Meeting

Amara tried to compose herself so that she could finish thanking the donors before she allowed the others to the mic for the remainder of the evening. The host and hostess were to make a speech as well as the charities that the guests were donating to. 

Amara had caught Damascus's eye in the crowd. She wasn’t sure how but she could feel the pull and when their eyes had locked she found that she had the most indecent thoughts running through her mind. She could feel the heat rising not only on her cheeks but somewhere lower as well. 

She quickly cleared her throat and finished her speech. She passed the microphone to the host and hostess and quickly left the stage. She hastened her steps to the area that was behind the curtain and once more took calming breaths. She knew when she was no longer alone. Her eyes moved around the darkened area that she was standing in. At first, she saw nothing. Then a movement caught her eye in the shadows. 

Just like his dark demeanor, Damascus stood a few feet away from her, watching her. Amara returned his stare but made no movement to get closer. His eyes, even though dark, show brightly among the shadows. 

"Can I help you Mr. Arison?" Amara finally asked after he made no movement. His stare was penetrating. 

"You," was the only word that he uttered. It did something to her inside. She knew what he was referring to. They had yet to talk about the incident that tied them together. 

"Yes," she answered his question that had not really been asked in the form of a question. Amara was nervous being so close to him after all this time. But she was not one to back down either. Her feet began moving before she knew what she was doing. 

They brought her to stand only a couple of steps from him. She watched him and tried to read what exactly it was he was thinking, but Damascus was a stone wall. No emotion left his eyes. Just bright and boring a hole through her. 

"I see that you have all but recovered," Amara made note that he no longer looked injured. She let her eyes travel down the length of him. The heat came back in full force. She had to grip her hands tightly from reaching out and touching him. He was intimidating in his black suit. He wore black on black with a black tie. His clothes fit him snuggly and she wondered if there were any great movement would they rip along his well-muscled frame? 

"I have," was all that Damascus answered with no other explanation. His voice was a low timber. It almost came out as a growl. His eyes still bright beacons. How was that possible? 

Amara almost jumped as his hand came up and his thumb ran along her cheek. She had not realized that a tear had escaped as she had been trying to calm her nerves. Damascus's thumb was rough against her soft skin. He must have noticed as well. He quickly withdrew his hand almost as if he was burned. 

"I just wanted to say thank you," and with that as quickly as he had startled her, he was gone. Amara was left behind the curtain alone. With nothing other than the lingering feeling of his thumb against her cheek as proof of him being there. 

Amara let out a slow breath. This was madness. Why was he making her feel this way? He was obviously a force to be reconned with. He was Gabriel Eros's man and Amara assumed there for protection. Men like that were usually the hardest of men. 

Amara peeked through the curtain at the spot that he had been sitting while she had been on stage, but instead of returning to his seat, he and Gabriel Eros were gone. She finally let out a long breath and walked back out to the event. She wondered what was in store for their meeting tomorrow. Would Damascus be there with Gabriel? She secretly hoped that he would be present. 

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"Where did you run off to?" Gabriel asked Damascus after they got situated in the SUV. It had not escaped his attention that as Amara had shuffled off stage, his right-hand man had also vacated his seat. 

"I needed to use the restroom," Damascus lied as he looked out the car window. Gabriel scoffed under his breath. They both knew it was a lie, but Gabriel also knew when not to push his friend. He would find out in due time. He was under the impression that there was more to Damascus and Amara than either were letting on. 

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"Who is coming this morning?" Leslie asked in bewilderment. 

"Gabriel Eros," Amara answered from her desk. Leslie had just arrived with their morning coffees and Amara was thankful for the caffeine. Her dreams had been inhabited by a dark man in a black suit. She had tossed and turned all night as her dreams did nothing to stop the indecent thoughts that had started at the banquet. 

"And why is Gabriel Eros coming to a meeting this morning?" Leslie pushed. 

"I am not sure. He made a comment about my discretion with my clients and asked for a meeting. So could you please set up the conference room for his arrival?" Amara asked her assistant. She did not know what the man wanted but she would be the most professional during their meeting. It was the best way to handle her emotions in her current state. 

Leslie nodded and left Amara's office. Amara grabbed the cup and took a sip of the coffee. The caffeine was already helping her to feel more alert for the interaction that was soon to come. 

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Just like the night before, Gabriel Eros had shown up with none other than Damascus at his side. They were shown into the conference room by Leslie and suddenly the room felt even smaller with these two large men filing in. 

"Good morning, Miss Hayes," Gabriel said as he extended a hand to her. She shook it in the most businesslike manner than she could summon with Damascus being so close in proximity. She looked to Damascus after shaking Gabriel's hand and nodded a greeting to him. Not trusting her own voice. She moved her hand to the seats. 

"Please have a seat," she finally said as she took the chair across the table. The more distance from Damascus the better to concentrate on what it was that Gabriel had to say. 

"First off thank you for meeting us so early," Gabriel began. 

"It is a bit of a question as to why me?" Amara said. "There are plenty of other marketing firms nearby that would be better suited to assist a person of your caliber," Amara was humble enough to know when she was slightly out of her wheelhouse. Gabriel had already made a note to find her at the banquet, which would tell her that he had already investigated her and her firm. 

"You may be right, but I am not all about the fluff either. I prefer real and honest people when I deal in business. I have looked into those other firms you mentioned and there is something about each that I cannot put my finger on, but they stink," Gabriel said plainly. 

"So, what is it that you think my firm can do for you?" Amara asked. Sitting back more in her seat. She could see Damascus out of the corner of her eye. His gaze had not wavered from her once and it was making her uncomfortable. 

"I would like to hire you and your firm as our main marketing source. You see we recently lost our in-house marketing manager and are in need of a new one," Gabriel said. He also chose not to hide behind words and Amara could appreciate that. 

"What does that look like exactly? You are a millionaire and have dealings in non-profits, but I assume that most of your events are attending others rather than your own?" Amara asked. 

"There would be other duties as well, yes. We have a certain image that we need to maintain for one," Gabriel began.

"You do not have a publicist for that?" Amara asked. It was not really in the job description of a marking manager to manage their public image. 

"Discretion. I cannot have multiple departments running multiple activities you see," Amara raised a brow at the comment. 

"Is there a certain reason as to why that is?" Amara did not want to get roped into anything illegal or that could endanger her firm. She would tell Gabriel to kick rocks before she would allow that to happen. Millionaire or not. 

"There is but not for the reasons that I believe are circulating through that brilliant mind of ours, Miss Hayes," Gabriel said with a smile. 

"I thank you for the compliment, but flattery will do you no good in this room, Mr. Eros," Damascus could not stifle the chuckle that left him. The sound surprised everyone in the room. Even Gabriel had turned in his seat and looked at his friend. 

Damascus only shrugged in answer. Gabriel turned around towards Amara once more. "Noted," he said. 

"First, before I think of entertaining the idea of becoming your marketing slash publicity firm, I would need it outlined exactly what that would all entail. Every detail is written down on what exactly you would want from us. After I have that, I can decide if we can truly be the right fit for you Mr. Eros," Amara said. She was not going to agree to anything in this meeting without having all the information first and having time to think it over. 

"Understood. I also have a question for you as well," Gabriel said in all seriousness. Amara raised a brow. What more did he need to know that he could not find out on his own? 

"I was made aware of the incident that ties you and D together," Gabriel began. Amara shifted in her seat at the mention of the accident. She remained quiet and let Gabriel finish. "My question is simple. What had you driving that highway that evening?" Was he serious? He wanted to know why she was driving on a public highway. Why would that matter to him? 

"Is it not a public highway?" Amara countered back. 

"It is just a question. One that I will need answer to," Gabriel said. Amara was irritated at his tone. She took a moment before answering. She did not want to upset a powerful man. Amara took a deep breath and looked Gabriel straight in the eye as she answered. 

"I was driving to the spot where my parents were killed. They died in a car accident when I was little and every year on the anniversary of their deaths I drive to the place of the accident and take a moment for myself," Amara said. Her voice only broke once, and she was quick to cover it. She hated feeling vulnerable while in her office. She worked hard to stay as professional as possible. 

"I am sorry for your loss," was the only thing that Gabriel said. The room was quiet for a moment. 

"I can have that to you by the end of day. Thank you for your time and consideration Miss Hayes. We will leave you to enjoy the rest of your day," Gabriel and Damascus stood from their chairs. Gabriel extended his hand one more time and Amara took it. She did not leave her hand out for Damascus as she already knew he would not offer it. 

Instead, she stared him straight in the eyes as he had done with her. She caught a flash of something before he turned and followed Gabriel from the room. Was that admiration? She could not tell. It had been too quick to call it much of anything. 

Amara let out a slow breath when she was alone in the conference room once more.