Hidden Secrets

Author's note:

The characters do not belong to me only plot is mine.

Thank you so much for the wonderful response I had of last chapter. Thanks to Scarlett 2112, Starlight So, Damon fan girl, Orion Belts, Dorothy from K.S, Blue tulips 1995, Lady Bug 95,

Hela 0023, Anne 1994 and Anna 4267.

Thank you all for your reviews and my readers who had favourite or following this story.

Thanks to My sis and friend Starlight So who beta this chapter for me.

Enzo's P.O.V

I rushed outside, anger seeping through my body, I was on the verge of bursting out, I was barley holding myself. It felt like every nerve in my brain is about to explode. The man I consider my friend, my best friend has been lying about his identity all this time and I couldn't figure out why.

What kind of sick game is he playing with all of us, with his wife. "Elena!"

Saying her name out loud made a dozen questions pop into my head, does she knows about her husband's real identity but that couldn't be otherwise she wouldn't have reacted so badly today. That meant he had been deceiving that poor girl from the beginning.

Feeling new wave of rage building inside me, I all but ran towards my car and started driving towards their apartment.

I was driving madly while my cell phone was ringing but I choose to ignore it. I didn't have to check to know from whom I was getting incoming call and I didn't want to hear a single lie spewing from his mouth.

The moment I reached my destination I saw Bree waiting for me outside their building. "Enzo." I held my palm up motioning her to stop. "I don't want to hear anything! Your so called friend is lying to everyone, did you knew he is Damon Salvatore?"

She looked ashamed, guilt ridden on her face. "You knew didn't you? You knew everything and still you let him deceive us! You let him deceive an innocent girl!" I looked at her in disgust. "What kind of women are you!"

Her eyes flashed up to meet me. "The kind who want to see her friend happy." She sighed and took a step towards me. "Look I know this is huge mess but Damon really needs to explain himself to you. So as friend just hear him out first."

I scoffed at her words. "I am mechanic and my friend was D.J my co worker! I don't even know this Damon Salvatore and frankly I don't owe him anything."

With that I was about to leave her when she stepped in front of me. "You are wrong Enzo! Deep down you know Damon,it doesn't matter what sir name he used, he may have used D.J to mask his true identity but beneath that he is still your friend just like he is Elena's husband and please before you do anything rash remember, that women is pregnant." She stared square in my eyes. "Do you really want to risk her and baby health because of your anger?"

That made me freeze to my spot and we both knew I couldn't do that even if I wanted to.

She grabbed my hand in pleading manner."Just come inside the bar, Damon is looking everywhere for you, Please let him explain himself first before you do something you might regret."

I gave her one hard look before nodding my head and together we went inside her bar. She asked me to sit in her office and poured me a drink.

My head was hurting with everything that is happening, I closed my eyes for a brief second relishing the feel of sour liquid running down my throat. But the moment was short lived, as the sound of a door being burst open caught my attention. Behind that stood a dishevel man staring at me with fearful eyes. "Enzo." His voice trembled, despite his devastated appearance I couldn't hold my tongue. "Mr Salvatore, what can I do for you, SIR?"

His eyes gleamed with sorrow and shame, "Please Enzo, don't say things like that."

Instead of feeling pity at his appearance my anger flared ten folds. "Why Mr Salvatore! I am after all your employee your servant! So what is wrong in addressing you as SIR, isn't that a protocol?"

He closed his eyes and hung his head down. "Enzo please I am so sorry but please try and understand..." he paused abruptly as I stood up from my chair and grabbed him by his collar.

"Understand what Damon!" I shouted at his face."Understand that the man I considered as a friend has been my fucking boss for years or should I understand that you are a lowlife liar who deceived an innocent girl to trap her for your sick twisted desires!"

I let go of him and stepped away because right now his mere presence is disgusts me. "Just tell me why you did this?"

He dropped on a chair and dropped his head in his hands, after what seemed like lifetime of silence he finally looked at me, his eyes almost haunting.

"Both my parents were born in Italy, my grandparents were simple people, they were each other' s neighbours, they ownedrestaurant and above all they were best friends so naturally that was passed on to their only child. My parents also become childhood friends and later fell in love." His voice was devastated while I tried find a link between his story and reasons for his deceptions.

"My father's parents died in a boating accident when he was sixteen he had distant relative but my grandparents willed him to my mother's family custody, they happily took him in and all was well until he got older and ambitious.That's when things started going downhill."

He laughed darkly and shook his head. "You know my father was one the few who manufactured Italian cars. He left everything and moved here and my mother was so madly in love that she supported his dreams and accepts each and every decision without a word.. They got married before moving here."

The sadness was evident on his face and part of me is scared to hear rest of his story. "I was born a year later and by that time he was setting his business , still they were happy or at least my mother was and it grew more after Stefan was born but amidst all this happiness she didn't see the darkness looming over horizon."

He grew quite for a while and even in my anger I couldn't bring up myself to leave this man without hearing how the tale ends.

"It was Stefan first birthday I was six at that time and my father threw this big birthday party where he invited all the elite people of city and my grandparents came in for visit. My Pappie immediately saw what my mother never noticed, he saw how my father had changed, he saw a man driven by success, wealth and was greedily flaunting his power but the worst he saw was my father having sex with one of his French associate's daughter in his study while rest of us were busy with Stefan's birthday celebration."

My eyes widened with shock while Damon's face was void of emotion.

"After that it was all out in open when my grandfather confronted him, my dad proudly admitted that his affair was purely for business purposes and he shouldn't interfere because his daughter is well taken care off." He laughed sarcastically.

"You can imagine how my grandparents and my mom felt. That night he ordered my grandparents to leave and to never contact them again. He threatened my mother that she can leave with her parents but then she won't be able to see her sons again. My poor mother knew she won't be able to fight this custody battle so she stayed for our sake."

There were tears in his eyes and I didn't knew what to say except, "What happened afterwards?" he took a shaky breathe and rubbed his eyes.

"What do you think happened? After that nothing was hidden anymore. He started flaunting his lifestyle in our faces, suddenly my simple sweet mom wasn't enough for him anymore. He used to bring his mistress home and my mother was nothing but broken and forgotten furniture.The pain that came with separation from their daughter my grandma passed away that year ."

He looked up but his eyes were far away. "My mom tried to shield us as much as she can but even she couldn't save us from our father's cruelty when he had beaten us in drunken state and at night's when our father was passed out drunk in some women arms , she used to cry and repeat only this one thing. ( never become like your father my children, never become like him.)"

The tears that were falling slowly now like every drop of pain. "Little by little her depression was killing her, her heart became weak like rest of her body, I was fifteen when she died of heart failure."

I didn't knew what to say, begin an orphan I never experienced what its like to loose one parent. "I am sorry." I told him solemnly.

"Don't be Enzo, my mom survived long enough for us but in death she finally found peace she deserved."

I nodded my head In understanding but still one thing was eating me up. "I don't understand? After all this you still taken over your father business?" He looked at me incredulously. " No, I didn't take over his business in fact I didn't take over his name either. Giuseppe Moretti and his business has gone to hell where it belong."

His rage was clearly seen on his face but what he said confused me even more. "Moretti? But then who is Salvatore?"He smiled and his voice got gentle. "I got myself and Stefan Emancipated at age sixteen after my Pappie died and left what little he have to me and my brother. It was some kind of luck that Michael Mickelson's father was friend's with my grandfather before they moved to London and it was fates play because they moved here around same time when my mom got ill. They were decent people and when I came to them seeking help not only they took us into their family but also helped us to severe ties with our good for nothing father."

He sighed still lost in his memories. "After that I wanted nothing to do with him so I chose my grandfather's name for surname and that's how we became Salvatore in honour of my Pappie , my grandpa Jackson Gabriel Salvatore."

He finished saying that name with pride but one thing got me. "So that means Jackson really comes in your name?"

He gave me dry laugh, "Jackson is my middle name, my mother gave it to me in honour of my grandpa."

I absently nodded my head while processing all this information. I never thought that rich people's lives were as painful than us commoner.

Finally after another long silence I came back to the question that started this whole mess. "Why Damon?" he didn't need me to elaborate.

"I never meant to be this successful but I guess I inherited that from my father just like my love for cars." He almost scowled while saying this.

"Still while I was studying in university I designed my first car. At that time It was just a hobby but uncle Michael saw potential in me. He offered to invest and handle my business and together me , and Rick who become my friend because of our joined interest started business together. By the time my studies were completed I was able to run my father out of business and his empire was brought down by his own son who bested him in his own game."

I stayed quite because I was impressed by his talents. "So what happens then?"

He has this dark look on his face. "Apparently talent is not the only thing I inherited from my father. It was my graduation party. Uncle Michael and aunt Esther both announced that they are going to retired and that weekend they are going to do public announcement where they are going to hand over their company to their son's and mine business to me. Hearing that I started partying hard and in my drunk state I went to visit my father."

He looked both ashamed and guilty. "What happenedafterwards is not something I am proud of. In my haze of success I started cursing my father, telling him how it was I who destroyed his business and all hateful things that was pent up inside me. I left him without backward glance but I guess it was a huge wake-up call for my father. Three days after it came in news that he committed suicide. While donating his money to homeless as for his penance."

New tears replaced his face in place of old ones as I watched him. "In his suicide note he sought our forgiveness and ironically his last words were same as my mother. ( don't became like me my son's )"

His voice shook little in end and I don't even know what to say this time. "At my father's funeral I confessed my visit to my brother. You should see Stefan face when he asked ( Are you going to turn out like our dad? Are you going to break your promise to our mom? ) I couldn't bare to be that man and to repeat same fate for my brother so I asked uncle Michael to introduce Rick as face of my company and to tell everyone that owners of company Mr Salvatore' s lives in Italy."

I let this part sink in , his reasons to hide his ownership makes sense but that still leaves questions and I think he could see that on my face. "You want to know why I became D.J ? Why I lied to you , to Elena and to almost everyone?" I nodded my head and he looked away.

"Its because I am more like my father then I thought because even after all said and done I still become like him an alcoholic, workaholic manwhore and even after keeping Stefan away from this lifestyle I couldn't escape it myself."

He stared at me long and hard as if he was trying to get through me. "Being D.J was my salvation mate. I used that name to honour my mother's promise even for little while I can.And trust me I am lot happy to be D.J than being Damon."

His confession took me by surprise, "I didn't knew you will say that but if you really hate being rich why don't you give it up?"

He took a deep breath as if this conversation is draining him. "I admit I hate rich lifestyle and my inability that I couldn't escape it but that is my issue. I am proud of my company, proud of my wealth. It came to me because of my hard work, my friend's support , uncle Michael and aunt Esther's encouragement. They had Faith in me and above all my mother and grandparents blessing. I can never be ashamed of this company nor I can quit it when so many lives are joined to it, when it changed so many lives including yours mate."

My eyes widened in surprise and for a moment I thought he is going to use it against me but instead all I saw was kindness and understanding in his eyes.

"You? You knew?" He nodded and held his hand on his heart. "Don't worry your secret is safe here in my heart. Only Rick and I knew about it."

I felt both shocked and numb. "Why didn't you say anything before if you really knew about it?"

He raised his eyes . "First of all D.J can't ask you these questions now can he?" I shrugged my shoulders and he laughed before his face got serious. "Officer Brody is a friend of Rick he informed us about your case how you got framed by your previous owners for selling stolen cars when you tried to bust them. It was unfair that you were sentenced for one year in jail when you were innocent. I for one is glad that truth came out and you got pardoned."

I couldn't help but smile back at him but still felt pain of that time. "My name was still tarnished mate, no one gave me job because of that stain even if I explain that I was innocent. If it wasn't for Officer Brody and Mr Saltzman. .." I trailed off when I remembered that memory.

It felt air escaped from my lungs. I finished my drink to compose myself first and then I ask him question he knew already. "It was you who had given me that job. I remembered sitting outside your office because Mr Saltzman was out of States. Officer Brody brought me there to meet him but instead he met you and then he came outside and told me that I was hired."

He didn't answer me but he also didn't deny. "I knew what is felt like to live an unfair life. Our circumstances may had been different but somewhere we all are trapped because of our past. If that job can give you second chance and better life then maybe I did something right with my power."

After that I didn't have anything else to say or ask accept one thing. "What about Elena? What's your excuse about deceiving her?"

He hung his head down as if he can't look in my eyes. "If I have to give you one answer then I can't because their are millions of reasons and each will sound ridiculous as other. My past is big factor yes but when I met her she had this huge fight with Kol where she plainly told him that she won't ever be with a rich guy like him and I can assure you that my status as rich brat and ladies man is way higher then Kol."

A smile form on his face. "It was split second decision but I lied because I fell in love with her at first sight and by some crazy luck she love me too, something I never thought I deserved."

His face changed little and sadness took place in his eyes. "At first I hide my lie and relationship from everyone accept Bree, and by everyone I meant my friends, my brother only knew I was dating someone. I thought I will strengthen our bond first and then tell her, in fact I almost told her few times but something always stopped me."

I knew he is telling truth this time. It seemed he is finally confessing everything he kept inside. "You remember that day she moved in with me?"

I nodded my head unsure where he is going with this. "That day Stefan called me that he is visiting. I got panicked Enzo so I told everything to my friends so they could help me convinced my brother not to expose me. Rick and Elijah were furious with me and I guess they still are but still they all convinced to help me after I proved my love for Elena."

That explained Michelson , Rose and Mr Saltzman' s involvement. "But your brother is here then why Elena is still in dark?"

He was looking as if he is on verge of breaking point. "My brother came on thanksgiving and as decided I came clean. You should have seen his face Enzo he was so disappointed at me it was almost same look that he given me atour father's funeral. It was Caroline who convinced both of us that we are worthy of love and they convinced me to tell truth about everything to Elena."

He got quite again and I guessed what stopped him. "You're going to confess on thanksgiving but isn't that time you got engaged because. .."

I trailed off when I realize his reasons. "You didn't confess because she told you about the pregnancy!"

He nodded and it felt just like all puzzle came together and picture was finally completed.

I remembered our conversation long ago. "You were right to ask about screw-ups because this one is biggest screw-up in history of screw- ups."

He cracked a smile. "That's what I thought mate when I asked you for advice and if Ibegin to be honest I don't know how to fix this mess."

I sighed because even I don't know what to say. "God D.J you messed things up big time."

He smiled at me "It's nice to hear you calling me D.J"

I looked at him as if he had gone mad. "Stop it you can't lead a double life and specially not when its hurting someone, take pride in what you are and repeat after me I Am Not My Father!"

His eyes widened in surprise. "How can you say that! I am just like him I ruined my loved ones life I..."

I held my hand up to stop him and looked him with stern eyes. "Yes you made mess with things and maybe this lie has got out of control but you know why you are not him?"

He blinked having no clue what I am going to say. "You feel Damon, you feel regret, scare , guilt, shame. You could have blackmailed me to keep your secret but instead you opened up too me as friend who lost his way. You never considered me or our friendship beneath you and mostly you craved to find happiness in this harsh world and that my friend makes you different from your father."

His eyes gleamed with unshed tears and I couldn't help myself but to pull him for hug. He held me tight almost crushing my bones with the intensity and I realized he still was that boy who was hurt by his father. "Damon please everything will be alright."

He turned his face in embarrassment and I gave him space but still heard his voice. "Nothing will be alright Enzo if you reacted so badly then I don't want to imagine what will happen to Elena when truth comes out, she will be crushed."

He held his face , he was shaking from tears he is trying to hide from me but I can feel his misery. "What are you going to do? Because I can't hide this secret . Its not fair to Elena or to your child."

He seems to control his tears because he finally looked at me and shook his head. "Enzo please I beg you . Elena can't know right now, remember our rehearsal dinner? I was going to tell her truth but she got fainted because of stress. Stress is not good for her and baby and if anything happens to them I, I..."

He couldn't carry on but I can understand what he is trying to say.

"So basically you want me to lie too just like your friends, I am sorry mate but I can't do this."

His lips quiver I can see pleading look in his eyes. "Danm it!" I cursed and start pacing in that office and after a while I finally came to conclusion. "Listen D.J I won't lie but I also won't tell anyone about your secret."

I can see hope flaring in his eyes. "Thank you so much..." but I cut him off. "First let me complete. I said I won't tell anyone but I will tell Elena once your baby is safely born, if you won't tell her by then so will I, agreed?"

He seems to have fighting inner battle but in the end he nodded his head. "Okay I will confess everything to Elena after our baby is born, I am done with this lie, with this secrets."

I stared at his face hard and long and knew he is ready to face the consequences of his actions and part of me prayed for his triumph because it will destroy him if he loses both his wife and daughter.

############

Elena's P.O.V

I was patiently waiting for my class to end. The moment professor dismissed us Bonnie and I made our way outside.

"I'mglad this semester is going be over in two month?" Bonnie told me in relief as we sat in her car. "Me too, really it will give me time to prepare, thank God this baby is arriving during summer break."

She smiled and drove her car to a nearby restaurant. We both ordered sandwiches and salad. "So what is this urgent matter you want to discuss with me?" she asked once our waiter left.

I bit my lip hesitation. "Okay I will tell you but first you have to swear you can't tell about this to anyone not even Enzo it will be our secret." As expected she looked surprised.

"You know I can't keep secrets from Enzo plus if this about your baby shower next week then forget it, Caroline will kill me..." but I shook my head and reached for her hand.

"No! Its not about that. Please Bonnie! It's just that if anyone finds out then they will tell Damon and it will kind of ruin my surprise because Damon will never give me permission."

She raised her eyebrows at me, "permission for what?"

I took deep breath before telling her my plan. "Remember I told you how this baby is coming in end of June or start of July." She nodded in confusion.

"Well that's mean when Damon's birthday came in June I will be too pregnant and huge to celebrate his birthday and it's not fair because it his first birthday as married man I want to do something special for him."

She smiled and shook her head. "Oh God! You scared me for second and besides Damon won't mind you already giving him huge gift as daughter. Imagine if she born on his birthday?"

I smiled brightly at that possibility. "Damon will boost with happiness."

We both smiled at that prospect. "Seriously Bonnie I knew he will be happy otherwise but still I want to do something special for him. I find out about this Bed and Breakfast in lone island and I was hopingto take him their for weekend next month as pre birthday present."

Her eyes shine in excitement. "That's great idea but why you need to keep it secret."

I sighed when I showed her price of their weekend package. "Its not that much and aren't you making double money?"

I tried to explain my dilemma. "We are saving that money for baby, so that's why I need your help. I want part time job to pay for this trip and you can't tell anyone about it please or else Damon will know and he won't allowed me to work part time. So please It will be our secret."

She was quite for a while probably wondering what we can do and then her eyes shine in excitement. "I got it! Just let me make this call."

I waited patiently while she called someone. "Hey it's me Bonnie. So listen few weeks ago you asked me for favour, is that offer still stand?" she was quite while she listened on other side. "That's great thanks tell her we will do it but please don't tell anyone we want to keep it a secret from my boyfriend." I guess whoever she is talking to said yes because she was beaming in excitement.

"Its done on fifteenth April we have to make and deliver five hundred cup cakes for new car launch party and they will be paying us handsomely. "

I stared at her in confusion. "Who?" she beamed and stare at me in excitement.

"Rememberat Enzo birthday I was talking with receptionist, well apparently she made a blunder by giving cupcake order and then accidentally cancelling it. She was so scared because Marisa their caterer couldn't find out about her mistake. She asked for help but I refused since it was an huge order but now two of us can do it. All we have to do is make cupcakes and deliver it to party easy."

I felt huge weight lift of my shoulders. "Thanks Bonnie you are an angel."

She smiled and our lunch arrived. We finish it and then she drove me home I was about to leave when I remembered I had no clue about the venue. "Bonnie? Where is this party going to take place."

She smiled and answer me. "She said we need to deliver cupcakes to Salvatore Mansion don't worry she will send office car to pick us up for party."

Salvatore Mansion I repeated in my head and waved her good bye. While thinking how we are going to keep these secret hidden by then.

Author's note.

I hope you like this chapter. In this chapter you guys have Damon Salvatore story. So what do you think is going to happen? Please send me your reviews.