CHAPTER THREE - Second Meeting

Sophia’s POV

I walked into the Blackwood Enterprise, I had just sighted Damian about to enter his car, was he going out? I had thought within me, “ Mr. Blackwood!” I called his name as I hastened my footsteps and that stopped him mid way. “ We are supposed to be having an interview,” I said immediately I got to him, he turned to me and gave me cold stare, “ You’re late,” He continued,

 “ I have somewhere to be, maybe some other time,” He said and hopped into the car, “ I can’t go back empty handed,” I said in a husked tone, I became frustrated, what do I do now? This was my fault, I was late already, I stood there stranded, he whined down he car window and gave me a mean look, “ Would you like to come with me?” He asked in a cold tone, I thought about it,

 “ Fine,” I walked to the other side of the car, and he opened the door for me to come in.

I hopped into the car immediately, “ Fasten your seat belt” He said and drove off, Damian drove in silence, his hands gripping the steering wheel with firm precision, his eyes were locked on the road ahead, The between us was thick, and heavy with unspoken words, I got curious about where we were heading to, I got restless and unease “ Mr. Blackwood where are we headed?” He ignored like no one has spoken, nothing , no response, a bit of embarrassment flashed my face, my look was pale, I started to regret why I had followed him, I clenched my fist, why did he ignore me, “ Are you ignoring me now?” I said with irritation slipping through my tone, I shifted in my seat, glancing at him, at least expecting a flicker of acknowledgement, But he remained Quiet, his jaw clenched as if my words didn’t exist. Then he turned, slowly, his stare cold and unreadable, his gaze locked unto mine for a mere second then shifted back to the road, like he never cared, I swallowed back my frustration, arrogant animal.

Minutes later the car slowed, pulling up in from of a small elegant flower , Without a word Damian pushed the door and stepped out “ I’m coming,” He said and walked into the flower shop, why does he act like he is so important, I gave a disgusting look, I saw him through the glass of the flower shop, my brow knitting in confusion, as I saw him picking a bouquet, the cashier handed the white Lily to him, he took without hesitation and expression unreadable, my stomach twisted, was this for someone? Within five minutes he came back, he slid into the divers seat not saying a word, he shoved the flower at the back seat like it meant nothing.

I tuned to ask. The words hovered on my tongue, but something about his facial expression, Cold, unreadable made me hesitate. Instead, I watched as he switch the ignition key, accelerating with the same cold efficiency as before.

The drive continued Then, finally, we pulled up in front of a cemetery.

My pulse stilled.

I stared at Damian in confusion, I felt the fear in heart, The iron gates loomed ahead, weathered and imposing, the silence of the cemetery sent a chill through me, I could feel my heart race.

Damian stepped out without hesitation. I stayed shocked and confused , I gripped the edge of my seat. What were we doing here?

A sharp voice cut through the stillness.

“Won’t you get down?” His tone carried its usual arrogance, he spoke rudely again but there was something else too, something strange .

I swallowed and pushed the door open, stepping out onto the uneven gravel. The place was calm, I could feel the thick silence in the atmosphere.

“Mr. Blackwood, what are we doing here?” My brow furrowed as unease coiled inside me.

His head turned slightly, gaze sharp as a blade.

“You ask too many damn questions, Elena.” His voice was husk, edged with something unreadable.

Then, without another word, he turned and walked through the gates, leaving me standing there with nothing but the echo of his words and the heavy weight of my own unanswered questions.

I followed quickly, my heels clicked against the floor, Then he stopped in front of a tomb.

He looked at the tomb, his facial expression showed emotions, sad, his face pale, his eyes blood shot then he bent down and slowly placed the lilies on it, I swallowed, my curiosity burning through the thick air, The Name written with bold letters, ‘EMILIA’ who was she? Who was this woman that made Damian humane, he stared at the tomb, ‘ EMILIA,’ He said in husk voice, his usual cold face softened, I could see the emotions in his eyes, It was so shocking seeing him that way, the arrogant Man few minutes ago was now calm and soft spoken, I went closer to him, “ Was she someone important to you?” He didn’t answer immediately, Instead he exhaled and stared at the tomb as if he was waiting for an answer, Then he said in voice colder and shaky , “She was the only one who stood with me in my darkest time, And now….,” A sigh escaped his lips heavy with sorrow.

 Something he said that sent chills down my spine, ‘His darkest times’ “ Is that why you left for years?” I said sharply, the words left my mouth before I could stop them, His head tilted slightly, his gaze cutting through me, “ Disappeared? ” I don’t owe anyone an explanation about where I go to and reason,” he spoke in a husk tone, His words were cold and the wind sent chills on my skin.

 His usual arrogant tone again, but beneath it was his past he had no intentions of sharing to anyone, I pressed further and didn’t want to back down, “Did you love her?” There was silence, then he laughed, aloud, my brow furrowed in confusion, what’s funny, was my question some sort of joke? Then he turned slightly, his eyes unreadable, he ran a hand through his hair, Then he turned to me and locked his eyes with mine, “ A little girl I once knew, we grew up together, then one day…. One day she was gone,” His words made my heart race faster, she was gone? To where, I wanted to know more, He turned to walk way “ You remind me of her sometimes,” He said in a cold tone, tucked his hands into his pocket and started walking towards the gate, Me? I gripped my hand bag in fear, I stood, staring at the tomb, I was curious, a lot of questions crossed my mind, Who is Emilia? And how do I remind Damian of her?