Chapter 4

Damian's POV

I reclined in my seat, tapping the table gently with my pen in a rhythmic sequence while I waited for my personal computer to boot successfully. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on my door and I looked up, remembering that I sent my secretary, who is also my Personal assistant, to get me some files. 

“Yes, come in,” I echoed. 

The door creaked open to reveal Valerie in her usual smart dress as she strode towards me with a warm smile. 

Most of my staff barely look up to my face until I ask them to, and I enjoy the feeling I get from their absolute submission to me. 

Being my personal assistant, and a competent one at that, I'm a tad lenient with Valerie compared to others. 

I hate clumsy people. Only people who are smart and consummate like her can work well with me. Even though I won't tolerate any overfamiliarity, I allow her to be a bit free with me at work. 

Now that I watched her stride towards me with that graceful smile again, it seemed to me as though there's something behind those smiles and gestures that had always appeared formal to me until now. 

It had better not be what I'm thinking. She had better not get ahead of herself. 

“Sir?” She tried to get my attention, and it occured to me that she had reached my desk and must have noticed my distraction.

“Yes?” I quickly collected myself.

“Here are the files you requested sir,” she said. 

“Okay, drop them here and leave,” my tone was sharp and I watched her do just as I had instructed, only for her to stop halfway to the door. 

I was about to ask her what she wanted, but as a smart woman that she is, she must have sensed a change in my tone and expression so spoke up immediately. 

“Sir, you have a meeting tomorrow with Monroe Corporation . I thought to remind you again.”

“Oh, I almost forgot, thank you” I said. “And what's tomorrow's date again?”

“16th of March sir,” she responded.

“Does it mean today is the 15th of March?” I asked again incredulously and she nodded.

Suddenly, something clicked in my head as I looked at the calendar to affirm that the date is correct. My heart sank instantly.

My eyes dilated in shock and a sudden weakness came from nowhere, engulfing my whole existence, that the pen I was holding fell off my hand to the table, and then to the ground. 

“Sir?” Valerie called but I didn't answer. 

My hands were trembling, but I tried to hide it from her

“Are you okay sir?” she came closer and made an attempt to touch me but I instantly banged the table with my fists, making her flinch. 

“Get out of my office now” I thundered at her. 

When she scurried away and I heard the door slam shut, I instantly shut my eyes in regrets. 

How could I ever forget that today is her death anniversary? The day I lost her and my unborn child two years ago.

I've been so busy with work lately that I barely give myself time to reflect. Especially now that I recently partnered with Monroe Corporation as a shareholder. 

After several hours of back and forths, trying not to allow my personal problems to interfere with my work, I decided to give it another shot. 

I picked one of the files to use as a distraction again. I tried to blank my mind from the anniversary till I got home. But as I read the files, each paragraph blurred in my eyes and the inks seemed to dance before my eyes.

I tried to shake it off and continue reading, but images and memories of her, with the imagination of what my baby would have looked like by now filled my head. 

I couldn't push it any more. Accepting that I had an entirely unproductive day, I left the office earlier than usual. 

I sent my driver home to take a break and I drove myself all the way to the diner where I had first met Diana.

A wave of nostalgia hit me when I stepped into the diner. It's been so long. 

Everything about me contrasted to the low setting I found myself right now, yet I couldn't help but stay. 

Diana didn't come from a rich background. When we just started getting along, she made me meet up with her in this same diner. 

“What would you like to have sir?” a beautiful voice that reminded me of Diana suddenly jolted me from my train of thought.

My mouth slightly hung open as I looked at who was standing before me. 

How could she look this simple, yet breathtakingly beautiful just as Diana?

I blinked my eyes twice to be sure it wasn't just a pigment of my imagination. But there stood the waitress, rooted to the same spot, waiting patiently for my response. 

“ Stop it Damian! She isn't Diana, and no one can be like Diana” I scolded myself inwardly before collecting myself when I remembered she asked a question. 

“Cabernet Sauvignon will do,” I said to her.

“Alright, I'll be right back,” she smiled and I watched her graceful gait as she went, and she was back here with my drink in no time as she'd promised.

This was Diana's favourite wine. It sparked up memories as I watched the waitress pour it into the glass cup. I was so lost in the memories that I didn't know when she accidentally spilled some of the wine on me.

Damn it! I hate it when people are clumsy. 

I wanted to get mad at her, but I couldn't fathom where all that rage disappeared to, the moment I looked at her pleading eyes. 

I was happy that I helped save her job. Her boss didn't even have a choice. He knew better than to turn down someone of my status.

By the time I left the diner when they closed for the night, I was almost staggering. I had succeeded in drinking my sorrows away. 

I started my car so I'd go home to relax, start the next day afresh and have a better productivity.  

I hadn't gotten too far from the diner when my car stopped. I tried the ignition several times but it wouldn't start.

Shit! Why now?

I parked my car safely and started walking to the front so I could get a cab. To my surprise, I've walked some length and there's still no cab. 

Suddenly I heard a gunshot from a distance. The same direction I was just heading to.

I thought that it would end at that single gunshot even though I'm damn curious and bothered, but I heard another gunshot and then more followed sporadically. 

From what I could deduce, it seemed like a street gang fight.

I retraced my footsteps since I have another little apartment somewhere not too far from the diner. A special place I visit to calm my head from work stress once in a while.

Suddenly, I saw someone with a knife running after a woman in the same direction I'm now headed. 

She dashed into an uncompleted and abandoned building along the way and the assailant followed. 

Oh no! I must do something.

I didn't even think about my safety as I raced quietly behind them and got into the same building. 

I hid myself in a place that was not well lit when I saw the assailant approaching. He was almost here. Suddenly from the dark, I saw the feminine figure emerge from another empty room and was sneaking towards the same direction where the assailant was headed.

Just before she could bump into the assailant, I immediately caught hold of her hand and dragged her towards me.  

She found herself in my embrace and I just hoped the assailant didn't hear her soft gasp because I heard the footsteps that proved he's around here.

I didn't even get to think about our proximity at the moment until I felt her racing heart beat against my chest.

Looking closely in the poorly lit setting, I recognized her as the same waitress from the diner.  

Apart from her heart beat, I could feel her breasts firmly pressed to my chest. 

As though my heart had been waiting for that spark that would ignite it, it completely betrayed my apathy by joining her heart in the race of time. 

As she tried to raise her head to catch a glimpse of my identity too, her lips accidentally met mine at the same time she recognized me. 

She let out a gasp of shock. An involuntary gasp that gave us away.