Chapter 4 Dangerous Offer

DIANE

I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting them to the darkness of the room.

My muscles felt stiff as I tried to turn. I yawned while stretching my arms above my head.

My phone lit up with an instagram notification. The first thing I saw was the time. It was a few minutes to midnight. Holy shit! I overslept!

I stood up, trying to steady my wobbly feet as I made my way into the bathroom to take a much needed shower.

I caught my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were a bit red and puffy from crying myself to sleep earlier. I didn't know why that call hurt me this much. Regardless if he was in a relationship with someone else or not, the fact remained that we could never be together.

I'd rather cut my own tongue than let him know how I feel. I won't only be putting myself out there for more heartbreak, I'd also be disappointing my dad and that's the last thing I wanted to do.

I stripped out of my travel outfit, wrapped my hair into a messy bun and started by brushing my teeth before I stepped into the shower.

The warm water cascaded down my back, soothing my sore muscles and it felt a million times better.

When I was done, I wrapped my body in a pink towel and walked barefoot back into my room, switching on the lights.

I brought out a baby blue shorts and a pink tank top from my luggage and threw them on before taking my hair out of the bun and letting them fall loosely across my face.

My steps were quiet against the tiles as I exited my room, making my way downstairs. I paused in my tracks as I heard familiar deep laughter coming from downstairs.

My face broke into a wide smile as I ran down the flight of stairs towards his home office. I didn't bother knocking, instead I pushed the door open.

"Dad," the excitement was clearly evident in my tone as I ran into his arms as he sat behind his desk.

"Di," he said, hugging me back just as tight. "Oh I've missed you so much."

"I've missed you too dad," I said against his neck, my eyes blurring as tears threatened to spill from them.

I didn't pay attention to whoever it was with him here till I broke away from his embrace, taking in his stressed and aging features.

"How have you been dad?" I asked, tucking my hair behind my ears.

"As agile as a cheetah," he said and laughed before it turned into a strained cough.

"Dad-" I rushed, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge just beside the shelf.

I uncapped it and handed it over to him to drink and that's when my eyes landed on him. Damon. For the first time since I stepped in here, I took in his presence. He was standing by the full length window that overlooked the city.

"You okay Richard?" He asked, a worried expression etched on his face as he stepped closer.

My dad raised up his thumb in acknowledgement as he took a sip from the water before clearing his throat.

"I'm fine," he said, his eyes not leaving Damon's and at the same time I turned to Damon, he was still staring at my dad as if they were having a sort of communication through their eyes.

"What's going on?" I asked, curious at how tense the atmosphere got.

"Nothing."

"Nothing." They both said in unison before they broke contact.

I looked between them. They were both avoiding my eyes.

I folded my arms across my chest. "You're both terrible liars."

Dad laughed but it sounded forced. "Just business talk kiddo. Nothing for you to worry about."

Business talk at midnight?

My eyes drifted back to Damon. He was looking at me now with an intense gaze, his eyes trailing over the little clothing I had on that barely reached mid-thigh.

I suddenly felt very self conscious, my heartbeat picking up. Just then, a voice in my head mocked me for still feeling this way around him when there was a possibility that he was seeing someone else.

Kara. The thought of her still stung like a fresh wound, creating a hollow feeling in my chest.

I knew that to him I was nothing more than his friend's daughter which made me his daughter too since his wife, aunt Emilia was unable to bear children.

He had always looked at me and cared for me like his daughter.

"How does it feel to be back home?" My dad said, changing the topic. The chair made a screeching sound as he pulled it back, rising to his feet and approaching where I stood.

"I'm so glad to be home," a genuine smile spread across my lips.

"And I'm glad to have you home kiddo." He said, pulling me into a brief hug. "You know, Damon and I were just talking," he said, clearing his throat. "You should start work at the company, learn the ropes of things as you'll be inheriting my share soon."

This was a nightmare. It had to be.

"What?!"

Dad laughed, thinking I'd be happy with this arrangement. "Damon has offered to put you through himself. You'll be working as his assistant for a while till you grasp the operations."

I turned to Damon, his jaw tightened, but he said nothing. His expression was unreadable, but something flickered in his eyes, something I couldn't quite place.

Dad looked between us, oblivious to the sudden tension. "It's perfect, really. Damon runs most of the day-to-day operations now. You couldn't learn from anyone better."

His assistant. Working under him. Seeing him every single day.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"I... I didn't know you two were business partners now," I managed, my voice sounding strangled even to my own ears.

"Made him partner last year," Dad said proudly, clapping Damon on the shoulder.

"Best decision I ever made. The company's never been stronger."

Partner. Of course they were partners.

"When do I start?" The words came out before I could stop them, a part of me needing to know just how much torture I'd signed up for.

"Monday," Damon said, his voice low. His eyes were still on me, searching for something. "If that works for you."

'No. Nothing about this works for me.' I wanted to say but I bit on my lower lip to avoid saying anything.

"This Monday?" I asked. I barely just got back and everything is spiraling out of control already. "Like after dad's birthday this weekend?" I raised my brows.

Damon nodded, his eyes holding mine.

"And for how long?"

"Well that depends on how fast you learn. Could be a couple of months. Could be a year or even two," Dad said, a satisfied grin on his face.

I nodded. I knew this day was going to come sooner or later but I didn't expect to still be feeling this way towards Damon when it finally came.

Now not only was I shamelessly in love with my dad's best friend, I had to fight off the feeling whenever I was close to him.

For a year.

Maybe two.

I was so screwed.