36 hours earlier…

The digital clock on his desk flashed a new time, 1:15 a.m. It was late and his patience was being tested as he sat in the dim lit and quiet room known as his office. He rarely ever found himself at Salvatore Corporations at these hours of the day unless it meant confliction, which he had a lot of. Humanity was to blame for that. None of his emotions could render if his humanity was turned off, but he knew he couldn’t flip the switch completely. A part of him wouldn’t allow it even if he tried to resist it. Elena had changed him.

One girl, one innocent human girl had twisted his dark, controlled world into a chaotic, emotion filled mess. Sure it had its pros and cons, but he never imagined becoming involved in such a situation as conflicting as this one.

Damon drove his hands through his dark hair combing it slowly and torturously. He had purposely stayed here, of all places, to keep his mind distracted with crucial matters such as finances and important paperwork. However, not even the simplicity and demanding deadlines of the business world could keep Elena from his mind.

She was like a drug, a powerful, addicting drug he could just not get enough of. Elena was an experience he had let himself take on and had yet to end. He couldn’t because she was more than just an experience or a girl who he lusted for due to her attributes and sweet, tasty blood. She was everything. She was a reason to live again and try. She served purpose beyond a deadline he set for many that came before her. She was someone he loved and grew to love as he discovered the positives of humanity again. Elena was the light at the end of the tunnel, but that tunnel had something very dark down it and he knew better than to go down that path. For every ounce of love or any other emotion he felt for her, he knew he would never develop to a point where he could not live without her. She was human and he was not. The only way for her to be with him forever was to change and he wouldn’t allow it. This life was not for her.

Sharp invisible points poked and prodded him at the thought.

Tearing one hand from his tousled hair, he threw his hand down on a stack of papers sending them flying and fluttering through the air. They fanned down delicately as his agitation increased with his dilemma.

1:16 a.m. the clock read with only a minute passing. So many thoughts in only a minute, he had to set a world record by now. Damon leaned back in his desk chair and closed his eyes. He tried to concentrate on himself and his core. He focused on why he was still at his office this late at night and not rustling around in his bed sheets with Elena. He was trying to prove a point to himself. This was a trial.

Ever since Katherine had repeatedly barged her way back into his life making the obvious known about his relationship with Elena, it had him thinking. He knew the consequences of his actions. He knew the outcomes of what could be, but having Katherine nagging at you and reminding you every waking seconds had really taken a toll on him and so his decision had been temporarily made. He had to space himself from Elena for a while. Space could determine everything. However, he had not informed his decision with her and he understood her initial reaction to it, but it had to be done. Cutting all ties with her monetarily was his only way. If he had discussed it with her, he was sure he would be in bed with her right now. Instead, he was beating himself up with the ‘what ifs’ and distance he had put between them. It had to be done though. No texts, no calls, no e-mails, no nothing. Any incoming contact from her had been put on hold. He didn’t know how long it would take to accept what he would want, but it had only been less than 24 hours since he had last been with Elena and he needed much more than that to help mend him.

His gums ached and his stomach growled at the thought of satisfying his appetite. Elena’s blood was still well in his system, but it was leaving and fast. He needed blood. He needed to cure his hunger before he drove himself more insane. With all his receptionists and other staff gone for the night he was left empty. No blood bags were stored away in his mini fridge and the only thing to suffice his craving was bourbon, but he didn’t want that. He wanted blood.