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Twenty minutes later they were still sitting on the floor of the elevator, neither one of them said a word. Damon made himself comfortable on the floor deciding to use the time to look over the client list that Alaric had faxed him earlier that day. His partner's ability to persuade never ceased to amaze him. Alaric had secured them the two biggest projects that had every architectural firm in the entire city salivating. Once again Salvatore and Saltzman would reign supreme; Damon smirked to himself as he slid the sheet of paper back into the vanilla folder.

It had gotten considerably warmer since they'd been inside. The humidity was so unbearable that he stripped down to his tee-shirt, sliding off the jacket of his perfectly tailored suit right along with the crisped button up shirt and neck tie. Elena however insisted she was fine, but he could see the light sheen of sweat all over her body and the way her hair frizzed up from the humidity. Fine, have it your way he thought. He decided not to push it since it was clear she wasn't in the best of moods. Hell it's not like he had nothing better to do with his time then to sit hot metal box all evening, yet he was still trying his hardest to be polite, while she was practically staring daggers at him.

After what felt like hours of trying Elena had finally managed to get some signal on her phone and dialed the front desk. Rose, the receptionist answered her and assured them that she'd notify the fire department right away.

Still an hour later, they'd yet to hear from anyone and Elena was really starting to feel the effects of the heat as she desperately searched for the tiny bar of signal on her phone with no luck. Pulling her hair into a tight bun, she stood up and held her phone up toward the ceiling. Still nothing.

She refrained from saying much to Damon, in an effort to keep her disdain from seeping out of their every interaction. Every few minutes or so she'd find herself staring and wanting to slap that arrogant look that seemed to be permanently attached to his face. He had the nerve to try and make small talk after the way he humiliated them, Elena scoffed out loud without even meaning to.

"Did you say something?" He looked up from whatever super important file he'd been staring at the entire time they were there.

"No." She answered.

"Are you sure? It sounded like you did."

Elena rolled her eyes which prompted lopsided smirk from her boss. God, she hated that stupid smirk but she just knew it had all the other women swooning.

"I didn't say anything." Her voice was very controlled as she tried to make her annoyance less apparent.

"Well is there something you want to say?" Damon challenged standing abruptly from where he sat. If Elena was going to work for him he wouldn't tolerate her incessant eye rolling. He didn't know what he did to garner such disrespect but he planned on getting to the bottom of it, like now.

"No."

"Are you sure? It sure seems like you do." Damon was stalking towards her in the tiny space of the elevator.

"What are you talking about?" Elena gave him a look of confusion that he clearly wasn't buying if the humorless laugh that escaped him was any indication.

"I mean the fact that you can't seem to stop glaring at me like I stepped on your kitten." He challenged.

"I don't know what you're talking—"

"Of course you do. Come on Elena don't play dumb with me." He interrupted. There was barely an inch of space left between them as Damon continued to invade her space. He could practically feel the panic in her breath and his body was practically humming from having hers pressed against him just moments earlier. But he needed her to talk; he refused to have this awkward tension lingering between them for the duration of her internship.

"Fine! Am I wasting my time here?" Elena let out all the frustration that had been building up since the moment he stepped into the elevator.

"So, you didn't want the internship?" He couldn't believe what he was hearing, he barely wanted to hire her in the first place and now Miss Gilbert thought she was too good to work for him? He wanted to laugh at all the irony there.

"I wanted the internship, what I didn't want was to have my time wasted."

"So you think this is a waste of time?" Damon laughed in disbelief. The nerve of this girl, who the hell did she think she was? He knew plenty of applicants who were dying to take her place and even have the slightest chance of working for his company. Obviously little Miss Gilbert here was a spoiled and entitled brat.

"I spent the entire day sharpening pencils that I'm sure no one will ever use. I call that a waste of time."

"Everyone has to start somewhere Elena. Do you think I just woke up with this company sitting in my lap?"He questioned. Damon usually would never bother explaining himself to anyone, especially not some clueless intern who knew nothing about running a company. He had no clue why he was even humoring her with a response; he didn't owe her a damn thing. It was his company and he'd run it however it pleased him, to hell with how she felt about it.

"I guess none of that applies to Andie." Elena deadpanned.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Damon looked at her with a confusion that only served to make her blood boil even more. Was he really just going to stare at her with that blank look on his face as if he had no idea what she was talking about? Andie was all but in his lap the entire day, not to mention he allowed her the luxury of leaving early for her super important appointment on the first day of work.

"It's obvious you've taken a liking to her, and I guess I'm not sure what that means for the rest of us."

Damon debated whether or not he should even reply to her. Sure maybe he'd been a tad bit inappropriate with Andie and failed to be subtle about it but he wasn't used to his employees calling him out on his behavior. It was his company after all. He did what he wanted, and no one dared to question him, well maybe except Alaric. Yet somehow Miss-know-it-all Gilbert felt it was her place to tell him off about his behavior. Especially since it's not like she made any effort to get noticed, professionally or otherwise.

"It's not about me preferring Andie, but she's shown the initiative and makes it clear that she really wants this job, you haven't."

"So in other words, unless I show up to work practically naked and throw myself at you I don't stand a chance?" She looked at him fixedly waiting on his response. After the crappy day she had, she was feeling a little bold, and if Damon didn't plan on giving her a fair shot at getting this job, the least she could do is call him out on his crap. After all he pretty much asked for it.

He laughed humorously, but for some reason the thought really turned him on. Seeing her around the office about as uptight as nun left a lot to his imagination. Not to mention their proximity, the unbearable heat and the way her lower lip extended in that adorable pout had his mind forming wicked thoughts. Now thanks to her comment he was imagining her in all kinds of inappropriate attire. He silently thanked god for the dim lighting as he was sure his pants had tightened considerably.

"Look, I'm not saying Andie's methods are the best, but at least I can tell she's confident in her work. That's what I'm looking for." He spoke bluntly giving her a penetrating stare.

Hearing that, Elena felt about as tiny as an ant as his words echoed in her mind; having a complete stranger point out her insecurities like it was the most obvious thing in the world felt like a stab to the gut. Elijah kept saying she needed to be more confident, that she couldn't expect anyone to have more confidence in her than she had in herself. He was obviously right because after spending a short time with Damon he could see her for the insecure little girl that she was.

She chose to ignore his inquiring gaze all together, and pushed herself away until her back hit the wall of the elevator. She willed herself not to cry, it wouldn't do her any good. They were stuck in an elevator with no means to escape; she'd never live it down if he saw her cry. He'd never take her seriously and she'd certainly have to kiss any slight chance at getting this job goodbye.

"Was there anything else you wanted get off your chest while we're in here?" He smiled smugly knowing that he'd effectively made his point.

"No." She shook her head and turned away from him to face the wall.

It was ten minutes later, and it just kept getting hotter and even more humid. It was almost as if someone had lit a fire around the entire elevator in an effort to cook them alive. Elena was now sweating profusely, her breathing was labored and she tried not to think about where they were. If she let herself realize for the umpteenth time that they were trapped in an elevator with no way out, she'd start to panic. Her heart would start racing, she wouldn't be able to breathe.

"Elena, are you okay?" Damon's brows furrowed in concern. Her face was pale, her eyes shut tightly as she tried to take in deep breaths.

"We need to get out of here, Damon I can't breathe!" She panicked as she gasped for air as she brought both hands to cover her face. Small whimpers escaped her lips as she tried to catch her breath.

"Calm down!" Damon ordered before he could start to panic along with her. He had to keep it together, and that meant finding a way to keep her calm before she passed out. He didn't know the first thing about giving someone CPR and he didn't need her passing out on the floor.

"You should have taken that off." He practically berated. Before she could utter any protests he slowly undid the buttons on the front of her jacket sliding the fabric gently down her arms. Beneath it she wore a white blouse. Her small hand covered his, stopping him as he reached to undo buttons of her blouse.

"This isn't the time to be modest; you're not passing out on my watch." He stated before removing her hands and undoing the buttons, trying to ignore the way his fingers brushed against the soft flesh of her breasts or the sight of them covered in that lacey black bra. Once he got it off, he discarded the blouse and reached over to grab the file that he'd been reading moments prior.

He repositioned himself back on the floor, pulling her down in front of him. Using the folder as a make shift fan to provide her with air.

For twenty minutes they stayed like that, her clad in nothing but her black laced bra leaning against his muscular frame, her head tucked underneath his chin as he continued to fan her. Of course it was weird to be in such a compromising position with not only a complete stranger, but one whom she didn't even like at all. But Elena didn't even try to rationalize it, not that she could; her brain cells were practically fried by the level of heat. Yet she felt calm, and the air he was administering to her felt so good. She'd think about how much she hated him when it was all over, but in that moment she just needed him to keep doing what he was doing until they get out of that god forsaken hell hole.

He watched her eyes heavy lidded with exhaustion, her lips parted ever so slightly. It was so wrong of him to have dirty thoughts at a time like this, but Christ if those weren't the most perfect pair of b-cups he'd ever laid eyes on. Watching closely as her chest rose and fell with each breath, those perfectly round swells had his undivided attention. He imagined how soft they'd feel cupped in his hand, or just how sweet her flesh would taste in his mouth which was watering like he hadn't eaten in days.

Her breath hitched and in a slight panic he was startled out of his dirty thoughts. "Are you still with me?"

She looked up arching her back until her brown eyes met his blue ones. He decided those things need to come with a fucking warning. Especially when they're equipped with all that wide-eyed vulnerability and coyness as she's laid practically topless against him.

"I'm fine." She said, her voice sounding hoarse.

He didn't say anything else but apparently his hands had a mind of their own. Stroking her hair soothingly, he heard every tiny gasp that left her mouth. If her response was any indication to how she responded in bed, he was certain she'd be loads of fun. He studied her for a second, her eyes were shut tight, lips parted as he continued his ministrations in her hair. Damon decided she was definitely a moaner. If she was barely holding it together now, he could only imagine the sounds she'd make if his length was buried deep inside her and now he was aching to hear those sounds. There was nothing more exhilarating than sexually corrupting a woman as uptight as Elena was. He wanted to give her a taste of everything she's obviously never had, only to ruin her for any other guy after him. The thought had his pants tightening all over again and given their proximity, this time he was certain she felt it. But she didn't jump away in disgust like he expected, instead she chose not to acknowledge it at all.

It wasn't until an hour later did they hear the bustling and rustling of people outside. Elena jumped away from him her eyes wide as if she just realized she wasn't wearing a shirt. He tossed the white fabric in her direction, and she pulled it over her head immediately.

"I'm sorry about that." She whispered looking down sheepishly at his groin and watching as his face went from confusion to something akin to embarrassment. Then again this was Damon Salvatore, so she had to have misread that expression. Elena couldn't deny she'd lost most of her inhibitions these last few moments they'd been stuck together. It's not like she was used to having random guys disrobe her in public places. She read somewhere that people tend to lose their inhibitions in the sweltering heat; it had absolutely nothing to do with her being attracted to him at all. Just because he managed to stop her from having an anxiety attack by practically seducing her didn't mean she suddenly felt any different about him.

"Don't worry about it, it happens." The look he gave her however made her breath hitch in her throat, and her panties dampen. Yeah she needed to get out of there and fast; even a few more seconds of his lustful looks and talented fingers running through her scalp and she'd be completely at his mercy. She was grateful when she heard the door being forced open and a fresh air rushing into the elevator. They were finally out, and it only took three hours.

"Oh my god you're such a slut!" Rebekah laughed, "Tell me more." Her friend was completely engrossed in what Elena thought was the most humiliating story of she ever had the privilege of telling.

After getting home and reflecting on the events of that day, she couldn't even recognize the girl from a few hours ago who actually let her boss undress her and proceeded to give him a full on boner. How would she ever look at him in the eye again? What did he think of her now? He probably thought she was like Andie Starr and would do anything, however undignified to land that job. Well she wouldn't and she'd have to set things straight with him first thing in the morning.

"That's all of it." Elena insisted as her friend waited for more of the juicy details.

"You mean to tell me three hours of being stuck in an elevator with that gorgeous man and you didn't even kiss him?" Her friend laughed in disbelief.

"He's my boss Bekah."

"That didn't seem to stop you from letting him strip you naked." She teased.

"I wasn't naked; he just took off my top." Even Elena had to laugh at how ridiculous it all sounded, and her friend joined her as they both nearly toppled off the couch in hysterics.

"God I am a slut aren't I?"

"You're no slut. I've seen that guy Lena, and you have more self control than ninety-nine percent of the women in Los Angeles."

Elena exhaled deeply. She'd never been involved in anything resembling a sex scandal. Surely whatever happened between her and Damon was inappropriate in every way and possibly much worse than any of the flirting she witnessed with Andie.

She suddenly felt stupid for thinking low of Andie after her own little transgression with Damon. Now she was no better. There was no room for her to judge anymore, but she had no plan of ever engaging in anything like that with him ever again. Whatever that was that happened between them was over the moment she walked out of the elevator. The next day they'd go back to how things were, she'd sit at her cubicle with the other interns, and he'd pretend they don't exist. All would be right again.

Except it wasn't. Before she could even take a seat at her cubicle the next day Bonnie informed her that Damon wanted to see her. She sat frozen at her desk for a few moments as she thought about every possible scenario that could take place when she entered his office. What if he wanted some kind of encore? What if she couldn't resist him as well as she thought? Sure it was easy to tell herself that she could was there in the elevator and still couldn't reconcile that girl with the person she knew herself to be.

It wasn't until the other intern was practically waving in front of her face did she snap out of her thoughts.

"Earth to Elena!"

"Yeah I heard you." Elena said.

"So why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"

"No reason. I'll see what he wants when I get done here." Elena explained as she pretended to do something important on her computer.

"When you're done here?" Bonnie looked at her like she just uttered the most ludicrous string of words.

"Elena he could be putting you on some huge project, and you're just going to sit here like there's actually something more important going on in your life?"

"I said I'll speak to him in a minute." Elena nearly snapped.

"Geez. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed." Bonnie held her hands up defensively before walking away toward her own cubicle.

It took almost a half hour later before Elena got the nerve to knock on Damon's door. When she was let in she saw that Andie had already made herself comfortable at a small desk right beside Damon's. She actually let out a breath of relief. Surely Damon wouldn't risk whatever he had with Andie by mentioning what happened in the elevator.

"Nice of you to finally grace me with your presence Elena I would've preferred to see you half an hour ago when you first arrived, but now is as good a time as any I suppose."

"I didn't realize it was so urgent." She tried to hide the apprehension in her voice and she was failing miserably, and she could tell by the look in his eyes that he was onto her.

"I considered the conversation we had yesterday and since Alaric is so great at what he does, I decided to take a chance." Damon explained, not missing the bewildered expression on the face of both women in the room.

"Pardon me?"

"I'm putting you on the Forbes project." He clarified.

Elena didn't even have time to process any of what Damon said before she saw the look of annoyance and anger flash through Andie's eyes. It was so fast that you'd miss it in a blink.

"As in the William Forbes Hotel?" Andie interrupted in disbelief.

"The one and only." Damon replied casually, feigning oblivion at the amount of rage building inside the blonde sitting beside him.

"We start in fifteen minutes. Can I expect you to be on time?"

"Yes of course." Elena nodded hesitantly. She didn't know what the hell was going on, but some part of it made her feel really uneasy and the look Andie was giving her wasn't helping. Just as she opened the door to let herself out, she heard her name called.

"Oh and Elena? You left this." He pulled out her jacket from lower drawer of his desk and placed on the surface.

Elena noticed Andie's eyes wide as saucers as she hurriedly grabbed the article of clothing and let herself out of the office.

"So you're letting an intern work on one of the biggest projects this firm's ever had?" Andie sat in front of him with a look of pure disbelief.

"Yep." He said matter of factly. Damon knew exactly where this conversation was heading, and he'd prepared himself to have it.

"Did she ask to be put on the project?"

"No it was my decision." He answered not taken his eyes away from his computer screen.

"And what did Elena Gilbert have to do to receive such an honor?" Her voice was laced with the kind of sarcasm and annoyance that was hard to ignore.

But he managed to ignore it anyway. "Nothing."

"What about Elena Gilbert?" Alaric walked through Damon's office eavesdropping.

"I put her on the Forbes project." Damon announced.

"You what?" Alaric looked at him skeptically.

"You're the one who couldn't stop going on about how much potential she has so I'm giving her a shot." Damon didn't understand why they were all making such a huge deal out of this. Elena came to gain experience in architecture who was he to deny her that?

"Andie, can I have a moment alone with him?" Alaric asked politely.

Once he was sure Andie was out of hearing distance, Alaric gave Damon a look of utter confusion. "What the hell is going on here Salvatore?"

Damon shrugged his shoulders pretending not to understand where Alaric was getting at.

"Why this sudden interest in Elena?"

"Isn't this what you wanted? For me to get involved and teach, well I plan on teaching Elena." Damon gave him a knowing smirk.

"She's not Andie. You can't just toy with her like you do others." Alaric challenged. "I won't let you."

"Look whose showing favoritism now." Damon teased. "Ric relax, I have no plans to take your daughter's virginity."

Alaric shook his head annoyingly. "I'm serious Damon, Elijah specifically told me to look out for her. She seems like a good girl and the last thing she needs is to be on your radar as another conquest."

"I'll be nothing short of professional." Damon promised earning him a reluctant nod from his partner.

"So what are you gonna do with Andie?"

"I thought you could take her for a while." Damon gave him a pleading look. He wasn't exactly looking forward to telling Andie Elena would be replacing her for an undetermined amount of time.

"No can do. I've already taken the other two since you seemed hell-bent on letting them rot out there sharpening pencils." Alaric explained. "But I'm sure there are some papers she could fill out or something."

"Okay great now you have the pleasure of telling her!" Damon said cheekily. "And call Elena in here."

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