"Damon... What happened last night? I can't remember." Phoebe started. She had had a bath and prepared for the day while Damon raised his head from the couch he had crashed on.

On her was a yellow mini wrap-dress with her ankle-lathered boots.

"Aww! Are you going somewhere?" Damon stretched and narrow his sore eyes at her. She was picking up the empty wine bottles and arranging the place.

"Yes, it's Tuesday, remember? I have to visit the salon and the spa shop. I might meet my friend later, so it's possible I spend the night with Samantha." She replied. Noticing the silence, Phoebe went back to Damon.

"Is everything alright? I remember you were crying about something. What happened last night?"

"My parents... They were involved in the plane crash." he murmured, remembering what last night was like.

"Oh, my... I'm so sorry about that." she looked really sad as the edge of her lips pulled down. "No wonder you drank so much. Are you going to go home?"

"Yes. Probably by weekend. I need to go home." Damon mouthed.

"What about our trip to Dubai? Is it canceled or postponed?" she moved closer to him with worry written all over her face.

"I'm not interested in traveling, okay? No more trip, I'd go to California. You can come with me if you want to!" He pointed out.

"Is it because of your parents?" Phoebe pouted her lips in innocence and gently placed her hand on his bare chest. "Too bad, I'm going to miss this one time opportunity. We've planned this for months and now, it's off.... Just like that?"

She ended up staring into his eyes while they shared an eye contact.

"Please... Don't change your mind now." She wrapped her arm around him and pressed. Hoping he would change his mind about changing his mind. "I'd bought a new camera for our first vacation together. I know it's not so important right now, but at least, think about it. This could be an opportunity to get over the sad thoughts, don't you think?"

She traced her index finger on his square-jaw and leaned closer as she persuaded. About to place a kiss, he felt like regurgitating and pulled her away by the arms.

"What's it?" She raised a slim eyebrow, pulling closer.

Suddenly, the withheld puke poured out of his mouth, splashing on her body.

"What the fuck?!" Phoebe gave out a desperate suspire while her jaw dropped in shock.

"I'm so sorry!" Damon rolled his eyes at her and got up from the couch without saying anymore word. He rushed into the bathroom to get a bath and clean up himself while Phoebe gently pulled out her dress and tied a towel.

Curiosity clouded her eyes while she folded her arms on her chest, worriedly. "I'd make sure our trip isn't canceled. Even if it's the last thing I do." She said to herself with determination.

Five days later, Damon and his friends went to the airport. He was scared throughout the flight, but with his friends by his side, there was little to worry about. Carrying the burden with a heavy heart, Damon celebrated his twenty-second birthday with his friends, and from Dubai, flew back to California.

In months' time, they introduced Damon to all the nooks and cronies from Smith, Inc. while he became the Chief executive officer. Damon took responsibility for Ava Dior's tuition fees. After high-school, he enrolled her at Harvard University where she studied business management. She was a bright student, as it is. All she wanted was to be a successful businesswoman like her mother. She studied really hard and was nicknamed 'the nerd' because she always had books around her and gigantic reading glasses on her face.

Five years later, Ava Dior graduated as the best student of the year and received several awards and opportunities to work with other big companies around the world. It was an outstanding achievement indeed. Ava Dior spent a month with Aunt Diane in Paris who is now the mother of three and also a hardworking nurse.

After spending time with her aunt and cousins, Ava Dior came back to California. Unsure why Damon asked her to visit him when she told him about taking the open offers and working with other companies.

He hardly replies to her messages or pick her calls. Aunt Diane advised she meets him personally since he's a lion on the field of business.

***

"I need to see Mr. Smith. It's urgent."

"I'm sorry, miss, but you need an appointment to see the CEO."

Ava Dior rolled her eyes, defeated. Not knowing where to start from. She dialed his contact severally, and he's been ignoring her calls and texts.

After some minutes of thoughts, Ava Dior walked back to the secretary. She was a medium height, slim woman in her late thirties, but she has a faded blond hair and dark grey eyes that could easily be mistaken for blue.

"Please, ma'am. Help me tell him it's Ava Dior Davis, his younger sister. I only came here because he asked me to. Can't I visit my brother?"

"You don't have to raise your voice at me. Perhaps, what is your business regarding?" The secretary rolled her eyes at Ava Disgustingly as if she was lying.

Well, no one knew the CEO had a sister. Noticing the white peplum shirt, sport-grey pencil skirt and white wedge on Ava Dior, the secretary let out an annoying hiss.

That got Damon's attention. The door to his architectural company office was slightly open, and he heard the entire conversation between his secretary and Ava, Dior. It's been a while since he last saw or heard his sister's voice. Everything about her reminded him of Elvira. That was why he had avoided her during the years, but now is the right time. 'It is.' Damon pondered while he pressed the call button. "Kiara, send her in."

"Okay, sir." She said, hanging up.

Ava Dior rolled her eyes and sighed heavily before walking into the office. Damon watched the door slide open while Ava Dior stepped in, closing the door behind her.

Damon's executive chair turned to her beautiful features and his hazel eyes widened a bit, dumbfounded at how grown up she's become.

Her black, wavy hair settled at her back in perfect curls and despite being annoyed by his secretary, Ava Dior exuded confidence as she walked towards the CEO.

"Good morning, Brother." Ava Dior greeted audibly with a smile.

He raised his eyes at her, as if she was an intruder. Damon glared at her, refusing to be swayed by her appearance and tone. As it is, they never really get along. While growing, Ava Dior had witnessed a lot of his firsts... And unlike any other girl, she knows most of his secrets. Well, probably all sisters do.

"It's Mr. Damon Smith." he corrected.

"Mr. Smith, it is." She gently exhaled and took a seat right in front of him, without being asked to seat. "Aww, it's good meeting you again. It's been like... Five years since we last met, right? First, your secretary is rude. Second, you invited me to California. Third, can we be a little more formal?"

"Excuse you?" Damon voiced out seriously with her kind of attitude. Ava Dior as he remembered us to be a shy little girl. He frowned, studying her face as she tucked the strands of her shiny hair behind her ears. Damon remained silent for a while, thinking about her last words. "I know why I invited you, okay?"

Of course, it's been five years since they last met. That shouldn't cause a fight, right? 'Patience... Patience.' He told himself. Trying not to push her away or pick up a fight like he usually do.

"What about your secretary? She actually thinks I'm a fake." Ava Dior rolled her eyes and nodded her head at the thought.

Damon feigned a laugh, then pulled closer a little. "Mum and dad always liked you best, but that doesn't mean you can come in here and talk ill about my secretary. You are not in our parent's house, you're in Smith Inc. Now, where were we?"

'What an attitude?' Ava Dior's eyebrows pulled together as her mouth went dry on the words. "Why am I here?"