HII GUYS! Thank you so so much for the subscribers and followers getting me passed 100+. That makes me so happy! And the comments make me smile. Well, I'm thoroughly excited for this update. I love this chapter so much. :) I hope you guys like it too. It's based on "I Put a Spell On You," by Nina Simone. It fits them well, I think. I want to call this chapter a revelation for Elena. A new beginning because of what happened to her, and the only person around to help, is Damon. xo
Oh & Elena's outfit is found here: lexosmolderhalderx dot polyvore dot com :D
You better stop the things you do, I ain't lyin', no I ain't lyin'
You know I can't stand it, you're running around, you're no better daddy,
I can't stand it cause you put me down; I put a spell on you, because you're mine.
And I don't care if you don't want me, I'm yours right now.
He watched her sleep peacefully: the state of mind he wanted her to be in. Damon wondered what was going around in her head. He kissed her gently on her hair line and sighed. "I'm sorry, Elena," he choked out. Her sleep was tranquil, like nothing had even happened. It was something he wanted for her. Damon looked over at the clock. It was only 6:32 in the morning.
Damon had been up the whole night with Elena. He wondered what was going around in her head. He kissed her gently on her hair line, and sighed. He needed to get his frame of mind in order, knowing she would wake up soon. He slipped out her arms slowly to head off to the kitchen. Damon walked into the kitchen and searched the room for cooking ingredients.
He used the rest of the eggs and milk, dragging them out of the fridge and laying them on the counter. He found a small radio on the top shelf, and flipped it to a random channel. As he soon discovered the radio was full of the oldies at this time. Reluctantly, he found himself singing along to classics. Michael Buble crooned through the speakers, singing "Call Me Irresponsible."
Damon fumbled around quietly to find a pan. He sprayed the pan with non-stick spray and headed back to the fridge to grab cheese and lunch meat.
Call me irresponsible, yes, I'm unreliable, but it's undeniably true, that I'm irresponsibly mad for you…
The song comes to an end, and quickly plays another one. This time, the mood has changed to the ironically perfect song, "Smile" by Nat King Cole. He suddenly heard sniffles behind him, making him turn around. "Hello, Elena," he acknowledged her.
"Hi Damon," she said watching him continue to whisper the words to the song.
"Are you hungry?" he questioned beginning to prepare the meal.
She ignored his question. "Damon, I need you to leave."
He furrowed his eyebrows and rushed to her side. "Leave? Why?"
"I need to be by myself, I'm in a lot of pain, the bruises hurt, I just don't want anyone around," she choked out fighting tears.
"After what happened, there is no way in hell I am leaving you. I am never going to leave you ever again."
"Why do you want to be here?" she raised her voice.
Damon hated to be questioned for his actions, he always did. "Because I care about you, Elena," he blurted out.
"Don't do this, Damon," she breathed.
"Why not?" He growled.
"I don't need this, I need to go back to work, and I need to get my mind off everything," she sighed.
Damon's eyes squinted, "You are not going back to work, absolutely not. I will call in a team to help you out."
"No. I am and I will."
"Just know I'm not going anywhere," he reminded her in a soft tone.
Damon Salvatore was either the best or worst thing in her life. He surprised her like no other, and made her feel what it meant to be happy. She wondered what his motives were. Elena still saw Damon as the greedy entrepreneur, but when they were alone she saw outside the beast.
That's why she had to push herself away before it was too late. Things were different now; so throwing herself back into work seemed like the only right decision at the moment.
As she finally arrived at her closet, she felt as if her heart was breaking. Elena rummaged through her outfits and finally made a decision. There was always something in the back of her mind: Damon. As hard as she fought it, he would never leave her mind.
She felt tears form in her eyes, wiping them away quickly as they stung. Elena found herself back in the kitchen, as she gazed at him continuing to cook.
"Damon Salvatore, I told you to leave," she muttered.
"I'm not going anywhere," he repeated himself.
He handed her a cup of her favorite flavor of coffee. Damon already knew her like the back of his hand, and as much as it irritated Elena; she felt herself falling for the ruthless man. In a different world, she would run into his arms, but this was different. She knew she must distance herself from Damon. He was nothing but trouble for her; even though Damon Salvatore had saved her from a cruel man.
She accepted the cup of hot brewed coffee. It warmed her insides. "Now, sit, eat," he commanded placing a freshly cooked omelet in front of a seat. Elena sighed in pure defeat.
"I don't want to eat," she rebutted. She heard Damon's patience end, but he remained civil to her.
"You must. I know what it is like to have insomnia, and not wanting to eat, but you can't wrap yourself into something you can't control. Derek was a dick. I took care of him, and if he hurts you again, I promise you, I will make sure he never sees the light of day again," he muttered.
She found herself ignoring the comment. Never see the light of day again. Why was he being so protective of her? Elena was dumbfounded. "I have things to do, Damon, but fine I will eat," she caved setting down on the stool.
"What are you planning on doing tonight?" he questioned. Damon was trying his best to be a confidant, and a friend, but for him this was the hardest job ever. Nina Simone's voice came through the radio next, which startled them both, with the overpowering song, "I Put a Spell on You."
Their gazes met, locking their eyes for only seconds then turning away quickly.
Elena raised an eyebrow. Why in the world did Damon Salvatore want to know what she was doing? "Going to Caroline's; she has wedding details to finish up on, and she needs an extra tongue to lick all the envelopes."
"Caroline is getting married?" he questioned pulling a dish towel from a drawer.
"Yes, she's been engaged for a year or so to Klaus Mikaelson. You probably know him, he's a successful businessman," she shrugged like it was nothing taking a bite of the omelet.
Damon nodded in acknowledging Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson. He knew Klaus very well. Klaus was a part of the empire "Mikaelson Industries", with his siblings.
"I know who, Mr. Mikaelson is. How did they meet—if you don't mind me asking," he asked putting his hands up.
"Through one of my book launches, he met up with Caroline that night, and they've been inseparable ever since," she cut another piece of omelet off, before biting into it.
"And Caroline isn't done yet?" he inquired.
"You don't know Caroline well; I guess. Caroline will take every day and change her mind four to five times a day before making a final decision. Wedding is already huge," Elena grumbled.
"And you aren't excited?" he nudged sitting next to her.
Elena bit her lip. "I am very happy for my best friend; I just don't like weddings."
"Why is that?" he questioned.
"I always go alone, all my friends are married except me, and I'm guilty of being a hopeless romantic," she breathed.
Damon smiled. His face could light up the whole world in that moment. It wasn't a smirk for once. Damon had presented her with a gorgeous grin that was filled with life. "Is that what is bothering you about it? Not being alone? Not having someone to call yours?" he questioned taking a sip of his coffee.
She breathed. Elena tried too hard to push him away, and ended up letting him in again. It probably wasn't the best decision, but after what had happened; she wanted Damon in. "I'm 25, Damon. I want to be in love, and every try and fail I have had, has not led me on a path for love. I want a love that consumes me, but I don't have that."
"Maybe someone is waiting for you," he shrugged.
Elena frowned as grimace set in her face. She shook her head in disgust. "Probably not, my head is always in my work, and things are ridiculous now. Then you happened. That's another problem; I don't have time for a boyfriend. I just don't."
She removed herself from the bar stool and sighed picking up her empty plate. Elena closed her eyes in disgust. She had just exposed everything she felt…well almost everything. As she walked over to her purse, she felt Damon's presence behind her.
"Are you ready to go to work?" he sighed.
"Yes," she answered bluntly.
He opened her front door, as Elena turned off the light. "After you," Damon whispered letting Elena go first. He had become a human being for once. Damon was polite and a gentlemen. For once, he wasn't this monster she feared. She locked the door behind her. She felt her world changing after the tragedy. Damon was there for her and acted like a bodyguard.
"Elena, are we still on for tonight?" Caroline asked biting into her bagel. Elena smiled.
"Yes, what is left?" Elena asked Caroline who became perkier as she discussed the wedding.
"Well, I need to pick out a dress, and send out invitations. Nik and I have everything settled. We just got the invitations in the mail, and I need you to help me pick out a dress," she explained thoroughly. Elena nodded as she turned quickly to see a man come through the elevator doors.
It wasn't something she saw everyday though. He was carrying a large arrangement of flowers. "Oh my, I bet they are from Ni—"
"Is there an Elena Gilbert on this floor?" the man questioned as Elena quickly furrowed her eyebrows.
"That's me," she said slowly walking toward the guy.
"These are for you," he said nodding, and then quickly headed to the elevator afterwards. Elena was uneasy about accepting the flowers. This was a first. She had never received flowers before. It shocked her.
"Who are they from, 'Lena?" Caroline asked in a surprising tone gazing at the beauty of the multicolored selection of flowers.
"I'm not sure, there's a note though," she said finally discovering the attached note. She opened the small card, and in the most perfect penmanship, she read it silently in her mind.
Elena-
You will find exactly what you are looking for, but for now, I will always be here.
DS
Elena felt the world spin in that moment as she saw the initials located at the bottom. D.S. Damon Salvatore. Damon Salvatore, the shark of all sharks in the business world had sent Elena flowers. She rushed to his office, with the flowers and note grasped in her clutches. He wasn't there. Elena sighed, turning back around in disappointment.
"Elena, are you okay?" Caroline questioned in awe.
"Where did Damon go?" she blinked back her tears.
"He went downstairs. He said he would be back momentary. Why?" Caroline pushed.
"Because, fucking Damon Salvatore sent me flowers," she broke.
"He what?" Caroline gasped almost falling out of her chair.
"I don't understand, Care. Why would he send them to me? I didn't do anything to deserve this, especially from him. Him, Caroline- the ruthless entrepreneur who destroys other businesses for his own pleasure; I don't know what I did. Why these were given to me…"
"Elena!" Caroline scolded. Elena rose her head up from the gorgeous flowers. "If a man decides to give you something or write you a note, he has feelings for you. No one takes time to do that anymore."
"I just don't know why me. I want to know why me. It's a simple question. Why not Susie on floor 3? Why not Casey down in editing? I'm speechless, Caroline," she said simply.
"Elena, come on, have you seen the way that man looks at you?" Caroline questioned. "He looks at you the first time he did look at you. It's sweet."
Elena rolled her eyes, and chuckled. "Oh, don't make me laugh. We both know that's a bunch of shit—"
Caroline's cold glare stopped Elena from talking dead in her tracks. "Don't even. I know how he looks at you; I don't just sit at my desk and pretend it doesn't happen. I see it, I feel the tension."
"There's no tension," Elena bluntly lied. She was full of it. She knew it.
"Sure there isn't, and the sex was nothing?" Caroline pushed, adding a smile to her I-know-it-all sentence.
"I hate that I like him, Care," she said finding a seat next to her best friend. Elena hung her head in despair. "He makes me forget the terror or hatred in the world. He makes me want to love him, see past the asshole part of him. I despise it. Everything he does will make me smile. Nothing he does anymore makes me hate him."
Caroline grinned; Elena could only imagine what was about to come out of Caroline's mouth. "He likes you though, Elena; too, too much. He's smitten when it comes to you. His smile could light up the whole planet when your name is mentioned. I knew this was going to happen, and as for you; you are under his spell-that Salvatore charm. Can't shake it? You want to, but you can't. He will absolutely not allow it without doing something."
Elena ran her fingers through her hair in despair. "The flowers though, all I did was tell him about your wedding."
"You want him to come?" Caroline grinned huge.
Elena looked down to the floor, away from any eye contact. "…no. I'll go by myself."
Caroline scoffed. "You want him to come don't you? You want him to be your date, and maybe be the lucky ones for the after-wedding dirty sex?"
Elena found herself rolling her eyes again. "No!" she exclaimed tensing her body.
Caroline busted out laughing. "Sure," she nodded to her best friend bending down to search her purse.
"Caroline, Care. What are you doing?" Elena said trying to glance over Caroline's shoulder.
"Here, give this to him. Tell him I officially invited the dickhead, because he treats you right."
Elena forced a smile, but suddenly heard footsteps nearing them. She jumped back into reality, quickly pulling her back from her daydreams. As much as Elena was still hurting, her whole thought of Damon had changed.
It was Damon. Elena smiled looking up into his piercing blue eyes. "Hi."
Damon smiled at Elena, acting like she was the only person in the world with him. "Hello, Miss Gilbert."
"Hi Damon."
"Gosh, just jump each others bones!" Caroline scooted back in her chair, throwing the invitation in Elena's lap.
"Caroline," she scolded through her teeth.
"You give that to him now, or I will," Caroline's answer was singing with enjoyment.
She knew what that meant; Caroline would completely blow it for Elena or make the situation worse. Elena got up quickly and smiled at Damon who was waiting for her to walk back with him. She grabbed the flowers and the card and smiled walking behind him into his office.
Elena's work ethics were blinded by Damon Salvatore; for once she wanted to see him. "Mr. Salvatore?" she peeked her head into his door as he glanced up placing his full attention on Elena. She smiled
"Can we talk?" she questioned moving closer to his desk. Surprisingly, she had not been in his office. It was full of knick-knacks of all sorts.
"Please don't feel bad for me," she urged. She gazed into his troubled eyes. "Salvatore. I am serious. I don't want you to feel bad. If anything, your ego should go up because of what I'm about to say…"
He cocked his eyebrow in confusion. "What would that be?" he whispered.
"Thank you for saving me. I can only imagine what could've happened if it wasn't for you showing up."
He smiled forcefully. He had nothing to say, so he thought. He had shown her kindness, but would that even change anything? He sighed.
"What's this?" she asked setting the flowers on his desk.
"The flowers?" he cocked his head.
"Why?" she pushed.
"Because after yesterday, you need love; real love. Little things make people smile apparently."
Elena felt her eyes well up in tears. "No, no, no—just because of the attempted rape, you don't have to be nice to me, go back to hating me."
"I'm not going to," he said bluntly.
Breaking the mood was the door handle jiggling. He sighed, knowing who it was. "Come in, Pierce," he yelled in a monotone voice. Elena turned around to gaze at the beautiful young woman. She was probably around her middle 20s, with long brown curls, and a body that could kill. She was gorgeous, and Elena knew that.
"Good morning, Mr. Salvatore," she grinned holding a stack of manila folders. Elena cocked her eyebrows. The woman was intimidating. The way she walked and the way she spoke were the worst to Elena. Trying to believe the best, she wanted to think that Damon wasn't wrapped around her finger.
"Hello, Katherine," he said huskily. He quickly turned his head to see Elena looking at Katherine. "Oh, Miss Gilbert, this is Katherine, our publicist for getting you back on the map. She handles the publicity. Kat, this is Elena Gilbert," he stated matter-of-factly.
Katherine turned to smile at Elena. "Hello, Miss Gilbert. It is a pleasure to meet you," she said extending her hand as Elena accepted it cautiously. Elena was grimace. She was unsure of Katherine's intentions. Were they good or were they pure evil? For all she knew, Katherine was ready to stab Elena in the back and watch her company shatter. So, she never wanted to let go of her wall she was hiding behind.
"I'll see you around, Mr. Salvatore," Elena spoke up bluntly knowing where she was not wanted. She knew they were going to chit-chat about things. So, picking up the flowers and card, she headed out of his office.
She glanced down at the card and the invitation. Katherine would ruin this. She knew she would. Elena had no knowledge of Katherine and already didn't trust her. Elena had work to do; she was planning for more book launches and Caroline's wedding. Sighing, she noticed Caroline working quickly at her desk, heading to her own.
"'Lena? Lena! What happened?" Caroline asked running into Elena's office.
"He brought his publicist, she looks like she will cut my throat and make out with Damon at the same time," Elena spilled out, realizing suddenly the green eyed monster was coming out.
Caroline glanced with slight confusion. "No…She can't. Can she?"
Elena shrugged knowing what this probably meant. The problem was coming to a head, and quickly ganging on her. What if she was going to ruin the relationship with Damon? Elena could only imagine it falling to pieces in her hands.
"Elena Gilbert… Are you jealous?" Caroline laughed jokingly. Quickly, Elena forced a grin, and a sarcastic laugh.
NO! was the first thing that popped into Elena's hard head. This was nothing to her. Katherine was nothing. Who cares? It's just Damon. That was a loaded thought. It's just Damon. He was just the man who saved her life, is saving her company, and brought her flowers. "Me? Jealous of Damon and Katherine-Don't make me laugh," Elena chuckled. Caroline raised an eyebrow and stared at her best friend.
"So the sex was nothing?" she questioned. Damn it. Elena hated when Caroline was right about something.
Stop bringing that up!
"….Of course not."
"Sex isn't something you throw away. Everyone knows that about you."
It was true, when sharing sex with someone, it was special to Elena. She wasn't like the rest, but with Damon it was different. Her heart raced thinking about it. He made her feel things that were completely out of her reach. She wasn't going to let this man destroy her; Katherine wasn't going to either.
"It is, and it wasn't just anything. It's always something with that man…" Elena trailed off as she could hear a light giggle escape from Caroline's mouth.
"Are you ready to go?!" Elena pushed quickly changing the subject. Caroline smiled.
"I am if you are! And also—did you invite him?" Caroline replied with another question.
"No. I didn't get a chance to," Elena confessed.
"Elena!" Caroline scolded.
"I will, I will. I was going to but Katherine came in and-"
"And what Elena? You let her take over the situation." Once again, Caroline was correct. Elena became intimidated by the new edition to her life. She knew Damon was probably head-over-heels over the prim-donna.
Elena was silent. She knew whatever she said would be contradicted by Caroline. So Elena simply let Caroline rant.
"I am simply not leaving until you give it to him," Caroline said finally. Elena's face had grimace, but she fought the feelings.
"Fine; I will go do it now—" Elena picked the invitation off her desk and headed to his office in a rapid pace, but in this moment things ran through her mind. She was closer and closer to his office. He won't come. It's Damon Salvatore. He doesn't associate himself with these kinds of things. It's the thought that counts. But what if he does? What if Katherine makes an unexpected surprise? What if Damon feels things for Katherine? Stop it, Elena. Admit it, you have feelings for him. Then, she reached his door.
She breathed in, reaching to knock on it. She could hear fur flying between Katherine and Damon. Were they arguing? Why would they be arguing? There were too many questions Elena wanted answered.
"Come in," Damon replied. Elena's face lit up as soon as she caught his wild-eyed glimpse into hers. His eyes were captivating her.
"What is the problem?" Damon asked sternly. He was quick to the point.
"I just wanted to let you know that, Caroline is sending out invitations for her wedding, and gave me this to invite you—You don't have to come, it's just…something…" Elena trailed off losing her composure around him and Katherine.
"Oh, well, thank you, Miss Gilbert." He accepted the invitation from her. It was weird. "Are you heading out for tonight?" he questioned.
"Yes. I promised Caroline I would—"
"Help her out?" he finished her sentence.
She furrowed her eyebrows. He was paying attention. "Yes. Exactly, so if you excuse me. I'll be out of your hair. Have a good night, Mr. Salvatore."
"Good night, Elena." He smirked as she cracked a half smile leaving his office.
Yes, I added Kat. :) As his right hand person, which sparks jealousy in Elena. eheh :D
Reviews are lovely. xo