The Devil Behind Me (20 page)

“I pay enough money to have him here on this floor to get exceptional service. So I will do what I please when it comes to my famil
y,” he said in a serious tone.

“Yes
of course, sir,” the student doctor said nervously.

“Addie? Are you ok
ay?” Daimon asked as looked me over. His usual icy blue eyes had a tenderness to them, easing my fearful heart. It was the warm, adoring look of his which opened the floodgates.

“Yeah
, I just—I just—” I began to cry. “It’s hard hearing my father cry like that. He hasn’t done that since my mother passed.” I lowered my head into my hands. Daimon reached out and wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly.

His strong arms.

His hard body.

His
soft breathing.

His scent.

God, I could so easily lose myself.

“What are you doing?” I asked as I pushed him of
f me, regaining what little strength I had. 

“Comforting you,
” he said as he tried to reach out to me.

“Well don't do it,
” I hissed, holding up my hand.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I'm not used to the nice Daimon,” I said flatly.
Because I don’t want to need you, because I can’t long for you,
I thought to myself.

“You said you hated it when I showed others my good side and not you
. Now you hate my good side and want my bad. Make up your mind, Addie,” Daimon said coldly.

“
You listen here, what I said was I hate how you act differently with others, just act like the jerk I know you are and stop faking it with other people,” I fired back.

“
Who says I'm faking it, Addie?” He stepped closer and towered over me, my eyes looked up to see him glaring at me. The warmth that had been there a moment ago was now replaced by solid ice.

“Addie?” My father called out to me. I ran into his room and away from
Daimon’s loaded question.

***

I woke up early in the morning to ready myself for a jog. I needed to clear my mind and think about what exactly I was going to do with the diner. Daimon was asleep on the couch at the other end of the room. I slowly crept up and stared at him as he slept. His half-naked torso was wrapped around his sheet while his arm was behind his head, stretching out his body. He was sexy there was no way around it. It was too bad he couldn’t stay asleep all his life. Drako wagged his tail and waited at the door for me as I hurried downstairs.

I walked over to the P
ier and stretched my legs, holding onto Drako’s leash. He was jumping around excitedly for what was about to happen. I don’t think Drako even knew what was going on, but he hopped around and happily waited until I finished my hamstring stretches. The sun had begun to rise and its rays started to spread out along the sky.

“Are you ready
, Drako?” I asked him and he barked. I laughed and started a light jog; it had been months since I ran and I didn’t want to overdo it the first time out. My mind began to relax and the diner started to seep in. It was almost a week since it had last been open; there would be no way to save it now. Selling it wouldn’t be an option. The price we would get wouldn’t even pay the debt or the suppliers we owed money to. I could maybe sell off the equipment since they were paid off, but the money from that wouldn’t cover the back rent. The more I ran, the more I realized how screwed I was, but Daimon had bought me and my price included the diner. I was hoping he wasn’t about to change what he said. Even though I knew Daimon would never go back on his word, I was always apprehensive when it came to him. The more I thought the harder I ran. I didn’t realize how far I had gone until I reached the end of the boardwalk. I stopped, trying to catch my breath as Drako ran around me, almost tripping me with his leash. “I think it’s time to head back,” I said to him as he jumped and barked.

Once I regained my breath, I started to run back.  It was amazing feeling fr
ee for the first time in a while. The business weighed heavily on my mind, but I felt like the chains that held me there were finally gone. Granted, they were now replaced with Daimon’s shackles. It’s funny though, it didn’t bother me as much as I thought it would. Yes, I hated him, but at least with him I didn’t have the same tiring obligations I did for my father or the diner. Daimon I didn’t care for, but my family I loved more than anything in the world. 

“
Good morning, Ms. Addie. I see you just came back from a jog,” Phil said as we both made it back to the penthouse.

“
Yeah, despite being September the weather is really great,” I said as I entered. I took out the key card Daimon had given me and slid it in. Drako kept jumping to get my attention. “What is it? You want me to hold you?” I asked as I reached down and he jumped willingly into my arms. I laughed as I held him. The elevator doors opened and I stepped inside.

I
could hear faint murmurs and some laughter, as I walked toward the living room. I could see the dog walker with her hand on Daimon’s arm as she laughed at some stupid joke he must have said. The blood within me began to bubble over. Drako started to growl, making them both look our way. She stood frozen like she was caught red handed, while Daimon smirked as if he couldn’t wait to watch what I’d do. I weighed my options. Should I tell her off? Why should I? If he wants to claim that I'm his, shouldn’t he be the one to be faithful?

“I'm here to walk the dog,” she said
while stepping away from Daimon.

“
Are you really? Then here’s the leash, you can take Daimon out now,” I said, throwing her the leash I held in my hands. She stood still not knowing what to do.

“Are you calling me a dog?”
Daimon snapped.

“I'm not calling you anything. I'm telling you
, you are a dog,” I smiled and put Drako down. “Then again, a dog is loyal, where you are not. Do what you want, Daimon. Oh, and dog walker?” She stood at attention as she looked at me. “You can have my sloppy seconds. If he was any good, I would have fought harder for him,” I said dismissively as I walked up the stairs while Drako followed close behind.

Assh
ole Daimon and his asshole ways. I stepped into the shower and began to wash the sweat and dirt off myself. Here I was, finally feeling happy this morning despite all that loomed over my head and Daimon had to fuck it all up with his flirting ways. I stepped out of the bathroom fully dressed and ready to go see my father when I was stopped by a seething Daimon. 

“So I'm a dog now?” he hissed.

“Yes, you are,” I said. “I'm sorry. I'm confused, aren’t you the one who graduated from an Ivy League university? Did you really not understand my simple statement?” I asked, looking at him incredulously.

“I like how you say that I bullied you in high school, but you dish
it out just as well as I do,” he gritted through his teeth.

“
That’s funny. You’re the one who made my life miserable in high school. I highly doubt I did the same to you. Now are you standing in front of me because you want an apology for cock blocking you? Because I'm not going to say sorry,” I bit out.

“Cock block?”

“Come off it, Daimon. The girl wants you and if I wasn’t pretending to be engaged to you I wouldn’t care, but I would appreciate next time you keep your ‘extracurricular activities’ to yourself,” I said as I tried to push past him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back. He pushed us up against the wall, his face inches from mine as we glared at each other.

“I'm not good
, Addie? I highly doubt that since you came the instant my cock entered you,” he hissed low as he stared at me. My skin began to heat up, my belly dropped and my pussy instantly became wet. I fought my need and pushed it away from the forefront of my mind. 

“Only you would think the only
offensive thing I said to you was about your performance,” I scoffed. Images of that night began to appear; God I was so stupid.

“If you want, I can fuck you right here, right now and we can see
who comes first.” He inched closer, his hot breath searing my skin.

“Get off me,
” I spat out.

“You keep saying for me to leave you alone
, but I know you want otherwise,” he said quietly as he smirked.

“Don’t ever think what happened tha
t night will ever happen again. I was stupid and weak and it will never, ever happen again,” I snapped.

“Are you trying to convince me or you
rself?” He grinned and left me alone in his room to contemplate his question. 

After that
day, Daimon and I steered clear of each other. I made sure I came to the penthouse late, trying my best to avoid him. It worked since I would find him fast asleep on the couch. The only one waiting for me was Drako. He would happily follow me throughout the penthouse until I fell asleep. I wanted to throw the words he so vehemently spoke the night we became engaged back at him. I was his to protect, my ass. I challenged him once and he abandoned me. It didn’t bother me in the least, I simply hated how easily he said it and then took it all away. 

After two
weeks, my father was finally able to come home. I was elated. He had gained weight and even looked happy. We both stepped out of the hospital to find an awaiting Daimon with his black sedan and driver. 

“I hear you’re
being let out.” Daimon smiled as he walked over to us. 

“Finally, I get to go home
.” My father smiled as he stood up from the wheel chair and reached out his hand to shake Daimon’s. Daimon gladly took his.

“I'm here to take you home,
” Daimon pointed to the car behind him.

“
Well this is service,” my father said with a smile and walked over to the car.

“
Ted will take you home, I'm off to work,” Daimon said to me without sparing me a glance. He irritated me so much that I ignored him and walked over to the car. “Addie,” Daimon said in a low voice.

“What?” I turned my head. 

My father
improved every single day. I watched happily, as he finally was able to eat foods he couldn’t eat for so many years. He was eating so much that he had started to gain weight. We hardly talked about the diner and that was fine by me.

I had left him downstairs
where he was watching his movies. I needed to pay the hospital bill and the nurse told me I could do it online. I was scared to death about this transaction as I took out my credit card. I went online and found the hospital website. I punched in my father’s client account number and when the page loaded, all I saw were zeroes. I reloaded the page again, but still nothing. I reached for my phone and dialed customer service, the stupid elevator type music was playing as I waited on the phone.

“Yes, thank you for waiting
. My name is Jenny, how can I help you?” the operator said.

“Yes
, I have a bill to pay at your hospital, but when I put in my numbers I don’t see a balance,” I said.

“Give me your account number and
name and I’ll be happy to help,” she said, as she typed. I gave her the information she needed and she put me on hold again.

“Yes
, Ms. Sakis. It seems your account with us has been paid,” she stated.

“
Paid?” I asked. “How is that possible when I didn’t pay it yet?” That’s when it dawned on me. 

“Yes
, well it has been paid,” she said again.

“Thank you,
” I relented.

“Well
, have yourself a good day,” she said as she hung up.

I scrolled through my phone and pressed call once I found the name I wanted.

“Yes?”
Daimon said low and rough.

“Why did you pay my father’s hospital bill?” I asked
.

“I told you, I would pay for everything that concerns you and that includes your father. Didn’t we already discuss this?” he said. 

“
Daimon…Thank you,” I said softly.

“
Finally you said something nice to me,” he said devilishly.

“Yeah
, well I did sell myself to you, so I don’t know if I should be thanking you or myself,” I refuted.

“
You said it now, there’s no taking it back
,
” he laughed. I was lost again. I never experienced the sound of his low gruff laugh through the phone. I swallowed hard while taking in the sound.
This was a business deal, Addie. A business deal,
I kept repeating over and over again.

“
Daimon, I’m going to have to talk to you about…the diner,” I said, humiliated by the words I spoke.

“
Addie, I don't want you to sound like that. A deal’s a deal. I told you I’d pay everything, so you don’t even have to think about it. I will need you to come down to my office to sign some papers about the diner, but other than that it’s pretty much done with
,
”
Daimon said confidently.

“
What do you mean?” I asked surprised.

“
Just come tomorrow and I’ll explain everything to you.”

***

I woke up pretty early the next day wondering what the hell Daimon had done. I couldn’t wait until the time he had told me to show up so I ended up being in front of his building when he showed up for work.

“This is a pleasant surprise.
You missed me, didn’t you?” he winked and grinned. I looked around and there was his personal secretary who was standing behind him. 

“Couldn’t help it
, it’s been a few days since I saw you,” I smiled, biting my inner lip hard, pissed off at the fact the charade had started so early in the morning. 

Daimon
took my hand and intertwined our fingers as he led me through the doors and lobby of his building. The security guard who was there the first time I had visited, allowed us to pass through as he followed us from behind. He placed his key into the side of the elevator and called it down. Once the doors opened, all three of us stepped through Daimon, his personal secretary and me. He held onto my hand tightly as we rode up to his office. I fell silent, uncomfortable with this third person who was standing behind us. Only when we entered his office was I able to relax and finally breathe. 

“Sit
, Addie,” Daimon gestured to the couches on the other end of his office. “I didn’t anticipate you coming here so early,” he said as he walked to his desk. 

“
Sorry, I just wanted to get this over with,” I said bluntly. I was nervous and I didn’t know why. 

“
Fine,” he said, reaching for a manila envelope. “This is all the paperwork you need to sign.” He threw it at me as he went back to his desk and began looking though his own paperwork. 

I reaching inside the envelo
pe and pulled out two packages. One had the name of the diner on it. I read it thoroughly. Daimon had acquired it through the bank. He then paid off its debts and shut it down. In less than a week Daimon was able to easily erase my whole life. I looked at the paperwork knowing that it was over. Everything my father and mother had planned, all the years my father and I put into it, was now all gone. I let out a heavy sigh as I resigned myself to my new reality. I began to sign the various places that had an X marking the spot for my signature, making sure I read thoroughly what was in front of me. Once I finished the first bundle of papers, I reached for the second. It was a prenuptial agreement. 

“
What’s this?” I asked as I began looking through it.

“I know you can read
, Addie. Well at least I think you can,” Daimon chuckled.

“
You want me to sign this?” I asked.

“
Yes I do, among other things, but we can do that on a later date.” He stood up from his desk and walked over to me. “It’s a pre-nup, Addie. I need to protect what’s mine,” he said bluntly.

“I know.
It’s just that it’s becoming abundantly clear how much I’m in over my head,” I stated as I read through it.

Basically
, I would be given everything while married to him, but once we were divorced I got nothing. Not one penny of what he earned. I understood, he worked for it and I didn’t, but it didn’t make me feel any better. If anything it made me feel worse, like I was insignificant somehow. I was nobody in his life and I contributed nothing to him and his world. Here it was in giant neon letters in my hand.

“
Does it bother you?” he asked somewhat surprised.

“
No,” I breathed and without thinking, signed it. 

“
As for the other contract, we’ll have to write that one together seeing how my contract didn’t work the first time around,” he smiled as he sat down in front of me.

“When?”
I asked without really bothering with him. “Tomorrow,” he said. I nodded looking down at the two piles of paper which had both changed my life in a span of fifteen minutes. “Addie?”

“Hmm.”

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I'm fine,
” I lied. I stood up and headed out.

“Hey, where are you going without saying anything?” he asked
with annoyance.

“I'm leaving, I came to do what was needed
and now I'm done,” I said coldly. The truth was I wanted to leave here and just lament about what had happened. 

“Addie…
” he said again, but I stopped him.

“
Tomorrow, tomorrow you own me. But today, I'm Addie Sakis, the daughter of a man whose dream died today. Tomorrow, I'm your Addie, the one you bought, but not today,” I said curtly. Daimon stayed sitting as he watched me intently. I pulled my gaze away from his beautiful blue eyes and left. 

***

“So I hear your father is doing better,” Elissa said over the phone. Both she and Jace would not stop calling, trying to see if I needed anything. Darren was great with what had happened and didn’t push when I wanted to start working again.

“Y
eah, he’s doing great actually. Despite all that happened I'm pretty happy with everything,” I said sounding melancholy. 

“What do you mean?”
she asked nervously. 

“Well
, I shut the diner down and I didn’t tell my father yet. I figure I’ll wait, but the man isn’t stupid. He knows something’s up. I figure I’ll tell him in a week or so,” I said resigned as I stood in front of our diner looking through the darkened storefront. 

“Are you serious? Look
, if you need me, I'm here. I’ll always be here for you,” Elissa said trying to comfort me. “Besides, Addie, it was about time. The restaurant had its hay day, now you get to move on and live for yourself.” Her words hit close to home. For myself? Not for another. I don’t even know how long that would last. Daimon had bought me for a price and I let him. He now owned me and I had to accept that.

“
Thanks, Elissa,” I said as I hung up.

I moved closer
to the storefront and held out my hand. The window was cold to the touch; the diner had given us life and I basically took it away. It now lay there lifeless, gone from our lives. 

The lights were
off and the door was locked. It looked so different after only a few weeks away from it. I stood there thinking about it like it was another person in our lives. The diner had always been there from the time when I was little, through my mother’s death and my father’s illness, until right now. A bittersweet feeling came over me as I looked inside and remembered all the sacrifices and work we had all done. Daimon had so easily taken it over and ended everything for us. A large chapter in my life had ended and now I was to start a new one. Where was it going to lead me? I didn’t know, but today I had to think about my father and how I was going to explain all this.