Part 34
/His POV/
As soon as Damon got back to his place, he had several messages waiting for him. The usual business stuff but the messages from Lily stood out the most. He couldn't ignore them. That's why he called her urgently, not caring that it was seven in the evening and she must be busy elsewhere. If she had to leave that many voice mails it must be important.
Like he guessed she was busy and told him that she'd come the next morning with breakfast.
Damon was jet-lagged, and he couldn't muster himself to call Mia, knowing very that his assistant was tired as well. She pointedly glared at him as they exited the aeroplane and asked him to let her rest. Last time he checked, she was the one who wanted to ride him during the journey. How was she blaming him for her fatigue?
The CEO knew better than to argue, so he simply let that go and promised to see her next day in office.
***
At precisely nine in the morning, Lily called him and told her problem. The investor she had been chasing changed the clause at the very last minute and demanded money from her. It was a huge mess, and his friend didn't know who to turn for help. Damon spent the entire day moving to the lawyer's office to Lily's place and then back to his house until the issue was solved.
During the day he got several calls from Mia, but he was too engrossed to receive them. That's why he replied to the official email quickly.
The next morning Lily showed up at his doorstep with breakfast to thank him. He was kind of hoping to meet Mia before work but let his friend in. After all, she got both of them breakfast from their favourite place in New York.
"It smells amazing!" He pulled the chair; his eyes narrowed at the brow paper bags sprawled on the table.
"Of course, it does! I asked them not to pack it till I pick it up."
"Smart" He grinned.
Lily excitedly rushed over and in that process spilt orange juice all over her mesh dress. A gasp escaped her lips as she tried to scrub it. That only made it worse. He had no option but to lend his shirt to her.
They went back on the couch when his friend turned to him. "Where are you going?"
"To work" Damon responded in a duh tone.
"Quit the bullshit; I can tell when you're lying. You're not subtle at all. Besides, you do not leave for work until after 9."
"You don't know that"
"Stop stalling. Tell me, are you seeing someone?"
The CEO groaned, "There's no one, seriously."
"You can't lie to me," His friend said in a sing-song voice. She nudged his foot incessantly with her foot. "Come on..."
"I swear to god; I will stay here in your place until you tell me," She threatened.
"Ugh fine," He huffed, ignoring her smug look. She did not win.
"About time!" She let out a sigh, this time punctuating the statement by shaking him slightly. He glared at her until she let go. "Sorry. Now spill the beans, what's her name? What does she look like?"
"Her name's Mia," The CEO started, and he couldn't control the fondness in his voice nor the way he immediately softened, smiling while thinking of his charming assistant.
"Mia?" She repeated. "Your assistant Mia?"
Damon nodded.
"Oh yeah she's hot" Lily grinned.
"Yeah, she's the prettiest person I've ever seen," He started only to hear her scoff. "No I am serious, she's beautiful. You have seen her. She has gorgeous blue eyes—"
"No?" She interrupted with an exaggerated expression of shock. He shot her an unimpressed look. "Continue."
"How can you not see?" The CEO made a sound. He was trying to articulate Mia's beauty in almost impossible words. He could feel Lily giving him a weird look, but he continued nonetheless.
"Damn," She whistled lowly. "You're in love with her. Aren't you?"
It wasn't a groundbreaking realisation. He wasn't shaken to his core or shocked or surprised. It was a gradual moment of understanding. His brain thinking: yes, this is what it feels like. This is what love feels like. Damon could see himself growing up with her. Getting married to Mia. Having a family with his assistant, growing old together with his assistant. Now that should have scared him. It would have a few years ago, but not anymore. Damon wasn't afraid. He was steady. He was sure. He knew this was a forever kind of thing. He couldn't imagine anything breaking him and Mia apart. They'd be together for good. He knew it. He loved her.
Damon couldn't precisely pinpoint the moment he started feeling that. But ever since he saw her through that grainy camera, he should have known. He was probably never going to stop loving her. The CEO felt it deep in his bones. They were meant to be together.
"Are you?"
His cheeks flamed at her intense stare. He pretended to be ignorant of the question. "I don't know what you are talking about."
Damon wanted to confess to her. Mia needed to know about his feelings before anyone else.
Lily just raised an eyebrow, "Whatever you say. What's she like? I couldn't spend any time with her."
"She's amazing," Damon started, a sigh slipping out of his lips. He was staring at the ceiling with a goofy smile on his face, and he knew he looked ridiculous or like a love-sick fool, but he couldn't help it. "She's so kind and good and genuine. Also witty and clever and smart too. Very mouthy too. You can never win with her in a fight. She makes very strong points. Conversation flows so easily when I'm with her, and it just feels so natural with him. Overall she's such a sweetheart Lily; you'll love her, you guys would get along so well."
"She sounds great," Lily smiled at him. He turned to see that she looked sincere and genuine. "And if she makes you happy then I'm happy as well. So how long have you seen each other? Is it mutual?"
"Like two and a half months since we started sleeping with each other," He confessed. The way her jaw dropped made him rush to explain. "I know it sounds like I'm head over heels, but she's worth it. I... I see us lasting a long time."
"And you know this after a couple of months?" Lily asked incredulously.
"Yes," The CEO answered firmly. Because he did, he felt it. She was perfect for him, and they were so good together already. He knew Mia was special, that she was worth all of his admittedly quickly-given affection and loyalty. Knew that their... well whatever they had, it was good and it was long term. He knew it. "You'll see when you meet her again and get to know her. I swear it."
"Okay," His friend said after a moment, looking a little less sceptical but sceptical nonetheless. "If you say so."
"I know what I'm doing," Damon let out a sigh. "This is special. I can feel it."
"I trust your instincts, Damon. If she's as into you as you are to her, then I have no doubt your relationship will go well."
"She is. It will," He said confidently. "But thanks."
Lily curved her lips and squeezed his shoulder right as a sharp bell echoed around the room. He excused himself to open the door. As soon as the door flew open, Mia was standing on the other side of the room.
Just as they were talking, Lily came from behind him.
"Maybe I should go."
Damon blinked, breath caught in his throat. He couldn't move. This was a dream. It had to be a dream. This wasn't real. No fucking way. Lily was wearing his shirt for crying out loud. Before anyone of them could explain, Mia turned around and rushed out of there.
He ran behind her. "Mia. Wait! I can explain it."
She slapped his hand away, tears streaming down her cheeks. With each step, his assistant took, his heart was racing. He had no idea how to stop her.
"I said I want to get away," Mia said in between her hiccups. This was wrong. It was all wrong. She was shaking her head again, and he wanted to scream. Why did she have to see Lily like that?
"You can't honestly believe that!" Damon exclaimed, his band coming around her wrist, curling around and tugging her back.
She pulled away from his grip, her lips quivering. "Um, yes, I can."
"If you just listen to—"
Mia cut him off. "Listen to what exactly? That you screwed her and you're sorry? And it doesn't mean anything?!" Her chest rose and fell, cheeks flushed as she took a sharp breath. "How could you do this to me? You promised!"
Damon couldn't believe this. It couldn't be real. She didn't trust him at all. The minute she saw Lily in his shirt, she jumped to the conclusion. "How can you not trust me, Mia?"
She threw her hands in the air. "You're unbelievable. I'm done with you" And with that, she walked out of there. He didn't stop her.
***
