Before she could voice her thoughts, the door flung open, revealing the entrance of the President, her graceful presence commanding attention. Reacting swiftly, Lauren rose from her seat, spurred by politeness and propriety, offering her warm greeting.
The weight of unspoken words lingered between Damien and herself, temporarily suspended in the shared space as they both navigated the arrival of the distinguished president.
"Oh please have a seat Agent Lauren" she said smiling while she went towards Damien and gave him a hug.
"How are you Damien" She said as soon as she disengaged from the hug.
"Sturdy as an oak" he said smiling back.
"Damon and derek couldnt make it, as the former had an important surgery while derek went on an errand for me" Damien said replying the thought in her mind, while she nodded in acknowledgement.
Lauren sat quietly and watched the exchange between the two and concluded that maybe they were family after all.
"Agent Lauren I hope I didnt keep you two waiting for long" the president inquired, this time looking at her.
"No ma'am" she answered coolly.
The three conversed for some time before the president together with her secretary of state led her to the Whitehouse press for her award presentation.
Lauren was so humbled and excited at the same time, who would have thought she would ever be recognized by the President, talk more of being the first ever recipient for her award.
Few minutes after her award presentation, the chauffeur sent by her aunt Veronica arrived.
"Damien I will be leaving then, thank you for today" she said softly
"Dont mention it"he replied before seeing her off to the car.
"I hope I'm not the only one that can see how smitten you are of your human friend" The president remarked patting Damien on the shoulder from behind.
"Not you too" he lamented playfully.
"Ah, so I'm right then... I'm happy for you either way.... does she know about your personality?" She asked when the two walked back inside and towards the dinning area to have lunch.
"She's a witch....matter of fact it's a long story" Damien said.
"Well I'm all ears" the President said indicating her interest in listening to his long story.
All her life she had come to know of the vampire and supernatural realm through Damien, Derek and Damon, who had been with their family since the first generation.
She always finds it fascinating and also a privilege whenever they tell her tales of centuries ago, but she had known to not dabble into it unprovoked to avoid bringing unnecessary attention to her and her family
_____________________________
Lauren was awestruck when she stood infront of the big castle, if she regarded her house as a mansion, then surely this beauty she is staring at is a royal castle.
"This way miss" the chauffeur said leading her inside the huge mansion.
"Lauren my dear" Veronica Benneth cooed upon seeing her walk in with the chauffeur.
Beaming with smile, she gathered Lauren into a warm embrace which startled her for a minute before relaxing.
"Now come with me darling, everyone is waiting" Veronica Benneth said excitedly as she led her into the spacious ball room.
She was momentarily shocked to see the number of people that came to see her, welcome her into the family.
"Wow, they are so many people" she muttered in a nervous tone.
"And they are family, dont be nervous darling, you will be fine" Veronica benneth whispered to her before all of the invited family started approaching to where she stood.
Meanwhile at LUX nightclub....
" Do you think they would tell her tonight?" Damon asked sipping his glass of dirty martini
"I doubt, they would have to make her feel welcomed, when she is comfortable enough, they will start dropping hints bit by bit to pick her curiosity, and eventually tell her when she brings something similar up" Derek summed up.
"What do you think Damien?" Damon asked Damien who hadn't said a single word since they got to LUX over an hour ago.
"They will make her pick a side eventually, and whatever side she leans towards will determine if the prophecy will fail or be fulfilled" Damien replied and with that, he got to his feet and left.
"What's wrong, he's been moody since he's been here, do you guys know anything?" Venessa asked, derek shrugged.
"Beats me, now if you will excuse you, I have a beautiful woman waiting for me in my room" damon said smirking as he exited their private lounge.
---
Over 50 people in the ballroom gathered around lauren and welcomed her into the family. Some she could tell have some resemblance with her late mum, while some she reasoned where family friends.
Veronica Benneth had invited her to a supposedly little family gathering, so that she can get to know her immediate and extended families, but looking around, Lauren swear anyone could mistake these for a cocktail party of wealthy people.
Third quarter of the people she had greeted and interacted with that night were the some of the most influential people in the country, some top CEOs, some politicians and others were celebrities of different calibre.
Chloe would have loved to be here, lauren thought as she made her way to the rest room.
Coming out of the ladies room, her phone within the confines of her diamond encrusted purse began to ring, looking down and trying to open the purse, she collided with someone, causing drinks to spill, not on her but on the other person.
Luckily no one was looking as everyone was immensed in one discussion or the other.
She gasped when she saw before her a stained white shirt.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry" she said repeated, while clutching her phone so tight her knuckles turned ashen.
The stranger only smiled at her. "Its ok, my men will get me a new one, forget about the mess" he chuckled, just then she raised her face to look at him and was met with a strikingly handsome face smiling at her, a smile that radiated she was sure could light a dark room.
"I'm marcel" He said still smiling down at her.. there was a light bulb that went off in her head when her eyes met that ridiculously good looking face,recognition laced her expression, he was one of the youngest and most influential CEOs in the country.
"Marcel Bruce, of StellarTech solutions?" She asked, to be sure.
"The one" he said softly at her.
"Nice to finally meet you" he said stretching his hands for a handshake, which she accepted.
He was about to say something when he heard his name, turning towards his back, he saw his ever worried mother walk anxiously towards him.
"Thank God I thought you had left" she breathed a sigh of relief before turning towards the young lady her stoic son was talking to and to her pleasant suprise it was Lauren.
"Lauren dear" she said and immediately gathered her into a motherly hug, and holding her for a minute.
After disengaging from the hug, the older woman wiped out a tear that threatened to escape from her eyelid.
"Forgive my behaviour my dear, I was just overwhelmed, you remind me so much of dearest friend, your late mother" the woman explained.
"What, your were friends with my mum?" Lauren asked, happy to see who can tell her more about her mum.
"Oh yes, I wasnt just her friend, we grew up together, she was the sister I never had" the woman narrated solemnly.
"If it's not too much trouble, why dont we find a place to sit, so you can tell me more about my mum" Lauren suggested, making the woman's eyes to lit up in delight.
"Oh I dont mind at all" turning to her son, and for the first time, realized his white shirt was stained.
"What happened to you?" The mother asked.
"I spilled a drink on myself, now If you will excuse me ladies, I need to go change " he said gesticulating to his stained white shirt before leaving.
She was taken aback upon hearing him tell this false tale, she was certain she was the one that bumped into him without looking.
She was still engrossed in her thought when the departing Marcel spoke again.
"You owe me a drink Lauren" he said winking at her.