A/N:
So a little late on this story , the reviews are so encouraging and the response is very over whelming. I want to thank everyone who reads and reviews my work. Scarletrose, blue herons, joy lande, jennagilbert7, tinhineneA, amazingaisha, mariahaprilmay, imarifirst, anne1994 and a whole buncha guest reviews that aren't showing up under story right now but I have read them from mail, thankyou so much. Read night and day and also give me ideas for that one , this one too because I am on a MAJOR writer's block. Here's my attempt though.
CHAPTER # 3
It was an hour past midnight now, the food was here much was a roast , some cooked vegetables , a pasta with a cheese topping and red velvet cake, when she saw the food , her eyes widened, "You-um"
"Well random guesses." He chuckled, "See if you are a vegetarian, we've got cooked vegetables- sweet tooth girl? We have a red velvet cake, interested in food that seems foreign but is so American, we have Cheese filled pasta- and the roast, I really wanted a roast."
She sat on the foot of the bed, "Oh so there is a thought process going on behind a meal."
"Absolutely." He grinned, "So." He gestured towards the table. She got up and sat on the love seat in front of the glass table the food was on. "Can you cook?" she said as she took a fork and started eating the pasta. He too sat by her side , "Under certain conditions, when I feel like it."
"Oh."
"Ahuh- what about you?" he asked with a raised brow. She shook her head, "No I am bad at it, Dad doesn't let me get in the kitchen anymore, I wanted to cook him a meal on his birthday, but I just forgot mid way I was cooking- guh- it was a disaster."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I was making him spaghetti , but with the sauce that I make , I was following this recipe Caroline forwarded , where I had to blend tomatoes and some spices , and I just dropped the vinegar bottle cap in the blender, without noticing and boom, sauce and spices all over the place." She bit her lip, "But I didn't give up, I called up staff, ordered a new blender, started over and burned the kitchen." She could tell he was struggling to not laugh in her face, he stuffed a lot of chicken into his mouth so he wouldn't laugh. She huffed, "Oh don't kill yourself."
"I am sorry okay, it's not everyday you hear about a person who is so absent minded." He sat back, his hand almost unconsciously started caressing the back of her arm, how he relished her soft skin, how greatly he wanted to touch it with his lips, he was so lost in that feeling that he completely missed what she had said, "What?"
"I am not absent minded, but cooking is hard, I do want to learn, everyone expected I'd be good at it since I was a studio art student, but hey, cooking is not art, I mean it is art, but flavor and appearance are two whole different things."
He nodded as she continued to explain, 'God she talks so much' he thought.
"So you're an artist." He interrupted one of her randomly thrown in story. She nodded, "Yes, I was going to college before The Michealsons started the stalking and dad had to pull me out of college, it wasn't safe." She sighed deeply, she reached for the cake slice then left it, "I don't really like to eat dessert at night, I get a belly ache."
She too sat back on the chair, there was an awkward silence for a good three minutes before he cleared his throat, "So the Michealsons, did the kidnapping really happen?"
"Not by them , by several gangs, first they use to send threats , then a couple of days ago, I sneaked out of the mansion with Caroline, we were going for the Vegas escape, but I got kidnapped mid-way." She bit the inside of her cheek, "And that sneaking out and getting kidnapped led me to being married today."
He rolled his eyes, "Get over it already."
"Get over it? My life took a whole 180 degree turn Sir, all my life , I've just been told what to do, whether it's about not cooking or marrying someone I don't know." She got up and stomped her foot. He looked at her with a raised brow, "Well maybe it's because you burn down the kitchen or get kidnapped."
"I cant believe you threw that right in my face." She huffed and walked to the bed, He too got up and shrugged, "It's the truth Elena, you need people to survive."
"So I need you? I doubt I need you, you need me!" she said in a loud voice, "You need me because without me, you would never have the Russian area which was until recently under Dad's control, you married me for you, who would wanna give up five girlfriends a day for marrying a virgin who isn't safe." She spat. He threw his hands in the air, "I would have that area, if not today then tomorrow."
"So why did you marry me?" she put her hands on the blanket and asked "So you can get street credit for screwing Grayson gilbert's daughter." When the words got out, she then regretted it because suddenly the air around them was thick and serious, he stepped forward and she unknowingly sank lower in the bed, he held her chin, propping her face up to meet his eyes, the intense blue did rob her off her breath, her shaking hands clenched in the blanket as he leaned down, "Elena you will not speak to me that way, I did not sign up to be stuck with a bratty sixteen-year old trapped in a twenty one year old's body, now listen clearly, no matter how much the area is included in this deal, I like to think aside that, I wanted to marry you because it was a good time to settle down, I respect you and I respect our marriage and I hope you do the same. I agreed to some of your choices because you felt pressured but that doesn't mean I am not in control, don't ever think I am not in control." She stayed silent this time, she couldn't muster up more words to throw at him and when he left her chin, he walked towards the foot of the bed and picked up his coat, he put it on and she sat up, "Where are you going?"
"I got a message earlier, I have to meet someone before we leave tomorrow besides you wanted privacy." He shrugged.
"You just said you like to think outside of Business and now you're going to 'see' someone on the night of your marriage." She folded her arms across her chest, "Not to forget leaving me alone In a hotel room which is not why my Dad trusted you with me."
"Hey I am your husband, not your watch dog, but security preparations are on point so umm enjoy." He bowed dramatically, she shook her head at him, "Okay. Good bye then."
(-HMHMHM-)
She brushed away the annoying hair from her face , the sunlight was bothering her and she was pretty sure it was morning, yet she didn't want to wake up, she didn't want to face reality that she was living a new life now but somehow she gathered strength to look at the time , it was about nine o'clock. She sat up in her place and reached for her Cell phone, Caroline had bombarded her with messages, asking her how everything was going or if she was dead by now, she replied to her in a message that everything was going fine right now.
The voice from the shower confirmed Damon was back from last night, which was suspicious because she was a light sleeper and should have been able to hear him come back , yet she didn't, she rubbed her eyes and waited for him to come out so she could freshen up, the bell from outside the suite made her groan and she got up to answer the door.
"Breakfast." The server said with a big smile, he left the trolley inside and asked if she needed anything, "No not anything I can think of, thank you." When he went out the door, Elena closed the door after him and turned to the food, she picked up a croissant and took a bite, her eyes stopped on the bouquet of red roses, she picked out a flower and brought it close to her nose to smell it when the door from the bathroom clicked open, "Look who's up."
She turned around and her jaw dropped seeing him in just a towel, wrapped around his lower body, his dark hair wet, his skin looked fresh and clear of any imperfections, water droplets running down his chest to his abs. "Uh yeah breakfast just arrived and-" she kept the croissant back on the plate, her throat was getting drier by the moment, "These flowers are-"
"You like them? See I knew you were a flower typa girl." He grinned walking toward the cupboard, "You weren't up so I picked out some clothes for ironing, hope you don't mind."
"Not at all." She still struggled with her behavior. "I really like the roses , thanks." She touched her chest to stable her heartbeat, he walked towards her , almost cornering her, she stepped back and swallowed thick feeling the wall behind her back, she knew that he was aware of his effect on her, he was aware that he was attractive because no one would be so confident walking around almost naked if they didn't know they were attractive, he grinned, "I was a little harsh on you and then I went outside, thought about it, you know I told myself how wrong I was for just expecting you'd be okay with this, I mean I wanted to marry you, but obviously you didn't."
She was surprised how he could say it so easily, like rejection wasn't tearing him down, obviously he didn't love her but people have some ego problem, her father sometimes had the biggest ego issues, he always expected people to do what he wanted, he was used to it and he expected everyone to be used to it as well, so this whole 'I don't care you don't want me' thing wasn't sitting right in her stomach, either he didn't give second thoughts to things like marriage or maybe he was just very confident that the problem was not him, that he was perfect.
"That's what I've been saying since the start." Her voice was almost whispery, "If we really want to make this marriage work, we need a step by step procedure, we cant just accept each other so suddenly."
He nodded and backed a step, "I am down for what you think is right for our marriage Elena, but don't think of getting out of it, don't think of an escape and definitely don't think of ways to get rid of me, I just want you to be as comfortable as you can be, so you no longer feel forced into the marriage, doesn't mean I am giving you a choice." He stated firmly, "I am not a good man Elena, but i want to take this marriage seriously."
She licked her lower lip and sighed, "I understand."
"Good." He smirked and patted her cheek, "Go get dressed."
(-HMHMHM-)
They both went down to the lobby to check out, Elena waited in the sitting area also checking her phone, looking around, she spotted Damon's brother with a familiar woman, they both were talking , but Elena couldn't See the woman's face, just the back, that violet dress was so similar to- She got up and walked towards them, "CAROLINE." Her jaw dropped as she turned the blonde to herself, "What are you doing here?"
"Elena uh -I ." she stammered on her words. Elena palmed he face, "gosh why are you here with – with my Brother in law, sorry what's your name again."
"Stefan." The man with shiny light brown hair and light green eyes answered hesitantly.
"Yeah what are you doing here with him? Did you stay over? Oh my God don't tell me-" she cupped her mouth.
"Elena please." She clutched Elena's wrist and dragged her to a corner, gesturing Stefan to go. "Elena look-"
"You spent the night with Steven." She shook her friend, "he's a bloody mobster."
"Stefan." Caroline stated after a huff, "Look Elena it just happened okay, we were talking at the ceremony and we just clicked okay and then he invited me for dinner and one thing lead to another."
"So that's why you were blowing up my phone with texts and no unlike you I didn't give in, although it was my wedding night! I should have been the one with- where am I even going. Look Caroline double dates aren't going to happen, because they are dangerous people, my father is a criminal , I am used to this life, you aren't."
"Elena relax I am not marrying him, calm down, he's a nice guy- we just hung out for some while." Caroline sighed, "Look don't get so protective."
"Yes I will, these people lack empathy and this whole having fun with a mobster might be a good idea but this will end up bad." Elena looked back and saw Damon looking around in the sitting area, she rolled her eyes snapping her fingers, "Over here."
"Oh I can see how bad your life is." Caroline said sarcastically, Elena raised a brow, "To quote my husband ' he's in control'. "
"Oh poor guy." Caroline pouted taking a step back, "Now if your Mommy lecture is done."
"It's not a mommy lecture Care I am serious." She called after her friend who had walked away. She put her hands on her hips, "What's wrong with your brother?"
"What happened?"
"Caroline and him." She clapped her hands . His face scrunched up, "Well someone actually had fun last night."
"What does that mean?" she snapped.
"Let's just get going." He let his arm around her , gesturing her to move forward.
(-HMHMHMHM-)
Was this them working on their marriage, she hadn't seen him in three days except at nights, when he'd come to their shared bedroom for two hours hardly, before he'd get ready and go somewhere for his 'meetings'. She didn't expect this from her marriage, she was limited to this bedroom, which was so beautiful, a large master bed near the large glass windows which completely occupied one side of the room, off white silk curtains, a reading nook on one side which was the second most comfortable thing there beside the bed, Three body mirrors on the wall near the door, a beautiful dressing table at one corner , right outside the wardrobe, a single Persian rug in the middle of the room. Though this space was huge, she was sick of waking up and seeing it all day, going downstairs to eat and then coming back to this room, she felt like a caged bird, more than she use to feel in her house, at least she had Caroline, After the Stefan accident, she hadn't called yet, Elena was done unpacking and arranging her things, and now it was getting boring, she'd put on a vintage movie, read but that was all she could do , with literally zero human interaction. Despite the staff this house was empty. She was reading a book sitting near the window , when her phone beeped, Grayson had brought her a couple vacation to Bora Bora as a gift. Elena checked the whole package , resorts that were built on clear water, beautiful mountains- the paradise island experience. It sounded like a good idea.
About At twelve when the door to her room was shut, she woke up, surprised she was still sitting on the cushions , she had fallen asleep earlier without realizing. She got up and sighed, "You're back."
Damon tossed his coat on the couch, "Your back is gonna hurt from sleeping there." He pointed to the window side.
She looked back then at him, "I fell asleep without realizing it."
"Well go to bed." He shrugged as he went towards the cupboards, Elena followed him there, he was unbuttoning his shirt as he turned to her, "What?"
"Damon- uh Dad bought us a honeymoon trip." She said shyly, "To Tahiti." He raised a brow , "You want to go on a honeymoon?"
"Cant I?" her cheeks turned red, he chuckled, "You have a platonic honeymoon idea now? God you're ridiculous."
"Didn't you say we were going to work on our marriage?" she asked annoyed, he unbuckled his belt and she looked away, "And now you're making me ashamed of this idea, it's actually a good idea. We will be able to talk, from what I have seen, you are hardly home, i bet you are home for an hour."
"So it bothers you, don't you hate me?"
"I don't hate you, I just don't like you." She looked his way and he had just unzipped himself , she groaned, "Cover up already."
He laughed, at her red face, "You cant look at my dick and you want to go on a honeymoon? I am sorry but that is ridiculous."
She turned around to give him privacy while she ranted, "I expected this, I expected you to not go through with this."
"Okay let me be very clear, I don't want to go." He stated, she felt him behind her and turned , she bumped into his body, he was wearing dark grey sweats and a black half sleeved V-neck shirt, "Elena you know how I am exercising my control over this new headquarters I was given at my wedding, and honestly it's a lot of work, so I don't think, I'll be able to schedule a honeymoon in." he explained in a calm voice.
"Then what other way are we going to understand each other?" she backed away a few steps , "Damon just end your charade of this nice husband that you have on, you don't care about me, at least be honest about it, but don't expect me to magically fall in love with you."
"What do you want Elena, you have everything right here, this huge fucking room for you to do whatever you want, you have safety, you have my word on not pressuring you into sex. What else do you want?" he got ahead and held her wrist tightly, "Now I ask for something and it is that I don't want to go. I think all you want to do is get out, you don't want to understand me."
"How would you know Damon, you know nothing about me." she spat and pushed him, "You wanna paint me as the bitch, go on, but if you think I am going to stay in this room for the rest of my life, being guilty about how I am not the perfect wife, it's not going to happen, I gave you a chance, you kicked it." She walked to her side of the bed and got in, facing the window side of the bed, he huffed and walked to his side of the bed, "Elena."
"Don't talk to me." she snapped, stuffing her face into the pillow.
She felt the weight of the bed shift as he sat on his side, pulling up the blanket on himself. She dragged her body further away to the very edge , facing away from him. It was like everyday he was becoming more of a stranger, was it in her head but he actually didn't give a second fuck about this marriage. She dug her hand into the mattress, shutting her eyes as tightly as possible, she felt so alone in this huge house, tears were poking at the corners of her closed eyes, where the hell did her dad threw her, and she was actually somewhat invested in making this relationship right. Her body almost froze as kept his hand on her side, she thought he was going to turn her towards him but he simply pulled the blanket on her. She pretended to be asleep as he stroked her cheek. Her heart raced every time the back of his hand would stroke her face, no matter how much she repulsed it, the more her body found it soothing and it was actually lulling her to sleep.
(-HMHMHMHM-)
"This is your equivalent to a honeymoon?" her jaw dropped as she saw the invitation card, "A horse race." She kept the card on the table continuing to brush her hair, he came to stand behind her , making his tie, "It's a very interesting game. We can talk, we can watch business."
She nodded, "Oh so you bet money on one of the horses, didn't you?"
"Not yet." He grinned, "First we go and check them."
She picked up her mascara , coating her lashes with it, "As master says." She said sarcastically. He sighed, "Look you're going to have a good time today."
"Oh okay that just made my mood a whole lot better." She gave a toothy smile, he shook his head cupping her face and leant down pressing a kiss against her head, "That's my mission for today, bringing a smile on the face of a cursed bride."
"At least I am not a twenty eight year old Don, whose idea of a Sunday is betting money on animals." She looked up, "Ouch" she got up and turned to him, "Presentable or do I need a gun on me?"
"Haha very amusing mafia jokes , get your purse already." He let his arm around her, she got out of his hold and picked up her bag, going towards the door.
(-HMHMHM-)
They were sitting in the VIP stands , at some height from the ground, for the first time she was meeting some people other than staff, she was seated on a seat by Damon's side, looking at the ground, in between formally meeting the people Damon knew. Stefan was there and he had also betted on one of the horses, "He is last year's champion."
"Champion changes every year." Damon pointed out, "besides his profile is kind of meh."
"Meh? Seriously?" Stefan rolled his eyes, "Number 9 looks good." Damon pointed out the horse, "Just put the other four down, everyone else doesn't have a chance."
Elena narrowed her eyes, "You're going to kill four horses?"
"No honey, we just buy the other four riders." He explained, 'The other are losers."
"Nope I think seven is good, I just saw some highlights from other races, the brown horse, he is good." Elena pointed to one of the horses at the near end of the ground.
"That horse cant win for shit." Stefan stated, "He won four years ago, maybe you watched the highlights from that."
She shrugged, "Well I bet my money on seven then okay." Thinking if she'd get a rise out of the either of them, they were already so crazy about this.
"you're betting money?" her husband asked surprised, "Yes I am, I am gonna go and invest in a good horse excuse me." she got up and went out of the cabin, She registered her about seven hundred dollars on the number seven horse, praying before she signed and put the receipt in her purse, she turned around to walk back to their VIP stands, when she bumped into a woman, tall , burgundy short hair, dressed in a white suit, she smiled at Elena, "Oh I am so sorry Mrs. Salvatore."
She smiled back shaking her hand, "It's fine, uh sorry my husband didn't introduce me to you so uh I don't know what your name is."
Although she felt like she had seen this woman somewhere, like in a magazine, she nodded, "I am Rose, Damon's ex girlfriend."
"Oh ah yes , I saw you in the paper, you're a model right?" she asked now some what uncomfortable in front of her , more insecure looking at her slender tall body, her sparkling eyes. Her skin glowing like light.
"Yes that's right." She laughed, "I did see your pictures, but you're so much beautiful in person." She complemented, "Where are you watching the race from."
"Uh- at VIP stands."
"So Damon is here right?" she asked in a friendly tone. Elena nodded, "You can meet him- I mean uh." Rose nodded interrupting her,Elena lead her to their booth but her insides were on fire right now, she was mad at herself for feeling this way, how was this woman so beautiful, why was she 'dying' to see her husband.
She got inside the booth, and Rose followed inside, "Hello Mr. Salvatore." she grinned wide. He looked up from a brochure he was reading , "Rose." He got from his seat, "hey." She went ahead and hugged him and Stefan didn't miss the way Elena's jaw dropped, she licked her dry lips, sitting back in her seat, giving them the side eye while she pretended to read the catalogue , she picked from the table. "I just came back from London and I found out you're a married man now."
"Well I am full of surprises." He stepped back from her, "It's not safe to keep tabs on me you know that right?"
"You get my curiosity." She sighed, "I met Elena outside, I must say wise choice. A Mafia king marries mafia princess."
"It's a good match." He grinned wide sitting back on his seat, "Stefan, you remember Rose right?"
Stefan nodded, "Who can forget such a beautiful lady." He got up to greet her, "Can I interest in you in a drink."
She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, "Why not, Damon- I'll call you, I need to talk about something."
Elena gritted her teeth, what was wrong with this shameless woman? She clenched her fists as Stefan and her left, leaving them alone in the booth, she dug her nails into the paper she was holding, "So umm care to explain?"
"Explain what?" he raised a brow looking at her, then down at her nails ruining the paper, "She's your ex girl friend? Why is she being so ' nice' to you. Does she expect something from you knowing you are married?"
He pursed his lips, "She is in the work, I used to get her work when we were together, arrange her stays at five stars, her agency put forward this big movie audition and then she disappeared completely but I guess that didn't work for her."
"So you guys never broke up." Elena blinked, she couldn't believe how she just showed up thinking everything was going to be the same, "So she completely left out the fact that you are married?"
"Things work that way, men in the Mafia have bunch of girls with them while being married, that's the case most of the time." He held the torn catalogue from her hands , "So she thinks this is how it is."
'That's not how it is right?" her heart sank
"Of course not, one annoying woman at a time." He sat back in his chair and balled the catalogue, his eyes on the ground. Elena nodded and sat back in her seat, "Did you just call me annoying?"
"Did I?"
"Damon the-"
"Shh it's starting." He sat up and looked at the lined up horses, "Number 9- what's your again?"
"Seven." She too looked at the ground, with a gun fire all the horses started running towards their destination, she took the binoculars from the table aside and looked into them, "Stefan's horse is killing it, he's up ahead."
"No freaking way."
"Ahuh." She looked into them again, her horse was lagging behind four horses, but slowly it was taking speed, or maybe everything else was slowing down, something was happening, "Oh my God Damon, I passed you, shit ! shit I am almost there."
He pat her shoulder, "Calm down squeaky."
"Yes- number nine is history, freaking history- shit ! I am almost no- number 5 is winning! Damon!" she shouted and got up standing by the grill, "You cant lose now, come on I believed in you!" she nearly fell down the grill looking through her binoculars, "Oh come on you pathetic shit- come on!" Damon held her hips firmly, pulling her back, "Elena sit down."
"Oh damn damn , he's catching speed shit! Yes , yes baby- get it!" she called a loud, the two horses were near the finish line when number five's speed lowered and Elena's horse got ahead, passing the finishing. Her mouth fell open, "Oh my god. Yes." She jumped up her chair throwing the binoculars, 'I freaking won!"
Damon got up his seat to make her sit down, but was surprised as she wrapped her arms around him, 'I won!" jumping up and down in his arms. He patted her back, "yeah honey good job."
She pulled away from him swaying her hips from left to right, "Haha you lost! Your Eleven lost, Stefan lost! His horse cant race for shit! You know who won? Me! I did! " she continued to do her victory dance, he sat back on his seat, laughing at her penguin imitation dance for a while, "You know what Mr. Salvatore , I will cover for your loss today."
"Thank you so much, that saved my life." He said sarcastically. She rolled her eyes, "I know I did." she took her purse and went to the counter followed by the guards, Stefan came back to the booth, "I told her to stay away, gave her a warning to not screw with Elena."
"Good." He up picking up his coat he had took off on arriving. Stefan huffed, "You're seriously such a big dick, you let my number lose, you payed all the riders to slow down didn't you."
"All the riders except number seven. She needed sense of accomplishment." He grinned. Stefan shook his head as he followed him out of the booth, "Someone's trying so hard to get laid."
"She finds out about this, she will literally eat you and me for dinner so shut up." Damon warned, "She is happy and that's what I wanted to do today."
(-HMHMHMHM-)
So that's it guys
Next chap will be with good action, with a lil romance maybe, p.s Kol's entry
Like it hate it? Suggestions?- review space is all yours, let me know.