38

"We have that dinner in two weeks, don't forget." My father said as he started to walk out of my office.

I sighed, "Do I have to go?"

"Vienna."

"Fine." I groaned.

He chuckled before walking out, silently closing the door behind him. I put my pen down and massaged my temples.

Fashion show has to be up and running by next month, I have a business dinner in two weeks, I have to plan a meeting with Angelo and learn about their side business, and I have to schedule a time for Payton to shadow me for the day. My agenda is planned out for the next damn year.

I rested my head on the desk, internally screaming from the stress. If I knew I was going to have this much crap to do, I wouldn't have signed up for this.

That's a lie, I probably would have, even if I was signing my death certificate. I ran my hand through my hair before throwing it up in a ponytail.

I pinched the bridge of my nose right as my phone went off. I silently debated over answering it for a few seconds.

"Hello?" I sighed.

"Well, someone sounds exhuasted and in dire need of some coffee."

I smiled, "Good morning to you too, Mr. Blood."

Damon laughed, "It's my lunch break right now, why don't I come pick you up and we can go get some coffee?"

"That sounds great." I replied.

"Alright, I'm waiting outside."

I blinked as he hung up, after staring at the phone for a few seconds, I grabbed my stuff. I sprinted out of my office, cursing at my damn high heels.

I almost ran over Damon as I brust out of the building, panting. He laughed before quickly shutting up as I slapped him on the back of the head.

"Okay, damn woman! Raphael, she needs some damn coffee." Damon chuckled at his driver as we got into the car.

The driver, Raphael, raised an eyebrow before driving off.

"So, are you too lazy to drive?" I teased.

He smirked, "I have the money to pay for a driver, so, I got a driver."

I rolled my eyes at him, but silently agreed. When we reached the cafe, he helped me out of his car.

We quickly found a small table and immediately took our seats. I noticed Damon's eyes flash with annoyance when our waitor flirted with me.

I chuckled at his expression, "Are you jealous?"

He immediately masked his emotions, even though he was blushing.

"No." He grumbled, looking away from me.

I smirked, "I think you are, Damon. Do you have a crush on me?"

He was quiet for a while, refusing to make eye contact with me. I released a breath, clearly, he's not the feelings type of guy.

"Sorry." I mumbled.

He frowned, "No, I'm sorry. It's just...I'm not used to...this."

"To what?"

"To..uh...this."

I frowned, "Uh, Damon, you need to elaborate on what this is."

"I'm not used to...caring, for someone." He whispered.

I pursed my lips, "You don't usually care for people?"

He shrugged, "Me and Stefano have that one thing in common."

"It's not bad to care for someone, Damon."

"It is when all anyone does anymore is betray you."

I nodded, he does have a point. "Not everyone is out to hurt you."

He studied me for a moment before immediately looking away. He then smiled a little.

"I guess so."

I returned the smile just as our coffees came. We drank them in silence for a bit.

"You're going to ask me about Stefano again...aren't you?" He suddenly asked.

I folded my arms across my chest, "No."

He raised an eyebrow, his eyes sparkling with amusement. I sighed and nodded.

"I just want to know...uh...was his father not his..er...real father?" I asked.

His eyes widened for a second, "I'm not...entirely..."

He sighed.

"No, Stefano wasn't his biological son."

"Ah, so, I'm right then." I murmured.

"Yes, you were. His mother cheated on Angelo's father with one of her co-workers." Damon explained.

"Angelo's father got rid of him a few weeks after Stefano was born."

"I don't understand why he couldn't just love the boy. It wasn't his fault." I mumbled.

Damon smiled a little before shrugging. "Because he reminded him of his wife's infidelity each day."

"But it still wasn't Stefano's fault." I replied stubbornly.

Damon chuckled, "No, it wasn't."

As silence settled over us again, I started to wonder again. I was extremely curious about Stefano's relationship with my brother and why my brother never mentioned him. As if he were protecting him.

So, naturally, I blurted out the first question that came to mind.

"Was Stefano gay?"

And that, folks, is how I got Damon to choke on his coffee.

Damon quickly wiped his mouth, "No, he was definitely straight."

I took a sip of my coffee, carefully thinking over his answer. I glanced at him, that uneasy feeling settled over me.

"Damon...what is your real name?" I asked.

He furrowed his eyebrows, "Uh...Damon Blood...why?"

"No reason."

He raised an eyebrow, "I'm not Stefano."

"I didn't say you were." I replied.

"But you were thinking of it."

I shrugged, "Maybe."

For the rest of lunch we didn't talk about Stefano. Damon would immediately cut me off whenever I tried asking him something.

I still have that suspicion of him being Stefano, but it wouldn't completely match up. His parents are both dead while Angelo's mother is still alive. Unless, he some how erased anything that has the name, Stefano, on it. Including birth certificates, documents, school records, hospital records, etc. Just like Angelo had, Damon had erased all and any existence of Stefano De Rege.

The only way I can find this out would be to ask Angelo, but I don't want to lose my life. He loathes his brother and anyone who is connected to him. But that anger he showed after seeing Damon's file proved it. It showed that Damon was either telling the truth and is Stefano's friend or he's Stefano himself.

I walked into my office and sat at the desk, thinking over if I should call my father or not. My dad knows many people, if I tell him to find everything out about Damon, he could do it. But do I really want to get him involved?

I sighed in defeat, I need help with this and he's my only hope right now. I quickly dialed his number and waited for him to answer.

"Yes, Vi?" He asked.

I chewed on my bottom lip, "I need you to do me a favor."

"Yes?"

"I need you to find out everything you can about Damon Blood."

He was silent for a moment, "Why?"

"I think he's Stefano. I've been connecting everything and thinking, please?"

"Okay. I'm warning you now though, if he is Stefano, I don't want you near him. I'll take care of him."

I frowned at the double meaning, I swallowed and ran my hand through my hair.

"Don't hurt him." I mumbled.

"I'll do whatever I see fit, Vienna. He murdered my son."

With that said, he hung up. I slowly put down my phone and looked at my shaking hands.

What did I just do?