HIS TO OWN

Their meeting

“Sure” Sia said while trying to maintain her calmness.She actually didn’t know why but she couldn’t just said him,each time that he spoke it felt like he was giving her a command.

They stood there without saying anything else,again under his stare he felt naked,his eyes took her whole body in,if she could actually know what he was thinking she would probably get him arrested for being a pervert.

The silence was too loud,as she was about to speak up he just walked passed her and left.

Sia couldn’t help but breath out a sign of relief,each time that man was around her,he made her feel so uncomfortable.She remembered that he wasn’t like that when they were growing up.He was a nice and cute little boy.

“Let’s go I am so tired” the two women left the place,the car was quiet as usual.

On their way home,Khoe was dropped by the nearest place to her house as Sia proceeded to go to hers.

She arrived home around midnight,she discarded her dress,shoes and bag as she went straight to shower.It was very quick,got in her pajamas and drifted off to sleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.

That night she slept so peacefully, didn’t even dream.

Morning came and she was feeling refreshed and ready to conquer it all.It was around 5am that she got up,went for a her morning run and got ready just in time for her driver to pick her up.

In her office,she got a call from Khoe that Damian was waiting for her in the lobby.This was quite unexpected because they rarely met and spoke so why was he at her workplace?

Was it because he needed to know the date of the wedding or maybe he was there for something else.

So she decided not to ponder much on it and went down to the lobby to meet him.Everyone knew not to look when Carter and Sullivan were in a room together even though it didn’t happen often.

Damian stood there in his charcoal suit, hands in his pockets,Waiting.

He looked so unworldly,no type of emotion could be seen on his face.He looked Like he had been waiting for hours,when in truth it had just been some minutes.

Sia studied him.,the sharp cut of his jaw,the way his tie was perfectly straight even though it was past noon and the way he never let anyone see past the mask.

"My parents want to make an announcement this weekend so the date”he said again. Calm and controlled.

“So I just need to know that you will show up” he finished off.

Sia let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding.

She had spent weeks running numbers, running meetings, running from this conversation but standing here with Damian Sullivan looking at her like she was the only clause in his contract that mattered... she couldn’t run anymore.

She stepped closer,close enough that only he could hear her.

"December 14th," she said.

Damian blinked. Once. That was the only crack in him.

"The since the family gathering is this weekend,we can announce it then he replied quietly.

"Yes." Sia lifted her chin. "December 14th at the Carter Estate,it will be a small ceremony and family only” she said clearly,she didn’t want to have a wedding where there will be people who she didn’t even know.

For a second, nothing,he didn’t utter a word,December was just a month away,maybe that’s why it seemed rushed.

Then something in his shoulders dropped. Barely. But she saw it.

He didn’t smile. Damian Sullivan didn’t do that in public,but his eyes... his eyes softened.

"December 14th," he repeated, like he was committing it to memory. "I will have legal send over the final agreements by Friday." he said curtly.

Of course he would,because even in this,it was business so she totally understood him.

But then he did something that he has never done before,he reached out for her hand,his hit fingers brushed the back of her hand it was just for a second,Barely there.

"Thank you, Sia."he said as those grey eyes bore into hers.

With that,he turned around and walked out.Sia was left standing there looking at his drifting figure,his back was broad she thought to herself.

Khoe exhaled behind her. "Madam,should I notify the families?"she didn’t want to overstep her boundaries but she needed to know.

Sia watched the glass doors close behind him.

Her heart was pounding. Her hands were shaking.

But for the first time in months, the weight was gone.

"Yes," she said. "December 14th,tell them Sia Carter is getting married."

The Sullivan estate was warm,candlelights,soft music,the clink of glasses.

Damian stood by the fireplace,hands in his pockets,face unreadable.

His eyes kept going to the doors.

His father came over, handed him a glass of whiskey. "She will come," he said quietly. "She is family."

At 8:03pm the doors opened.

Sia.

Black simple shorts dress with hair down,she dresses up simple but looked elegant.

The room softened,to the Sullivans she wasn’t a guest. She was the girl from next door,the girl who lost both parents and still showed up to every Sullivan dinner.

Damian crossed the room in three steps,stopped next to her. Shoulder to shoulder.

He didn’t smile. He didn’t reach for her either.

"Sia, dear," his mother said, pulling her into a hug. "We are glad that you are here."

Dinner went on,business , estate updates, polite laughter.

Neither Sia nor Damian are much of their food.

After dessert, Mr. Sullivan tapped his glass. "Everyone."

The room went quiet.

Damian looked at Sia,that tiny flicker in his eyes.

Sia lifted her chin.

"There is something we need to tell you," she said. Clear. Steady. "For us."

Damian’s voice was calm. Even.

"December 14th. Carter Estate.

Sia and I are getting married."

Silence.

Then his mother burst into tears and hugged Sia. "Oh, sweetheart. Your parents would be so proud."

His father nodded, throat tight. "20 years since your father and I shook hands on this.So yes,a Small wedding. Just family. It’s alright."

His aunt dabbed her eyes. "Finally."

Through it all, Damian didn’t move, smile,or touch her,she noticed that his jaw mostly had that tick to it so she always wondered why that was so.

But his eyes stayed on her.

Later, after the congratulations died down, his mother took Sia’s hands.

"Sia," she said softly. "Stay tonight.

Just like when you were young. The guest room is still yours. The one with the window seat and those blue blankets that you liked so much."

Sia blinked. She used to sleep over all the time after her parents... After.

She would do her homework in that room,fall asleep and to Mrs. Sullivan bringing her hot chocolate.

She glanced at Damian. He was watching he still had no expression but he didn’t object either.

"I... I would like that," Sia said quietly. "Thank you, Mrs. Sullivan."them asking her to stay over meant so much to her.

"Good," Mr. Sullivan said, smiling. "No need to drive back to the empty estate tonight. You are family."the old man chirped.

Damian didn’t say anything.He just nodded once.

It was 11:47pm,Sia sat on the edge of the bed,staring at her phone. No calls from her uncle. Just silence from the Carter side,she wasn’t expecting much anyway.

A soft knock.

Damian stood by the door,his neck tie gone,sleeves rolled up once,he looked like some majestic being.

He leaned against the doorframe,didn’t come in.

"They asked you to stay," he said. It wasn’t a question.

"Yes," Sia replied,she didn’t even know why they were having this conversation

Another pause.

"Get some sleep, Sia."he wasn’t good with words,he turned and walked down the hall.