Outlook on Life

Chapter 7:

Elena

It was the day before Thanksgiving and Elena had agreed to meet Caroline outside the Salvatore bar so she could pick her up and take her over to their house. Caroline told her just to wear her normal clothes and that she would do everything else at her house.

When a black SUV pulled up outside the bar and the driver got out to open the door revealing Caroline, Elena realised maybe her estimate of just how different their worlds were, was severely underestimated. They have a fucking chauffeur!

"Hey Elena" Caroline waved at her as if pulling up with a chauffeur was a normal sight and maybe it was too her but it had Elena a little wary about her decision. Caroline gestured for her to get in the car which Elena reluctantly did "Hey" she smiled weakly at the blonde barbie.

The car ride there was about 15 minutes and for most of the ride Elena zoned out Caroline's chatter about the latest fashion trends and styles that she had no interest in knowing. Sure, she liked to get dolled up using makeup and a slim revealing dress to out and party; but this event sounded fancy and sophisticated, something Elena knew would be a one time deal for her.

When they pulled up Caroline grabbed Elena's arm and dragged her into their family home, if you could even call it that. It was the biggest house Elena had ever seen in her entire life. Hell it was bigger than her entire apartment building. The house had a warm feel to it, despite how big it is, the place was that rustic cabin style that you see in the movies. As Caroline continued dragging her further into the house Elena noticed all the busy staff and cooks rushing around the house.

This didn't look like it was going to be a small event.

"So, here are the options" Caroline held out her arms displaying the racks upon racks of dresses shoved in the large room. Elena didn't know what to do or say and turned to Caroline with a slight grimace that was supposed to be a smile. After a full thirty minutes of looking for a dress Elena finally found one she wouldn't entirely mind wearing.

(dress from S1 - miss mystic falls episode)

It was a simple blue silk dress that clung to her curves and tiny waist but gave room for her larger hips and round ass. It had a low neck line that showed off her large boobs. It was revealing but still elegant and in dresses like this one she was more grateful than ever for her natural figure. When Elena held up the dress, Caroline squealed again "It's perfect" she exclaimed escorting Elena into her bedroom to change.

The girls got dressed into their dresses and Elena wore her hair curled and down with half of it pinned up and her simple cross necklace that she had worn for years. The cross was so elegant and small that to most people it just looked like a simple chain, but to Elena it gave her strength. It reminded her of her journey, it being the first thing she had ever stolen.

There was a knock at the door and Caroline, dressed in her beautiful green dress went to answer it. "Hey Stephen" she smiled at her husband and let him in the room. "Hey girls, you ready?" he asked sweetly and Elena wanted to scream no but it was way too late for that.

When they left the room Elena silently followed Caroline and Stephen out into the party, it had rooms full of people she didn't know and didn't want to know. The one thing that would calm her was the crowd and for that she was grateful. When she neared the bottom of the stairs Elena stopped looking out at the crown and instead went to the people standing in front of her.

Damon was standing at the bottom of the stairs and both Caroline and Stephen were watching them like a tennis match, huge grins on their faces "What?" Elena frowned at them all, they were looking at her like they knew something she didn't. It put her more on edge.

"Nothing" Caroline smiled waving it off as she reached the last step in front of Damon "Hey" she smiled at him and he gave her a small smile back before taking her hand in his "I feel stupid like this" Elena whispered to him and Damon chuckled "You definitely don't look stupid" his reply was instant and she knew he really did mean it.

Everything was happening at once and Elena for just a moment allowed herself to get caught up in the buzz of people chatting around her as Damon led her through the crowd. Of course she understood the basic concepts these business people were asking Damon about and she was able to participate in majority of the conversation much to Damon and his guests surprise, though she still wasn't enjoying any part of this.

"Damon!" a woman in her late 40's approached with a huge smile on her face dragging along a tall man dressed in a light grey suit, the women pulled Damon into a hug.

"Jessica" Damon smiled back, one which Elena noticed didn't reach his eyes "Greg" he added shaking the mans outstretched hand. "How are you guys?" Damon questioned and they went into a boring amount of detail about their trip to the snowy mountains which turns out, the rich snobs didn't enjoy.

"It was horrid" Jessica whaled dramatically "And Damon, my hair!" she screeched as if someone had shaved it off instead of it just being flat. Damon patted her hand that was resting on his arm as she told the story of her 'nightmare worthy' holiday.

"Greg" Damon turned his attention to the woman's husband "How's the merger going with those contracts? what's the plan there?" he questioned effectively changing the topic to something Elena realised by his expression was a serious matter.

Greg nodded at Damon in though "We still need a location for the offer to take place. The plan is to offer them a larger amount of stocks in the company...we will meet their requirement with the stock but they'll be worthless stock accounts and they'll be stuck in the business with our terms and conditions" Greg informed Damon.

"Basically your going to screw these people over by making the a bad deal look good instead of giving in and just writing a small check because you'd rather be the sole winner than have everyone walk away happy" Elena bluntly summarised getting a glare from Greg but an amused smirk from Damon. God she was bored out of her mind and when she gets bored, her grip on her filter loosens; Thus getting the blunt responses she normally would be able to bite her tongue to keep from saying.

"I'm sorry" Damon smiled at her then back at Jessica and Greg "This is my date, Elena" he introduced realising his guests had ignored her assuming, like the other's they'd met so far, that she was just some hot bimbo hanging off his arm for appearances. Not the Elena cared what they thought anyway. Mostly she wanted to jab her fork in a few of the guests eyes for the condescending looks.

"Hi" Elena smiled sweetly at them with the fake smile that she had been putting on all night. Jessica and Greg looked at Damon surprised before stretching out their hands to shake her's. Damon had already explain this reaction to her after the second couple they met reacted the same way...usually if he has a date it's some girl he met at a bar or something that he only brought because he had too, not someone who knew enough to participate in business talks, let alone know the real meanings behind their strategies.

When Greg and Jessica finally excused themselves Elena let out a long exhausted breath "I need a drink" she announced looking to Damon who merely chuckled in agreement before leading the way to the bar. The bar in their god damn house! After knocking back a glass of champagne she felt a little better even though she would have preferred a stronger liquor over the fancy ass champagne.

"Everyone can I have your attention" a man yelled over the crowd that at her request quietened down "this evening has been wonderful and i thank you all for coming, dinner is being served now as the last event of the evening before you all return home, please find your seats" he instructed and Elena followed Damon to where he lead her to his families table.

When they reached the table Elena recognised Caroline and Stephen sitting at the table already. Caroline waved at her and patted her hand on the open seat next to her for Elena to sit down in which she did as Damon followed and sat on the opposite side of her next to a man she didn't recognise.

"Having fun?" Caroline asked and Elena simply raised one of her perfectly shaped brows at the blonde barbie who seemed to understand the 'your kidding right?' look she was giving her. "Well, it's almost over" Stephen leaned over Caroline to whisper to her and she nodded eagerly at that information.

Glancing back at Damon who had been watching the interaction curiously he smiled at her before pointing to the older of the two men also sat at their table. "This is my father Giuseppe... father, this is Elena" he introduced them and Elena shot him the same sweet smile she had been giving everyone all night.

Giuseppe was dressed in an expensive looking dark brown suit matched with a black tie and white button up shirt. He was an older man likely in his late 50's she assumed judging by the way his face had aged but he overall looked like a strong man. Giuseppe had brown eyes and brown hair similar to Stephens but in all honesty didn't look much like either of his son's aside from the mannerisms they shared.

Damon then pointed to the man sitting beside Giuseppe "Uncle Zach... Elena" he introduced pointing between the two. Zach Salvatore looked younger then Giuseppe maybe in his late 40's, the man had a friendlier face than Giuseppe did, he gave a warm smile to Elena which she returned politely.

Thankfully the dinner didn't take too long to arrive at each of the tables. Conversation mostly centred around business between the men and Caroline gave her a soft squeeze on the leg drawing her attention away from where she was following the business talk silently "They don't talk about anything other than business" Caroline whispered and she nodded having figured as much.

Elena watched the men interact, they were a family and she had to admit she'd be slightly curious as to see how they'd act around each other. Strictly business conversation wasn't what she had expected but then again she was glad it wasn't all warm and fuzzy; she didn't do warm and fuzzy!

After another hour of talking business with fancy food that wasn't even good Elena was bored out of her mind and she hadn't even realised she had been bouncing her leg until Damon's hand landed on her thigh stilling it. He looked over his shoulder at her with a slight chuckle at her annoyed huff. Damon leaned in to whisper in her ear "It's almost over"

"Thank fuck" she whispered back making him choke on the champagne he had just taken a sip of as he tried to stifle the laugh but it was too late and now he had all his families eyes on him.

"Wen't down the wrong pipe" Damon said coughing in an attempt to hide his smirk but by the looks in his families faces none of them were buying it. "What was it you were saying father?" he prompted but Giuseppe wasn't taking the bate.

"It's Elena, right?" Giuseppe asked and Elena smiled at him "Yes" she confirmed and he just sat looking at her for a minute.

"You met my son's where?" he questioned with a slight frown and raised eyebrow in what she supposed was supposed to be a look of intimidation as he fired away with the questions; what he didn't know was that it didn't faze because she'd been in worse interrogations than this.

"I work as the bartender at Stephen's bar" Elena answered easily with a small shrug not seeing any importance in that but she noticed the way both Caroline and Damon stiffened beside her. However, that only served to make her more curious about Giuseppe Salvatore.

He nodded accepting that information before meeting here eyes in what she was sure was his best intimidation glare, but Elena easily held his eye contact looking as casual as ever as he asked "So, your sleeping with my son then?"

Elena had had more uncomfortable conversations than this before and so while Damon and everyone else at the tables eyes were glued on her in slight shock she wasn't alarmed by the question at all "I'm sure Damon would like that" Elena joked and Damon smirked nervously at her "But I am not sleeping with Damon" she said getting the feeling that Giuseppe Salvatore was a man who'd appreciate her honesty over everyone else's comfort.

Giuseppe nodded obviously accepting that information and returned back to his conversation about business with Zach.

The rest of the dinner went relatively the same as it had been going the previous 4 hours of the night. "We have to shake a few hands" Damon informed her as everyone at their table stood up and made their way over to the front door.

Elena quickly realised by 'shake a few hands' he had meant shake every single god damn guests hand as they leave. After the 10th round of goodbyes/introductions Elena glared at Damon who was standing next to her "Do I really have too" she whined but Damon only looked amused that she had to suffer as well. Apparently being his date at his families dinner meant she would have to be subjected to standing there smiling sweetly for another hour as all the guests left.

Why the hell did they have this many guests in the first place?!

After a man who introduced himself as Jason finished shaking Elena's hand, Damon elbowed her in the side playfully leaning in to whisper in her ear as they had done when bantering and arguing all night "That smiles looking more like a grimace" he teased and she shot him a mean glare "Hey" he held his hand up in mock innocence "I'm giving you real good advice on polite goodbye handshakes: rule one, actually smile" he teased.

"If I have to meet another Bob, Jack, Jason or Harry... I'm gonna give some real good advice, on where they can stick their polite goodbye handshake" she hissed back at him in a whisper and he barked out laughter getting a weird look from his family who had been watching them all night as the quietly argued and joked around.

"Is it bad if I say I'd actually cheer you on?" Damon whispered back and she glared at him again "Is it bad if I say I hate you now?" she retorted only half joking at this point.

"Hey" Damon put a hand on his heart in mock hurt as he whispered back "Hate is a strong word, you shouldn't hate things" he mock chided her earning himself a smack on the chest.

"You wanna know what I hate?" she retorted in his ear "I hate this, shaking hands with all these people, I've never wanted to murder so many people at once" she whispered seriously and Damon let out another bark of laughter that made her chuckle at the weird looks he was still getting.

"...Yes, it was nice meeting you too. Goodbye" she smiled as the man that only second's later name was forgotten as he exited the house and she turned back to Damon.

"I'll have to thank Caroline for picking me a serial killer for my date" He teased while she shook the hand of another guest trying her best to keep smiling before turning back to him when the guest had gone.

"Yeah, well maybe she was hoping after putting me through all of this I'd murder you as well" Elena retorted with a slight nudge of her elbow in his ribs as he shook the hand of an older man making him falter in his smile which the guest looked offended by, having not seen her elbow him.

"Your a bitch" Damon whispered back not at all serious judging by the grin on his face "Yeah well your an asshole" she countered easily before turning back to the task at hand and shaking another couples hands.

When they shook the hand of the last guest, Elena sighed a loud exaggerated breath of relief making both Stephen, Caroline and Damon laugh.

"Elena" Caroline interrupted whatever Damon had been about to say, taking her by the arm and leading her back to the stairs "Let's get changed" she lead Elena back up to her bedroom where their clothes were.

Once they changed Caroline explained that they all would spend another hour with just the family and in all honesty that was the part Elena dreaded the most. When the reached the bottom of the stairs Damon and Stephen were waiting for them again "I was not warned about family time" Elena hissed quietly at Damon who seemed to find her reaction amusing.

But to Elena it was anything but amusing.

When they got out to the large lounge room that alone was way bigger then Tyler's entire apartment they sat down on the lounges and Damon pulled her down to sit right next to him. Which only slightly comforted her in the family situation.

"You want a drink?" Damon nudged her shoulder and Elena nodded "Do you have a beer?" she asked highly doubting they did, but she knew Damon would drink anything and so she hoped that he would have some. He smiled and got up before bringing back two beers and a beer bottle opener.

Elena rolled her eyes at the fact he needed a bottle opener to get the cap off. When Damon handed her the beer she'd managed to get the cap off before he'd even taken a seat. With a light chuckle at Damon's surprised look she sipped her beer watching in amusement as he struggled even with the bottle opener to get the cap off. "Give it here" she sighed taking it from him when he hesitated to hand it over.

Damon glared softly at her when she flicked the cap off instantly and handed him back the beer, a small smirk playing on her lips.

Drinking her beer she twirled the empty bottle in her hands nervously as the family started talking about actual plans for Thanksgiving which was in 3 days. Quickly liberating Damon of his near full beer bottle she downed rest of his before handing it back to him. Elena was able to relax slightly when the conversation shifted over to Stephen's investments and the Salvatore bar.

Luckily for Elena at some point Stephen had retrieved his own beer and when the conversation shifted back to personal topics of Caroline and Stephen having kids she once again, liberated the beer, only his time it was Stephens. In only a few seconds she downed the rest of Stephen's half empty beer and placed the empty bottle back in his hand where he'd been to caught up in conversation to realised she'd removed.

Caroline screeched when she saw the time interrupting the conversation and Elena was sure that this would be the only time ever she didn't want to hurt the blonde for making that obnoxious noise; halting personal conversation was of the good, in fact it was encouraged. "It's already 3am, we should all go to bed!" Caroline announced bubbly as she stood up and dragged Stephen up with her "Elena, we can drive you home in the morning but you should get some rest" the blonde instructed before rushing off and up the stairs before Elena even got a chance to protest.

Giuseppe let out a loud sigh and followed Caroline and Stephen's lead "Goodnight" he said over his shoulder as he too went up the stairs leaving only Damon and her in the lounge room. Elena looked to Damon with a shrug accepting the fact she'd have to sleep here.

"My room's this way" he announced and she followed him up the stairs and into his room.

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