TALK AND TELL

ELENA'S POV:

Our eyes locked for what seemed like eternity and I wanted to walk up to him and ask so many questions but I resisted the urge. He didn't seem to have any remorse for me by the way. He seemed proud of getting rid of me because he had the chance to protect the mafia protocols. He wasn't ready to give anything up to be with me. I'd rather kill me than lose his title. I looked away. I didn't know this man. The Antonio I knew was dead. That man would never kill me. He showed me love even when he didn't mean to. He was careful when it came to me and very possessive and protective of me.

This man was nothing like him. I looked up at Derek and tugged on his shirt. He looked down at me with curiosity and a look I couldn't quite distinguish. There was a way Derek looked at me that I couldn't tell what was. Like a kind of attraction...a look I never received from Antonio. But then he read the look in my eyes and knew exactly what to do. He stroked my hair, not caring who was staring at us. Then he took my hand and pulled me towards one of the corridors so we could discuss. I could tell that it was taking everything in Antonio not to walk up to us right now. I didn't even want to think about him at the moment. But it was difficult. Derek and I stopped behind a pillar that hid us from the ballroom.

"Are you okay?" He asked and I shook my head. "This is why I didn't want you to come. You're still in love with him." He stated and that made me furrow my brows. Love? I never thought I was in love with Antonio, but it did seem that way at the end of the day. I was in love with Antonio. How had I not realized it in the first place? "It's obvious. From the way you look at him, one can tell it's that way." He sighed. "You thought after being with me for two months you would have gotten over him? It doesn't work that way. Unfortunately." He said and it wounded me more than I expected.

I was in love with Antonio, but he betrayed me, now was carrying Derek's child and I wasn't even in love with him. Yet he took his time to understand me when though he wasn't a very patient person. I could tell from the look in his eyes that he was really unhappy about this but he didn't give in to his emotions of course.

"Do you want to go home?" He asked and I nodded. I'd seen everything that I wanted to see. Derek stretched his hand out before I locked my forearm around his elbow. We walked out arm in arm and there he took my hand.

"I'd like to speak to Elena for a while." My heart skipped a beat at the sound of the voice. Derek glanced at me for confirmation while I nodded. He released me while I walked with Antonio to the balcony. I remembered, I wasn't supposed to remember anything. So I looked at him and tilted my head asking him what he wished to say to me.

"Elena..." He began.

"It's a surprise that you seem to know me so much," I said and he furrowed his brows. "I've read a lot about you on the internet because you're Derek's brother. And I've heard somethings about you from him as well."

"I don't understand, what are you saying Elena?" He questioned and I furrowed my brows.

"I mean it's a pleasure it meet you in person. And you look familiar, but I can't quite remember where I saw you." I said and his eyes were filled with total disbelief.

"Elena, if this is some kind of joke, please stop it."

"Joke?" I chuckled. "Why would I joke about something like that to you Mr. Antonio?"

"Mr.Antonio?"

"Elena, you're saying you don't remember me, isn't it? Did Derek tell you to do this? What the fuck is your relationship with him?"

"Well, I've known Derek for a pretty long time now. Our relationship is related to that of close acquaintances." I was scared to mention the pregnancy. It could lead to violence between the two men. "But did I know you from anywhere before?"

"Elena, stop this."

"She can't remember you, Damon. Don't force it."

"What the fuck did you do to her, Derek?" He asked.

"What I did do to her? You should ask yourself that question. You nearly killed her with that poison if not I saved her on time. You knew her body went missing but you never bothered to search for where it was. She lost her memories because of what you did to her Damon, not me. And I wish it would remain that way because I don't even want her to be reminded of the pain and betrayal. You caused it Damon, don't you fucking point fingers at me." Derek emphasized but Antonio was not in a good mood to listen.

"You fucking expect me to believe that?" He pulled out his gun and directed it towards Derek. I gasped but Derek only chuckled and got his gun out as well, directing it towards his brother. They'd kill each other if I didn't do something fast. So I did what came to my mind and stood in between both of them, as they readied themselves to pull the trigger. They were both in shock.

"Elena." They called unanimously.

"What the hell do you both think you're doing? Trying to kill each other when the ball is still ongoing." I looked over my shoulder at Derek who understood what I was trying to tell him and it concerned his child. He dropped his gun but still seemed pissed off at everything. He walked away while this time I was faced with Antonio.

"You aren't just acquaintances, are you? He cares way too much to be an acquaintance Elena. This is the man who killed my parents. His parents, don't you remember? We trained together to get revenge. We were both so close Elena. You knew everything about me, you calmed me when I needed it, and you made me a better man. Elena, you can't throw all that we had into the mud just like that. My poisoning you wasn't intentional. The poison wasn't meant to kill you, I was going to save you right after I made everyone believe you were gone but it was too late because your heart stopped beating. I mean there was no sign of life on your face. It was even confirmed by the doctors that you were dead. I had no idea what to do, I couldn't even stand to watch them carry you away from me. I slept in your room every night just to remember you, Elena." His words made me remember the moments we shared and all the times he trained me to become a better fighter. I did want to get pregnant with his child. There were even times I thought I would but then I remembered I used the pills. " I never for once forgot you, Elena. I tried to but it was in vain...I used all the distractions you can think about it still didn't work. I'm madly in love with you Elena. I didn't plan to tell you this late. And I didn't know how much I did till what happened, happened."

His words shocked me. His attitude shocked me too. Antonio was never this vulnerable. And he loved me?

"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not in love with you Mr Antonio. I'm in love with Derek. I'm carrying his child." My words, just like I expected, struck him.