Chapter 24

Damon sat in the study going over the reports on a late Thursday afternoon. He had just dropped Elena off at the Grill for a night shift, but she got up early and did the reports before she had to get ready for work. She meant it when she said she would be taking her title seriously. He was really impressed not only with how well she was doing but how enthusiastic and tenacious she was about the boarding house. This may have been his baby to start with, but it was her's now.

The past few weeks went by very quickly. The ad Elena had re-written generated a ton of calls. Not as many actual reservations as they had hoped for, but at least the interest was starting to gain and they did get a few more guests.

Damon had only heard from Will briefly who explained he was swamped, but he wanted to discuss the business plan a little. He sounded like he was interested but was worried it would continue to struggle. Damon was kicking himself for not paying some people to come 'stay' for that weekend making it appear busier.

Normally he would have been more on top of things like that, but his mind was always on Elena. At this point if the boarding place didn't mean so much to her, he wouldn't be wasting any time on anything but her and getting her free.

Elena seemed to want to go the legal route, but she was looking for a surefire win before she jumped. He just didn't know how to get her that, but he wanted the guarantee just as bad as she did. He hated the idea of her having to go through the whole thing again. They had been doing more research and Jeremy was happy they let him help a little. Damon knew he really believed this was the 'right' way to go. Damon wasn't sure there was a right in this situation. He hated not knowing what to do.

She had been really surprised him when she seemed to finally let the rest of her guard down around him. He didn't expect it, but he loved it. He couldn't get enough of her. Without even trying she just oozed such sex appeal. She was beautiful completely naturally beautiful. But it was her desire to let go and be a little crazy with him that drove him mad every time. She was so fresh and sweet with this little wild streak, this fire that seemed to be reversed just for him.

The phone rang pulling him from his thoughts, he wasn't surprised to see it was Giuseppe. He just sent him the second batch of reports, and they were still in the red.

"Fells Church Boarding House," he answered in an over the top cheerful tone. "Damon Salvatore speaking. How can I help you?"

"At least you answered in an acceptable time frame this time." Giuseppe deadpanned.

"Hello to you too dad." Damon said with

"Why am I not seeing a profit yet? Six guests and one tenant in one month? That's unacceptable Damon." He said in a tried voice.

"I have everything in place now. The guest list for next week looks a lot better. It's not going to happen overnight dad, this is Virginia." Damon said.

"Have you raised your tenants rent yet?" he asked.

"He'll just move out if I do that." Damon said.

"Then you rent the room for more to someone else. Do I really need to tell you how business works Damon?" He asked.

"Do I? I have an almost empty mansion here and you want me to piss off the one steady payer I have?" Damon rolled his eyes. "Besides, he'd helping with maintenance things."

"You get a solid agreement in place for that." He warned. "he could fall and..."

"I know what I'm going, Dad." Damon cut him off, gritting his teeth.

"I will make good on my threat." Giuseppe said. "I'm giving you six months. I expect you out of the red. I expect a booked guest list through the end of the year and a steady increase in profits of at least 5 percent a month."

"Don't be unreasonable. It can take a year just to get an old place like this kick-started again. People are interested, just not interested enough to come all the way down here. It's going to take some time." Damon said.

"I don't think my expectations are unreasonable at all. I'm not asking you to make me a million dollars here Damon." He said.

"Been there, done that." Damon scoffed rolling his eyes.

"I'm not budging on this." Giuseppe said. "You meet the goals we'll reevaluate. You don't, I sell the place. You need this kick to the ego. You were getting far too cocky."

"Fine I'll meet your stupid expectations and I'll do what I have to do. Just do me a favor dad." Damon said in a cold tone.

"What now?" Giuseppe sighed in annoyance.

"Before you go to bed tonight, when everything is quiet, and you're all done counting your money. Why don't you ask yourself how mom would feel about you using her place as a weapon against me?" Damon hung the phone up feeling a little triumphant.

"That was cause for a beer." He decided grabbing his keys and heading to the Grill.

Elena listened intently her eyes wide as he retold his tale. She smiled and gave him a high five when he was done.

"Now just wait until you get enough money to buy the place." She smirked. "See what he thinks of his expectations then."

"Don't get your hopes up about that." He sighed. "I don't know if it's going to happen. I almost let it slip how I saved Stefan's ass. It's a good thing I didn't, but this casino thing is huge. Will and my dad will talk at some point."

"You just have to get to him first." Elena said. "Tell him to forget about the casino and put all his money on you."

Damon laughed out loud, he still had to go over the semantics of the business world with her, but it was really cute.

"He already has millions of dollars tied up in that and is expecting a huge return. The boarding house is like a side project to a guy like him. Since Melinda had doubts, it's not a priority, but I'm sure he'll bring it up the next time they meet." Damon said.

"Are there other investors you can call?" She asked.

"I think we need to focus on proving we can make a profit, first." He suggested.

"That we can do. I mean word's getting out a little about the place, I booked two more couples today." She said.

"More old people?" Caroline interrupted.

"Does it matter? I think it's romantic that all these older couples want to come and fall in love all over again." Elena defended.

Damon smirked a little, they weren't sure what the deal was, but the guests so far were rich elderly southern couples. They seemed to really like something about Elena's ad. She inserted a little story about how the place was magical and peaceful. With a little tag line about how any couple will find it is the perfect place to fall in love for the first time or all over again. He figured a guest was a guest, but Caroline and Matt needed some younger people if they were going to profit more from this.

"Tell them to get their drink on all over again too." Caroline said.

"Because that sounds like a great idea." Damon rolled his eyes.

"I'm glad you're both here." Andie interrupted them.

Damon cringed, when would this mistake just stop haunting him?

"That's my cue." Caroline scurried off.

"What do you want?" Elena asked steeping out from behind the bar to stand next to Damon.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry for how I snapped at you here. I was being petty and jealous, and Damon I honestly never tried to intentionally hurt you. I really did care about you." She said letting out a breath.

"I was clear from the very beginning..." He started.

"I know you were. I pushed things. I know I did that. I just hate that there seems to be all these bitter feelings and negativity. I have been steering clear of everywhere I go, just to leave you guys alone, for a while now." She said. "I just want to put it behind us."

"We can do that." Elena said, surprising him.

He still just had a bad vibe about Andie. Her little speech seemed as fake as her, but he supposed deescalating the situation was probably better then calling her a liar. So, he decided to let his girlfriend handle this.

"Really?" She smiled her fake reporter smile. "I'm so glad, I hated how things were when we talked. Honestly, I'm not a nasty person Elena."

"I'm willing to call it a wash if you really are moving on." Elena said.

"I am, believe me." She looked at Damon, he wondered if she was trying to gauge his reaction to that.

He gave her nothing. "Good. Then we're done here."

She nodded and left. Elena let out a breath giving him a look, she didn't trust that either.

Elena had to duck off to wait on her tables and he settled at the bar finding himself playing trivia.

"You know how much crap he gave me for that when he first got here." Rick interrupted him laughing.

"I'm practicing so I can beat your sorry ass." Damon replied.

"Good luck. He's impossible to beat." Jenna said.

"I could do it if I really put the effort into it." Damon said.

"Put your money where your mouth is." Rick said.

"Nah, I'm good, Elena will be off soon." He glanced over to see her carrying some dishes into the back. She turned and gave him a little smile and he waved at her.

"I should charge you a hundred bucks for each one of those." Rick muttered.

"What?"

"The cute little couple-ly stuff you and Elena do all the time; the same stuff you gave Rick and I complete hell about for months." Jenna said crossing her arms.

"Oh Please Elena and I are the exception." He said dramatically.

"What?" Rick narrowed is eyes.

"It's true it's because we're both so hot." He explained.

"Now he's full of himself and his girlfriend." Rick said.

Damon and Jenna both laughed. Rick looked at them for a second and then seemed to catch on laughing awkwardly. "I need a drink." He muttered.

"So how is my nephew doing at work?" Jenna asked. "You can be honest with me."

"He's doing fine. There isn't much for him to do. He sits around a lot. I'll let you know what happens when we actually get busy." Damon said.

"It was nice of you to take him in and mentor him." Jenna said her face serious. "I know you're trying to play it off and not make a big deal of it. But I appreciate it, I really do."

Oh crap, he thought, Rick took his mentor project comment seriously?

"All I ask is if he gets into any major trouble, you tell me though okay?" She added.

Damon's phone went off in his pocket before he had time to think of something to say to Jenna.

He fished it out, it was his PI, he opened the text message and his world came to a screeching halt in one second. Nothing else mattered. He was racing into the kitchen leaving a confused Rick and Jenna in his wake.

"You can't go back there…" He just pushed the guy out of the way and didn't even look at him.

"Elena!" He raced inside the kitchen staff was all staring at him looking startled.

"Where is she?" He thundered though the kitchen.

"Where is she?" he grabbed one of the cooks by the collar. "She came in here less than five minutes ago! Where did she go?"

"Let go of me man." He grunted.

"I'm calling the police!" A woman shouted.

"Just tell me where she went." Damon begged letting go of his collar, he spied the door to the back. "Did she go outside?"

He started racing for the door not waiting for an answer. "What's going on in here?" Caroline thundered into the kitchen.

He ignored her and rushed outside. The parking lot was empty. The panic was starting to rise in his chest.

"Damon!" Caroline shouted. "What's going on?"

"Where is Elena?" He asked.

"I don't know." She said. "I saw her like ten minutes ago, she's probably inside."

"No, she isn't, she walked into the kitchen with a tray of dishes five minutes ago and never came back out." He stressed.

"Maybe you turned away for a second and she walked out, she's really fast." Caroline commented.

"I don't have time for this I have to find her." He said his body was starting to shake a little and he was having a hard time remaining calm. "Call your mom."

"Shouldn't we check inside first?"

"Now." He snapped.

"Damon, what the hell?" Rick said looking alarmed as he and Jenna ran out of the kitchen after Caroline.

"Was Elena inside anywhere?" Caroline asked as she dialed Liz.

"No." Jenna said slowly.

"Then, where is she?" Rick looked confused.

"Mom you need to come to the grill now, we have a situation." Caroline said.

"It's an emergency tell her to hurry." Damon said.

"Damon who moved what is this?" Jenna asked with his phone in her hand. He grabbed it from her; the text simply said prepare yourself he just moved.

"I can't talk to you right now. I have to go look for her, just call Jeremy. Tell him to meet you guys here. Tell him to grab the manila folder out of my top drawer in my room. If he doesn't get here before Liz, you tell her it's Isobel's daughter that's in trouble." Damon said trying to hold back the tears that wanted to spill.

"Why? Please what is going on?" Jenna asked.

"I knew she was in some kind of trouble." Caroline looked like she was going to cry.

"Jeremy will explain it to you." He said. "I have to go."

"What are you going to do? Drive around looking for her?" Jenna asked. "The police have a better chance of finding her if you're here to give them information."

"Jeremy can do that. I need to find her before something terrible happens to her." He raced off to his car.

Elena woke up feeling groggy the back of her head had a dull ache. She squinted trying to focus she seemed to be in a basement or a cellar. She struggled to move and groaned seeing the ropes around her arms. Her heart started to race, and she forced herself awake. She glanced around the room sharply it was a very basic unfurnished cellar. Cinder block walls as far as she could see and she was sitting on cold cement. She was tied to some post. The last thing she remembered was stepping outside for a few minutes then everything went black. A door above her opened squeaking loudly and she heard footsteps.

Elena felt her heart sink in her chest; It's over he found me; She thought and then squeezed her eyes shut. She didn't want to see him. She didn't want to look into those black eyes and feel all her power get drained away again.

"Busy shift? You look like you had a rough night, Mrs. Morgan."

Elena's eyes snapped open at the voice she heard. Her fear made way for anger as she stared up at Andie who stood over her with a smug look on her face.

"You...you bitch." Elena sputtered out.

"What was with all the crap you said tonight huh?" Elena demanded. "I was nice to you."

"Oh, shut up Elena." Andie spat out. "I needed Damon to not see me as the crazy stalker chick you made me out to be."

"What?" Elena shot her a dark glare.

"I tried to be there and give him whatever he needed and believe me he enjoyed what I did for him." Andie said.

"He just regrets it." Elena shot back unable to hold her tongue.

"In time I could have made him happy, he needed a little space and I gave it to him." Andie said. "Then you came along and all the sudden I'm the psycho stalker."

"The impression I had of you came from what Rick, Jenna and Damon already thought." Elena snapped. "It's not my fault you came off the way you did."

"It was you all along. You came between us. I won't let you destroy him though, Elena. I won't and when he finds out the truth about you. I'll be there for him." She said.

"He already knows everything there is to know about me." Elena said remembering what Andie originally called her, the panic started to rise again she had to get out of here. She had to be smart here.

"Oh I doubt that." Andie said. "I'm sure he knows only what you want him to know."

"Andie listen please, he knows everything, and you know nothing. You're getting yourself involved in some stuff you really don't understand." Elena said her voice rising as the fear started to take over.

"I know what you probably told Damon and what you'll tell me. Your husband filled me in Elena."

"Whatever he said is a lie." Elena said her eyes wide. "You have to let me go. He'll kill me. I'm not just some cheating wife or whatever you think I am. Craig….he."

"I know what you're going to say, he warned me. Your John Gilbert's daughter and it turns out a better con then him." Andie said. "Craig told me all about how hard he tried to save you from that life, you and your dad fought against him. He told me about how your dad even tried to kill him. I know everything Elena. I know how you go from town to town finding rich men and seducing them, to steal their money and disappear."

"What?" Elena exclaimed. "That's ridiculous, he's clearly lying Andie. If I did that why would I be working at the Grill? I told you before I don't care about Damon's money. I'm running from Craig because…"

"Because he beat you," Andie rolled her eyes. " He told me you'd day that. He said that's part of the con. It's how you get people to feel sorry for you."

"Do you have idea how bad it pains him? That you go around and say these horrible things about him" Andie questioned.

"I know how good of a liar he is, but you have to listen to me here okay? Woman to woman. I am not lying. He hurt me bad, and if he finds me, he's going to kill me." Elena begged.

"He's going to take you home so he can get you the help you need." Andie said. "He thinks your behavior is the result of a compulsive lying disorder. I don't know why he'd even bother after what you've done to him."

"You're believing what you want to believe because you want me to the villain, here." Elena searched her eyes, hoping to find a glimmer if empathy in them. "…But just stop for a second and think about this. If this was true, then why isn't there a trail of men and towns or something? Why would I come to some poor struggling Virginia town? None off it adds up if you really think about it, Andie."

Andie eyes shifted for a second and Elena hoped it was a good sign.

"He is good at finding weaknesses. He was able to get a read on your jealousy and hurt feelings over Damon and he played on that." Elena begged her to see reason.

"I don't want to see you hurt Damon, that's not a weakness. You even talk like a con." Andie scoffed.

"I'm just trying to paint you a picture of an obvious lie!" Elena exclaimed. "But you want to believe it don't you? You want to believe that I conned Damon into loving me. It makes it easier for you to handle the fact that he didn't fall for you."

"You did con him you made him feel bad for you and you tricked him. You're good at what you do." She said her arms crossed and her lips pursed.

"I told him the truth because I didn't want any lies between us. We love each other for who we are to each other not because he feels bad for me. You can't help who you fall in love with or who you don't. I'm sorry you got hurt. I said it before; I know Damon has too, but this... what you are doing. Andie it's not worth it. You can't take this back." Elena pleaded.

Andie didn't say anything but stepped away a few feet turning away from Elena and crossing her arms.

"I'm telling you the truth. The truth is that Craig beat me, and he raped me and when you let him take me out of here, god knows what he's going to do to me. That's going to be on you." Elena cried, tears starting to fall rapidly. She had never said the actual word before, and now god what was going to happen to her? Her body started to shake, and she whimpered loudly.

"Just shut up Elena." She muttered. "He's on his way here. I'm not going to let you play me like the men you do."

"You care about Damon, right? He won't stop he won't stop until he finds me. He'll end up in prison or worse. He'll lose it when he realizes I'm gone, and he will hate you for your part in it. Do you want that?" Elena scrambled trying to wipe her tears and remain calm, but her warning to Andie worried her too.

"Once he realizes who you are, he'll move on." She frowned a little though.

"No he won't, because you're wrong Craig is lying. Damon won't believe you."

"Then he doesn't need to know anything." She said quietly.

"He's probably already noticed I'm gone. If he goes chasing after Craig looking for me, he could get hurt. Craig's a cop he carries a gun." Her voice continued to rise as the idea started freaking her out.

"Please you have to let me go. I have to find Damon." She begged tears falling again.

"I'm not falling for your crap." Andie said her eyes a little hesitant, but she hurried out of the room and Elena let out a frustrated sob when the door clicked shut.

Damon's hands were shaking as he drove through town aimlessly searching for something anything out of the ordinary. His phone went off again and he picked it up without even looking.

"Yeah?" He said.

"It's Jay." It was the PI.

"What's going on, where is he?" Damon asked.

"My guy followed him to the airport, he lost him after that, but there's only one airport in Virginia he can land in. I would guess you have about an hour maybe two." He said.

"My girl is already gone," Damon snapped. "Did you get anything on him? Who he could be working with? No one new had checked into either my boarding house or the bed and breakfast in town."

"He could have had someone nearby. I don't know Damon; we weren't able to get a tap on his phone." Jay said. "My suggestion is you cut him off at the airport but be careful. He's a cop man."

"I don't care, he's not getting his hands on her not ever again." Damon snapped hanging up his and calling Jeremy who answered immediately in a panic.

"Did you find her? What's happening?" He asked.

"Is the sheriff with you?" He asked.

"Yeah I filled her in on everything; she already knew Elena was John's daughter." He whispered.

"Just let me talk to her now." Damon said.

"Damon, where are you?" She asked right away.

"I'm in town still, but I'm going to the airport to cut the pig off at the pass. You're following me there and you're going to make him tell us where she is." Damon demanded.

"Damon I can't arrest him simply for showing up. I can take him in to question Elena's disappearance. Even that's pushing it, she hasn't been gone long enough and he's going to know that. He knows his rights."

"His rights?" Damon scoffed. "Forget it I'll do this in my own."

He threw his phone down angrily and sped off he could hear sirens less than a minute later in the distance. He figured Liz would follow him which is what he wanted. He'd blackmail her if he had to. This guy was going to talk, and he didn't have a weapon to make him do it.

Damon was halfway to the airport when Liz managed to get close enough to pull him over. Her eyes were lit with anger when she got out of the car. He noticed Jeremy in the front seat with the folder, which didn't surprise him. He knew Jer would do anything to help Elena blackmail notwithstanding.

"We don't have time to stop and chit chat, Liz." Damon said.

"You need to calm down. I told Jeremy and I'm telling you. I will help Elena and I'm probably going to have to stretch some laws a little to do so. You don't need to blackmail me. I want to help her." Liz said.

"Good then let's go help her." Damon hissed.

"I'm telling you right now not to go renegade on me do you understand?" Liz said. "You let me handle this. This guy could use anything you or Jeremy say or do against you and it could hurt Elena. You get it?"

"Yeah whatever let's go." He said impatiently.

She nodded and raced back for her car.

AN: Trigger warning for the next chapter regarding violence.