No Longer Alone

Chapter Thirteen

*Damian's POV*

    The dream had been coming every night and continued to keep me thinking of her, some nights she would talk with me, others she would see me coming and run.  I felt like I was loosing my mind, that I had to see her again, but I had no way to find her.  I was out on the balcony of the suite I was staying in, smoking a cigarette and pondering what I was going to do when Alex came to join me.

    "Still thinking about her?"  He asked with a touch of concern, it wasn't normal for me to react like this to anyone.

    "I can't leave a puzzle unsolved, you know that. I just haven't figured out how to get the next piece I need."  I run a hand through my hair trying to organize some of my thoughts.  I'd come here for a variety of reasons, and the vacation part of it seemed to be anything but that right now.  In the next couple of weeks I was supposed to be looking for some property here for one business venture that Alex had done a lot of research into and felt would be a good fit for the area, I was also supposed to be doing a tour of a particular call center here that might be able to take on some of the work for customer service on some of the technologies that were another branch of my businesses.  They had an excellent reputation not only for how well they could handle difficult contracts and still receive excellent marks from their customers, but also for the employees and how welcoming and friendly they were overall.  Their training department had gotten particularly high marks, and I wasn't above poaching some talent or ideas if it could help improve other areas that were struggling.

    My parents had built their own empire in the business world, yet managed to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible, finding ways to help areas without providing "charity" that could go astray.  It was something that I had admired about them growing up and had hoped to emulate as much as possible.  So I did my best to stay out of the tabloids and to help different areas by working within the environment and culture to build jobs that would help keep things going, rather than making a great show of writing a check.

    "Well, we do have one thing we could try to do, as long as it doesn't involve me getting my foot crushed by those aircraft carriers you call feet."  Alex stayed far enough a way from me that all I could do was give him a look to continue.

    "The friend...she works at a jewelry store.  You might be able to find out more that way, but think about why you want this so much." He paused for a moment, "Given the way that her brother was handling that pool stick, I'd hate to see what he would do to anything that wasn't a pool ball."

    I chuckled a little thinking back to the way Adam had played pool, and had to agree that it was probably safer for everyone to keep all balls away from him when he had a pool stick in his hands. I looked down at my wrist, and realized I had the perfect excuse to go to a jewelry store.

    "Do you think perhaps her friend might be able to point out a nice watch for my father, after all his birthday is coming up and I think I recall him saying something about looking for a new one."

    Alex grinned and started tapping away at his phone, looking through some information before turning back to me. "Well looks like they are open, why don't we find out if they have anything that could interest the old man.  Don't forget your mother, too, you know how she is." I nodded, thinking of her, my mother could be a wonderful woman, or an absolute terror, but she had an absolute weakness for sparkly things and loved new jewelry, which oddly Alex had bonded with her in this, as he had a rather odd fascination with men's jewelry. 

    Grabbing my sunglasses I headed towards the door, Alex following quickly behind with more of a bounce in his step than normal.  At that moment I wasn't sure if he was excited for the prospect of looking at jewelry, going out and causing his own brand of mischief, or the chance to hassle me about something, and I was not going to ask either.

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*Jen's POV*

    It had been an extremely slow day in the store today, with little more than occasional browsers, or people coming in for jewelry cleaning, and a sizing or two.  I was looking at some pieces to see what could work together for a nice shot to go up for some advertising and paying more attention to the potential combinations in front of me than cars out in the parking lot until I heard Sidney's overly excited voice almost screeching near me.

    "That car is just beautiful but those two are, like, walking s*x gods!  I so call dibs if they come in here!"

    Startled, I look at Sidney before turning to look out the front of the store, and easily spot the car, and males, that have her so spun up.  The car is too far off to tell the make and model, but is a newer car luxury model.  The men, striding confidently towards the store, were none other than the two we had seen out the other night.  As they came to through the door, I watched as Sidney pranced up to them, posing to draw attention to her assets.

    "Well hello gentlemen, my name is Sidney, I'd be happy to help you find anything you might be looking for."  Her voice has gone high and almost shrill, causing me to wince a little as she gives a smile I'm sure she thinks is sultry, but just makes her look like wanna be barbie doll.  Damian doesn't even bother looking at her before heading my way nodding at me.  Alex smirked and rolled his eyes following behind, but turned to say.

    "Such a charming offer, but we already know someone here we would like to work with.  Jen my dear lady, so wonderful to see you again!  I am so happy that we could actually take up your generous offer to work with us as I am afraid my friend here is very picky and demanding in what he wants!"

    The look of absolute shock on Sidney's face knowing that they had come for my help had me fighting not  to laugh in her face.  Instead, I walk forward offering my hand and smiling as Alex shakes it, winking at me with mirth showing clearly on his face.

    "So glad you took me up on that offer, and a pleasure to see you both again.  What can I help you find today?"  With the grin on Alex's face, and the tension in Damian's body, I had a feeling it would be an interesting day now.