Eliot pushed open the door to "Eternal Night", a coffee shop that took its theme of contemporary Goth very seriously. The walls were adorned with black velvet drapes, and the tables were shaped like coffins. The air was thick with the scent of incense and freshly brewed coffee.
As he scanned the room, Eliot spotted Damien sitting at a table by the window, sipping on a latte. Damien was dressed in a tailored black suit, his crisp white shirt and black tie perfectly knotted. Eliot, on the other hand, was wearing a navy blue suit with a subtle pattern, his white shirt and silver tie gleaming in the dim light.
As they sat down, the patrons of the coffee shop couldn't help but stare. Eliot and Damien were both celebrities in their own right, and it was clear that they were used to being the center of attention.
A group of goth teenagers at the next table couldn't contain their excitement, whispering and giggling as they snapped photos of the two men with their phones. "Oh my god, is that Eliot Aston?" one of them squealed, her eyes wide with excitement.
Damien smiled and nodded, waving at the group. Eliot, on the other hand, looked slightly uncomfortable, his eyes scanning the room for a way to escape the attention.
The waitress, a petite woman with a nose ring and a tattoo of a snake coiled around her wrist, greeted them with a warm smile. "Welcome to Eternal Night, gentlemen," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "What can I get you?"
Eliot ordered a coffee, and the waitress nodded, her eyes sparkling with flirtation. "I'll bring it right over, handsome," she said, winking at him before sauntering off.
Damien chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I see you're still got it, Eliot," he said, his voice low and smooth. "Though I'm surprised you're not still pining after Lily. Or was it just a publicity stunt to boost your career?"
Eliot's eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched in annoyance. "What are you talking about, Damien?" he asked, his voice firm.
Damien shrugged, his smile growing wider. "Oh, just making an observation," he said. "You and Lily were always a bit of a power couple, weren't you? But I suppose that's what happens when you're more in love with the idea of being in love than actually being in love."
Eliot's face twisted in anger, but he kept his cool, not wanting to give Damien the satisfaction of getting a rise out of him. "I'm trying to move forward, Damien," Eliot said, his voice firm. "I don't need your lectures on morality."
Damien held up his hands, a mock-innocent expression on his face. "Oh, I'm sorry, Eliot. I didn't mean to offend you. I just wanted to get your advice on marriage."
Eliot raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "My advice on marriage?"
Damien nodded, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Yes, I'm getting married soon, and I wanted to get your take on what makes a successful marriage. Though I'm not sure you're the best person to ask, considering your track record."
Eliot's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his cool, not wanting to give Damien the satisfaction of getting a rise out of him. "Congratulations, Damien," Eliot said, his voice forced. "I'm sure you'll make a wonderful husband. Though I'm not sure your fiancée knows what she's getting herself into."
Damien's smile faltered for a moment, before he regained his composure. "Ah, but that's the beauty of it, Eliot," he said. "She knows exactly what she's getting herself into. And she's more than happy to take on the challenge."
Eliot's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with possibilities. What was Damien's game?
As he glanced down at Damien's hand, he noticed the engagement ring glinting on his finger. "I'm sure she is," Eliot said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "After all, who wouldn't want to marry a man as charming and trustworthy as you?"
Damien's smile returned, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Exactly," he said. "And speaking of which, I'd like to invite you to my reception ball next week."
Eliot's eyes widened in surprise, but he couldn't think of a reason to decline. "Thank you, Damien," Eliot said, his voice neutral. "I'll be there."
Damien's smile returned, his eyes glinting with triumph. "Excellent," he said. "I'll make sure to save you a seat. And who knows, maybe you'll even learn a thing or two about what makes a successful marriage," Damien added, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Eliot's face twisted in annoyance, but he kept his cool. "I doubt it," he said, his voice dry.
Damien chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll see about that," he said. "Anyway, I should get going. I have a lot of preparations to make for the wedding."
Eliot nodded, standing up as Damien did. "It was...enlightening speaking with you, Damien," Eliot said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Damien smiled, his eyes glinting with triumph. "The feeling is mutual, Eliot," he said. "I'll see you at the wedding."
As Damien walked out of the coffee shop, Eliot couldn't shake the feeling that he had just been played. He sat back down, his mind racing with possibilities. What was Damien's game? And why did he feel like he was being manipulated?
The waitress came over to him, a concerned expression on her face. "Hey, are you okay?" she asked. "You look like you've lost your last friend."
Eliot smiled wryly, shaking his head. "I'm fine," he said. "Just had a bit of a run-in with someone."
The waitress nodded sympathetically. "Well, if you need anything, just let me know," she said. "I'm here for you."
Eliot smiled, feeling a spark of gratitude towards her. "Thanks," he said. "I appreciate it."
As he sat there, sipping his coffee and trying to make sense of his encounter with Damien, Eliot couldn't shake the feeling that he was in over his head. He had a feeling that Damien's wedding was going to be a lot more than just a celebration of love and commitment. And he had a feeling that he was going to be right in the middle of it all.