Damian
The problem with Elara was that she refused to stay where I put her.
Not physically, but mentally.
I had patients to see, reports to finish, and an entire department that depended on me making sensible decisions.
Instead, I kept catching myself wondering what she was doing.
I glanced at my phone again.
Every time I considered contacting her, another thought immediately followed—I’m bothering her.
The woman had spent half our acquaintance trying to escape me.
There was a reasonable chance she would find constant messages annoying.
Unfortunately, there was an equally strong chance that not messaging her would drive me insane.
I tossed my phone onto my desk.
This was ridiculous.
I was a grown man.
A successful one.
Yet somehow a woman with stubborn eyes and questionable decision-making skills had turned me into someone who spent five minutes debating whether sending a text was too eager.
By the end of the workday, I was already in a bad mood.
Which made family dinner particularly unfortunate.
My mother was waiting when I arrived and the moment I sat down, she smiled in a way that immediately made me suspicious.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Because you look pleased about something,” I replied.
“I am pleased.”
That confirmed my concerns.
I poured myself a glass of water.
“What did you do?”
She laughed.
“I haven’t done anything.”
”Yet.”
Her smile widened so that was a ‘definitely yet’.
“Damian,” she began, “you’re thirty-two years old—”
”There it is,” I cut off with a sigh.
My mother’s eyebrow raised.
“There what is?”
”The reason you invited me to dinner.”
She looked offended.
“I invited you because I love you.”
”And because you want grandchildren,” I added immediately.
She sighed and set her fork down.
“I’m just worried you won’t get married and have a family of your own.
You’re not getting any younger, Damian.”
I closed my eyes briefly.
Unfortunately, that was enough encouragement for my father to finally join the conversation.
“Your mother isn’t entirely wrong,” he said calmly.
I looked at him in disbelief.
“I was wondering how long it would take before you switched sides.”
”I’m not taking sides,” he replied.
“I’m being practical.”
”That usually means you’re about to agree with her.”
”It means you’re the only son of this family.”
There it was.
My mother immediately brightened.
“Exactly,” she said.
“Finally, someone sensible at this table.”
I rubbed my temple.
My father continued, completely ignoring my suffering.
“One day, you’ll inherit everything we’ve built.
The hospitals, the investments, the family foundation.
Eventually, someone has to continue that legacy after you.”
”You make me sound like a medieval king who needs an heir.”
”You do need an heir,” my mother said without hesitation.
“Thank you for proving my point.”
”I’m serious,” she replied.
“Your father spent decades building this family name.
You can’t expect us not to think about the future.”
I leaned back in my chair.
“I am thinking about the future.
That’s why I don’t plan to marry a stranger because she happened to attend the right charity gala.”
My mother immediately perked up.
“Speaking of charity galas, the Harrisons are hosting one next month—”
”No,” I interrupted.
“I haven’t even finished, my son.”
I narrowed my eyes.
“I know you’re planning to introduce me to someone’s daughter.”
”Two daughters, actually,” she corrected with a smile.
I stared at her.
“Both accomplished, intelligent, beautiful, and very much single.”
I took a sip of water.
“Tragic.”
My father nearly choked trying not to laugh.
My mother pointed a fork at me.
“One day you’ll meet a woman and realize I was right.”
The image of Elara immediately appeared in my head.
That alone was enough to ruin my appetite.
“I have no interest in being introduced to strangers,” I said.
My mother narrowed her eyes.
“That’s exactly what someone says before meeting the love of his life.”
”I sincerely hope not.”
”Why?” she asked.
“Because if I meet the love of my life through a family networking event, I deserve whatever follows.”
My father laughed openly this time.
I stood and grabbed my jacket.
“Anyway, I have to go.
I have plans with Marcus.”
My mother watched me suspiciously.
“Are you sure this Marcus person isn’t secretly a woman?”
I walked out before either of my parents could continue the interrogation.
By the time I escaped the house, I desperately needed a drink and texted Marcus to meet at a private bar now.
When I arrived at the bar, Marcus and two of our friends were already there.
Ethan looked up first.
“You look disturbed.”
Marcus grinned.
“Still thinking about her?”
That got everyone’s attention.
Ethan blinked.
“Her?”
I sat down.
Unfortunately, that was enough confirmation.
The room exploded.
Marcus looked delighted.
“This is the girl I told you about.”
Ethan stared at me.
“The Damian Blackwood?”
I poured myself a drink.
“Can we move on?”
”Absolutely not,” Ethan agreed.
I took a long sip and ignored them.
Finally, after enduring several minutes of abuse, I asked the question that had been bothering me all week.
“If you constantly think about a woman,” I said, “does that mean you’ve fallen in love with her?”
Silence.
Then all three men started laughing.
I looked at them.
But none of them stopped.
Marcus wiped his eyes.
“Did Damian Blackwood just ask for relationship advice?”
”I hate all of you.”
Ethan leaned back.
“This is incredible.”
I scowled at them.
“Answer the question.”
”I don’t think the answer matters,” Ethan replied.
“Because the fact that you’re asking tells us everything.”
I considered throwing my glass at him.
Marcus shook his head.
“I never thought I’d see that you’re interested in someone.”
Another friend, Ryan, finally spoke.
“Honestly, you’re overthinking it.”
I looked at him.
“Am I?”
”Yes.
You’ve spent too much time focused on one woman.”
Marcus nodded.
“Agreed.”
Ryan gestured toward the room.
“Meet other women.”
I immediately disliked where this conversation was going.
“That’s terrible advice.”
”No,” Ryan said.
“It’s practical advice.”
Unfortunately, Marcus was already smiling.
Several minutes later, he called the manager over and he pointed toward our table.
“Send a few hostesses over,” he said.
I rubbed my forehead.
This was becoming a disaster.
“You’re welcome,” Marcus said.
Still, as I sat there waiting, one thought continued to circle through my mind.
If spending time with other women was supposed to distract me from Elara… Why did I already know it wouldn’t?