Chapter 54
Jealousy And Turmoil
Elena
My heart skipped a beat and I froze, unsure of what to say. However the next second my eyes constricted, a tall beautiful woman just walked out of the office behind Damien.
Sophia? What was she doing here? I wondered, my eyes flickering with different emotions.
"Come on, Damien," the woman ignored Clara and me, her entire attention was fixed on Damien. "You gave me assurances, remember?"
"And I never remember promising you anything," Damien hissed, his attention fixed on the woman.
"Just speak to her," Sophia's tone surprised me and I maintained a cool expression, her words seemed to be about me.
"Uhm…" I cleared my throat, catching their attention. Damien looked surprised when he saw me and an emotion I couldn't place flashed past his eyes.
"I didn't notice you," he muttered, turning back to the woman. "Sophia this is Elena, Elena, Sophia." Damien introduced us quickly.
Not like he needed to, I thought, forcing myself to keep my gaze cool. The last time I'd seen her she'd been locked in a misgiving position with Damien. Even now I could feel Damien's gaze flick past me, trying to gauge my reaction.
"Elena," I felt Sophia's gaze sharpen for a split second before she smiled and the moment was gone. "I've heard so much about you," she smiled quietly at me.
"I…thank you," I answered, plastering a professional smile on my face. I couldn't quite place a finger on it but I felt tense whenever Sophia glanced at me.
"You're the brain cell Damien's been talking about," Sophia smiled. "I've been trying to get him to let me see you," Sophia threw a glance over her shoulder to Damien, despite myself I felt a wave of annoyance at seeing her act so comfy with Damien.
Didn't she know this was an official setting? I thought, mentally grumbling. But another thought occurred to me, did she know about me losing my memories? I wondered, thinking back to her nice words. If she didn't know, why was she so nice? But no matter how I tried to wrap my head around it, I couldn't find a reason.
"I was just about coming to see you," Damien gave me a look with many meanings, and I instantly got it. The probe, he'd received the message Connor had dropped here. "Come in," Damien turned and walked back into the office. I knew from familiarity that he was tense and less than calm.
"So Elena," Sophia broke the silence after we'd occupied our seats. "Has Damien told you about my proposal?"
Proposal? I frowned, feeling completely lost. What was she talking about? Was that what she and Damien were discussing about? My expression looked better when I thought bout it.
I was just about to speak but Damien beat me to it.
"Sophia here represents a firm that's interested in Project Houston," he cleared his throat and began explaining.
I listened attentively, my eyes flickering as I weighed the weight of his words. Someone had leaked information about the project, and just how much information had been leaked remained to be seen.
So now it wasn't a matter of if we were going to allow Sophia to get a share, it was a matter of how much. I didn't dare take the risk of rejecting her offer, if she leaked further information, it could be disastrous.
But I didn't rush to answer, choosing to allow her stew a little.
I sat and thought about Damien's words for a long moment before I nodded. "It's fine to have Miss Sophia on the project," I beamed a smile at her but internally I was fuming.
"Then it's a deal," Sophia smiled at me but the smile didn't seem to reach her eyes.
"Uhh," I glanced at Damien, "there's something…" I began but Sophia spoke at that moment her words mirroring mine. "I want to see you."
I froze for a moment but my cheeks flushed and I looked away, feeling awkward. I'd been too anxious to speak to Damien. I'd neglected the fact Sophia was still here.
"Uhm," I sneaked a peak at Sophia. "It's urgent," I whispered, staring at Damien with pleading eyes. I didn't know what had come over me, I wanted to be the one Damien would attend to first, not her. Sophia's presence grated on my nerves and I couldn't quite place the reason.
Was I jealous? I wondered, and my heart skipped a beat.
"Business is always important," Sophia smiled, breaking the silence and she casually crossed her legs but I noticed the flash of coldness in her eyes.
Damien was stunned, and he appeared at a loss.
"Well," Damien hesitated, his eyes glancing between the two of us. He eventually turned to Sophia and I sighed secretly, I'd been thinking he'd listen to what I had to say first. However, his next words made my eyes glisten.
"I'll have the proposal faxed to you for legal checks and signing," Damiens tone was warm and businesslike but the faint dismissal in his words was hard to miss. I looked down, trying to hide the faint smile that threatened to fill my face.
"Oh, I see," Sophia's smile froze and for a moment she looked surprised. However, she quickly regained her composure and she rose to her feet. "I'll be seeing you soon Damien," her voice was sultry, making it hard to tell her mood.
"And you too Elena," Sophia glanced at me, her eyes filled with utter coldness. I shivered under the bite of her gaze, I only felt better when the door closed behind her.
"Damien we have a problem," I said the moment the door closed, and I took out the envelope from my bag.
"It's Sir," Damien corrected cooly, his cold gaze piercing into me, his words stunned me. Indeed, I'd left his house without warning and I'd left him that note.
Was he trying to get back at me? I wondered.
"It's the probe," I began, pushing the photo Connor had given me across the table to him. "What are we going to do?" I whispered as dread churned inside my stomach. The chairman would be furious, and by then no one could tell what would happen.
"We're not doing anything," Damien's words surprised me and I stared in shock. "Let him do whatever he wants," he waved his hands, completely unbothered.
"What!" I stared, my eyes wide in shock. "No, no, no," I felt waves of panic crash into me and I shook my head. "You can't be saying this Damien, you have to do something. You have to…" I started mumbling, my mind a mess of thoughts.
I was panicking, the mere thought of Connor's probe going public made me tremble, and who could say if he didn't have other tricks up his sleeve.
I was immersed in my thoughts. I didn't notice when Damien came around his desk and he sat across from me, his hands holding mine.
"You need to calm down Elena, there's nothing to worry about," his words echoed softly in my ears, and despite myself, I found myself calming down and my worries easing away.
"I'm here," Damien's eyes held a glint of confidence and I found myself believing him, trusting him.
Perhaps he had a way to solve everything. At least I hoped he did.