind Elena of her new e-mail waiting for her in her inbox. She saw it was from Damon. It irked her after what Katherine had said.

"New mail?" Caroline perked up again. Elena rolled her eyes and raised one hand.

"Not even going there."

"That bad huh?" Caroline asked dipping her fork into her fresh salad.

"He's checking up on me, making sure I'm okay," Elena said as she began to unwrap her deli sandwich from the paper.

"So? That was nice of him."

"It's not nice, Katherine under my skin or not, Damon is trouble—always will be," Elena said taking a sip from her water bottle.

Caroline cocked an eyebrow, stopping her chewing and chuckled. She finished chewing, and looked up at Elena. "You honestly think you can keep telling yourself that? His hold on you is useless to fight. It's like me and Klaus. No matter what I do, I can't shake him. It's too powerful."

Elena frowned and rolled her eyes. "But he's bad news, Care! Klaus is perfect! He would never hurt you," Elena shook her head in disgust.

"Oh now, now, Klaus isn't perfect…but he's closer than some," Caroline giggled.

Elena rolled her eyes and shrugged it off. "Still, he would never, never hurt you."

Caroline shrugged with a sigh; staring down at her salad bowl, then back up at Elena. "Sometimes your heart knows what is best for you, even when you don't. This man has made you believe in love again. You have been so much centered on work, your life is passing you by, and you aren't even stopping to smell the roses."

Elena glanced at Caroline and nodded without saying a word.

"Answer him, if you have to, be honest with him," Caroline whispered, proceeding a sip of her drink.

"I think I love him, Caroline…" Elena turned her iPad back on, and clicked on her e-mail account, and began to answer him back, after reading his email one last time.


From: Damon Salvatore
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: Just landed…
To: Elena Gilbert

Just landed in California, everything alright there?

Damon Salvatore
CEO, President of Salvatore Enterprises Inc.


From: Elena Gilbert
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: ….
To: Damon Salvatore

I'm fine.

Elena Gilbert
President of Miranda & Co.


From: Damon Salvatore
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: Uh huh.
To: Elena Gilbert

I would believe that standing on my head, if you women-kind didn't use that as loaded ammunition all the time.

Now if you would, please tell me the problem, Miss Gilbert. I have absolutely no time for games.

Damon Salvatore
CEO, President of Salvatore Enterprises Inc.


From: Elena Gilbert
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: Fine.
To: Damon Salvatore

Katherine needs to leave me alone. I'm getting irritated.

Elena Gilbert
President of Miranda & Co.


From: Damon Salvatore
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: …?
To: Elena Gilbert

What seems to be the problem? I'm gone only a half-a-day and you both seem to tango.

Damon Salvatore
CEO, President of Salvatore Enterprises Inc.


From: Elena Gilbert
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: Nothing.
To: Damon Salvatore

Nothing. How's wherever-you-are?

Elena Gilbert
President of Miranda & Co.


From: Damon Salvatore
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: Busy, busy, busy.
To: Elena Gilbert

I see, well I would want you to tell me if my employee is doing something out of the ordinary.

And it's fine here. Los Angeles is extremely busy this time of year.

Damon Salvatore
CEO, President of Salvatore Enterprises Inc.


From: Elena Gilbert
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: That's swell.
To: Damon Salvatore

Very, swell. I have to go. Caroline and I have just finished lunch. I'm getting fitted for my bridesmaids' dress, and I have meetings for the rest of the day. I'll talk to you later. Have a nice time.

Elena Gilbert
President of Miranda & Co.


From: Damon Salvatore
Date: July 13, 2012
Subject: Thanks.
To: Elena Gilbert

Thank you for that, I'll talk to you soon, call me if you need me.

Damon Salvatore
CEO, President of Salvatore Enterprises Inc.


Elena sighed, and pushed her iPad to the side looking at Caroline still sitting there. The wedding would be the death of her; not being with him was killing her as is. She's completely in love with him, and Elena still felt the need to deny it. "He's not coming is he?" Caroline muttered quietly. Elena sighed and shrugged.

"I guess not," she felt her eyes fill up with tears.

"So you are going to meet me over there?" Caroline questioned as Elena nodded quickly shoving folders into her bag.

"Yes, Caroline. I have a few things to do before I head over to the shop; I promise I will be there."

Elena walks out of her office, locking the door behind her. Her phone suddenly begins to go off as she struggles looking for it.

"Hello?" she answers the phone.

"Hi Elena."


If you haven't noticed, I adore cliffhangers. And I also love some Katherine. :)

Reviews are love. xo