Black Velvet
Chapter 32- Baby Steps
R-M
I'm glad you all love the addition of Michaela. Sorry for the log chap! Thank you for your reviews the past couple chapters. I'm soooooo loving y'alls input :)
Plz enjoy this chapter.
Four people sat at a long wooden table in Conference Room A at Queen and Associates. There was no short of seriousness or unspoken tensions as Damon felt uncomfortable about Bonnie having to deal with his case. But, Michaela and Oliver had all of the confidence, that combining their tactics could win both Damon and Bonnie's case.
Damon gave Oliver a silent, but bothered stare which Oliver recognized. So, he wanted to explain himself.
"Michaela and I had to go behind both of your backs to arrange this meeting. As your friend, I apologize. As your lawyer, I don't regret it. This was the best decision to get you two to pull it together."
"Exactly. And while we agreed to meet today, Oliver and I aren't exactly on the same page. This meeting is imperative to all of our understanding on creating a cohesive agenda."
"I'm not fond of being conned into getting Bonnie involved."
"Conned? Damon, that's not at all what happened." Bonnie's explained.
"Okay, we aren't here to fight. We are here to discuss, the best tactically combined efforts to destroy Kol Mikaelson. Starting with the down fall of Andrea Star, by finally letting the judicial system take care of the red-headed con-woman. This case may go public, in which we need the utmost cooperation from both of you. Meaning differences aside, you need to be best friends for the next few months."
Damon inhaled nervously, sucking his bottom lip out of habit. Bonnie remained quiet, realizing Damon felt on edge. "I want to take Andie down with merit based on her past. And Kol, I want to expose him for what he is. This may involve, outing your lifestyle." Michaela bluntly stated, causing Damon to tense up.
"What?"
"Listen," she countered to Oliver's idea of discretion is best policy of his and Damon's lifestyle choices, "I get it. You are afraid of how the public will perceive you. But, how long you going to live in your own shadow?"
"It's not about living in a shadow. My client has every right to preserving his private life as much as possible. You want all of his hard work, and his dissertations to be discredited, because he loses his license. This is his life's work. His legacy!"
"No, it's his Achilles heel."
Michaela and Oliver went back and fourth a while, and Bonnie and Damon just listened. The past week Oliver and Michaela spent a few afternoons together going over their cases.
Neither Bonnie or Damon wanted to come between their lawyers compelling arguments, and both hated the fact that everything had come to this. "Every man has the right to privacy!" Oliver yelled.
"We are all familiar with the fourth Amendment, Mr. Queen."
"And that is what is killing this case. Okay. Sure I can get Kol for unlawful entry and his lawyer will counter with his name still being on the properties along with Bonnie's. I can get him for invasion of privacy, and he'll counter with his suspicions of her cheating, then he'll motion to open the clause of his prenup. Where it plainly states, any infidelity on Bonnie's behalf will lead to the loss of her rights to any properties in which they share and or, create, fund, establish under the Mikealson name! My client has a lot at stake here too!" Michaela was beginning to hold herself back from strangling Oliver Queen.
"You're a piece of work you know that? To claim a material loss is the same as career establishment and professional relevance, or-"
"Stop! Please. Oliver, don't do that. Don't negate Bonnie's losses as less valuable than mine."
"Exactly asshole!" Michaela spit out, forcing Oliver to repeal his words, and apologize to Bonnie.
"You're right, Ms. Pratt. Bonnie, I'm sorry. I know we are on the same side here." Oliver quietly admitted, as he tried to control his temper. "What I meant was what Bonnie will lose, is material. Damon will lose his reputation, his license to practice, and his source of income as its relative to his means for living, and working in LA. I know Bonnie has properties at stake, and I trust you as her lawyer, can manage to save what matters most to her. But, Damon will be totally ruined!"
Michaela looked uninterested in Oliver's focus. Her focus was smashing Kol, until he was a pancake. She turned to Damon, and with a straight face, and calm voice. "You understand that you are being accused of rape, right?"
"Of course."
"Okay. Then you aren't stupid enough to believe, even a false accusation of rape, requires more evidence against the accuser than the accused. Rape accusations are hard to disprove, even if your found innocent. Because at this point you'll have Women's activists group countering you for victim blaming, shaming, and sexism. Judges either don't want to touch these cases these days, or they favor the victim regardless of facts to avoid public scrutiny. Do you really want to take your chances? Exposing your privacy, risking your reputation for your personal kinks, to avoid taking a false claim on the books and being found guilty. Or protect your private life losing most of your substantiated evidence and being found guilty of rape, developing a reputation for being an abusive, hedonistic rapist, who will register as a sex offender for the rest of his life! That is after you go to Prison, and let Bubba do to you, what Andie says you did to her? Huh, Damon?"
The heat was definitely in the kitchen, and everyone felt it.
"You're assuming I can't beat this case?"
"No Mr. Queen, I'm stating the relevance of social politics on cases like these. You could be damn good and lose based on the rejected beliefs in the justice system. A rapist, Damon! Do you know what happens to rapists in prison? Especially a pretty little white boy like you?"
Damon cringed hearing it, and his fist clenched around the pin in his hand. Bonnie felt Damon's discomfort, and the accusation alone, hurt him to his core, knowing what Kol did to Bonnie, was being thrown onto him, as if he did it to Andie. But Damon would never tell a soul about what Kol did to Bonnie, because he believed it was Bonnie's place to let her lawyer know, and not his.
"Damon, I don't know you. But I'm watching every visual que. You're dilated pupils, your sweating forehead, flushed face, clenched fist, and your looking directly at me as I speak. I could believe every word Bonnie's has spoken about you. She told me you'd never hurt a woman. You'd never force yourself on any woman. And I see it in your face, your body, your muscle tension. Because your angry, for being falsely accused of sexual assault by a greedy, jealous ex-lover slash client. I don't think you're a rapist. But I'm not a juror, who may have been sexually assaulted. I'm not a judge who may be having a bad day. Those people, will have your fate in their hands. And no offense, but white men aren't exactly the poster boys for innocence these days. Everything in the media with men in high power sexually assaulting women and getting away with it for years, because of wealth and power. Sorry Damon, your chances of gaining sympathy are exceptionally slim." Michaela was being blunt, and honest, which Damon appreciated. "Which is why you, and Oliver need me. No offense, but Oliver is a white man too. And a lawyer, it's not buying you any sympathy with social activists, or women's groups."
"Unfortunately, Sal, she's right. We do need Ms. Pratt on our team."
"Damon, I'm going to ask you once, did you rape Andrea Star?"
"No. I have never raped anyone. Not Andie, not anyone. I never did anything, Andie didn't specifically request me to do to her, when we initially met and negotiated our contract."
"Contract?"
"Yes. I met with clients before I'd agree to work with them. There's an extensive list of what they will and won't agree to. There are safe words, and regulations for discipline. And believe me, she had rarely any boundaries. She was pretty open to anything. But, in a professional relationship, I never offered rape play. It was always crossed off the lists, with my own initials next to it. I was specific about it. Especially knowing her past accusations, of her husband. Which she'd been vocal about with me."
"As in...?"
"She'd said, she did what she had to do to get alimony."
"And you still worked with her?"
"It's hard to explain. After a while, I was approached by her husband."
"What?" Oliver almost spit his coffee. "Why didn't I ever hear about his?"
"It was an off the record conversation we had. That's why."
"Well, we need that "off the record" conversation run down." Oliver said, right before Michael mentioned something else.
"We can use this contract, in court."
"That's up for debate. And by debate I mean, not gonna happen."
"Why the fuck not Mr. Queen?"
Damon instead answered, "Because, Andie and I decided to become exclusive around the time I'd met Bonnie. The contract was null and void afterwards."
"Meaning," Oliver continued, "Anything she claims, is perfectly valid. I told him not to go off contract with her back then. You don't think I've been over this with Damon, Ms. Pratt? I know what I'm doing, which is why I contacted you weeks ago. We may be able to end everything with a simple phone call to Kol, and he can call Andie off of Damon. Because, I believe your client," he stare directly at Bonnie, "may be able to end everything, because she was with Kol for ten years. She knows everything about him. His alcoholism, his gambling debts. Between you and Damon. His wife and his therapist, you both know the worst of him. And what Damon can't say on the record, due to doctor patient confidentiality. You can confess, in your divorce decree."
"Are you asking me to expose Kol's private sessions with Damon? I wasn't there, and I have no idea what he told Damon. Damon has never broken the law and told me."
"True, but, maybe you and Damon should talk off the record, about personal things you may or may not have endured during your marriage, which Kol may or may not have confessed to. This helps your divorce, and when Kol is found guilty, it'll knock out Kol's claim against Damon for battery and assault with a deadly weapon. Thus clarifying him and Andie's motive to come after you guys. You understand Kol, coming after you two is a tactic to keep his secrets kept. Because one, he thinks Damon can't say anything due to confidentiality, and two, he knows, you're going to keep things to yourself due to how private you are, and how much you hate exposing your privacy. Don't let him, think he can, one-up you!"
Bonnie felt confused wondering if Damon opened his mouth about the one thing she'd only ever told him about Kol. "Damon, did you discuss-"
"No!" He said adamantly. "Bon, I would never discuss anything, you and I speak about to anyone. Come on, if I kept Kol's secrets, why wouldn't I keep yours?"
He made a valid point.
Bonnie sat upright, and offered a look of confusion. Damon turned to Oliver confused, and curious.
"What is this Oliver?"
"I can't say. Just know, that I too know people in all places. And I know Bonnie can end this with a confession about her husband's disturbing past."
"Wait, what? Oliver, what are you talking about?" Damon asked, looking between Oliver and Bonnie.
"Bonnie knows. And, I think we should give her some time to think about it."
Bonnie spoke out. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"It was stated in the private records of certain Doctor, whose name I won't mention. Not Damon. But, just know, your husband has seen..." he looked down at a sheet of paper and counted. "One-two-three-four-five-six therapists over the past seven years, including Damon, who's not his most recent therapist by the way. You didn't know Damon was Kol's therapist, imagine how many others you didn't know about." Oliver admitted, forcing Bonnie's discomfort, but not on a malicious way. "No one told me, I did my research. But, yes I know people in places, and I'm able to obtain and use information if it was volunteered to me anonymously."
Damon had an idea of what Oliver was talking about. And it was Bonnie worst fear come true. That dark secret she kept from everyone. The one thing she couldn't admit out loud, because it would prove she was vulnerable and she refused to be victimized, as she'd sworn she'd moved past it.
"No. Oliver."
"Damon, I'm not telling her to admit to anything. I'm just letting her know, that it's our strongest fight against this spoiled rich boy."
Michaela stood in the room, confused. "BB? What am I missing? What have you left out about Kol Mikaelson's past?"
"I need some air. Can I please, have a moment alone?"
"Yeah, sure." Michaela replied worried. Damon wanted to go after her, until she said she wanted to be alone. He didn't want to crowd her in the moment.
...
Three people sat in a room deliberating over a moment in which Bonnie walked out of the room for. She'd needed a few minutes to catch her bearing, on top of Oliver's emission. While outside, thinking, she received a text from Kai that worried her, so she took a moment to call him back before going back inside of the meeting.
"Hey, Kai, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just wondering how your meeting went." His tone was dryer than usual, and she knew he was off by his text earlier which said, all work and no play makes Kai a dull guy. Lol!
He tried to make it humorous but the general tone was not his style. "Kai, you aren't alright, something is wrong. I could tell by your text."
"Nothing's wrong. I thought about you a little while ago, and I felt like texting you."
"Wait, it's, early in the afternoon. I thought you were meeting with a potential client today?"
"Oh, yeah, about that. I lied!"
"Why would you lie? What's wrong?"
"I met with Iris."
"Your ex... wait, THE ex? Why wouldn't you just be honest with me?"
"Uhh." Because he was afraid of how it would make her feel. Although, he knew they were friends, the territory was questionable at best. "I actually, wasn't sure if I'd go through with it."
Bonnie wasn't sure how to feel, about the fact the he kept it from her. But she respected Kai's privacy, and would never question his choices. "How was it?"
"Uhh- It was really nice seeing her." He paused, and Bonnie decided to pause with him to focus on his attitude, and energy. "She looked great. She had this glow about her. Literally. Glowing, and she came to find me. She's getting married Bonnie."
"Oh no. Kai, I'm sorry. I know this must be awful for you. How are you doing?"
"Oh, Pft! I'm fine." He said with a deep voice and a slight shake. "I mean, yeah, it was awkward, but like, I'm happy for her, ya know?"
"Damn, I can tell your bothered. Kai, I will be here for a little bit longer. Than I'm coming to your office okay."
"No. Don't do that. I'm fine. I just think, she and I are at two different places in life."
"Kai, I'll be by and you can tell me everything."
"No. Bon."
"Why?"
"I'm good okay. I'm not, sad."
"Where are you?"
"Driving back into town, I am stuck in traffic. I was in Santa Monica this morning."
"Okay. I should get going back in my meeting. But I'll call you when I'm done. Please, don't shut me out okay."
"I wouldn't do that. You're my literal best female friend, and favorite person. So..." Bonnie could feel him smile when he said those words, and she smiled back at him.
"Well, you're my best guy friend too. So, let me be a good friend today."
"I kind of prefer to be alone today, if you don't mind."
"Okay."
"But, get back to your meeting. I'm gonna pull off and get some gas, to top it off, my damn truck is on E and hopefully this traffic will die down."
"Okay. Be safe, I'll Talk to you soon."
"Later."
Meanwhile in the conference room...
"Oliver, I'm not going to ask Bonnie to do that." Micky argued.
"Why?"
"Because, she's obviously dealing with a separate trauma associated with whatever was reported. And if you're asking my client to open Pandora's box, we are looking at more than just fucking Kol over! We are asking her to add to her current stress level."
"You saying your client isn't capable of dealing with it! We are talking about saving a man's entire life, career, reputation, freedom, etcetera etcetera etcetera."
"Mr. Queen, how many serious business women do you deal with daily?"
"What does that have to do with anything Ms. Pratt?" Micky's gloves were ready to come off, as she defended Bonnie against Damon's attorney. Nothing personal from Oliver, but he was serious when he said they needed to pull off whatever they could to nail Kol's coffin shut.
"Because, you strike me as being a man who deals with women who don't think for themselves, on a daily basis. Therefore, they allow you to do all of the barbaric, decision making. Bonnie has a life she wants to get back to, that she deals with making her own decisions. She's not a victim who wants to be coddled. She's bad ass and makes her own decisions. Unlike women you typically deal with."
"Rich. Quit taking shots at me!"
"Quit being an easy target."
"I'm being respectful, because you're a woman, and because of your client and my clients previous relationship."
"Number one, don't make the mistake of being "easy on me" because I'm a woman. I walk in court every week just as you, with facts figures, and agendas just like you. I win cases, because I'm damn good. Not because I'm a woman. And two, Mr. Salvatore has stated, he doesn't wish to have my client use this "anonymous" information in court."
Damon stood up, "I should go find Bonnie, and check on her, I'll be right back." He needed a moment away from two heated, lawyers, who were becoming increasingly annoyed with each other.
But they kept speaking beyond his words through him and to each other, in true lawyer fashion. "And my client is resilient and strong. And whatever information you have, may open a separate case. Sounds like trial-worthy, if my assumptions are correct. Right now, let's deal with this. If anyone's going to advise my client about what she should and shouldn't say, it's me."
"You gave Damon a speech today, about his reputation. It made sense to all four of us. All I'm saying, is we have a chance to destroy the reputation of a man who actually deserves it."
"Not at the expense of my client's privacy."
"But we can use Damon's privacy, against Andie?"
"Mr. Queen-"
"No! This is so fucking frustrating!" Oliver yelled in the room. "It's not Bonnie's fault. I know it's not. But, I also know her husband Kol has a brother who's a lawyer's and father who is a judge. He has friends in high places. Guys like him get off, with not so much as a slap on the wrist. We can take him down twice."
"Is this about you taking down Mr. Mikaelson and making a bigger name for yourself, or about you getting Mr. Salvatore's name cleared?"
"Both!"
"Well, my agenda is to make Kol suffer. That's is how my client wins. But, if she doesn't want to mention this big, secret... I have to be good enough at my job, to make sure he still pays for all he's put her through regardless of this secret information."
Seconds later Bonnie and Damon walk back in. The two of them looked relatively calm compared to Michaela and Oliver. And when they sat down Damon allowed everyone to catch their breath so he could speak.
"I've decided, and I told Bonnie, that I am willing to testify about everything. I will allow Ollie to use my personal life choices, along with the previous contract between Andie and I, as evidence. It should leverage me, because Andie has had two high profile divorces before."
"Damon-"
"Let me finish Oliver. I have some information about Andie, that could help."
"Damon, the judge will call you an escort, a prostitute, it will tarnish your reputation. There is Prison time shit like that."
"I did this Oliver. I made these mistakes. But I didn't rape her, and I won't go down for that. I also won't go down for paying either of these two people my hard earned money. Two people who have made it a career to steal from everyone else."
"And what about Kol?" They all looked at Bonnie.
"My PI, has given me a lot of information, to use against Kol. He's got receipts to prove everything. We have names, dates, and proof of forged documentation. The only problem is my witness has disappeared."
"Disappeared, how?"
"I don't know, the guy who Kol hired to I guess, spy on me, and steal my information, was linked directly to Kol's place of business. He used to be an intern. It was his sister that Kol slept with. And the equipment used, was traced to Kol's place of business. It's a prestigious accounting firm in Burbank. Anyways, my witness/assistant, this hackers girlfriend, when she admitted everything to me, she disappeared."
"Has a missing persons been filed."
"No. I mean, I have no idea where she is, or if she's missing. I'm just saying I haven't spoken to her."
"Okay. This is something. Give me her name, number and address. I'll figure out what I can. Meanwhile, take a few days away from this case Bonnie, get your mind off of it. I need to work overtime so you don't have to." Michaela offered. "And, Damon, think about giving me a couple names of previous clients that can testify on your behalf."
Both Damon and Bonnie were taken aback.
"You mean, other women he's... Other... sub-clients?" Bonnie asked lightly.
"BB, yes. I know you probably don't want to meet these women. But, we need to make sure the court knows that in terms of Andrea Star, Damon is the victim here. False rape accusations don't disappear. So, we need to play up the sympathy factor, to get the jury to really see the psychotic bitch Star is. And we need to make sure the judge is clear, that Andrea was Damon's client, and not Damon's patient. These other clients will be detrimental."
"Of course. This isn't about just me. Anything we can do to nail her." Bonnie admitted.
"Sal, we can meet up about your information on Andie. But, we should take a break today. It's been a long morning." Micky concurred with a head nod.
"I agree Mr. Queen." Both attorneys were standing in separate areas of the conference room. Papers all over the table, and both of their clients unreasonably calm. Except for the fact, that a good attorney would do their best to do the worrying for their client.
Damon hadn't spoken much today. But, listening to Bonnie speak about her PI, and realizing what Kai told him about his capabilities for research, he put two and two together in this moment. Realizing they were one in the same person. And understanding this guy had done a lot for her in terms of this case.
Bonnie and Damon both got up and left the room before their attorneys. "BB, wait up, I'll take you back to your office. Just give me maybe, fifteen minutes with Mr. Queen to wrap things up? Make sure we're on the same page."
"Uhh, sure-"
"I can take you Bonnie."
She turned to her previous dominant. A man she could barely look at these days. A man who's taken her on a rollercoaster of feelings for almost a year now. All good, some bad, and others questionable.
Her hesitance didn't go unnoticed, by the two lawyers. "Or, maybe Mr. Queen and I can conference call this some other time-"
"No. It's fine. Damon can take me."
"You sure? Sweetie, I don't have to-"
"No, seriously. Micky, you and Oliver take your time. I'm okay with Damon taking me."
"Okay." They gave their goodbyes, before walking out of the door. Bonnie in her business dressy attire, and Damon the same.
It was a quiet walk to the elevator and while in it. Both filled with an incredible amount of information. And neither sure what to say to the other. Damon slid his hands into his pockets, and Bonnie held her clutch. Two sets of eyes looked at everyone but each other. Damon broke the ice first, when they'd made it to the parking garage level. "I'm parked here."
"Okay."
Damon listened to the distinctive sounds of her heel clicking as she walked. It was reminiscent of a memory which would be forever embedded into his brain. "My first memory of meeting you, ever... is the sound your heels make when you walk."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. It was that night, we met. You were coming around the corner of your hallway, into your dining room to meet me. Actually, it was the room you use to entertain guests. You walked patiently, and with one foot before the other. My first thought about you is still distinct."
"Really?" She asked surprised. "What was it?"
"I remember thinking, that you like to make a man wait for you. You like to control things."
Her fingers brushed her hair behind her ear. She was quiet, listening to the click clacking of her walk. She didn't understand his thought process.
"You're listening to it now, aren't you?"
She giggled softly. "Maybe."
"You won't hear it. It's a subconscious thing. I'm a psychologist Bonnie. Slash, your former dominant. Your kinetic energy is always being assessed in my brain. Whether I want it to or not."
"I didn't realize walking made a statement."
Damon paused and took a deep breath. "You walked patiently, and took your time. It felt like forever before I'd seen your face, for the first time. Which by the way I didn't notice first. I noticed your legs and feet."
Still listening, she was fascinated by his thoughts on meeting her. What stood out to him, was a special feeling, because it let her see how, much he paid attention to her from day one.
"It's interesting you say that Damon, because I don't remember my thoughts walking into the room."
"You were upset. He, sprang a last minute dinner on you. You hardly had time to prepare, and you did anyways. Delicious dinner by the way. But I felt your energy. You'd worked that day, and were tired. But you'd never tell him that, because you hated feeling as if you weren't in control of your situations at all times."
They made it to his car, near a further corner of the garage. Damon walked to the passenger side to open it, helping her inside. Bonnie stopped herself. "Damon, I always wondered something?"
"What?"
"The night I'd met you, you made a statement to me. You said, 'God, he's stupid to not see what he has in you.' That always stayed with me. What did you mean by that?"
"I meant exactly what I said. He had everything in one woman, and he abused it, because he's used to getting what he wants. I knew you were the total package the night I met you, Sweet Pea. Strong, intelligent, successful, passionate, loyal, fierce, hardworking, and you were controlling."
"Thought you didn't like that part of me. The controlling part."
"Actually... I love that part of you. It takes a certain kind of woman to command a man like me, to give them things he'd not normally give. You controlled me, in ways you didn't realize. You still do." Her smile flattened.
"I never controlled you Damon." Bonnie stiffened when he moved towards her. She could easily let him use her body for everything she needed and wanted and no one would know. But, she was guarded still. His legs moved one at a time slowly, until she was leaning against the car.
"You control a lot."
"I don't." He put his hands on either side of the car, and leaned into her without touching her. He looked as if he wanted to kiss her. But the minute his lips were in reach of hers, she turned her cheek to him.
"See. You control a lot." She didn't deny it. Damon backed away holding the door open and helping her inside. Bonnie felt her temperature rise, forcing herself to ignore it.
...
The car ride back to Bonnie's office was quiet, mostly. She couldn't handle the silence. For the first time, in ten months he didn't make a flirty glance, a forward comment, or look at her like she was a snack ready to devour.
He kept his eyes on the road, and drove, carefully. Bonnie couldn't handle the tension. The incredibly smooth and quiet sound of his expensive car, and the impossible loud thumping of the turn signal every few minutes. "Damon?"
"Yeah?"
"Why didn't you tell me about Kol and Andie? Or us needing to corroborate?"
Damon sighed, and rubbed the bottom of his face. His facial hair still coming in, slowly. He'd never forget she said it looked good on him at the wedding. "Damn Oliver!"
"Don't blame Oliver."
"He sought you out?"
"No, I ran into him, and he told me a little. Then we exchanged info, and he emailed me."
"Emailed you what?"
"It doesn't matter?"
"It does!" He smacked his hand on the dashboard scaring her.
"Detailed information about the lawsuits against you."
"Fuck!" He pulled his car over, and rubbed his hands through his hair. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just- I didn't want you to be involved. I'm a big boy. I can handle it. I'll deal with Kol, one way or the other. And Andie, well... Bon, don't worry about it. Whatever Oliver sent you-"
"Damon, don't shut me out. I get it. We aren't together. We... can barely look at each other. But, to think, I wouldn't help you? He's threatening your career. Your, practice." Her compassion, exceeded her discomfort in these moments. "It's not right. And I agreed to help, in any way I can. So, my lawyer and I had met days ago to start all of the leg work for getting Kol's ass."
"Bonnie," his eyes moved from the dash to her legs, still unable to look at her in the face right now. "I will probably lose my license to practice. No matter how carefully I played my cards to not break any malpractice laws, I attacked him in his home. He has it on tape. I came into the home you two shared, and damn near killed him. It was an unfair fight. Because I was ready to kill him. I would have done that for you. That's all I could feel in the moment, was murdering him. Legally, I broke no laws of my practice. But ethically, I destroyed my chances of having a successful career. I will have destroyed my reputation when this goes public. And the moment this case hits the streets, no one will want to work with me. So, to drag you into a downfall, I brought upon myself? Why keep embarrassing myself? I did this. I lied. I deserve what's going to happen to my career. But Kol, will be dealt with. Whether in court or not. It's he least I can do for you."
"Me! How dare you make this about helping me, Damon? It's about us! We both became targets on Kol's shit list. He doesn't deserve shit. And you don't deserve to just, take all of this on by yourself. Regardless of how wrong you were about lying, I played a part too! I cheated on my husband, and had an on going affair."
"Bonnie I pursued you, heavily."
"And I'm a grown woman! I made the conscious effort to cheat! Don't make excuses for me. I'm not a baby! I can help you."
"But, I knew it could potentially hurt Kol if he ever found out. Not that I cared. But as a professional, I should have waited. I am just as bad as Kol."
"Unlike Kol, your motives weren't hateful."
"We were both selfish, and greedy."
"But-" she couldn't think of the words to segregate their motives.
"Exactly! It goes both ways Bon. Don't make excuses for me. You did it for Kol. But I'm a man, and I don't need you to baby me."
"How dare you."
"I'm sorry. I'm being honest, even if it hurts, because I owe you nothing but honesty anymore." And even if his words hurt, they were the truth.
"Damon, Kol acted out of anger, and jealousy. His goal was to be hurtful, and vengeful. Kol loves no one, more than himself. Damon, your heart was in the right place. You just acted out of fear. But! This time use your head AND your heart. Because, you deserve a second chance to prove to yourself." Bonnie grabbed his hand. "I for one, believe in you, because you're a fighter who doesn't give up."
His blue eyes finally looked up at her and his expression was soft.
"You believe in me?"
"I always have." She said. Damon pulled her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. His lips were tender, and they lingered for seconds upon seconds. She exhaled reminiscing that old feeling. It was short lived until he turn-signaled, and pulled back on to the road, to drive again. "Regardless of the status of our friendship, whether we talk or don't talk, we need to come together for this. Okay. He needs to be taken down. And you fight for your practice, if it's what you want. Don't you want it?"
"Thats the problem, I don't know if I want it for me, or if I'm just living my father's dream there."
"Well, Damon, while we are working together, I'm sure you can figure it out. And, I'll help you, in the best way I can."
"That actually means a lot to me. More than you know, Bonnie." She grinned at him. "But promise me, if I'm figuring out my career path and picking up the pieces of my soon-to-be destroyed life... you consider yours happiness as well. We both know that THE Review, isn't your dream."
"It's not my dream. But, it's my baby."
"Still, you deserve to have the dream career you want. I need you to promise to make a pathway to it, while I'm figuring myself out. While I'm slowing myself down. I want to help you too as much as I can."
She graciously nodded her head adding a nervous lip bite. "I will."
"Promise me, Bonnie."
"I promise, Damon." They drove a few more minutes before getting back to her car. Damon pulled next to her, and parked his car. Like a gentleman. He still got out to let her out. "It was good seeing you."
"You too Damon." The thick warm summer heat cast a quiet around them. Cars drove by few and far between, and they both looked in different directions, until they made eye contact again. "So, I should get going."
"What are you doing later? I thought maybe we could... have dinner?"
Bonnie was taken aback by his offer. It felt strange considering they'd been estranged for months. She didn't know how to answer him, but her face spoke an entire language of skepticism. "I know, I'm the last person you want to sit and have dinner with. But I figured we'd be spending a lot of time together because of this case, and I thought we could at least be friendly."
And even though his face was sincere, she'd already had a prior engagement. "Well, actually, I'd made plans to cook dinner for-"
"Your boyfriend?"
Her eyes squinted amazed. "No. I'm cooking for Lily tonight. She's finally eating food again. I offered to make her some Roasted Chicken and Asparagus with Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Simple. And not hard to chew or digest."
"Sounds good. Well, maybe some other time then?"
"When's the last time you had home cooked food, Damon?"
"Ha." He laughed. "Seriously?"
"Yes, seriously." She laughed. "When?"
"Two-three months ago."
"Sheesh. So, last time I cooked for you?"
"Yeah. Wait, I take it back, Sarah and Stefan invited me over for dinner once."
"Wow. Well, Damon, I think it's time you eat home cooked food. Why don't you join us?"
He shook his head. "I probably shouldn't, intrude-"
"Damon. You wouldn't be intruding. We would love it?"
"We?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. We." She smiled. Damon had a lot to think about, because she knew he wasn't comfortable around Lily. "Well, just think about it." In the back of his mind, he realized it would mean a lot to Bonnie if he started visiting Lily more. After all, it was the gateway to amends and one of the things holding him back from fully accepting how his life turned out. He knew she was hopeful to him learning to possibly understand Lily, and allowing himself to be understood by his mother, so he could really give himself to a relationship with her. That is if they ever planned on working through their issues.
"Well, I should head out, for now. You okay?"
"I'm good, Damon. I'll see you soon, I guess." She smiled, but deep dow she realized Damon had a lot of resentment towards his mother, and some of it may have translated over to her, in their break up. She could only hope Damon would allow himself to grow from their experience. He nodded his head, and she reached in to hug him. Her smell infiltrated his system again, and he didn't want to let her go. And, if he ever wanted to hold her again, claiming her to be his, he had to do things her way. Even while she didn't demand it. When they let go, they went their own separate ways.
xXx
Bonnie headed to her place to shower, and relax for a few hours before heading to Lily's. When she received a knock on her door, she hoped somehow it was Damon. But it was Kai.
"Kai, hey. I thought you wanted to be alone today?"
"I did. But, I owe you an apology."
"Kai, it's fine. I understand how you felt. No need to apologize."
"No, it wasn't cool of me to shut you out. I felt hurt. Iris told me she was getting married, and I was mad, because a part of me, was hoping she wanted to reconcile."
"Why, would you think that if you ended things?"
"It's a long story. The point is you were being a good friend."
Bonnie smiled, reached up and hugged him. His burly arms wrapped around her in a comforting way. And instantly she compared it to Damon's hug. And Damon's hug, was different from Kai's. Kai's hug gave a girl the feeling she was a teenager in high school, hugging her football player boyfriend. It was over bearing, in a good way, and she snuggled into it. Damon's hug, wrapped her into a cocoon of need and control, which relaxed her from having be in control all the time. She was willfully submissive to Damon's hugs. Both hugs different, both acceptable.
"No worries Kai. What are friends for?" He let go of Bonnie gently, and flashed her a guilty grin. "What?"
"So, I may or may not have told her I had a girlfriend."
"Why?"
"Because, I felt stupid. So, it just came out. And then she asked me, if we could all double date in another week when she comes back?"
"Pft. Wow. What a tangled web you've woven. I'm not going on some date, so some girl can size me up." She said.
"You mean the way you did with me and Damon at the wedding?"
"Oh gosh, totally different."
"Why?"
"Will power."
"Why would you need will power against him? Were you to in a position where you needed the leverage?" Bonnie couldn't tell Kai about having slept with Damon in Vegas. She just didn't feel right divulging that information, besides it wasn't Kai's business.
"Kai, it's different."
"It's really not. But, I understand if you don't want to help me out."
"Ugh, Kai, it's not like that... it's just... I mean." She had no explanation. Instead he shot her a face of desperation. She was sure their circumstances were different. But something about his lingering questionable glance gave her, the indication, there was more to it. "No, Kai, what did you do?"
"Uhh, whelp! So, it's not much, just a teeny tiny favor."
"Kai?"
"Next Wednesday night, dinner? You're my girlfriend, and we have been together for a few months and we just hit it off right away. It's pretty new. Nothing too serious."
"Kai, sheesh. I mean, technically you did me a favor at the wedding, but you didn't have to speak to neither Damon or Kol." She doesn't know Kai went to Damon. "This... you want me to blatantly lie to her face and be..."
"Please Bonsters. It's not for another week and a half. I know it's a lot to ask, but-"
"I'll do it. I mean, I owe you. So, I'll do it."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Oh. My. God. You. Are. The. Best." He said kissing her cheek over and over.
"Okay. Okay. Call me with the details. I am on my way to Lily's. I'll talk to you tomorrow."
"Thank you so much boo." He gave her one more gratuitous hug, before they were on their ways.
"Boo?"
"Testing out pet names." Pet names for Bonnie was more of her life with Damon. Schiavetto was a pet name. Kitten was a pet name. But she'd digress. Kai called her Boo, to test the waters and it sounded too cheesy for what she was accustomed.
"Not boo. That's very... last decade."
"Puddin?" She rolled her eyes. "Hunny bear?" She crossed her arms unamused. "Babe?"
"Kai!"
"Fine. Bonsters!"
"Ugh, never mind. Anything is better than that."
"Babe, it is."
...
"I can't even explain how my day went." Bonnie said as she finished up cooking dinner for Lily. "First, it was like, I thought I was already in court listening to our two lawyers go toe for toe. Then I sat there, wondering how shit got so far. Ugh, I'm just glad to be here."
"Sounds like a pain in the ass."
"It was."
"It smells divine. I can't wait to eat. Julian will be disappointed he missed your cooking. He won't be back til Thursday."
"Well. I'm sure I can do it again. In the meantime, I'm trying to figure out what to make for tomorrow. And my clip broke, so my hair keeps falling in my face. It's irritating and I'm over it." She huffed the hair with a hard breath, and brushed it to the back with her hand.
Lily grabbed her chest and halted her movements, as she navigated around Bonnie in the kitchen. "Ahh. This tightening has a mind of its own."
"Lily, are you okay?"
"Yes. I think I should sit. I am feeling tightening in my chest, and I need to catch my breath." Bonnie turned towards her and helped her to the table. She'd set out two placements. Although she'd loved it if Damon agreed to come earlier, she couldn't force it. When Lily sat down, Bonnie grabbed her breathing device, and placed it in Lily's hands.
"Why don't you do the ten deep breaths on there, like the doctor told us. You just need to keep breathing with it throughout the day. It's unfortunate you got a bronchial infection this week."
"It always happens when the seasons change. I typically have to deal with climate change on my body."
"Okay. Well, let's take out time to do this breathing treatment before you eat. Sit tight. I'll make plates." Bonnie tuned Lily towards the table and continued talking. She knew Lily needed the distractions. "You good?"
"I'm good dear. Thank you."
"So... I agreed to a crazy favor for a friend."
"Uh oh. Hope it's nothing too strange."
"I agreed to be his pretend girlfriend, over a double date with his ex and her fiancé."
"Sounds fun."
"Pft. I guess. I don't know the girl and feel awful lying to her, but at the same time... he'd do it for me."
"Same friend from the wedding?"
"Yes."
"Do you have feelings for him, Bonnie?"
"Kai? No. I mean, not like that." She was convinced she didn't, but Lily had heard Bonnie mention a "friend" a few times at this point, never saying his name. That stood out to her. "He's just crazy Kai. And not for nothing, I'm kind of happy to get out. Because, Damon and I had gone on very few public dates. But, Kai and I hang out all the time. It just feels good to go out and be young and enjoy life. I didn't do it when I was married. We had social gatherings for work or family related events. Kol was all business, Damon and I were very private for undisclosed reasons. I mean we went out a couple times. But never just for the heck of it. I feel like I'm being really carefree when Kai and I hang out. But, we are just friends."
"It's okay, Bonnie."
"What do you mean?"
"Don't feel like you have to hold back for me. I want you to be happy. Would I love it, if it were Damon? Of course. You are a good woman, and you see inside of Damon the way I do. But, I also know you've been through a lot, and you just want to live your life. And you should."
"Lily, it's not that I have these deep feelings for Kai. But, for me and Kai, things are so easy. I'm not madly in love with him. I don't feel for him the way I feel for Damon. I'm not just drawn to Kai's magnetism. He's funny and light. It's easy. Do, I have feelings for him? Sure, sometimes it gets confusing with the friend boundary. And yes, he's attractive. But, I don't have to guess his feelings. He tells me. He always wants to do things, like wine tasting, trying on expensive clothes he'll never buy, go to the pier just to walk and talk, hot air balloon rides. He goes on some of my work reviews with me, to review business. He gives me his opinions on a lot of things. He's open-minded. He likes to live life, and he likes to include me on things outside of our friendship. It makes me feel good that he tries to step out of his comfort zone for me. Sure, I'd love for it to be Damon I'm doing different things with... but I can't make Damon do anything he's not comfortable with."
"My asshole husband sheltered the hell out of my boys. I mean, they may have very old school and traditional views of some things. Damon didn't have a lot of friends growing up, neither did Stefan, maybe when I left, but they were private boys. But... You shouldn't have to be bottled up for any man. I just want you to know, I'm happy for your happiness. Damon is missing out, but he'll see it soon enough."
"And if he doesn't, then I love Damon enough to wait for Damon to be ready. In the meantime, I'm just, living life. I'm not going to stop anything from coming my way."
"That's good. That's what life is about." Lily smiled, going back into her breathing device. Bonnie finished making Lily's plate and walked it to her, sitting it down. "It looks so good."
"Thank you. What would you like to drink? Wine, water, tea?"
"Wine. It's been a while." Bonnie was glad to hear it, she headed to pour Lily's glass, and one for herself. Once she'd done that she made her plate and headed to sit with Lily. Lily had already started slowly eating the food. Humming and being grateful.
"Can I ask you a question Lily?"
"Sure?"
"It's personal?"
"Okay."
"Are you sexually adventurous?"
Lily paused with a puzzled look, then she laughed. "Meaning?"
"I don't know."
"Lots of partners?"
"Or whatever?"
"Or whatever." Lily laughed. "Well, I've had two partners sexually, if you wondering. They were male. Once in a while a female. Not often. I grew up in the seventies. We explored often. And as far as Julian goes, we've tried everything at least once. Things we liked two or three times." She laughed. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason. I've never had the ideas to have multiple sexual partners. It's never been appealing. I'll be thirty this year and I've slept with two men. Compared to my best friend who has me beat well into the double digits. Am I selling myself short?"
"No. Not if you don't feel that way. If you feel open to more sexual partners, go for it. But, don't do it, because people your age have. Do it because you want to."
"Okay." She sipped her wine, feeling as though it was a heavy hitting question to ask.
(DING DONG)
Both women stopped eating. "It's open." Lily called out.
"Lily, it could be anybody." They both heard the scream open and shut slowly, like the old school screen doors.
"Stefan sometimes stops by after work, on his way from Sarah's, if he doesn't spend the night."
"Oh." Bonnie said cautiously, waiting for the foot steps to enter the house. She heard no distinct shoe sounds. Then she remembered people took their shoes off entering Lily's place. She stood up to see what was taking so long, and that's when a face she didn't expect appeared. "Damon?"
"Bonnie... Lily."
"Well, what a surprise. I must say, its... it's nice to see you." Lily smiled.
"Uhh, yeah. Bonnie invited me earlier. I hope I'm not intruding."
"No. You aren't. Bonnie, why didn't you tell me?"
"I wasn't sure he'd come. He never said yes." Bonnie was both surprised, and nervous. "Uh, sit down, I'll get another placement. You hungry?"
"Not really?"
"Come on, Damon. She really is a fabulous cook."
"I know she is." He spoke looking at Bonnie, who didn't know what to say. "Sure, I'll take a plate."
"Water, wine, tea?"
"Water is fine."
"Wine it is." She said, pouring another glass for him. Lily attempted to get up and make space, but Damon wouldn't let her.
"No, sit. It's okay, I'll just sit over here." He grabbed the chair near Bonnie, placing her directly between them. Under normal circumstances, it should be Damon in the middle of his mother and Bonnie, but this wasn't close to normal circumstances. Bonnie moved nervously. Of all the time she and Lily spent together of the past eight months, Damon was never around except once or twice.
She grabbed a plate of food, and put it before him with a glass of wine. It took some time for him to pick up his fork, but once Lily and Bonnie went back to talking, he felt better that attention wasn't on him. He didn't talk too much. But he was there, which said a lot. And that's what mattered most.
"So, does there seem to be a rainbow at the end of the tunnel of this case?" Lily asked, broadly realizing she was leaving space for either of them to answer.
"Well, uhh... I think both of our lawyers have some great ideas. We are definitely working together to make sure Kol and Andie go down." Silence filtered the space from Damon's end of the table. Bonnie cleared her throat, hoping he'd cut in. "Yeah, so... I really hope-"
"When it's all said and done, I'll make sure Kol never speaks to Bonnie again. And Andie, well, I have a couple surprises for her."
Bonnie seemed shocked. "Really?"
He looked at her with utmost certainty, and seriousness. "Yeah." That was the face of a punisher, she recognized it well.
"Good. I'm sure she has what's coming to her." Bonnie said in total understanding, distracted from Lily for a second. But not for long before she caught herself. "Anyways, so yeah. We can just hope for the best."
"Good. I'm glad you two are working together on this."
"Me too." Bonnie agreed. Seconds later she felt Damon brush her hair behind her ear. "Thank you."
"You always hated when your hair was down when you cooked or ate."
He remembered. He paid attention to her. That was his specialty.
That small gesture of remembering her irritation with her hair, and him moving her hair out of her way, made her happier than it would have made the average person.
"My clip broke." He managed to keep a straight face, even through her little girl pout. A pout he had a weakness for. But it was obvious tensions were higher, being in the presence of his mother.
Damon turned her around, and braided the back of her hair, then tucked it into itself. Bonnie sat amazed. He tend to love her hair down, and he played in it. He'd never before braided it. "Damon, I didn't realize you knew how to braid."
"I learned when I was younger. Lily's arm was broken, and she needed it braided at night. The servants weren't allowed in her room at night. So, she taught me." Bonnie was at first puzzled about Lily's broken arm, when she barely left the mansion she lived in, but it was short lived when she and Lily shared eye contact, both amazed. Lily smiled remembering. "No big deal. Just a braid."
"It is a big deal Damon. Thank you." He smiled at her, and glanced at his mother who remained quiet, hiding a small grin. "Any other hidden talents in there I should know about?"
"He learned how to cook at a young age?"
"Spaghetti right? Your famous spaghetti?"
"Not just spaghetti. Though, I'm grateful he remembered." She smiled. "He learned to make all kinds of food." Bonnie turned to him shocked, because she'd never known. He told her he was a horrible cook, and he only knew how to make his mother's spaghetti.
"Really?"
"Yes. He also loved to paint. And play piano."
"WHAT?"
"It's no big deal." Damon admitted. "I wasn't that good. I did it to calm myself down. It was easy, but-"
"And you deal Art. You're an Art dealer Damon. You have all those beautiful pieces hanging up in your house. You bought me the piece by Leonid Afremov! And that's why you love classical music?" She was so astonished. "Damon?" She called questionably. "This is amazing." Bonnie felt like a kid in a candy store just getting all sorts of new information was like candy to her. This to Bonnie, was refreshing and needed.
"It's no big deal Sweet Pea. Just... a small part of my past. I really don't want to talk about the past." He interimed. "I just wanted to stop by for a little bit."
"Sure. Sure." She smiled. "Sorry." She knew pushing him wasn't the answer. "I'm glad you're here."
"So am I." Lily added.
Damon nodded his head, and they continued to eat dinner, while Lily and Bonnie did most of the talking. Damon was just more-so part of the back drop, until he said something once in a while. There were moments Bonnie felt his apprehension, and she reached over and out her hand on his thigh to comfort him. It never went unnoticed, when he placed his hand on top of hers. She comforted him under the table with her simple touch. He couldn't have sat through dinner with Lily alone. A simple squeeze of his hand made her change a subject, or squeeze back gently I support.
When Lily took a phone call from Julian, Bonnie turned to Damon and whispered, "You good?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I'm okay."
"Well, thank you."
"For what?"
"Coming to dinner. Stepping out of your comfort zone."
"I did this for you, Sweet Pea."
"No, you did this for you Damon... and that's okay. I'm all about that." He gave her a knowing look, because she was right. But somehow, he decided he had to stop denying himself.
"I'll help you clean."
"Don't worry about it. I got it. Visit with-"
"No, please let me help you. Baby steps, Sweet Pea."
"Sure." She agreed sympathetically. "I'd love the help."
And he helped her, quietly, while Lily took the phone call from Julian. Damon was glad Julian called when he did, because he needed a moment with Bonnie. Everything with Lily needed to happen naturally. After he and Bonnie helped Lily to her bed, they took their time cleaning up together.
Ya know, the rest of this story is writing itself. I have so much in store for Bamon. And also a new twist on Kalijah later on. I would love to let you guys know, this story has my current muse, and as long as you all are reading and please review, it keeps me motivated to keep writing it and updating. You reviews have been so motivational. I'd love to finish it because I already know I'm writing a part 2, but this necessary stuff has to happen first. For example, Kai, I need y'all to understand Kai is an important person to Bonnie. It's a Bamon story, but for some of you guys I know have been through a break up or even in a relationship, and you had that one guy friend or girlfriend who was important to you, and the fine line between friend and attraction was there. You may have frequently questioned things about the friendship. That's Kai. This story is meant to be relatable to as much of the audience as possible. Bc I know some of you don't know much about BDSM, and also polyamory. Which there been a very little bit of polyamory talked about here. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Some of you understand the direction it's going from a couple chapters back, and the rest just enjoy the ride, because it being slightly calm now, is just to take care of the obvious. So... thanks for reading please review if you can. And will post a chapter to a different story this week also.
Ps. Sorry for no Kalijah this chapter. They are on their honey moon. Michaela and Oliver go toe for toe, but also working together is so hard to write. Bare with me on any law terms and writing of these two layers. I'm trying to do what I can. I'm not a law expert. Damon finally made an effort towards mending fences... Kai and his ex?
Thoughts?
Thx for readin:)