Chapter 4

Damon's POV

I knew it was fruitless listening to Ava in the first place. When i saw my bodyguard drag her back into the house, his hands were gripped to the collar of her shirt as if she was some deadly criminal. Well, she is a criminal. Ava stole both my money and my heart as well.

I asked the bodyguard what happened and he told me that Ava tried to escape. That was enough reason for me to believe that it is truly Ava, although she kept claiming that she was Ava's twin who just woke up from a coma.

I shake my head in disdain as I mentally scoff at her. Ava and her stupid schemes, I can not believe that I almost fell for her evil scheme again. This time, I do not honestly know what to do with her, for some weird reasons, I am reluctant about taking her to prison. Could it be because of the feelings i still have for her?

No! I shudder at the thought immediately. I hastily wave off such thoughts and avert my attention back to the family dinner. I gaze around and I notice that everyone are suddenly quiet and all eyes on the table remain on me, they look expectant. Perhaps, was a question directed at me?

"Did you not hear your father at all?" Josephine, my mother asks. Her hands reach for my shoulder and she rubs it tight. "He said quite a lot of things to you." She says to me through gritted teeth and nudges my shoulder.

My eyes meet with My father's eyes, Gabriel Stone. He sits at the of the table, his eyes bore into mine, we lock gazes with each other but the expression on his face is unreadable. "Sorry Sir, I had some other things on my mind." I apologize immediately. My mother smiles at me and nods her head in agreement.

"Yes, he is so sorry honey. You know Damon has a lot to worry about concerning the company's affairs." My mother tries to calm father down but his expression remains unchangeable. He is indeed a stubborn man, I hate to admit it but just like me.

"Whatever Damon has in mind must be more important than what the public is talking about him?" Dad snaps at me. I immediately understand where he is driving at. Everyone in the country are talking about how the CEO of Stones corporations is without a wige and to be honest, i could not care less about what the public thinks concerning my personal life. As long as it does not ruin the company or stop the sales of the business then I have no worry at all.

"I am unbothered by it." I blurt out. I feel the eyes of everyone on the table staring at me. I gulp a lump down my throat and I adjust my posture on the chair.

"Well, I am." My father retorts.

Even before I can say anything, James, my step brother beats me to it. "I understand Father's concern. This is not just about you but also about your reputation as CEO of the Stones corporations. You need a family of your own and you have to put that into consideration immediately." James says.

I scoff out loudly and choke out a hysteric laughter. James would agree to literally anything father says just to get on his good side. James has some hope that maybe one day, Father would make him the CEO of the Stones corporations. As a matter of fact, I have two step brothers, James and Joshua. They both do not like me and want the company for themselves.

"I did not ask for your opinion on this James. How would you understand any of this anyways? You have never been a CEO before." I spit out bitterly. I feel anger course through my veins, not just at my father's words but also at Ava. She is the real reason behind my bad mood.

"Damon!" Susan, James' mother scolds me but I ignore her. "The company is under my care and the sales of the company are increasing by the day. I do not see why my personal life should be brought into this." I say growing confidence. I stare at father and i watch him raise a brow at my boldness.

"You must really think you know it all." My father sneers. His words are already a hint for me to keep quiet and me on a normal day would have stopped talking but the anger I am feeling pushes me to continue ranting. "I may not know it all but I know what is best for the company. You can tell from the way the company's sales have been increasing ever since I became the CEO. Plus it has been years since I have been the CEO without a wife. Why should I need one now?" I throw my question at father.

"Damon!" My mother whisper-yells at me but i ignore her.

The thought of marriage irritates me. I never want to believe in love ever again. Not after what Ava did to me. Plus Dad and mum's marriage is not exactly one to look up to. If it was up to me, I would never let mum marry a man with already two wives.

"This is not about what you think or what you want Damon. I want you to get a wife and that is final. The media are not speaking good of you and neither are my friends. What I want is what you should do!" Dad barks at me.

I roll my eyes at him. That is how life has always been for me. I do everything he asks me to do. I never make a decision of my own.

"Challange me!"

"You have three weeks to get married, if you can not make that possible then I will revoke your position as CEO of the Stones company! Just watch and see!"