Chapter 11: Working Together

"Come on, I'm already late!"

A typical Friday morning for traffic. Everyone was running late, trying to reach their destination before they were fired. Elena drummed her hands on the steering wheel, her eyes focused on the colour of the traffic lights. The one day she decides to drive herself. Speaking of running late; she was supposed to be sitting with her mom and publicist 20 minutes ago. She blamed Damon for that one. Smiling big, she laughed and turned the radio up, singing along.

Just say you feel the way that I feel

I'm feeling sexual, so we should be sexual

Grinning, she tapped her fingers against her lips. She had to remember to sing this song to Damon at some point, hopefully he wouldn't get the wrong idea. Turning the corner, she increased her speed as she watched the traffic in front of her. Time to get to the meeting.

"Alright, so that is the schedule fully planned for May and June."
"Which is an amazing amount of work lined up, but you have to take into consideration Elena's free time." Miranda responded, sipping her tea.

"Elena's free time?" Juliette raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Yes Juliette," Miranda sipped her coffee," Elena is still young and needs to have her free time. Especially now that her and Damon have come to light."

"Yes Miranda, and that subject will now keep coming to light. It will be popping up everywhere. As you can see, even after a week of the news coming out, the paparazzi are acting frantic." Juliette sighed and looked at her phone, "We need to keep an eye on this."

"Considering that they are dating, its always going to be there. No matter what the situation is. Elena still needs her free time, even if that is to spend time with Damon."

Elena stared at the vase of tulips on the table and sipped at her coffee as she got lost in thought. It was easy to block them out when she had Damon stuck in her mind. All the talk of them coming out into the light went around in her head. It had been a week since the news of them came out, but it was like yesterday.

"Lets go then."

Damon laced his fingers with Elena's as he tugged her into the hallway, and led her down the stairs. The voices of the paparazzi carried as they crowded onto the lawn. This was it then? They were really going out there and sharing their life with the whole world?

"What are you doing?" Caroline asked as she walked out of the kitchen and looked at Elena, "You have that look on your face."
"Well-"
"They want news. They are going to get it." Damon answered, giving Elena's hand a reassuring squeeze.
"But wait, what? Are you sure?" She looked between them with concern, "This will change everything, are you ready for that?"

"Ready?" Elena looked from Caroline and up to Damon, smiling bashfully, "I think ready is an understatement at this point."

Damon pulled her close to him as he pulled the door open; alerting the paparazzi to their presence as they suddenly all started gathering on the lawn. They stepped out together, making their way down the steps as they came to a stop, hands still joined. Flashes came from every direction as Elena felt her heart racing and drumming in her ears.

"As usual, you want some news to write about...the truth if you will." Damon looked at Elena, adoration in his eyes, "The truth i that Elena and I are dating, and we have been for a couple of months. She is a incredibly talented girl, and yes, we might be complete opposites, but they say that opposites attract. So here we are."

"I would also just like to say that people may have their opinions. Opinions on Damon or maybe opinions on me. Fortunately now, we are ready for the worlds opinion on us being together, but I would just like to say that whatever the opinion; this is it. We are together and that is it."

"Well," Damon grinned, looking at the paparazzi, "Any questions?"

Elena laughed, a smile grazing her lips as she thought back on the situation. It was kind of crazy, but relieving as they no longer had to hide their relationship. Hearing her name being called, she looked up in confusion to see her mom and Juliette staring at her with looks of confusion on their faces.

"Elena, are you okay?" Miranda questioned, raising an eyebrow, "You zoned out there honey."
"Oh," Elena blushed as she pushed herself up from the couch, "Excuse me for a moment."

Clearing her throat, she made her way out into the hallway and looked around as she felt her phone buzzing. Hmm. Pulling it from her pocket, she answered "Hello?"

"Hello you!" Jenna called down the phone, "How is the meeting with your mom and Juliette going?"
"Well, I've already walked out. I needed some air and its just too much talk about work in there."
"Ironically that is the point," She laughed, pausing for a moment, "What are you doing tonight?"

"I'm not so sure, why?" Elena walked into the bathroom and looked into the mirror.
"I'm going to dinner with Alaric tonight. Some special business meeting he has to attend."
"Huh? Really? Business for what? Doesn't he deal on behalf of Damon?" She questioned, running her fingers through her hair.
"Yeah, aren't you going with him then?"
"Uh-"

Elena puled the phone away from her ear and looked at the screen to see an unread message which came through 10 minutes ago. Opening it, she read the message and smiled as she seen it was from Damon.

Elena,

Business as usual.

There is a formal dinner that I need to attend to tonight.

I need a date.

Will you accept this offer?

D xx

"It looks like...I will be there." Elena answered as she held the phone back to her ear.
"Wonderful! I will meet you at the spa in about half an hour? We can go and get a full pamper?"
"That sounds incredible Jenna, I will see you then."

The clock was staring at her, the hands ticking by swiftly making the time seem pointless. The day had went by pretty fast. After Elena had finished her meeting with Juliette and her mom, she rushed off to go and meet Jenna for the relaxing spa experience, which as promised was worth it. As per usual, Jenna didn't fail to impress and it was the best thing that she could have done. She now felt ready and relaxed for Damon's business meeting tonight.

"You look incredible." Caroline smiled, as she finished straightening Elena's hair, "Even if it is a simple business meeting, you will be the center of attention."
"As nice as that is, I'm not really aiming to be the center of attention. Tonight is about Damon and his business, not mine. I am not getting involved."
"The spa did a wonder at relieving your stress today. You've got a glow to your skin again, one I haven't seen this past week."
"I know, its been...stressful." Elena let out a breath of air and pushed herself up from the chair as Caroline wrapped the straightners and placed them on the side.

"Right, now it is just to go and get dressed." Caroline advised her, looking over to the clock which made them aware that she had less than 20 minutes until Damon arrived.
"Well, it looks like I need to get dressed right this second."

The room was silent as Elena glanced at her reflection again, the 7th time in 5 minutes. The night was about Damon, which meant that she had to at least look good if she was going to be on his arm and accompany him. If Damon could see her right now, he would be less than impressed. He hates when she worries about her image, considering he think she looks beautiful in every aspect.

"Elena!" Caroline called up the stairs, "Damon has just pulled up!"
"Coming!" Elena responded swiftly as she glanced in the mirror one last time, "Oh Elena, it is only a dinner. No paparazzi around...hopefully."

Lifting her satin clutch from the bed, she held it against her hips as she applied the light pink gloss; the colour giving her lips just the right shimmer to match the coral colour of her dress. Taking a deep breath, she brushed herself down and looked at her peep toes, the shining black catching her eye. She had tried her best to go coordinated tonight without the thought of suffering from the cool breeze later.

She was wearing a mid-thigh coral dress, thin straps to support the bust and jewels across the waist to give it the right amount of flare. The black clutch matched her heels, which was a relief to her as she didn't want the colours to clash. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she checked the pearl studs that were complimenting her ears and smiled, finally happy enough with her outfit.

Stepping out of her room, she pressed her finger against the switch as she was covered in darkness. This was it. Hearing the doorbell, she took a deep breath and made her way down the hall to the top of the stairs where she seen Caroline opened the door for Damon, his appearance stopping her in her tracks. He was wearing a light grey suit, a white shirt and to her disbelief, a coral tie. How did he know she was wearing coral and if so, why match with her? Whatever the fact, he looks incredible as per usual, whether it were in a suit or jeans and a v neck. Grasping the banister, she made her way down the stairs as Damon looked up, his eyes meeting hers.

"Elena." Damon spoke, his voice husky as his eyes swept over her and a grin pulled at his lips. He had that look in his eyes, one that he had quite often but didn't feel the need to share his thoughts with her, other than the fact that they were good thoughts. Feeling goosebumps crawl over her skin, she finally got to the bottom of the stairs as he stepped forward, "You look...I can't even say right now. You look beyond words."

"Awhh." Caroline cooed to the side of them as Damon glanced over, his smile disappearing for a slight second, "Oh sorry, moment ruined. Keep her safe or else."

"Caroline!" Elena gasped as a blush reached her cheeks and the blonde vanished into the kitchen as quick as she could, leaving the two of them to have a moment to themselves. "I'm sorry. Sometimes she is just...very overprotective, even if we have been together for more than a while."

"I don't mind it." Damon tilted his head, stroking his hand down her arm carefully as he took her hand in his grasp, "I like to know that someone else keeps an eye when I'm not around."

"Oh, is that so Mr Salvatore?" Elena smiled teasingly and squeezed his hand, "So...the tie?"
"Well, Caroline told me because I asked." He looked down, "I figured that we're no longer hiding, so we should match once and again to keep things interesting."
"Interesting indeed." Smiling, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek, "We have a special night ahead, we should go."
"Special?" Damon quirked an eyebrow at her choice of words, "It's just a celebration to a business deal."
"Which is why I used the word special." Laughing, she rolled her eyes, "It is your night Damon and you earned it, so come on!"

Grinning at him, she stepped down and tugged him towards the door. Laughing, he followed and snaked his arm around her waist as he led her out into the fresh air.

Conversations filled the large dining room, people arranged around a long length table which was filled with 10 people. All people were from different parts of the celebrity industry. Some of them were photographers or models, whereas some were singers or directors. However on this occasion, managers were also present which is why the conversations were varied.

Damon sat at the end of table, Elena sitting on his right as Jenna sat next to her, and Alaric seated along beside her. To Damon's left was a model who went by the name of Maria. She was a beautiful girl, one Elena has recognised before her and Damon were a item. Beside Maria sat Clark who was in the music industry; his first album just being released the week previous which seemed to be climbing up the chart already. Next to Clark sat Kevin who was a well known director in the film industry, recently just finishing a film that was due to be released at the beginning of August. A girl called Angela sat next to Kevin who was believed to be a photographer. She was known for her photoshoots in the GQ magazine, something that she no shame in bragging about. She had already been questing Elena about Damon and their relationship as she stepped through the door. The last two on the other end of the table were also models. Kimberley and Cirain were modeling partners, one never excepting a shoot without the other, it was like they were joined at the hip. They were also twins, so they set a good family image when it came to the tabloids. All of these people were good friends with Damon, ones he had encountered over his years of being in the industry.

"I can't believe the company your boyfriend keeps, he has friends in very high places." Jenna subtly nudged Elena with a grin as she looked over at Alaric.
"He has me to thank you know, I'm the one who got him his lucky breaks which gave him the experience to meet these people." Alaric commented, sipping his drink as he laughed.
"Oh you two, would you stop!" Elena rolled her eyes, sipping at her lemonade and lime, the taste quenching her first. "Damon is proud of your accomplishments Alaric."
"Well, I just like to make sure I'm needed."
"Oh, you are believe me." Jenna smiled up at him sweetly and as he pressed a kiss to her cheek, smiling.

Smiling in amusement, Elena glanced over at Damon; her heart racing as she seen him deep in conversation with Maria, whispers going back and forth between the two of them. Biting her lip, she tried to fight back the jealousy that was threatening to crawl into presence. That was one thing that she didn't want as the jealousy side of her would be making all attempts to remind Maria that Damon is taken.

"Well everyone, I would like to make a toast to the man of the night!" Maria suddenly pulled away from Damon and lifted her glass.
"Oh please." Damon laughed, rubbing his neck as he looked over at Elena, giving her his private smile.

"I would like to congratulate him for his new line of business venture that he is about to discover, but also I would like to say that I look forward to our future as business partners as we will now be working together."

Bitch say what? Elena took a deep breath as everyone around the table gasped in surprise, but were clapping at the two and raising their glasses. Jenna looked over at Elena, raising an eyebrow as they both had the same thought.

Working together in what?

A/N: Hey everyone!

I hope that you have enjoyed!

I would also just like to say, further to my new update on Help Me. I will be taking it down as I have now moved it to Amazon kindle and it has just gone live. I hope to keep doing this now, then somewhere along the way writing my own stuff :)

Anyhow, thank you for your support. It has gave me the strength to carry on what I love doing.

Shauna