Chapter 24: The Dangers of Champagne
I had spent the weekend so immersed in Damon that I was almost surprised when I looked at the calendar and realized his wine tasting party was scheduled for the next Friday night. In my defense, the original date had been changed due to a conflict with the head of the winery. I also had a few weddings coming up, several appointments with potential clients and a slew of events scheduled for Saltzman. At least the Saltzman events meant that I would get to see Damon without having to feel guilty about trying to carve out time in my busy schedule. I would not be one of those women who lose sight of their careers just because they are in a relationship. Besides, this is a trial by fire situation. I have no idea where this will lead. Sure, Damon seems interested in taking this as far as I am willing to go but I'm being guardedly optimistic. I cannot just allow myself to fall back into things as if it were ten years ago. Time has passed. Things have changed. We have changed and while I hope that it's for the better, I'm going to take this day by day and see where it leads. Yes, that will be my mantra. I must not tumble head over hills. I will take baby steps and find a precarious, perfect balance between trusting someone else but maintaining self-control. Yes, that's exactly what I'll do. And maybe, just maybe, if I keep telling myself that over and over I'll finally believe it. That will be my morning ritual: pick up Starbucks and repeat ten times, "don't fall without a parachute."
"Good morning, April. You're here early!" I walk through the front door of Elena Gilbert Events and am surprised to find that my assistant is already in the office. I am typically here before anyone else so that I can get things ready for the day.
"Hi Elena. I got up early to hit the gym and decided to just head on in and get the computers up and going for the day."
"That sounds great and good for you hitting the gym! I didn't find time to exercise all weekend so I'm going to work out after work today." The truth of the matter was that I had muscles pleasantly sore in places that I hadn't felt in ages but I wasn't about to share that information with April.
"Oh, Elena, Tyler Lockwood was waiting for you when I got here this morning so I made him some coffee and told him that he could just wait in your office."
"Tyler's here?" I'm shocked. I had not heard from him since our run in at Suite.
"Yes. Oh, I've also pulled the sample portfolio for your first appointment. I'll just put it on your desk." April scurried into my office while I stood wondering why in the world Tyler was here. When I walked into my office, I found Tyler sitting in a chair by the window texting on his phone.
"Hi Ty. What's up? Everything ok?"
"I don't know, Elena, you tell me. You're the one dating the guy who broke your heart. What in the hell are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that I'm happy! I'm also thinking that it's none of your damn business!" I have had about enough of everyone trying to run my life.
"None of my business, huh? You certainly seemed to think it was my business when you were crying on my shoulder about him. So are you, him and his kid going to settle down and be a happy little family?"
"Tyler, that is enough! I hate myself for getting drunk and spilling the whole story to you all those years ago. And, as it ends up, the baby wasn't his after all. It was his brother's." The fact is still so surreal to me that voicing it out loud seems to help it sink in.
"His brother's?" laughs Tyler. "Wow! That's a real class act you've got there, Elena. At least he learned to share his toys. I'm assuming you never participated in their kinky brother co-op?"
"Tyler, don't be crass! That's not what happened. Damon never slept with Rebecca. His brother, Stefan, was hooking up with her and none of us realized it. Good grief, they're even married now!"
"So, the whole sorted thing was nothing but a big misunderstanding?" Somehow he makes the question sound like an accusation. "What about the fact that he suddenly broke your heart, left you high and dry, and then didn't contact you until he just happened to run into you because of your Saltzman contract?"
"He actually did try to find me." I respond.
Tyler stands and stretches before smiling sarcastically and drawling, "Sure he did."
"What's that supposed to mean?" If I were taller we would be nose to nose by now.
"I know how guys like him operate. I was friends with guys like him in college. Hell, I knew some of the guys on his team. They were all alike. He'll say anything if he thinks it will help him get you in bed."
"Get the hell out of my office!" I storm over to my office door and hold it open.
"Fine. I'll go." He walks to the door but stops right in front of me so close that he's definitely invading my personal space and leans down to whisper in my ear. "But, Elena, when he hurts you again, and he will, I will be there and maybe by then you'll finally be willing to let me take care of you the way he'll never be able to." With that he saunters out, telling April goodbye as he goes. I know I should probably tell Damon about that conversation, especially after our argument at Suite, but I don't have time right now. I need to regain my focus before my bride-to-be arrives for our appointment.
~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~TVD~~~~~
My week has been crazy busy and I've barely had time to slip in a couple of lunches and a few trips to the gym with Damon. It's really distracting to work out with him. And if he's shirtless, you can forget accomplishing anything! All you have to do is try to keep up with him for one session to understand how his abs and biceps look like they do. And shoulders. And legs. And ass. By the time Friday rolls around I'm thankful to have the opportunity to mix business and pleasure. Damon had considered doing the food himself but I convinced him that I have a great caterer who will do precisely what he wants without him having to slave away before his party. Plus she will keep everything filled and will take care of clean up. I've spent the afternoon at his house making sure everything is ready to go. Every glass, wine chiller and tablecloth is precisely how I want it. The food stations are set minus the food of course. The music is ready to go on the sound system and the candles are ready to be lit. Damon has insisted that I attend instead of taking my usual place in the background. He wants me to network so I've made sure that the only things that need to happen from this point on will be things that are the responsibility of the caterer.
Damon offered for me to just get ready at his place but I have opted to head to my apartment instead. He didn't so much offer as insist that I spend the night. "It will be the safer option," he said but really, how safe is a night with Damon Salvatore? We haven't had a night together since last weekend so this will be my first sleep over at his house and in honor of the occasion I want to look my best. So, after showering, carefully applying my smoky eyes and nude lips and pinning up my loosely curled hair, I put on the new lingerie that I bought for the occasion. It was an interesting shopping trip to say the least. Moments of it were downright mortifying in fact. Having missed out on several girls' brunches, Caroline, Jenna and I decided to meet up for a girls' night out of shopping and dinner. We were at an open air mall which had some really nice boutique stores and some good restaurant options. We had just finished dinner and were strolling the sidewalks outside of the shops.
"Oh my God! All these years you thought he had slept with your roommate and got her pregnant only to find out that he never even slept with her in the first place? Elena, that's…" Jenna trails off, green eyes bulging.
"Tragic," supplies Caroline. She has been studiously supportive the past few days.
"Yeah, it's like a Lifetime movie!" gushes Jenna.
"Okay, you two. Chill with the rehash!" I pull up to a stop outside of a fancy lingerie store. "If you really want to be the best friends ever then you'll help me pick out something for this weekend." We head into the store and start looking through the merchandise. Some of it is frilly and demure while other pieces consist of no more than a few well-placed strips of lace. Jenna picks up one of the more daring pieces and starts giggling. "Jenna, are we twelve?"
"No. It's just, did I say Lifetime movie? Maybe I should've said Skin-a-max!" Just then a store clerk walked up and asked if she could be of assistance.
"Yes," answered Caroline before saying, without batting an eye, "We need something for her to wear. Something that says, 'we have ten years to make up for so, please, fuck me now.'"
"Caroline!" I want the floor to open up and swallow me.
"What?" she asks innocently.
"I apologize for my friend," I tell the lady who is grinning from ear to ear and assures me she has heard it all. "I have a special occasion this weekend and want something that isn't really innocent but has a little more coverage than this," I explain holding up the piece that Jenna had discovered earlier. She asks my size and tells us to help ourselves to some champagne while she gathers some pieces for me to try. Once we are settled in the seating area outside of what will be my changing room, I turn to Caroline and admonish her for embarrassing me.
"I was being supportive!"
"You were being pornographic!" I yelp.
"Besides," she continues, " you aren't going to be wearing whatever you get for very long after your dress comes off."
"Care!" My cheeks have to be as red as Santa's hat.
"Don't act all innocent with me, missy. Don't forget who dated him first." Caroline smiles wickedly.
"Whoa! Wait! Do you mean to tell me that you dated Damon before she did?" Jenna asks Caroline.
"Oh, it's better than that. She met him because I was dating him. He dumped me because of her!" Caroline is enjoying this too much.
"That break up was mutual! You had already moved on! Besides, don't you think the word 'date' is exaggerating things? You were hooking up with him. That was all!" I protest.
"Wow!" breathes Jenna.
"Whatever. He actually got her number during the conversation when we were splitting up." Caroline laughs at Jenna who is staring gape mouthed back and forth between the two of us. "Okay, okay, so it sounds worse than it actually was. We went out a few times and decided it wasn't working. He asked me if it would be alright to ask Elena out and I offered her phone number to him. Do you know she made him grovel for months before she ever went out with him?"
"And then he made me grovel for months before he would sleep with me. If there had been an award for the most sexually frustrated girl on campus, I would have won!" I add.
"But was it worth it?" ventures Jenna.
"Oh yeah," Caroline and I both say at the same time before I shoot her a look.
"Humpf!" Jenna grunts. "Well, I, for one, feel left out!"
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"I'm the only one of the three of us who hasn't had sex with Damon."
"You're missing out. Definitely!" confides Caroline.
"Oh God!" I groan. "I need more champagne if we're going down this road!" With that I down my first glass and pour a second.
"Yeah, that's what I hear," Jenna says while grinning mischievously. "When I was over at Elena's and she had polished off quite a bit of wine, she told me that our Mr. Salvatore has quite the wicked streak."
"Jenna! Stop!" I plead.
"Wicked streak?" Caroline turns to me and by the smile on her face I know this conversation is going further than it ever should. "It was always your typical college quickies with us. Granted, he is well above average, but nothing that I would call wicked. So, what have you not told me, Lena?"
I'm starting to feel the effects of the margaritas from dinner mixing with my second glass of champagne. "He is very attentive," I demure.
The snort that comes from Jenna is far from ladylike. "That's not the word you used to describe him to me!"
"What did she say?" Caroline is like a hungry dog after a bone.
"I do believe she said that he was a bit of a dominant," smiles Jenna as Caroline's eyes practically bug out of her head.
"Just how dominant is he?" Caroline asks but I just blush. "Elena? What did you two do?"
"Let's just say that he can be very handy with a tie and there may have been a few playful swats on the ass," I grin.
"What!" Caroline squeals like a kid on Christmas morning. I know I'm going to regret admitting that one so I don't know why I keep going. I'll blame the sales girl. She uncorked the champagne.
"He does like being in control. We also kind of have a deal going." I say.
"What kind of deal?" prods Jenna.
"Well, he said he wants to make it up to me for the ten years we were apart. So, he suggested a payment plan." My smirk has to rival Damon's at this moment.
"Which is?" encourages Caroline.
"He says he owes me one orgasm for every year we were apart. Also, if I do anything to make him umm…"
"Cum?" supplies Caroline.
"Umm, yeah, without me doing it too then he has to make that one up by making me have two orgasms. You know, interest." I'm definitely feeling the alcohol. God knows what scrap of material I'll walk out of here with at this rate.
"Huh. Can't argue with those terms," Jenna says. "And I'm in finance."
Just then the door to the other dressing room opens and I am mortified to see April emerge and say hi.
"Hi April. You remember Caroline and Jenna?" The three of them exchange hellos.
"Well, I'm going to head out," she says as she starts to leave.
"Okay, well, have a great weekend," I tell her.
"Thanks! Sounds like you plan to!" she responds with a laugh before walking away.
"Kill me now!" I moan and collapse on the appropriately named fainting couch.
"Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all!" laughs Jenna.
I am convinced that the store purposely plies you with champagne while they select items for you to consider. What else would explain the exorbitant amount that I put on my credit card? On the bright side, I think Damon is going to be a happy man for quite a while to come. Apparently, Klaus is too because just as we were walking to the parking lot, Caroline tossed her keys to Jenna and decided she needed to go back and get something before we left. I told her she was chicken for waiting until we weren't around to do her shopping. After all, if I had to be embarrassed, she should too! She just laughed.
So, here I am putting on my new lace demi-cup bra that just does cover my nipples as well as the matching barely there jeweled G-string that is honestly more jewelry than clothing. They are chocolate brown to match the new silk cocktail dress I bought of the same color. On my feet are my celebration shoes. They are a pair of gold Jimmy Choos with ridiculously high heels that I bought to celebrate my first year as a business owner. Deciding I am pleasantly pleased with the result, I grab my overnight bag and head for Damon's. I've planned to arrive early just in case there are any last minute emergencies.
Even though Damon gave me an extra key to use for the event, I ring the doorbell since he sent a text earlier to let me know he was home. I'm treated to Damon in dress pants and a white shirt unbuttoned at the collar when he answers the door.
"Hey, may I come in or do I have to stand out here all night?" I ask since Damon appears to have lost the ability to speak.
"How long do we have until everyone gets here?" is his only response.
"An hour."
"Damn, that's not nearly long enough." He shakes his head wistfully.
"Long enough for what?" I'm beginning to really believe he's going to make me stand outside all night. Suddenly he pulls me inside and has me penned against the closed door quicker than I thought humanly possible.
"For me to peel that dress off of you, throw you in the bed and kiss every inch of you," he snarls just before taking my breath away with his kiss.
When we finally surface for air, he pulls me in to the library and turns on his iPod. Harry Connick, Jr. starts singing "Besame Mucho" as Damon pulls me in and starts dancing with me in front of the fireplace. "Mm, Harry," I sigh.
"Do I need to change the song? Are you trying to make me jealous?"
I laughingly tell him that he can have his wife Jill if I can have Harry. He knows that I've been a Harry Connick, Jr. fan ever since his music was used in my favorite movie. Damon pulls me closer and I rest my head on his shoulder and he holds my hand to his heart as we dance.
"You look stunning, if it isn't obvious," Damon tells me as the song ends.
I smile and tell him, "Just wait till you see what's underneath!" And with a wink, I saunter away to check in with the caterer and leave him staring after me. I've rarely ever been able to take him by surprise but I think that might have just done it.
As the night moves on, everything goes beautifully. There's a slight chill in the air so Damon has lit the fireplaces. Our private tasting seems to have paid off in spades as everyone is raving about the pairings. The chocolate fondue is the highlight of the evening. As things are winding down and people are drifting to the door, I find myself sitting by the fire talking to Elijah about Elena Gilbert Events. He's the winery owner that Damon told me about.
"Well, Miss Gilbert, it seems you planned a lovely evening."
"Thank you. I must give credit to Damon though. Planning an event is easy when the host knows what they want and isn't afraid to ask for it," I explain.
"Yes, I've known Damon for some time and he definitely knows how to achieve something once he puts his mind to it."
"Oh? You've know Damon for while?" I'm anxious to talk to someone who knew Damon during the time we were apart.
"Yes. We met while he was working in France. I was there studying viniculture and happened to cross paths with Damon. It was obvious that he was quite promising as a business man but personally he was a mess." When I glance away, Elijah continues. "It seems he had left his heart in the United States. I trust you are the same Elena?"
"Yes sir, I am," I shyly answer.
"From the smile on his face, it certainly seems that his persistence and focus havw paid off with you. Please know that I do not mean that disrespectfully. Damon is my friend. I want to see him happy. Many women were practically falling at his feet in France. He would have been quite the catch but he never had eyes for them. When it came to relationships, he was solely focused on reuniting with the one that got away. I do hope you'll forgive me for being so forward in telling you all of this. I just thought you should know." Wiping away a tear, I smile and thank him for telling me. "But, alas, Miss Gilbert, it seems that you are equally hard to catch as an event planner."
"Why? What do you mean? And, please, call me Elena." I'm puzzled by the change in the direction of the conversation.
"My daughter called your office to arrange to meet with you to plan her upcoming wedding but was told that you were booked. Your assistant was quite helpful, however, and offered information on another possibility."
"Oh! I am so sorry that didn't work out. I do get booked pretty quickly. I'll give you the number for my direct line. Please, have her call me and if there is any way I can possibly work out something with my schedule I will."
"Thank you. That's quite generous. I suppose that just cements my high opinion of you. I'm sure Damon probably mentioned that I'm in need of a contracted event planner. I would appreciate the opportunity to meet with you to discuss that possibility."
Suddenly, I feel a strong arm wrap around me as Damon sits on the arm of the sofa. "See, Elijah, I told you would love her."
"Elijah, thank you so much for the consideration. I would love to meet with you!" I respond.
"Well, it seems the party is ending so I will say goodbye for now. Elena, I'll be in touch." Damon and I walked him to the door and said our goodbyes as people were leaving the party.
As Damon closed the door behind the last guest he gave a relieved sigh. "God, I thought they would never leave!"
I couldn't help but laugh. "It was a stunning success, what are you whining about?"
"I have been trying to imagine what you could have under that dress for the past several hours. I thought if they didn't leave soon, I was going to have to let them end the party without us."
"Damon, I really need to go check on the cleanup crew." I turned to head towards the kitchen before he wrapped both arms around me from behind and kissed me behind my ear.
"Elena, have they ever cleaned up after an event without you?" he cooed.
"Yes, but…"
"Do they know to lock up when they are done?"
"Yes."
He turned me to face the staircase. "Elena, get your ass up those stairs before I throw you over my shoulder and carry you up there myself."
AN: I had some time today to work on this and thought I'd go ahead and post it since you had to patiently wait for the previous chapter. So, lots happened in this one. Tyler is being a jerk. The girls are shopping and gossiping. This was an ode to my college days when we used to hit the Chinese buffet and dish about out love lives. Sounds like Elena is a busy little camper at work...and I promise she will be busy in other ways in the next chapter! Lemony goodness will abound. Wonder what Caroline went back to buy? We'll find that out soon as well! Love you guys! Thanks for reading. Don't forget to click those follows and favorites and please feel free to review. I love hearing what you think!