The CEO Is Mine

Chapter Three

The car ride was silent as usual. Damian looked outside, watching the trees pass by as he tried to concentrate on anything other than the too sweet floral perfume coming from Anna Marie, his date for the night.

He whined down the window when he couldn't bear the smell anymore. It was his parents' anniversary and he had to be there on time. He checked the wristwatch strapped to his wrist, it read 1:45. It was supposed to start by 2:30. He was early enough but he knew his Dad. He had to be there by two.

“Walter, increase your speed” he instructed the driver

“Yes, sir”

“Damie” he felt someone touch his thigh. He looked to his left to see Anna. He had almost forgotten that she was by his side. Her touch did something that he didn't like. He felt repulsed.

“Get your hands off me”

“I'm your date” she whined but removed her hands, nonetheless.

“ Remember the contract. You're only allowed to touch me when the paparazzi's watching, other than that keep your hands to yourself” he said with a deep glare directed at her.

She rolled her eyes and returned back to her phone.

“Wait, are you gay?” she asked, her eyes in slit.

He ignored her.

******

He got out of the car and walked around to meet his Anna. He held out his hand and she took it.

He walked through the crowds of paparazzi. The light from the cameras felt blinding. He looked down at his date, Anna. She waved at them and placed a big smile on her face. She looked good in his hands. She looked like a proper CEO’s wife but he felt nothing. Her thin arms on his arms felt like lead. Her face was perfectly made with makeup but all he could see was a brat who grew up handed everything on a silver platter.

Entering the hall, Damian looked to the center of the room to find his dad, his mum standing beside with the biggest smile that could melt any heart. But only he knew how rusted her heart was.

He went ahead to greet them. He felt his head spin as he perceived his mum's smell. It had always nauseated him because it reminded him of her presence.

“Happy anniversary mom” he hugged her.

“Thank you, baby” she kissed his cheek. He fought the urge to wipe it.

“Happy anniversary, Mrs Stephen”Anna greeted her with a kiss on the cheek

“Thank you, love” she hugged her. “ You're very beautiful” she said making Anne Marie smile

“Thank you, Mrs Stephen”

Elijah sighted his father coming. He straightened shoulders, tightening his grip on Anne unintentionally. He felt her discomfort and saw she wanted to say something.

“Happy anniversary, dad” he quickly interrupted.

“You're late. You're supposed to be here 45 minutes ago. Is this how you show up for your duties in my company?” Stephen's nose flared as he whispered angrily to Elijah. He wanted to correct him that the company no longer belonged to him. But he knew Stephen, his father owned it just as much as he did. He didn't have full ownership of it yet till he decided to get married.

“It's my fault, sir. I spent a long time trying to dress up." Elijah looked to his left to see Anne Marie staring up at Stephen, with doe eyes that irritated him even more.

“Who's this?” Stephen asked.

“ I'm sorry, I had to see Father Ferdinand at the orphanage home to discuss the event coming up”. He knew the right word to calm him down and he didn't feel an ounce of guilt lying.

“You did?”

“Yes. It will be coming up sooner than we planned” he looked at his father's eyes. He saw the admiration already forming in his father's eyes. For a man with a tainted heart as Stephen he sure knew how to uphold an image of integrity. He knew further questions about the charity would be coming up so he drifted, “ why don't you introduce me to your friends?”

One hour later, Elijah fought the urge to stand up and leave the party. He kept loosening and tightening his tie. He felt extremely uncomfortable. He could feel the migraine coming. His date did nothing to help, her mouth kept moving with words that meant nothing to him. Their worlds were too different. Maybe if he had a mother that was around he could have seen her differently. He could have watched her lips as she talked about the brand she modeled for, held her hands as they danced at the center of the stage, pressed his lips on her ear and whispered how he wanted to do sweet wicked things to her. But all he saw was a woman, a woman like his mother.

He felt a cold liquid touch his stomach. He looked down to see a bright red stain on his white dress shirt.

“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to drop it on you. Please, forgive me” he looked down to see a slim woman with a redhead desperately trying to wipe off the red stain on his shirt with her apron.

“It's okay” he said even though he felt nothing like it.

“I'm so sorry. I'll help you take it to the laundry or get a new one, please” she stood straight now looking at him. She must have realized wiping off the stain did nothing else than spread the red stain. Amber eyes, he thought.

“$1100”

“what? “ her eyes widened in genuine confusion.

“It costs $1100” he confirmed

“I_I don_nt have that mu_uch” she stammered

“But that's how much it costs” Delilah could see the tiny smirk forming at his lips.

Elijah recognized her from the other day at his office, the lady who dared to use his private elevator and pretended like it was nothing. She looked just as beautiful as she looked the other time, maybe even more now that he could see the color of her eyes and the fullness of her lips.

She looked straight into his eyes. She knew she had seen this man but couldn't remember where or how she had met him. She noticed the scar that peeked out from his collar. They looked like they were healed but she couldn't help the emotions that ran through her wanting to run her hands on it.

Before she could put her hands on him, Elijah grabbed hers instinctively. She jerked back, stunned, her eyes wide open. He held her gaze, daring her to go any further, and then they felt like they were the only two people standing in the room at the time.