Chapter 4

Chapter Four - The CEO

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 were 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 was 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 I almost fell for her evil scheme again. This time, I do not honestly know what to do with her; for some weird reason, 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 to the family dinner. I gaze around, and I notice that everyone is suddenly quiet, and all eyes on the table remain on me; they look expectant. Perhaps there 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 clenched teeth and nudges my shoulder.

My eyes meet my father's - Gabriel Stone. He sits at the edge of the table, his eyes boring into mine. We lock gazes, but the expression on his face is unreadable. "Sorry," I apologize immediately, "I had some other things on my mind." 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 my father down, but his expression remains unchanged. He has always been hard and unyielding, a trait I hate to admit we share.

"What could Damon possibly have in mind that's more important than the gossip starting surrounding him?!!"Dad snaps at me. I immediately catch on.

Everyone in the country is talking about how the CEO of Stone Corporation is unmarried, and to be honest, I couldn't care less about what the public thinks about my personal life. As long as it doesn't ruin the company or cause a decline in sales, I have no worries at all.

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

"Well, I am." My father retorts. 

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

I scoff loudly and let out a burst of laughter. James would agree to literally anything Father says just to get on his good side. He has some hope that maybe one day, Father will make him the CEO of Stone Corporation. I have two stepbrothers, James and Joshua. They've made it clear they don't want me around - and they'd stop at nothing to get their hands on the company.

"I did not ask for your opinion on this James. How would you understand any of this anyway? You've never been a CEO, and you never will be." I spit out bitterly. I feel anger curse 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 I'm proud to say it's thriving. Everybody seated at this table knows this. I don’t see why my personal life should be brought into this. The press might as well continue with the free publicity" I say, unusually confident. I stare down at my father and watch him double back at my newfound boldness.

"You must really think you know it all!!" My father sneers. His words are already a hint for me to keep quiet, and I, on a normal day, would have stopped talking, but the burst of emotions pushes me on. 

“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 and stock price have been on the rise since I became the CEO. Plus, it has been years since I held the position of CEO without a wife. Why should I need one now?!!" I throw my question at Father.

"Damon!" My mother whispers to me but I pay no attention.

The thought of marriage irritates me. I never want to be a part of the weakness that is love, ever again. Especially not after what Ava did to me. Not to mention, having seen first-hand the “enthralling” nature of my parents’ relationship.  If I had any say,  my mother would have no business getting hitched with a man with not one, but two wives.

"This isn't about what you think or what you want, Damon," Dad barks at me. "You're getting a wife, and that's final. The media isn't speaking well of you, and neither are my friends. What I want is what you'll do!"

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

"Challenge me and see where that gets you!”

"You have three weeks to get married, if you do not make it happen, your position as CEO of the Stone company will be revoked! You watch and see, Damon!”