DAMIEN'S POV
Here I am riding the elevator with Elijah's secretary again. No matter how terrifying and cold I seem, the girl doesn't take the hint. If she was one of my workers, she would have been sacked a long time ago. She is lucky she works for one of my pals. If it were another, her company would have lost alliances with mine because of her.
My name sends shivers down the spine of many in America. My companies are the largest. My family is one of the most terrifying and respected, one because of our wealth and influence, another because of the kind of hidden business we run, and because I'm the heir to my father's Mafia throne and, since he is long dead, I'm the fucking king of the Pantoshian Empire.
The smell of excessively cheap body spray reminds me of the fact that I'm still in the elevator with Helena, who has been trying over the past three minutes to spark a conversation with me. The next question she let slip out of her mouth made something within me.
One moment she was standing beside me rubbing her tits on my right arm. The next moment, she finds herself dangling a few feet off the floor, with my right hand wrapped around her neck, giving it a not-so-nice squeeze. Even in this situation she finds herself in, she still puffs out her chest, revealing her barely covered tits. I really dislike desperate girls like her. They are irritating.
''Let me make this message clear. Don't you ever in your life speak about my wife in that way again? You know nothing about her and so does the world. I will not repeat this next time. That is if there will be a next time. I am going to speak with your boss.''
At the mention of her boss, she begins begging, which of course falls on deaf ears. Her fingers scratch my palm as my grip tightens on her, white boiling rage overtaking my senses until the elevator comes to a stop and the ding sound from the door saves the girl's life, as I let her fall to the floor before pressing my palm down on my suit, trying to pacify the wrinkles on them. Having done that, I stepped out of the elevator without glancing back at Helena, but knowing she was probably glaring daggers at my head, the thought made me smile.
I made my way to my office knowing that Elijah would be waiting for me there instead of in the conference room. Passing my secretary, Juliet's desk, I returned her greetings and asked her if everything for the meeting was ready, which she answered positively.
''Aha, Mr. Pantoshi, you keep me waiting for so long and I demand an apology from Thou.'' Once I opened my office room doors, I was greeted with a request I hate so much: apologizing. I hate being apologized to, and I also hate apologizing and Elijah knows this very well.
''Well? I am still waiting for an apology. Please get on with it so we can start business'' he says with a big grin on his face. A grin I will soon wipe off.
''Elijah?'' I drawled out in warning ''Don't fucking mess with me, I'm already in a sour mood.''
''Woah chill man, just pulling your legs, how's Ryker? It's been like forever since I saw that man.''
''He is doing well, coping alright if I might add. Come on, let's move. They are waiting for us.'' If I allowed myself to sit here any longer, we might as well not attend the meeting, knowing well that Elijah would love to give me an open mind and ear once I started pouring out my troubles out to him. Then the words of advice and wisdom will come after. Next would be me breaking apart, showing weakness I was not trained to harbor within. I had become like this after my wife and daughters' deaths. Their death almost made me vulnerable, it almost brought me to my knees. It had been my friends who helped me stand back, with my spine straitened, shoulders squared, face emotionless, chest puffed out and head held high, but I still feel empty on the inside. My friends never allowed my rivals to get to me at my lowest, and I'm ever grateful, forever grateful.
''Who?'' he asked, letting his guard slip a bit, confusion flashing through his face for a brief second. I stared at him for a while before shaking my head in disapproval.
''What now, shaking your head at me like my papa? Are you disappointed? Please tell me yes, I'll be pleased to know.'' sarcasm dripping in his tone. Could he ever be serious? Well, what could I say we are friends after all? I'm sure he behaves outside these walls.
Answering his question, I scoffed, giving him a smug look before saying ''disappointed? No. Disapproval? Yes. I'm just wondering how you became one of my best friends. I'm sure you used voodoo on me because there is no way I could have found a friend in someone as unserious as your stinking ass. Now get the fuck up, your staff and my staff are waiting for us!'' I finished off by adding a grin to the smug on my face.
''Yeah, yeah, just tell me you love my unserious ass.'' He said, getting up before sticking his tongue at me and flipping me the finger. Like I said, unserious.
We were just about leaving, when my secretary came in and handed me my phone. She knows I don't like being disturbed by phone calls, especially when I'm extra-busy, like today. Something about my face must have knocked some sense into her brain because she immediately stood taller, cleared her throat before calling out a name that still has my heart doing somersaults. I can still feel my heart racing for her as it did those days even after she married that ham-dump.
I stared at the phone in her hand, then at her and at Elijah, repeating the motion twice. I took the phone from her and nodded an appreciation so she could leave. After taking a deep breath to calm my raging heart, my high school sweetheart, my first kiss, my cuddle bear, oh how I've missed you. Someone snapped their fingers at my ear and that is when I realized I had been spacing out again. I clear my throat and answer.
''Mira bear, longest time darling!'' If she were here she would have been red as a tomato, and I am sure she is now. I heard her sniff in the background. Why is she crying ... or maybe she caught the flu.
''Damie?...i uh- I need--I need....canicomeoverandstayatyourplace--- for a while?'' What?
''Mira? Slow down, okay, you know you can tell me anything. But I didn't understand a word you just said. You never told me you had learnt a new language, though I hadn't heard of it before. Maybe you will teach me. I'd be happy to be your student. The only thing I had heard there was for a while,'' I said, which was half true because I heard her call me the nickname she gave me those times it was only both of us before the rest came along. She let out a frustrated groan before continuing. This time she said it at a slower pace.
''Damie, I meant to ask you if Skylar and I could come over and stay at your place for a while. And--and I'll understand if you disagree.'' I, Damien Woods Pantoshi, disagree at the chance to be with you? Never!
''Moya Plamya, my little flame, why would you think such?'' Elijah snickers behind me. What is he still doing here? I asked myself he should be in the conference room!!!!! I turned and glared at him.
''Oh, I don't know, maybe because I'm a burden. That's why Donald picked his ex over me?'' now I know she was crying earlier.
''Oh Mira, I'm so sorry, don't mind that ham he's a fool for not knowing what's best for him. But don't worry, I'll gladly take his place, baby. I'll send Jacob to come pick you up, then someone else during the week to get your car. Is that okay?''
''Damien, will you ever change? But yeah, I'm at home, and it's okay by me. I'll see you when you get back from work. Bye.''
"Bye dear.'' I did a quick job of notifying my staff at home to get a room ready for a female guest and her daughter. Then I notified Jacob, before I practically dragged Elijah by his ear off to the conference room.