FIRST MEASURE

"I so love your thinking." A beautiful smile sweeps across his face. 'I might consider not using a hammer on that Leo jerk's balls for hurting you, but he still stands to pay for getting involved with you. Destiny had it jotted down that you were mine from the beginning, and that moron wasted three fucking years of our precious time," he states.


Destiny, huh! Well, I love that. This must indeed be destiny.

I shake my head. Nothing is worthy of ruining our peace, you know. "Forget him, love. Karma has already caught up with him. And if there is anyone who needs to get back at him, it is not you or even my father, but me."

"I don't want you near that bastard," Damian states, his tone possessive and firm.


"Who said I want to get near that stinking jerk?" I retort, my scowl mirroring the intensity of my words.

"What are you planning?" Damian's question hangs heavy in the air, his dark eyes fixed on mine with unwavering intensity.


"First, I'm getting a restraining order for him. And if he dares to go against it even just once, I won't think twice about sending him behind bars," I murmur, my voice surprisingly calm despite the underlying threat.

"Are you sure about that? He isn't a threat to me at all, if that is what you are thinking. I can handle him if he dares to show his face here again! I can't promise not to crush his balls and break his bones, though. He irritates my demons beyond my control," Damian admits, his frustration palpable.

"That's one of the reasons why I need to do this, Damian. I don't want you two to cross paths again. I don't want anything to ruin this peace we have, much less a pathetic, sterile arsonist like him. I'm doing this for us."

He cups my face gently, his touch tender yet reassuring, and leans in to kiss me deeply. I'm lost in the moment, savoring the taste of his lips against mine, when he pulls away all too soon.

"Thank you, love. I love you," he whispers, his words a soft caress against my skin.

"And I, you. Tienes mi corazón y mi alma," I murmur in borrowed Spanish, my heart overflowing with emotion.

"Tú eres mi corazón, tú eres mi Vida. Te amo, mi alma," Damian replies, his voice filled with warmth and affection.

I guess I really need to advance my spanish. I love the way his just rolls out so simple and the ascent like he is spanish breed.

"I would like us to speak Spanish the whole day, mi amor, but I will have to leave you for a while." He checks his gold wristwatch. "I will be back before four. Stay here, okay? Don't leave my office." He springs to his feet, grabbing his coat.

And I find myself springing up too, with confusion fueling me. Why is he in such a hurry all of a sudden? "Where are you going?" I ask, standing before him.

"Somewhere. I will be back before you even start missing me!" he says.

Yeah, right! Heck! A difference of five minutes is enough to make me miss him terribly, not to mention hours. "Where, Damian? Tell me." I plead.

"Just wait for me here. I will order some food for you." He pecks my lips and clicks his Chelsea boots on the floor, not forgetting to turn and wink at my confused face before shutting the door behind him.

Where is he off to now? I think the best question would be, What is he up to? He isn't going out for work, most definitely, because he always tells me. He is up to something. Some mischief. And I am freaking itching to know what it is.

I stride to his table and drop on his swivel chair, sampling in his sweet scent and hoping it will keep me company as I await his return while I grin at the photo of my beautiful face displayed on his computer screen. Yahallah! When did he even take this? I didn't know he had even a single photo of me.

Minutes later, the smell of chicken chips snaps my eyes from the computer where I was banked admiring my photo, and I meet with this gross receptionist. Could the day be any worse? I mean, she had to top all the odds today, huh? What is she doing now? A delivery bitch? She no longer works for the Almeda motels but for Deli's pizza? That would be fantastic, but, heck, I am sure it is not her that Damian sent to bring me food! She just stole an opportunity to annoy me from somewhere.

"Special delivery from the boss to the queen of chaos!"

I knew it. She is here to annoy me. I am certain the scandal today made her so delighted. She must be thinking that I am dying of fear and remorse, and she thinks she can add more to it. So cheap! "Thank you," I retort with a mocking smirk. 'I actually think the delivery job fits you well. Have you considered shifting jobs? That way, you wouldn't have to see my face every day," I said, grabbing the box from her.

She smirks for the whole world, but only for a moment before her face turns bitchy again. "I actually want to see your shameless face daily from now on. I mean, after what happened today,. How are you going to face everyone today, huh?"

I emit a chuckle. I pity this one. Her case is hopeless, honestly. "I have nothing to be ashamed of," I retort.

"Really?" She arches an eyebrow. 'As far as I know, I am not the shameless bitch that fucks two men at the same time. Nor am I that shameless bitch who caused chaos in such a distinguished place for the first time since this motel started. You could have been more decent to parade your immoral behavior somewhere," she cruises her long eyelashes from head to toe, 'somewhere cheap, just like you."