After Damon left the hotel, he was about to go to his penthouse when he received a phone call from his mother.
“Where are you,” Was her mother’s greeting.
“On my way home,” Damon responded as he loosened two buttons of his button-down shirt. His tie and coat were taken off long ago.
“Head to the mansion tonight. Let’s have dinner. It’s been a long time since we ate together,” His mom requested. Damon glanced at the time and saw that his son was already in bed now, so he pondered and agreed after a moment.
“Alright, I’m on my way.” He agreed and dropped the call. He informed his driver of his change in destination, and the car headed to the Castellano villa.
When he arrived, it never came to him that there was a hidden agenda for this dinner. But as he entered the house, he saw through his mother’s mind and plan as he spotted a woman in the foyer, welcoming him.
“Damon, you’re here,” The woman said sweetly and went close to him. Damon felt a slight headache at the additional party at this so-called, family dinner. He sighed silently and gave the woman neither warm nor cold look.
“Ms. Ambrosia,” He greeted professionally. The smile on the sides of the woman’s mouth twitched slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. Before she could add another word, Damon’s mother appeared as well.
“Damon, my son. You’re here,” She greeted as she went to kiss her son’s cheeks.
“Mom,” Damon greeted but with a stiff look. He eyed his mother and the middle-aged woman instantly sensed it.
“Oh, I forgot to mention that Veronica is also here. But she is here to accompany me to shop earlier and now she even cooked for us! Come son, you need to taste it! Veronica here made it carefully just for you!” his mother urged. Veronica blushed and bent down her head acting shy.
Damon could only sigh in exasperation. This was not the first time his mother planned something to pair him with women before. But this particular girl was the one which his mother was very fond of. And had arranged them to meet a few times.
But the problem is, Damon was not interested. Aside from it is a pain in the ass and annoying, he could tell that this woman was a scheming person. He is not fond of such people therefore he couldn’t take this all seriously.
Despite this, he was pulled by his mother to the dining area, and before he knew it, the food was already served.
“Damon, taste this. This is my specialty.” The woman once again fawned on him as she scooped up the food herself and place it in Damon’s plate. Even with the displeasure, Damon still had respect and propriety, so he accepted it but did not respond to her.
Even so, Veronica was happy as she watched him eating the food. Amanda, Damon’s mother, who was watching them from the sides, was also delighted.
“Oh, you look so good together! Veronica, the food you make is delicious! You are certainly ready to be a wife now. The man you would marry would be so lucky! As a mother, I feel at ease looking at you!” She said, adding fire to the flames of the imaginary passion between the two.
Veronica was again abashed by the woman’s excitement and responded shyly.
“Aunt, you thought of me so much. But I am happy cooking and taking care of Damon. Thank you for accepting me to your home.” She said with a gentle voice. Amanda was very satisfied looking at the girl and turned to her son.
“Damon, isn’t Ms. Veronica such a great girl? You’ve been single for a while now and it is no longer early to stay idle with your life. What do you think?” Amanda urged her son. Damon who eating silently and was irritated by the conversation, finally had it when he heard his mother’s word.
“I have no plans of marrying. And if I do, Ms. Ambrosia would not be in consideration. As I could see, she is too good for me.” He said sarcastically. The smile on Amanda’s face dropped, and Veronica paled as well.
“Damon! How could you-“ Before Amanda could finish, Damon took his napkin and wiped his mouth gently as he dragged his chair to get up from his seat.
“Thank you for the meal. I am already full, and I will head home. Enjoy the rest of the evening.” He said as he turned his back on them.
“Damon!” Amanda exclaimed. Even Veronica called him silently. She clenched the utensils in her hands and also stood up from her seat.
“Aunt, excuse me.” She said and quickly followed behind the man. Amanda saw this and let them. She sighed. Her son was so problematic regarding this aspect of his life, and she hoped Veronica would successfully capture his heart.
When Damon walked out of the mansion, he went directly to his car when he heard someone calling behind him.
“Damon!” Veronica’s voice rang on the empty front lawn. Damon stopped on his track but did not turn to face her.
“What is it?” he said coldly. Veronica saw this and was dissatisfied. She went quickly in front of him and faced him.
“Is there something I did wrong?” She asked as she stared at him. “What do you mean, Ms. Ambrosia?” Damon responded nonchalantly.
“Why can’t you give me a chance?” She asked as she stepped forward, closer to the man.
Damon looked down at Veronica and said with a cold voice.
“Ms. Ambrosia, I am in no way interested in talks of marriage. I have already said my word, and I am not fond of saying it twice.” There was a limit to his respect and this is
the last courtesy he could give her. He walked pass her and successfully made it to his car.
Veronica could only stare at his back and clenched her hands. I am not done, Damon. I will certainly have you on my hands. She thought with vile in her eyes.
Inside the spacious car, the man sighed and leaned on the backrest. He closed his eyes as fatigue filled him after these exhausting and eventful days. He already knew women were a pain, thinking of what happened at home.
Yet, he suddenly remembered the woman he had left at the hotel. He did not know why he didn't find her bothersome or annoying, taking into account all the inconveniences she had caused him these past few days. Instead, he doesn’t see this as an inconvenience at all.
He thought back at the scene that happened just now outside the mansion, there was also a woman who wholeheartedly confessed in front of him. But he wondered why he didn’t feel any warmth nor interest in that.
Instead, his thoughts were filled by the woman who had inconvenienced him. He kinda likes that little troublemaker.
Anya, why am I thinking of you?