Ch. 5

Stefan awoke the next morning the arms of the beautiful fiancé Caroline Forbes. He took a moment to relish in their limbs intertwined, and for a brief moment felt utterly content. Suddenly that moment ended when realization sunk in and it hit him that this was the same woman he would be waking up to the rest of his life. Panic set in and Stefan sat up. He hadn't committed to anything in his life. He was sure he loved the way she had made him feel, and he'd certainly never gone on a knee for anyone before, but what did that mean?

He rose from the bed careful to leave Caroline's sleeping form on the bed and slipped into the bathroom for a quick shower. He needed to find out what to do and fast. If there was any way he could escape the clutches of a lifetime of matrimony he was more than willing.

He rushed through his shower and dressed in a light black polo and khaki pants. He looked in the mirror and decided he needed to do this. He was going to marry Caroline, and it terrified him. Ignoring the sheer terror reeking havoc in his mind he walked briskly down the hallway of the mansion, careful to be extra quiet, and not wake his sleeping future bride…gulp.

As she strode towards the door a servant stopped him in the hallway.

"Master Salvatore, good morning. Here's your daily post." said Sheila, giving Stefan a remarkable smile. She had been delivering the paper to Stefan since he knew how to read, and he loved her for it.

"Thank you," he said as he scanned over the front page. Walking towards the door and reading he suddenly stopped cold in his tracks. The top of the paper read, "Forbes to merge with Salvatore Industries."

"When did this happen?" He asked Sheila behind him. She simply smiled and stated, "Master Damon Salvatore was discussing it with your father last night. Perhaps you should go and have a visit with them at corporate. I'm sure there's much more you need to know." And with that she turned on her heel and left the foyer.

Stefan wasted no time in pleasantries and rushed to his favorite sports car. He was going to have words with his brother, and for once he wasn't afraid to do so.

Damon Salvatore sat in his three-piece suite and reclined in his office chair. He found himself staring out towards the empty glass windowpane. All he could see was blue sky, and he longed for the freedom it represented. However, today was no ordinary day. Today he would take back his role as CEO of Salvatore Industries, and he knew just how to do it. After the wearisome and lush evening spent with Caroline and Stefan at the Salvatore Estate, it dawned on Damon exactly what needed to be done in order to attain presidency over his brother. He decided, if his father wanted to see generosity and power he would give it to him.

Going to Mr. Bill Forbes had been a gamble. He knew going into the business pitch had been hasty, but then again so was every business transaction he'd been involved in since he was eighteen. Bill had a new tie into his company with the growing establishment of the intranet. Damon knew form other corporations that anything forming technology was growing rapidly. He wanted to be the lead behind that growth. So he simply pitched the idea of merging Salvatore Industries with Forbes. He knew Forbes, which housed a great deal of exceptional journalism, would be looking for new ways to better market their product. It was Damon's intention to have Forbes use Salvatore Industries software to use as a catalyst for a new website, involving many other attempts at making both companies thrive. He explained to Bill that using his connections with his journalism, and the intranet could only grow his company. Bill had of course taken the bait. With Stefan's connections to Caroline, how could he refuse? Now he simply needed to get Daddy dearest on board, and they'd have a billion dollar deal.

Damon smirked as he heard a knocking on his office door. He knew his father must have heard of his new idea, and called for him to enter. He was still apprehensive about his reaction, but he was confident he would eventually see things his way.

However, instead of Giuseppe Salvatore, he saw his little brother instead. Damon was in shock. Stefan never came into the offices anymore. He'd written off Salvatore industries after High School. Even though he currently held an office in the building he'd rarely ever set foot on the property until today. Damon noticed he appeared to be panting and holding a newspaper in his hand. He also seemed very put off about something and Damon swallowed hard as he reached for his decanter. He needed a stiff drink for this conversation.

"I need to speak to you." Stefan stated, striding into his office and slamming the door behind him.

"I'm going into a meeting." Damon declared, standing behind his desk and filling a glass of bourbon.

"It'll wait. When was the last time I came here?" Stefan spat, and Damon looked up into his brothers eyes. He hand stilled as he recognized fear. For the first time in a long time he wanted to help his brother.

"You're right." He said reluctantly and motioned for him to come in.

"I was starting to wonder why I was finally being treated with respect." Spat Stefan as he thrust a newspaper on the top of Damon's wide oak desk. Damon raised his eyebrow at Stefan as his brother pointed a finger over the front page.

"You've been trying to force me into this relationship with Caroline because you want to engineer a merger with Forbes and Salvatore industries."

"Force you? Stefan I'm sure I'll be damned for all the lies I told about you the other night. You begged me to make you look good in front of the folks remember? Any of this ringing any bells?" Stefan stood back in silence and Damon added, "Your silence is deafening Stefan."

Stefan stepped back and bit his lip remembering his speech to Damon about needing him to lie for him. Back then he was head over heels for Caroline, he would have said anything.

"I never meant for this." Stefan declared.

"Make me look good, tell them about my qualities, lie, you said." Damon spat back.

Stefan, knowing Damon was right sunk into the office chair beside him. He exhaled and looked up at Damon. His arms crossed, he looked so controlled, as if he truly belonged there. Stefan had never belonged anywhere, except at social events. No one had ever expected anything of him. Now Caroline was to become his wife, and he didn't know the first thing about taking care of someone else.

"Look Damon," he said brushing a shaking hand through his hero hair, "I'm not ready for this kind of a commitment."

Damon scoffed and moved around the desk to lean in front of it. He crossed his arms and looked down at his brother stating,

"Oh I see she must have asked for an actual wedding ring, and a date."

Stefan continued as though he hadn't heard his brother speak,"I honestly don't know what happened. One minute I was sitting there waiting for her. She was healing children, and I was in a tuxedo. Next I knew I was on one knee and asking her to marry me. Damon, I'm not ready to take care of anyone. I wouldn't know the first thing to do."

"Stefan. Caroline is a millionaire and a doctor she can take care of herself. If I'm not worried you shouldn't be worried."

Stefan contemplated his brother's words and looked out the large windowpane Damon had stared into moments before.

"You don't deserve her, but she seems to love you." Damon said.

"I can't quite get that down, it gets caught in my throat…." Stefan replied in a clipped tone.

"Well get used to it bunny boy."

"So I'm to believe that this merger is just a silver lining." Stefan said turning to look into his brother's eyes once more.

"It's an opportunity." Damon declared, striding towards his brother and stating into his face, "Look at it this way Stef, I'm not going to take myself out of the equation just because you happen to be apart of it. Do you see this software?" Damon gestured to the monitor on the wall behind him displaying the new website designed for Forbes Industries. "The damn idea is fool proof. No one has connections like Forbes does. It will put Salvatore Industries on the map, in a way that father never even dreamed."

"So that's what all of this is, just a ploy to impress father?"

"Don't be obvious Stefan. This isn't just about father. We're on the cusp of the hottest technology in town and everyone knows it. This merger could mean the difference between making or breaking Salvatore Industries."

"Wait a minute Damon, you're talking about my life here."

"I pay for your life Stefan. My life makes your life possible." Damon spat. Relived to finally say it out loud.

"I resent that."

"So do I." Damon grunted, "Look at you. You went to law school and never took the bar. You majored in business school, and I can't get you any where near the office. You study languages you don't speak, instruments you don't play. You have a series of girlfriends you never see more than twice. Do you see a pattern here Stefan?"

"Who are you to lecture me about closeness?" Stefan spat back, "You have a series of one-night stands, and a bottle of inhibition killer to keep you warm at night. Your idea of a long term relationship is a condom from eight grade in your wallet." Stefan said, placing his hands on his hips and pacing across the office floor.

"I don't have time for relationships, I'm too busy running this company." Damon quipped, "You're a grown man Stefan. Finish something." At this Stefan stopped still where he stood and locked eyes with Damon, listening to his final words, "Caroline Forbes is the best thing to ever happen to you, and you told me so yourself."

As the words left his lips Damon felt empowered. He knew how to manipulate Stefan and he was sure he would come to see things his way.

Shortly after Stefan stormed out, declaring that he would indeed be doing what Damon wanted. Under one condition: Caroline was to never know her part in the business deal, and he was to obtain 40% of the profits. Damon reluctantly agreed and sent him on his way. As long as Daddy dearest knew who ran the show, he wouldn't care if Stefan walked away with the whole kit and caboodle. This company was his and nothing was going to come in the way of that, especially a woman.

************NOTE****************

Oh man little does Damon know his world is about to be turned upside down by little Ms. Elena Gilbert. I can't wait for the next chapter when she comes home! So excited to write it! Delena coming up!

Hope you are enjoying the read, comments/review below. Thanks!