"Occasionally confronted, with a struggle,
Countless emotions, simultaneously juggle.
Sometimes I win, sometimes I fail,
No matter what, there's always a tale."
- Anita
Damon's P.O.V
"Hello, Elena" I said as I saw her entering the conference room, where I had been preparing for the upcoming meeting since I came around Half-an-hour ago. I would have came early but I had to pick up the Interior designer and I got delayed.
Elena was suspiciously looking at me, her eyes wearing a questioning look but yet she smiled...tried to actually...it was a forced smile, as she came to sit on the opposite side, saying "Good Afternoon, Damon"
No, No Handshakes!
I looked at my watch, not sure of the time. "Oh, it's already past 12" I exclaimed and she nodded at me, looking at me and trying to suppress her smile at the way I looked at the watch and confirmed what she already knew.
Ofcourse, it's past 12, that is why she is here because the meeting is to start right at 12:30.
I didn't knew what I found most funny. My confirming the obvious or the way she smiled at me that made me feel silly. But I liked the way she smiled, like a child who caught an adult doing something funny. "Good Afternoon, to you as well" I said, in my lopsided smile as I looked at her bright and excited face.
Her excitement is appealing, stating clearly how much dedicated she is for this project. She started going through her file and that gave me an opportunity to look at her. Dressed in whit silk shirt and a black fitted knee-length skirt, hair made up into a tight pony-tail, she looked every inch of a serious lady she intends to portray. And quite Professional. My thoughts went back to last night, when she asked me to not stare at her, immediately my eyes went down to my report.
Man! I can be obedient too. That made me give a smirk... And a low voice escaped my throat which made her look at me. We both looked at exam other together. Our eyes holding each other's just for a moment when she broke the spell by saying : "Something Funny?"
Oh yes. I just realised I can be obedient! Ofcourse, I didn't tell her that.
"I just remembered something" I said and she gave a quizzical glare to which I said "Nothing relevant, Sorry" I apologized giving a silly look.
She folded her lips and tried to hide her smile at my expression and lowered her gaze. I directed my eyes to my project report again.
Elena, You are a distraction...and a beautiful one and I don't mind being distracted. I had been sitting here for past hour and been focussing on preparing myself for the interview but Her presence changed the course of my mind. It no longer can focus. I wonder what is happening to me?
She then looked at me again "Damon" She said softly and my name from her lips coming out so softly gave rise to some un-settling thought.
Get a grip on yourself mind, I am at work! I reminded myself.
"Thank you for the reports. It was very thoughtful of you." She said giving me a polite smile.
"If we are going to work as a team then best would be we keep ourselves and each other updated, that would help in smooth working. Right?" I said.
"True, I agree. Well, the report is quite informative."
I looked at her. Compliment for my work? Not Bad, Elena! I smiled : "Thank you"
Then the door of the conference room opened and Dad and Uncle Ric came inside along with other board members. We all greeted each other. I saw Uncle Ric looking surprised when he saw us sitting in the room and talking, he then looked at Elena and gave her a smile to which she gave an arrogant nod that made him laugh. I have no idea what all that was for so I didn't let my mind wander because at the moment focussing in the meeting is more important than figuring that out.
The meeting commenced and Uncle Ric announced to everyone that Elena and I are going to work in this project as a team. There was a round of applause for us, and everyone seemed okay with the idea. He gave a little speech about how he and Dad plans it to be. And then, it was our turn to say something about the project. Dad asked Elena to go first, she looked hesitant but she did anyway.
Her presentation was impressive. It looked she has given her heart and soul in preparing it. She just took few pointers from my report. Definitely, not wanting to take up credit for my work. But, Hers's been no less. Everyone clapped for her when she was done. It was now my turn and I was prepared. Uncle, Dad and other board members and Elena too, looked impressed. It took almost two hours for the meeting to be over, Everything went well though. Dad and Uncle Ric were happy.
"I think we are going to impress Mr Johanson with just this presentation, It that good. I am happy both of you are so eager for this project. It shows on your work and in such a short time" Dad praised Elena and Me.
"I agree, now let's see what Mr Johanson has to say about it" Uncle Ric said, as we came out of the conference room. He shaked hands with me and said "Good work, Damon"
"Thank you, I hope I live upto the expectations with the project" I replied.
"I am sure you would" He said and then he put his hands on Elena's shoulder lovingly and praised her. She was ecstatic. It showed on her face, how much his appreciation means to her. Somehow, I can understand now,her reason to be annoyed with me yesterday. She needed to prove her calibre through this project. But, I really didn't knew that or I wouldn't had offered working on it. Anyways, now we are a team and we fared well. I am sure we will do our best and she can still achieve what she wanted.
We dispersed to our rooms and for the rest of day I was busy instructing the decorators of how I want my room to be. Checking out reports on Johanson's Market share and their growth rate, to be prepared for the meeting with him tomorrow. His being impressed mattered more, now.
Around 5 PM.
A knock on the door. My head shot up and I was almost stunned to see Elena coming in. My surprise knew no bounds but I hold back my reaction because I didn't wanted to give away my emotions. She smiled as I asked her to have a sit. She was carrying some files with her, with she kept on my desk, as she sat on the chair.
"These are the files on Johanson's project which we had been working on uptil now. You must read through them to be prepared to face the man himself tomorrow." Elena said, glancing up at me. A but of mischief in her tone.
My lips twisted as I tried to hide my smile and said "Thoughtful of you. Thank you"
"Returning the favour , Damon. I don't keep dues" She said with a slight wink.
My God! She is making me crazy by being like this. She looked so cute doing that I really had to fight the urge of googling at her, or I know she will feel annoyed and this change in her , would be gone. She is trying to be good with me so we able to work as a team, I have to try harder to stop myself from staring at her. It's a tough thing for a man to not able to look and appreciate a beautiful Girl. Especially, if that girl is Elena. But I have to try. He chuckled as he promised that to himself, knowing it wouldn't last. But has not some wise person said that "Promises are meant to be broken."
I am sure that person was a male! His lips twisted in his usual smirk.
And,, That made her look at me, in the eye.
Had I invited myself to some sort of torture!?! I thought, feeling beaten up, as I resisted looking in her eye.
"I will remember that" I replied.
She laughed. "Actually, these reports are about the pricing and stuff for their product. I had to give it to you anyway. Johanson's is a very difficult man to please, so we better be prepared about everything"
Watching her say it so seriously and passionately, like her life depends on this project, I asked : "This project means a lot to you, doesn't it?"
"A lot" She said. "Not just because, I am part of it and will be working on it but more because Dad tried really hard to get his hands on this one. This Johanson man, wasn't so easy to pleased."
"I know..Dad told me"
"Hmm..He had offers from few other firms too, to take on this project , so you can say it had been like a test for Dad and Uncle Sal. And now, it's on our platter, So, I...We..." She paused as she looked at me and then continued saying "We should leave no stones unturned to prove him that we completely deserves it. It's about Reputation, you know."
She was going on, explaining me why it was important. But I found myself stuck with that one word she said "We" I know how she meant it but I could t help but imagine "We" as "We"
We as a couple!?! My mind wandered.
She was waiting for me to say something and I did what I was trying not to do.
Stared at her like lovesick teenager.
To my surprise, she didn't reacted. I gathered my thoughts together and asked " You met Mr Johansson?"
"Never"
"But you seem to have an opinion of him. Without meeting him?"
"It's not always necessary to meet to have an opinion of someone. It's not a good thing I know but in few cases, one just do. And I had researched about him, apart from knowing about him from Dad and Uncle."
"But still, it's kind of unfair. I don't think one should ever judge someone without knowing them. What if , later you find you had been wrong?"
"He has this reputation of being called 'Mr Hard-to-Please' in the market, and from what I read about him, I couldn't help but agree" She defended herself.
"Yeah, I am denying that, because dad and uncle had their experiences with him but yet I feel, on a personal level, unless you get to know someone personally, it would be wrong to assess them on any grounds." I saw her hesitating. I felt maybe she thought u was trying to talk about myself but the thought didn't even crossed my mind..but now that I saw her discomfort I was sure she did had done opinion of me as well, explaining her behavior to me, yesterday. But what? And why?
I skipped what my mind was making me think and tried to make her feel better. The last thing I would want is to annoy my partner and ruin the scope of working together in a friendly way. "Please don't get me wrong. I was talking about you, yeah, but what I said later was more in a general way. And I feel so because Regret over anything, isn't a good thing. It makes me feel bad when I judge someone wrong, like I have slapped my own self"
She looked at me. Some strange emotion in her eyes but the expert she is in hiding them, she hid it and smiled "No Worries, I understand and you are absolutely Right...Regret, Indeed is the worst feeling ever" She said and stood up all at once, without giving me a chance to react to what she said. But her smile showed it was nothing to do with me. By now I can make out if she is annoyed with me or not.
She offered her hand for a handshake, smiling "Well, I came personally to hand you over these files because I wanted to Thank you for the help and support, you gave by lending your reports. It helped me give some useful pointers and i really feel grateful to you, for letting me use them. It was a really nice thing from you, concerning how indifferently I had been with you, yesterday." She said soberly.
I was wondering if the sun arised from the wrong side today? Just yesterday, she been being so indifferent to me and warning me off. And today she is smiling at me, being a little different... In a better way. Whatever happened overnight for this subtle change in her? I thought and then I zeroed it down to the fact that I sent her the reports, so maybe it's really all because of that..
I didn't knew what to say. Is she softening towards me already? I can't believe it..but its happening. My helping her...as she put in... Somehow changed her opinion of me? Elena Gilbert, is one unpredictable lady and this makes her all the more appealing to me! His heart did a funny thing inside.
Whatever it is, it's a good sign. I was feeling relieved inside, for now the work together would be a smooth flow and not a clash of opinions, as I expected it to be.
"There really no need to apologize. You were right, I had been staring and that was er...rude, awkward for you, i understand. I admit i got a little carried away but I couldn't help but wonder...." I hesitated to say, but her eyes revealed she was waiting to know, even though she looked un-settled as i spoke "...wondering why are you being indifferent to me? I asked you, if you remember?" I left her hand giving a quick handshake.
Her gaze went down, she was thinking and then she lifted her lashes and looking at me said "Can we just let it go?" She had no intention of telling me why and since she is being nice with me, I thought better than digging into it.
"Yeah, sure." I agreed with a smile. "But No more thanks for sharing anything about the project. It's part of the work and we are a team now. Okay?"
"Thanks" And she laughed when I lifted my eyebrow at that. "Okay, No more Thanks"
We shared a friendly smile after which she left my cabin, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I was feeling so delighted over this change in her attitude towards me, like i found a lost friend. Because we may never have met, but i had this image of her, in my mind, from what i heard from Dad and he calling her an angel, and yesterday i was utterly confused. And Now, She is so like how dad described. It seemed as if, yesterday I met a different person. If it wouldn't be her coming with the files herself and sending through Bonnie instead, I wouldn't believed she really wanted to say thanks and apologize, it would more be like she felt alarmed by what we talked about having opinions and regrets, that made her clear her part. But it wasn't that. She came by herself, to Thank me and apologize to me, it means she must be really thinking about everything too.
That made me feel good inside, I cannot express what and why, but it just felt good and I am glad that things are clear between us. Though, now thinking of her, I recall the way her eyes looked when she repeated my words about Regret being a bad thing.
The more I think of it, her attitude and behavior, her reactions since yesterday, her trying to fight something, this change... the more I feel something really has affected her. For Dad, is right, she isn't at all, like what she portrays to be and now I am sure of it.
Does she regret something?
What must have happened? I wondered. And then, my mind told me, if something has affected her so deeply that it shows on her manners and attitude. Then how long will this peace and letting go of what happened yesterday, we just settled with, will last?
Elena's P.O.V
"Cal was right. I should give Damon a benefit of doubt and not judge him on the basis of my short-comings" I said to myself as I left his room.
It's strange, how our conversation got directed towards the same grounds, to what Cal and I been discussing when I called her up, right after the meeting. I was so happy. Dad praised me, Uncle admired my work...it's been such a great feeling and partly It was because of Damon. His reports surely did helped. I only used few selected points but they were really helpful. I wanted to share with Cal.
When she heard that Damon helped me, inspite of me being hard with him, she insisted that without wasting time, and keeping everything about my personal life aside, I must go and Thank him in person. I was feeling awkward so I decided to carry these files with me as an excuse. I thought of handing them to Bonnie, to pass it to Damon. But when Cal said "C'mon Elena, One Good turn Deserves Another. He helped you, inspite of you being indifferent to him for no fault of his, then you too should take a step and make things settle between you two, before it gets too bad. After all, you both are going to work together, and if things stayed so bumbled between the two of you then it might affect the project too. Communication plays a vital role in all sorts of relationship, Sweets. At Work, its no different and you have enough wisdom in you to know it yourself. And no one goes small, by saying a Thankyou and a sorry. Right?" I agreed and followed her advise.
Best friend is a MKust Have. Truly. They might not say something unusual or un-heard of, but they sure do know the Right Time to say the Right Thing. In my case, I am so blessed i have Caroline, If Cal, hadn't been there for me, I have no idea how much more messy my life had been. Its not that i don't know these things myself but hearing from a friend, relying on them for advises, getting their support and advises makes me feel so loved and cared by her. I saw sense in her wise words and I agreed. Dad praised me. I wouldn't want to let him down, anyway, for any reason. So for him and for this project, I would do this and the bottom line is, inside me, I know It was really thoughtful of him to help me, even though i had been rude and hard at him, yesterday.
And so, This change happened. I really want to let it go, hold my short-comings to myself and try to be nice with him after this. Its been really silly of me to react and judge him over what actually are my own short-comings and over-thinking, and he admitted his part where he been wrong so its pointless to drag it. "As for the nightmare. Its just my over-imaginative mind, as Cal says." And though i never agreed in this, with her, but now i just want to try harder, look past all negativity and focus only on this project..for its the best chance i ever got to get the recognition of my work, my calibre and my skills.
It is almost 6pm now. I promised Cal that i would meet her at our favorite place 'Mystic Grill." I headed for Dad's cabin told him i am leaving and will be late in reaching home. He proudly hugged me, sensing this positivity in me and gave me a peck on my cheek before i left his cabin. I went straigh to my cabin, took my belongings and was walking straigh towards the lift when i collided with Bonnie.
"My, My, Where's the lady hurrying to?" Bonnie asked.
"To meet my soulmate" I said brightly.
"Elena, only if Uncle knew, giving you the responsibilty would have such effect on you, he would have given it to you long ago, But better late than never."
I didn't knew what to say to that. I simply smiled. She is right, only if Dad had given me this sort of chance before, maybe I could have been over all this much before, I used to work with him and I used to give in my suggestions and all, but I never shouldered a project independent or partnered with anyone before. This is my One. Big Chance. But thinking about it, now, and My situations, I can hardly accuse sad of not giving me such chance before. He saw what I been through, how emotionally drained I been, almost senseless at times, dealing with shock of my breakup with Stefan and trying to accept and cope with the fact. And then, Damon's words came to my mind, which left me shaky before too but I controlled myself... Truly, Regret is one bad thing and and to add to it, a complete waste of time. Now I realise, how stupidly I wasted my life regretting everything with Stefan and the way it ended... I, only added insult to injury with letting myself be rolled up with regret and wasting my time over something I couldn't undo instead of, doing what I am doing now. I had enough Regrets for one life, now there will be no regrets. I smiled at Bonnie's chatter as she praised me on what she heard from others. My lips formed into a smile and I said "Thanks Bonnie"
"You're always welcome, Elena. Well now get going and Give my love to your soulmate" She said cheerfully.
"Hey, why don't you join us?" Oh No, I shouldn't have said that. Cal might mind it, but its too late to take it back. She said she needed to do some talking and i have this feeling its about Klaus and i, too had to talk over few things, she would ask me even if i chose not to, but i want to share with her anyway, as talking to her lightens me up a great deal. We are just so attached to each other, thats why everyone calls us soulmates. And we believe, we are.
I gave my best smile trying not to show i said that in a rush, without thinking. Its bad and Bonnie is a friend too.
"No, I am afraid i can't. You get going. I don't want to be a bone between soulmates" She said and winked and we laughed.
I was about to say something when i heard someone clearing his throat from my back. Bonnie saw first as she was facing the other side. She smiled and had a wicked glint in her eyes. I turned and saw Damon standing at the doors of the room he chosen for his cabin. A strange look in his face. And for a moment he stayed froze, wearing the same expression. I felt weird. But then he smiled. It was so abnormal but i managed to smile back and looking back at Bonnie, i saw she was looking at me wearing a funny expression. I decided to leave before this confusion gets on my nerves and changes my mood. It was too good a day to spoil it over anything. I waved both of them bye and went for the lift. As i entered the lift and was about to close the gate, my eyes met with Damon's and we just looked at each other as the lift headed down. I felt my throat constricted. That same uneasy feeling was trying to surface.
I kept saying to myself "I am not giving up, i am going to try harder. No over-thinking. Nothing at all" I sat in my car and drove away to reach Mystic Grills, and meet Caroline.