Chapter One Hundred and nineteen

Damien's POV;

Last night was another one of our many firsts. The way her body reacted to my touch was one of the sexiest things to watch.

If I had acted on my will, I would have taken her there and then especially after what she had blurted out but then I knew my baby wasn't ready for that step. We had to slowly get there by forming a stronger bond. I wanted our first time together to be special. It had to be worth the wait.

"Good morning." I heard her say groggily.

"Morning babe. Slept well?" I thumb lightly brushed over her face.

She blushed and sat up, adjusting the blanket over her chest area.

"I did. You ready for work?"

"Yup. What's your day going to be like?" I asked, adjusting the cufflinks on my wrist.

"I'm heading to check out some restaurant spaces today." She announced.

"Oh wow that's cool. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

"Sure thing. You're not waiting for breakfast?" She asked.

"Nah, I'll see you later." I kissed her goodbye.

"Have a nice day!" She hollered as I briskly walked away.

"You too baby." I said back.

****

"Uhmm good morning sir." Drew said, shifting from one foot fo the other.

"Morning Drew." I eyed him in suspicion.

"What's the matter?"

"Miss Schneider is waiting for you, she's demanding your feedback on the business pitch of just yesterday. Sir, I tried my best to send her away but she wouldn't budge. She's insistent that she knows you on a very personal level and you wouldn't get mad and fire me if you find out that she let herself into your office." He rambled like he was going to drop dead any second.

"What the fu..." I stopped myself from cussing aloud.

"You know what? I'll handle this. Drew, just focus on fixing my schedule for today. There's a lot to be done." I instructed.

"Yes sir." He said, heaving a sigh of relief before scurrying away to do his duties.

I faced the entrance door to my office, heaving a controlled sigh.

No yelling, Damien, no yelling. I had to prep my mind cause I knew how annoying that woman could be and from the looks of things she might not have changed much over the years.

The door slid open automatically and I walked into the office. There, I saw her perched on the couch, her posture, giving off poise, grace and class.

"Morning Damien." Her red painted lips raised in a smile.

"Morning miss Schneider. To what do I owe this honor?"

"Oh don't be so formal, Damien. If we're going to be business partners, you'll have to loosen up." She said, biting on a side of her lip as she sashayed over and unbuttoned my suit jacket.

I took her hands off me before they could go further.

"Cheryl, I'm a married man." I put it out there.

"I know that." She rolled her eyes.

"Good. So, keep your distance professional." I said seriously.

"And when has a relationship status ever stopped you from messing around."

I got what she was insinuating.

"I did not cheat on you!" I said defensively.

Why was she hell bent on going back to the past?

"Oh is that so? But how come you got the same mistress from ten years ago pregnant, putting your marriage on the edge of crashing?" She retorted.

What in the actual fuck?!

"I had nothing to do with Aleena either of those times. She's simply one of those women who obsess over what could never be theirs." I stated as calmly as I could.

Her elbow sat on her left palm as her fingers flicked the air. A wry chuckle eluded her lips while she eyed me.

"You're funny. Still unable to own up to your own mistakes and always having someone take the fall for you. You're still so irresponsible." The venom dripping from her words had no effect on me, not anymore.

"And that's where you're wrong. You haven't been with me for the longest time and you have no right whatsoever, to judge me." I growled lowly.

"We ended Cheryl, it simply wasn't meant to be and it's obvious enough that I have moved on with my life. You should grow up and stop holding on to the past." I said strongly steadying my voice as much as I could so I wouldn't yell.

"You crushed my heart into pieces and you stand here saying it so casually like we're simply talking about cookies and butter?!" Her voice raised a notch as she paced back and forth.

"You're the most selfish person ever! And I hate you, I hate you with every fiber of me. I wouldn't even be here but for my father who wants us to partner with you so bad!" She ranted while I sat down cross-legged on my table waiting for her to finish.

"Your father could send another representative, I certainly wouldn't mind." I said honestly.

"Oh you think I didn't suggest that?" She glared hatefully at me.

"Maybe he has his reasons..." I pointed out with a shrug.

"Of course he does! He thinks we're-" she stopped herself from speaking, breathing heavily.

"We're what?" I questioned.

She shook her head and picked up her handbag.

"My assistant would be in contact with yours, I have to go." She said out of the blue and rushed out before I could even question her further.

"Now that was weird." I muttered, shaking my head in disbelief.

***

"Are you serious?" Ariana asked me looking as bewildered as me.

I had reiterated what happened in the office with Cheryl earlier to her.

"Yeah babe, it's crazy." I said adjusting my head placed on her thighs.

"Now, I really think you shouldn't agree to that deal. Isn't there some other company you can do this expansion with?" Her lips had formed a pout as she spoke.

"I'm already working on it but we can't lie to ourselves, they're the best German company there is and if I want to have a stronger footing in Europe, I have to work with them."

"Speaking of Europe, do you have any establishments in Spain?" She asked, massaging my scalp.

"Yeah I do have a few affliations over there."

"A few? Your wife is Spanish and you aren't thinking of expanding Kingston Corp in Spain?!"

"Are you really upset about this or the fact that I'm going to expand first in Germany with my ex girlfriend working closely with me?"

She sulked and withdrew from me.

"Babe, come on." I reached for her hand and placed a kiss on the back of her palm.

"You European women are so dramatic." I made the mistake of saying that aloud.

"What?!"

If her gaze could give me physical burns, I would be roasted at this point.

"Wait babe, I didn't mean it like that." I said pleadingly.

"I'm leaving." She tried picking herself up to leave but I swiftly held her down and skillfully had locked in my arms.

"Damien let me go!" She whined, trying to wiggle her way out of my arms.

"Only if you say you forgive me." I said.

She turned away.

"Babeeee." I dragged out.

"You know I love you right?"

"Hmm, I know." She was still looking away as she said that.

"What do you want me to do? Anything you want." I rasped out, rubbing on her pretty face with the pads of my thumb.

"Maybe we could watch a movie sometime when you're not busy doing business with your German ex girlfriend."

"Babe," I laughed.

"I love it when you get jealous like this but you wanna know something?"

"What?" She seemed eager to hear it.

I looked around like I was about the reveal the deepest secret there was and put my lips close to her ear.

"She's not as hot as you are." I said in exaggerated whisper. She giggled.

"Now, I want to see her so bad." She groaned and lightly smacked my arm.

"You'll meet her one of these days, I'm sure."

"Okay..." She pouted while she twirled few strands of hair around her index finger.

"Tell me about your day babe. Did you find a space that suit your taste?" I asked, sitting up to place her legs on my thighs so I could massage them.

"Hmm, I honestly did not find anything impressive but I'm hoping that tomorrow's hunt would yield progress." She sighed and leaned her head on the head rest.

"What exactly are you looking for in a space? What feel do you want to get?" I asked. Maybe we could start from there.

"Uhm, I don't want anything too flashy. I want a typical Spanish restaurant setting with that homey feeling, that vibe, you get it babe?" She said dreamily.

I nodded.

She was about to launch into a tirade of words, I was ready for it.

"I don't want things being too pricey, I want a typical Spanish immigrant to walk in and still feel like they're back home and most of all, I want to feel closer to my roots cause when I think about it, I really have no family to trace back home. It's almost like I've lost all ties with my home country asides the fact that I can fluently speak the language."

Her voice broke at the end of her string of sentences and sooner than later, the tears flowed.

I pulled her close and rubbed on her back soothingly as she sobbed.

"Damien I miss him. I miss Papá so much!" She cried out effusively.

"Ahora está en un lugar mejor." I said, hoping my words would comfort her a little bit. (He's in a better place now.)

She managed a nod but wouldn't stop crying. I held her in that position till she fell asleep.

I guess our night ended on a sad note but hopefully by morning, she would be all cheered up again. I dropped a peck on her forehead as she slept. Then in a whisper I said;

"I'm here for you babe, always."