Chapter 269 - Missing You

[Song Recommendation: Fallin' All In You by Shawn Mendes]

62nd Floor - Damien's Penthouse

Seeing Katherine's text message, the corners of Damien's mouth instantly lifted up. He almost forgot that he had set a reminder with a video attachment on her new phone earlier. It was eight in the evening and with her message, he knew that she had already watched the video.

Did she really like it? Oh, what the hell, she already said she loved it.

He started to wonder if she had seen the pictures in the folder. His tongue ran across his lips as he thought about what to say back to her.

Watching the giddy expression on Damien's face, Alianna got curious so she stalked towards him, snooped from his shoulder and saw Katherine's text message.

She sucked in air and wondered aloud, "You have her number? Video? What Video? You sent her a video?" she gasped. "Did you send her a video of you? Please tell me it's not a video of you naked!"

Damien clicked his tongue in annoyance and brushed her hand off his arm as he stepped away from her. "What's wrong with you? I'm not some creep! I sent her a video of Bear!"

"How should I know? Kids these days be sending weird stuff to each other," she shrugged.

Caleb took a swig of his beer and chimed in, "Bear is adorable but even I thought you would send her a video of yourself."

'Naked?' Damien thought. "Really? Should I have done that?" He really considered the thought. 

Apparently, Alianna thought the same and now she was grossed out. "Eww eww!" She shook her body in disgust.

Rolling his eyes, Damien strolled back to the sofa and slumped, grabbing Ali's unopened beer bottle and popping the cap off. He wasn't much of a beer drinker but with the right company, he didn't mind it at all.

"What are you going to tell her?" Alianna sat next to her cousin and watched him eagerly, curious as to how he was going to play his cards after learning information about Katherine. Will he tell her or will he keep mum about the whole thing?

Damien didn't answer her and took a long sip of his beer before he started typing on the screen with the message:

[Where are you?]

However, he deleted it as soon as he finished the punctuation and now he was back with a blank message. The old Damien was too aggressive and he didn't think that would work for Katherine now as he might scare her off easily. Thinking thoroughly, he needed to take a step back and tread the waters carefully so he composed another response and sent it.

[Damien: You're welcome. How do you like your new phone?]

Alianna looked at her cousin and blinked, wondering why he was so tame at the moment. It wasn't what she expected to see but she could say it was a safer reply.

His phone beeped and he immediately tapped on the screen to read Katherine's message — eager to hear from her like a teenager waiting for his crush to text back.

[Katherine: It's very functional and stylish. But my favorite thing is that it has some really nice pictures of Bear.]

The suppressed charming smile on his face made Caleb and Alianna exchange looks. The pair got up, left the living room and went to the kitchen to raid his refrigerator—but not after cozying up and locking lips, of course.

Damien's attention was completely on Katherine now as he thought of his next response and a naughty idea came to mind. He typed the message:

[It would be nicer if my picture was in it too.]

Delete.

He cursed himself. What was wrong with him? His fingers were too fast for his mind to process what he should be saying to her instead. When his screen was blank again, his gaze landed on Bear who was staring back at him. After some thought, he wrote his reply and sent it.

[Damien: Bear says he misses you.]

The simple message meant so much more than its bare meaning. His heart was partially sent with it as well… saying that he missed her too — he just hoped that she got it.

And when Katherine received his reply, she couldn't help but form a small smile on her face as well. The sender was clearly from 'Baby Bear' and the message obviously said that the fluffball was missing her… But who was she kidding? Her mind was safe, right? It was okay to think that Damien meant to say he missed her, right?

Because of that, she hesitantly and nervously sent her reply to him.

[Katherine: Tell him I miss him too. Very much.]

She was —of course— talking about Bear. But if she would be totally honest, she could be talking about the man too.

Reading her text message made Damien's heart skip a beat. It startled him that his hand flew up to his chest and felt it was beating faster than usual.

He looked at Bear next to him and patted its head saying, "She misses us, buddy."

It was bold of him to say that knowing how they exchanged texts just now but there was just something about it that made him feel that he was right to say so. He wanted to really believe that — would that be so bad?

Swinging his legs up the sofa, he made himself comfortable and lay on it as he sent her another message.

[Damien: I could bring him over to you sometime if you want to see him?]

That would be okay, right? It was only a suggestion… and he was hoping she would say yes.

It took a little longer to receive Katherine's response and when she did, Damien felt slightly uneasy.

[Katherine: Maybe someday… I know how busy you are all the time with your schedule. It will be time-consuming.]

His mind then wandered back to what Alianna and Caleb told him earlier. He and Katherine were so close yet so far. She was so near to him and he was dying to tell her it wouldn't be time-consuming. And even if it did, he didn't mind at all. He would be really glad to do so.

[Damien: I can have Markus bring him to you whenever you want. Just let me know where to send Bear for a sleepover.]

If she was hesitant to see him, this would be a solution. Maybe she would say yes and tell him where she lived.

Receiving Damien's message made Katherine feel a little unsure about the whole thing. Did that mean Caleb didn't tell him where she lived yet? Should she tell him? She surely wanted to see Bear that's for sure.

She chewed on her bottom lip, conflicted as to what she should tell Damien.