Chapter Three: Unplanned Meeting

DAMON'S POV:

I was driving through the bustling streets of New York City, feeling annoyed and impatient. The constant honking and chaotic movement only added to my frustration. Suddenly, out of nowhere, another car collided with mine. The impact was jarring, but luckily, my skilled driver, Jackson, managed to maneuver the car to the side of the road, avoiding serious damage.

"What the hell just happened?" I growled, my heart racing with anger. I clenched my fists, feeling the adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"We got hit, sir," Jackson calmly replied, assessing my reaction through the rearview mirror.

I took a deep breath, trying to regain my composure. I knew losing my temper wouldn't solve anything. "Alright, Jackson. Take care of the matter. Get the necessary information from the other driver and make sure we're compensated for any damages."

Jackson nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He stepped out of the car and approached the other vehicle. As he knocked on the window, expecting the driver to roll it down, the door swung open, hitting him on the leg. He winced in pain but brushed it off, determined to handle the situation professionally.

The person behind the wheel was a stunning blonde woman with snow-white skin. She was of average height, around five foot five, and possessed a curvaceous body that caught Jackson's attention. Her hair was messily tied up in a cute bun, accentuating her innocent and angelic face. Jackson found himself momentarily taken aback by her beauty. I could see him hold his breath unconsciously. "What the hell was this dude thinking?" I thought.

"Um, I'm so sorry," the woman stammered, "I'll pay for any damages caused. I should have paid attention. Please forgive me," she said, pouting. Her long, natural lashes blinked, making her light blue eyes sparkle.

Jackson, snapping out of his daze, interrupted her mid-sentence. "You'll have to plead your case to my boss," he said coldly, his voice devoid of any admiration. He gestured for her to follow him to my car.

The woman, still flustered from the accident, nodded and followed Jackson. As they approached my car, she couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Her fingers nervously touched each other as she walked. She was acting careful, almost like she knew she was in a lot of trouble, but looking at her made me forget I was even angry in the first place.

I had been observing everything from inside the car and rolled down the window. My piercing gaze met the woman's, and she felt a shiver run down her spine. She knew she had to present her case convincingly if she wanted to avoid any legal trouble.

"I'm really sorry about the accident," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "It was my fault. I wasn't paying attention to the road, and I apologize for any inconvenience caused."

"Is everything alright, Jackson?" I asked, my eyes never leaving the woman.

Jackson nodded, his gaze still fixed on her. "Yes, sir. This young lady here collided with our car, but she's willing to take responsibility."

I turned to the woman, a slight smirk playing on my lips. "Well, then, let's discuss this matter further. Shall we?"

The woman nodded, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink. "Thank you for giving me a chance to explain," she said softly.

she moved a bit towards the car's window, "I..I am Lily" she said, introducing herself. "nice she had a pretty face and lovely name too. suits her", I thought smiling inwardly.

"I was distracted by a phone call and I didn't notice the traffic ahead and I am so so sorry". I listened with a cold detachment, not like I wanted to but I couldn't help it, my eyes never leaving her face. Lily got stunned and scared, stuttering as she couldn't handle my gaze.

My phone rang, interrupting our conversation. I glanced at the caller ID and answered the call. "Yes, what is it?"

On the other end of the line, a voice spoke urgently. "Damon, we have a situation. The target has been located. We need you here immediately."

My eyes flickered with a hint of excitement. "I'll be there," I replied, ending the call.

Lily watched me, curiosity evident in her eyes. "Is everything alright?"

My cold demeanor returned as I turned to face her. "I have to go. Duty calls."

Lily's expression fell, disappointment etched on her face. "But what about the accident? Shouldn't we exchange insurance information?"

My lips curled into a smirk. "Consider it taken care of. I'll have my people handle it."

Lily's confusion grew, but she didn't press further. "Alright then. Thank you for understanding."

I nodded curtly and let Jackson drive us away, leaving Lily standing there, bewildered.

"Lily" I said aloud. "Do you want me to find info of her boss? I could look into it if you want?" Jackson spoke.

"Sure, I have a feeling I have seen that face before", I replied wondering where the hell I had seen that face before.

I arrived at the warehouse, a sense of worry settling in the pit of my stomach. Stepping out of the vehicle, my eyes scanned the surroundings for any signs of danger. Something felt off, and I couldn't shake the feeling that trouble was brewing.

"Jackson, get down," I ordered him, my voice laced with urgency. Just as Jackson followed my command and stepped out of the car, gunshots rang out, shattering the silence of the night. I instinctively dove for cover, my heart pounding in my chest.

Taking a deep breath, I peeked out from behind the crates, assessing the situation. I spotted the attacker, a man with a menacing look in his eyes, firing shots in our direction. Jackson and I exchanged a quick nod.

We returned fire, our shots ringing out in the warehouse. Slowly but steadily, we encircled the man, closing in on him. Jackson distracted the man, drawing his attention away from me. Seizing the opportunity, I lunged forward, using the back of my small silver-colored gun to deliver a powerful headbutt to the assailant.

The man crumpled to the ground, unconscious. I wasted no time, swiftly grabbing him and motioning for Jackson to help tie him up. As we secured the assailant, my men began to arrive, some in cars and others on foot, their exhaustion evident on their faces.

My cold gaze swept over my men as I demanded, "Did you find what we were looking for?" I pushed the tied-up man towards them, my voice filled with a mix of disappointment and anger. The men, realizing they had failed, stumbled over their words, attempting to explain their misfortune.

I, however, surprised them by being in an unusually cheerful mood. I dismissed their excuses with a wave of my hand, instructing them to take care of the unconscious man. "Keep him alive. All of them," I said. My eyes then fell upon a letter, brought to me by one of my men. The envelope was decorated, hinting at its importance.

Tearing it open, my eyes scanned the contents. It was a letter from Mr. John Monroe, "Witty old man. Clever bastard, let's see how you look when I put you right under," I muttered, smirking. The letter requested an audience with me for a dinner and deal signing. My teeth grit inwardly as I read, my frustration evident.

Reluctantly, I agreed to attend the dinner at the Monroe residence. I wasn't particularly fond of social gatherings, but I decided to give it a shot.

As I arrived at the Monroe residence, I was greeted by Mrs. Monroe, a warm and hospitable woman. She had a kind smile on her face as she welcomed me into their home.

"Welcome, Damon! We're so glad you could make it," Mrs. Monroe said, extending her hand for a handshake.

I shook her hand and replied, "Thank you for having me, Mrs. Monroe. It's a lovely home you have here."

Mrs. Monroe smiled and led me into the dining room, where the table was beautifully set with fine china and silverware. The aroma of delicious food filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

As we sat down, I couldn't help but overhear Mrs. Monroe muttering something under her breath. I strained my ears to catch her words.

"I can't believe she's late again. Always keeping us waiting," Mrs. Monroe muttered, her frustration evident.

My curiosity was piqued. I wondered who Mrs. Monroe was referring to and why she seemed so bothered by their tardiness.

As I attempted to eat my food in peace, the tension between Mr. Monroe and me was palpable. We exchanged icy glares, neither willing to release the tension that hung heavy in the air. Finally, Mr. Monroe broke the silence, his voice laced with a hint of arrogance.

"Release my men and hand over my sidekick," Mr. Monroe demanded, his tone demanding compliance. I scoffed, saying nothing as I challenged Mr. Monroe with my silence. The room grew colder as the standoff continued.

Mr. Monroe, growing impatient, attempted to play a quick one, his voice turning colder as he spoke. But I remained unmoved, my resolve unyielding. Finally, I broke my silence, my voice dripping with scorn.

"I will release all your stocks and merchandise with your men if you agree to my terms," I stated, my eyes locked with Mr. Monroe's. The greedy businessman, knowing I was seeking revenge for the destruction of my plans earlier, reluctantly agreed.

My request shocked everyone in the room, including Mrs. Monroe. I looked at Mr. Monroe with a wicked smile, my eyes gleaming with mischief. "Give me your daughter," I said coldly, my voice filled with a mix of desire and dominance.

Mrs. Monroe gasped, unable to believe her ears. Mr. Monroe tried to wiggle his way out of the situation, but my grip on him was unyielding. Just as the tension reached its peak, Lily, the Monroe's daughter, descended the stairs.

"I'm so sorry, Mom! I got caught up at work, and then there was traffic. I didn't mean to keep everyone waiting," Lily said, her voice filled with genuine remorse.

"I think you can bypass that today. You're as usual a regular tardy lady," Mrs. Monroe spoke, her voice getting caught in between words.

"Mom, what's with the attitude?" Lily asked, still not taking notice of me yet as she moved her eyes towards her mom's gaze and saw me.

Her eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of me. "You again!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. My smile widened, my gaze fixed on her as I replied, "Indeed, it seems fate has brought us together once more. Took you long enough to notice my presence."

"You two have met?" Mrs. Monroe asked, surprised. "Yes, Mom, today. It was a little traffic inconvenience and... What are you even doing here? I clearly don't remember telling you where I live?" Lily asked, her eyes watching me carefully.

"I just came to see my bride. Good thing your father accepted," I answered, shocking Lily to her bones. She could see her dad look in my eyes. He looked caught up.

"Dad, say something. He's not serious, is he?" she asked, expecting somehow by some miracle she wasn't hearing something else.

"You heard him well. He's your husband-to-be," Mr. Monroe answered.

"But... Dad, we discussed this before, and you agreed to let me find my own pace," Lily tried to reason with her dad, but he looked lost.

"It's been settled, dear, no buts! You will wed him," Mr. Monroe said, his voice cracking but he covered it right up. I, without a doubt, smirked and enjoyed every part of it.

"Since it's settled, I'll be on my way. Lovely day to you, Mrs. Monroe, and you too, darling," I said, smiling wickedly before turning around to leave.

Lily tried to protest, but before one word could leave her lips, she froze as her dad waved his hand, signaling he had had enough.

"But, Dad...!" Lily tried protesting again.

"That's enough. I need to think," he replied, making Lily run upstairs to her room.