chapter 5: Outstanding matters
1072 Words
As the restaurant doors closed behind Damian, Elara stood frozen at the bar, her heart thudding against her ribcage. This isn't over, he'd threatened, his words still hanging in the air like a specter she couldn't escape.
What's the worst? She'd believed him.
He had never ceased. The way he just took whatever he wanted and didn't even bother to ask was something that had initially drawn her to him.
But she was no longer his to take.
"Elara."
She was brought back to reality by the voice of Marco. He stood behind the bar, arms crossed over his chest, glaring at her with an intense stare when she blinked and turned back around.
She created a look of innocence on her face and replied, "What?"
Marco blew a small whistle. "You are the focus of that man's obsession."
She rolled her eyes. "He just doesn't like losing."
Marco smiled. "Yes? And why does this feel so personal to me?
With a fist in her hair, Elara exhaled. "Because it was intimate." A long time ago.
Marco's brow arched. "And now?"
Her fists braced on the edge of the bar as she hesitated. "It doesn't matter now."
After scanning her over a moment or so, Marco shrugged. "Alright. if you say so."
But she could tell he didn't believe her from the sly look in his eyes.
And honestly? Neither did she, apparently.
—
In the back of his black sport sedan, Damian watched city lights flick past the dark-tinted windows while his fingers tapped his knee.
Elara was convinced that she could go.
She believed she could brush him off.
She was mistaken.
After he had let her go. He had told himself it was the only way to keep her safe from the devils in his family, and he had thought it was for the best.
But something inside of him was reprogrammed when he saw her tonight, alone in her restaurant, furious and impenetrable.
Without him, she had constructed a life.
He disliked it as well.
James, the chauffeur, piped up from the driver's seat, "Sir?"
"Will we be returning to the penthouse?"
"No." Damian answered briskly. "Take me to the estate of my father."
James paused briefly before nodding brusquely. "I see, sir."
Damian's face set in a hard line as he leaned back into the seat.
He was done playing defense if his family desired a war.
The Cole estate, a huge mansion with high fences and CCTV cameras, was situated at the periphery of the city.
Not even waiting for James to unlock the door, Damian alighted from the car and strode up the marble steps.
The older, scary-looking butler halted and then moved aside. "Your dad is in the research room."
He was, naturally.
Damian made no attempt to knock. He pushed open the thick wooden doors and entered the darkened room where his father was sitting behind a huge oak desk, sipping a drink of whisky.
Cole Sr. looked up hardly at all. "What is the purpose of my visit?"
Damian's fists clenched. "Elara was fired by you."
His dad sipped his whisky slowly. "Vanessa made reference to that."
Damian's mouth clenched. "You weren't entitled."
With a sigh, Cole Sr. put down his drink. "I was well within my rights. She was a distraction. Also, you owe this family a debt.
Cupped in the palm of his hands were Damian's fingers. "A debt that involves marrying a woman I don't want?"
Cold-faced, his father relaxed back. We need Cassie Lancaster. The partnership—
Suddenly, Damian snapped, "f**k the merger."
Cole Sr.'s eyes turned dark. "Be careful how you phrase that."
"No." Damian's voice was as icy as death. "I've spent my whole life doing exactly what you instructed me to do. While I've constructed the firm and made deals that had never been conceivable, you still are never satisfied.".
Even in the dim light, his father's presence was commanding as he slowly stood up. "It would have been sufficient if you did not pursue a low-ranking chef who does not belong to our class."
The words were a knife through Damian.
That was not all that Elara was.
She was fire and steel, want and determination. In the midst of his world of tough commercial deals and brutal betrayals, she had been the sole thing to ever appear true.
Also, he had been an i***t to let her go.
His father rubbed his temples and breathed out. Marry Cassandra. Get the Lancaster contract. Also, you must quit pursuing a woman who will only destroy you.
A sinister silence descended upon Damian as he locked eyes with his father.
"No."
His father's eyes skipped in shock. "What did you just say?"
With a steely voice, Damian took a slight step forward. "No," I said. I will no longer let you control my life.
Cole Sr. looked at him for a moment. Then he smiled slowly.
"You believe you have a choice?" He sneered. "You believe that you can do this to a family with this reputation and go unpunished?"
That was a voice that Damian knew.
It signaled his father's intent.
His plan.
Dangerous one that it was.
His father smiled ever more as he leaned to pick up another pull of whisky. "Go after your little chef, Damian. But always, I get the best of the deal.".
Damian felt a shiver run down his spine.
He did not blink, however.
Because he had not either.
He beat wildly in his chest as he spun and departed without saying a word.
War had just been declared by his father against him.
Damian was dead set on winning.
—
Elara stood with arms crossed and eyes locked onto the text of her phone lying upon the kitchen counter in her apartment.
Unknown Number: We need to speak. Elara, I am not letting you go.
She knew Damian.
She hesitated as her hands hovered over the keys.
She should ignore him.
Blocking his number and acting as if he never re-entered her life would be for the best.
But she knew better in her heart.
It was not in Damian Cole's nature to surrender.
She did not want to lose to him, either. She knew in her heart Damian Cole would do anything to win. Her head was tricking her, but she wanted something more.
And this was far from over, whether she wanted it or not.
- Writer
