Damian thanked Nino, the waiter that Venuti assigned to him after receiving his drink from him. He downed the drink in one go and requested to get him another one.“You really should take it slow,” Vincent muttered dryly.“Now I know why Venuti insisted that we come here,” Damian said darkly as he nodded at Nino. He lowered his hand that is holding his new drink and scowled when he saw Omar and Vittoria in his line of sight. “Never thought the old man can be quite scheming.”“Thank God that my wife doesn’t like Vittoria,” Vincent commented in a low voice.Damian nodded, thankful that Vincent’s wife, Katherine is with him. She immediately took Sam with her, making sure that their paths won’t crossed with the newly engaged couple.He saw the way Sam’s face clouded with anxiety that Damian was ready to leave the party just to protect her.“You’re not going anywhere, Damian. So’s your wife,” a voice said behind and when he turned, he saw Katherine, wrapping an arm around Vincent’s waist.
With her eyes hidden behind the dark glasses she wore, Samantha Kingsley-Cameron remained standing on her spot as she watched the priest blessed the casket one last time.The casket that contains the body of her late husband, Maxwell Cameron.When the priest was done, Samantha took a step forward and brought the white rose she has been holding to her lips and kissed it lovingly. She then placed the rose on top of coffin and then bent down to kiss the coffin one last time, her forehead resting briefly before finally standing up straight.Goodbye, my darling Maxwell, she thought as she watched others placed roses on top as well.“Sam?”Samantha looked up and turned at the sound of her name. She saw Maxwell’s daughter approached her with a concerned look on her face.“You’ve been sitting here for the past two hours since the funeral was over. We were looking for you at the reception hall,” Arabella Cameron-Grant said patiently. She took a seat beside her and placed a hand on Samantha’s c
One panel of the heavy wooden doors pushed opened quietly from the other side and a middle age woman with her dark hair tied up neatly into a bun enter, holding her Ipad and two folders. She pushed her glasses to the top of her nose as she approached the elegant wooden design executive desk, situated in the center of the office with large windows behind, with the view of the city skyline, now showing its violet hues, signifying the early signs of the evening on a Thursday.The swivel chair turned soundlessly as her footsteps approached.“Mrs. Cameron is the single, largest shareholder of Cameron Elite Holdings at 51% as well as Cameron Towers,” Joana Rollins reported patiently, placing the two folders down and occupying one chair in front. “The rest of the family in total had 30% of the share. Cameron Capital went equally to the two children.”Damian Aidan McLaren only remained silent as he opened one folder that contained the report that she had printed for him. He read through the p
Two years later…Vincent and Arabella Cameron went out of the car and closed the doors quietly. They stared down at the modern, contemporary beach house that was built several hundred feet above the beach. The architect that was hired had made sure that the house will not only be enjoying the panoramic view but also the natural ventilation and lighting as well as the function of the spaces.“I wouldn’t mind exiling myself here, if I may say. No wonder Sam won’t give this up,” Arabella commented as they walked towards the entrance and saw Sam’s personal car at the garage. She turned to her brother. “Are you sure that about the plan we, both talked?”“Not really,” Vincent answered calmly. “But, as what we had promised her, we will tell her everything.”“Did Damian say when he will be coming when he called you?”Vincent shook his head.“I didn’t bother asking him,” he replied seriously. “Who knows? He might be already here, checking out the property and probably investigating Sam’s backg
Samantha placed her keys on a small crystal bowl and sat on the couch, sighing contentedly on a Monday afternoon. She smiled gratefully when Hannah placed a glass of water on the center table before walking off.She heard her phone rang and she looked at the screen before answering the call.“I just arrived,” she answered after saying hello to Ara. “Do you want to come over? Hannah’s making her famous Chicken Curry.”“I’m still at the office reviewing some contracts,” Ara responded. “I just called to check if you have arrived at the townhouse.”“I arrived right before lunch but met with Francine to check on the shelter before eating,” Sam answered as she gently took off her shoes and massaged her feet, tired from walking around the mall with her best friend. “She’s sending over a pregnant dog for me to foster until she has her puppies.”“I’m sure that she’s one lucky mama,” Ara mused with a smile in her voice. “Just don’t tell Jess or she’ll be begging me to letting her stay there unt
If Sam wasn’t used to all the insults and name-calling she received, she would have jumped at her feet and shouted at him and slapping him like crazy. But over the years since she married Maxwell and with his nurturing, Sam managed to suppress her anger as well as her expression for situations like she is facing now.“How much is what?” She asked calmly. “For someone like you, Mr. McLaren, you don’t elaborate much on things, do you? What is it that you’re asking me for?”Damian’s eyes narrowed at her response.“For an expert woman like you, it’s surprising that you haven’t caught on yet. Or perhaps you’re playing?” he sneered dryly as he stood up and walked around his desk, leaning on it while facing her. “How much do you want in exchange for your shares on Cameron Elite Holdings, Mrs. Cameron? I can be very generous if the need arises.”Sam let out a short laugh.“Wherever did you get the idea that I’m selling my shares?” She asked with a smile. “Perhaps you should fire your PI and h
Damian Adrian McLaren is in a foul mood. He rarely shows it in public, but tonight the man, who is talking to him started to stutter on his words when the over six feet man threw him a dark glare before taking a drink from his glass.His eyes travelled towards the entry way and watched as the peak window of guests arriving has started. He stayed by his location as he scrutinized the arrivals briefly and his mood further darkened when the person that he is looking forward to see has not yet arrived.“Waiting for your date?” Jacob Winthrope, his good friend asked when he noted Damian looking at the entry from time to time. “You’ve been watching the entrance consistently. Is Vittoria coming to join you?”“She has more important things than come here and socialize,” Damian answered flatly. “I have a score to settle with someone tonight.”Jacob stared at him curiously but before he could ask, Damian turned his back to him and started walking towards the direction of the entrance, where it
Samantha subtly rolled her shoulders, getting rid of the stiffness from sitting straight throughout the event. She felt Darren’s hand on her left shoulder, kneading it gently and she gave him a grateful smile.“Thanks,” she whispered, finally feeling some relief from the tension she has all night. “Funny thing is, I should be used to this already. All the scorn and hatred. But why does it still feel like the first time?”Darren gave him an assured smile.“Because they’re jerks, Sam,” he answered, casually moving his hand to her right. From the observers’ standpoint, the two of them looked to be in a public display of affection that drew some frown and whispers. “And what can we say? We’re good actors.”Vanessa Wright, their good friend chuckle at that statement.“Those idiots just want something new to talk about, Sam,” she added as she lightly adjusted the necklace Sam is wearing until she is satisfied of its position. She gave her an encouraging smile. “It’s been more than a year si
Damian thanked Nino, the waiter that Venuti assigned to him after receiving his drink from him. He downed the drink in one go and requested to get him another one.“You really should take it slow,” Vincent muttered dryly.“Now I know why Venuti insisted that we come here,” Damian said darkly as he nodded at Nino. He lowered his hand that is holding his new drink and scowled when he saw Omar and Vittoria in his line of sight. “Never thought the old man can be quite scheming.”“Thank God that my wife doesn’t like Vittoria,” Vincent commented in a low voice.Damian nodded, thankful that Vincent’s wife, Katherine is with him. She immediately took Sam with her, making sure that their paths won’t crossed with the newly engaged couple.He saw the way Sam’s face clouded with anxiety that Damian was ready to leave the party just to protect her.“You’re not going anywhere, Damian. So’s your wife,” a voice said behind and when he turned, he saw Katherine, wrapping an arm around Vincent’s waist.
Sam leaned back on her chair and closed her eyes, letting out a long sigh after finally finalizing the contract deal of an existing building that Damian had been eyeing and negotiating for quite a while on a Friday afternoon, few hours before office for the day ends. She felt the cool breeze of the AC in one of the vacant offices in his company on the same floor with his, making her sleepy.For the past two weeks, she had been going with Damian to his office, helping him with the files that has something to do with Cameron. Without waiting for his permission, she immediately took the files from Frederick and started on it.By end of the first week, she was able to accomplished more than half of the documents that had been pending for quite a while. Her mind became hungry to work and she started automatically.Sam was more than happy to help, knowing that Damian had been sacrificing some work time to accommodate her since she started getting sick. She also felt a little guilty since he
Damian waited as Sam finally bade goodbye to SJ and Elli later that night when the event was finally over. He stood a few feet away as Sam turned down SJ’s invitation to visit him and Elli at Chatsworth House, citing some work she needed to attend to.“When you have the time, don’t hesitate to call,” Elli added warmly. “I’ll introduce you to my father.”Sam nodded with a smile.“Good to meet you, McLaren,” SJ said, holding out one hand to Damian. They shook hands firmly and then SJ looked at them with an amused smile on his face. “Hoping for a good turnout from both of you.”“What do you mean?” Sam inquired that SJ only laughed in return.“Take the win of the jewelry, Sammie,” SJ retorted. He pulled Elli closer to his side. “I’ll nurse my wife over the loss of it.”“SJ,” Elli hissed shyly.“Car’s here,” Damian informed to Sam and he gently assisted her down the last few steps. When Sam is finally inside the car, he turned back to SJ and Elli. “I’ll call you once we have the time to tr
“Watching your wife like a hawk, McLaren?”Damian turned his head away from where Sam is and glared at SJ Kincaid, who is enjoying his glass of whiskey. After hearing his name, Damian immediately knew who he is.He was surprised that Sam is good friends with him, knowing that their companies are each other’s top competitors in the country. Much more so that SJ is a minority holder of some stocks at Cameron.“Ah.. just like me when I was first with my wife,” SJ added. “Perhaps you and I have something in common. Both of our wives are pretty much younger than us. But, it took a while for me to realize she’s the one.”“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Damian snapped.SJ chuckled.“Oh, I think you do but you just refused to admit it,” he countered in amusement as he signaled to the bartender for another drink. “Trust me, McLaren. It’s only going to get worst overtime.”Damian turned his full attention to SJ.“Do tell me about it since you’re knowledgeable on that subject,” he said
Sam carefully zipped up her dress and looked at herself in the mirror in the walk-in closet inside one of the rooms in Damian’s luxurious apartment in Rome on a late Thursday afternoon. She turned sideways to make sure that there are no creases before she finally put on her black pumps and walked back to the bedroom.After staying in Bassano for almost two months in his family home, Damian finally decided to bring Sam to Rome with him. It was an emotional goodbye between Sam and Aurora with Sam crying hard that Damian had to reprimand her gently.“Oh, shush, Damian,” Aurora chided as she hugged Sam tightly, rubbing her back. She kissed Sam on her side of the head. “This just tells you that you should visit me more often.”Sam saw Damian rolling his eyes in amusement.They left Bassano del Grappa with his private plane and Sam was still sobbing. Damian finally told her to take her medication to calm herself down. He knew that she had stopped taking them after that dinner with his relat
Damian felt Sam tensed beside him in the dining table as his aunt and uncle’s family each placed a portion of pasta on their plates that night. He glanced down and saw his wife’s hands clenched on her lap underneath the table.“Mmm.. I do miss your pasta, Aurora,” Filomena gushed after sprinkling pepper on top and then bringing her fork to her mouth. “Perhaps you can take a short trip and go back home with me?”“That’s ridiculous,” Marciano interjected gently. “She’s going to have a trip back with her favorite sibling! Me!”Aurora and the others laughed as the two continued to banter.There was silence for a while as they finally tasted the pasta.Damian watched as his uncle and aunt chewed slowly while his wife beside him is already pale and look ready to faint from her worrying. He abruptly reached for Sam’s wine glass and handed it to her.Sam looked at him in surprise.“I’ll drink later,” she murmured as she placed her glass back on the table.“I must say, Aurora,” Marciano starte
Sam’s brows furrowed with concentration as she started to knead the dough, she is doing for the pasta that she’s going to make inside the kitchen of Aurora on a Friday late morning.She could hear her mother-in-law’s voice from the dining area, arguing with Damian while speaking with their family doctor. As they were headed towards the popular Ponte Vecchio, a tourist spot in town, Aurora suddenly felt unwell that Damian called the trip off.Despite Aurora’s insistence that she is fine and pushed him to take Sam to the trip, Sam also made the decision to stay. She does not want to put Damian in the middle.“Oh, dear,” Aurora then said after she sat down.“What is it, mami?” Laura asked, whom Sam finally met three days ago after arriving from France, where she was taking up her master’s degree. “Is something the matter?”“I told Maria that I will be doing the pasta for dinner tonight!” Aurora replied miserably. She tried to stand up but Damian pushed her back down gently and gave her a
Damian stared darkly at the contract that he is currently reviewing in his office at his headquarters in Rome. He clutched the edge of the contract angrily, forgetting that Frederick is inside his office, who now stopped speaking when he heard the paper being crumpled.It is a sunny Wednesday morning with the lights streaming inside his office. It has been two weeks since he arrived in Italy and more than a week of him staying in Rome to cater all the work he needed to do.Sam, to his annoyance, was held up by his mother back at Bassano.“I’m sure Sam has been to Rome several times, Damian,” Aurora pointed out frankly. They were having a light dinner at his mother’s insistence since he’ll be leaving early tomorrow. “And, at this time, the tourists will be flocking all over the world. She doesn’t need to be in that environment.”“Do you think I’m not going to do something about it?” Damian asked angrily. He turned to Sam, who is staring at him patiently. “Just pack light. You can enjoy
Damien pursed his lips as he knocked on his mother’s room late that night. He waited for her to tell him to come in and did, finding her occupying her favorite chair by the side of the opened glass door leading to the balcony and reading a book.“Close the door and take a seat, Damien,” Aurora said calmly, not taking her eyes off the book. “And get that stern look off your face. You know how much I dislike it especially when you will try to tell me off of what I’m doing.”He sat and remained silent, looking at his mother as she finally closed her book and placed it on the table between them and stared back at him. She took her time as she leaned forward, picking up her cup, sipping her tea slowly.“So?” She asked calmly. “Why are you here?”“You’re supposed to be on my side,” he accused lightly. "Why do I have a feeling that you are making me the enemy in this house?!"Aurora just gave him an amused look.“To which, I am but remember that I am on your side,” she countered gently. She