Chapter 4: Meeting the Boss

I blinked as I saw a guy in sweats doing handstands on a red velvet sofa. He looked my age. His hair was a black and a bit longish, giving him a bit of a feminine look. While his eyes were deep red like rubies.

His toned arms bulged with each flex of his arms. His body was so well-built that I had to stare at him.

"Hey! I was waiting for you," he yelled before leaping off the sofa. The blood rushed away from his head as he adjusted his green shirt.

He grinned and approached me, his face slightly red. The guy had a boyish handsomeness to him.

The guy held out his hand and smirked. "So, you're the granddaughter, right? I'm Damien, a candidate for the position of future head."

I blinked, staring at his casual wear. This guy was really Zara's boss? I expected someone older and more gruff looking. Not a handsome guy around my age.

"Uh, yeah. I'm Shelly and this is my brother, Toren. Are you really a candidate for head? You seem, uh..."

"Different? Unorthodox? Yeah, I know," Damien said, chuckling as he shrugged. "I'm not really into the old ways, you see." He waved his hands and spun around, his eyes sparkling. "I want to reform the family. Bring it into the modern era. And, I'm pretty sure I can do that. What do you say? Want to help me?"

I stared at him. He was so... enthusiastic. "Um, what exactly do you want to change?"

"Everything!" he said, throwing his hands up. He closed them over the chandelier and made a fist. "This house, this clan, this system. All of it is outdated. All creativity is squashed, and all those who oppose the head become pariahs. It's not right."

"Uh, I don't know if I can help with all that," I said. "I'm just a waitress."

He laughed so loudly that Toren jumped and held my leg. "Just a waitress, eh? That's perfect. A waitress would never have been allowed into the family before. But now, you can. You're the granddaughter of Alaister Veyron. You can be the catalyst for change. You can bring new ideas, new life, into the clan."

I stared at him. I didn't know what to say or think. Zara said he was eccentric, but the look in his eyes told me it was way beyond that. He was like a hurricane that swept through the room and turned everything upside down.

He stared at Toren and let out a roar. "Rawr!"

"Wah!" Toren hid behind my leg. Then, he poked his head out and roared back. "Rawr! Rawr!"

I stifled a laugh as the two of them roared at each other.

"Rawr! Rawr! Rawr!"

Damien laughed. "You're good! What's your name?"

My brother smiled, waving his dinosaur toy. "Toren!"

Damien chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Nice to meet you, little guy. You have a cool dinosaur."

"Rawr! Roawr!" Toren said, imitating a dinosaur's roar. "I'm a dino! Rawr!"

Damien roared back and laughed. "Yeah, you're a scary dino, aren't you? But I'm an even scarier one! Rawr!"

I smiled as they roared at each other. At least, Toren seemed to like him. But, did I?

Damien suddenly fell silent and his expression became serious. "Sorry about that. I couldn't help myself. Toys like that remind me of when I was a kid."

I blinked. So he had a serious side too. I couldn't tell if he was an adult or an oversized kid. "Uh, no problem."

"Good, good. Anyway, I need to ask you something." He leaned in and whispered in my ear. "What do you know about the accident that killed your parents?"

I froze. "They hit a tree while driving."

He snorted. "That's what the police report said. But I think someone in the family was behind it. Someone killed them to get rid of your mother and you two. Luckily, you survived long enough to claim your inheritance. With my backing, of course."

I gulped. "You really think the Vonrey de Luthaines are involved?"

He shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. They are a bunch of snakes. They'll do anything to stay in power. Even kill. You need to be careful around them."

I nodded. If what he was saying was true, then we were in danger. And, I wasn't sure what to do.

He chuckled and spun around. "Relax, you're safer here!" he shouted. "As long as you stick with me, no one will touch you. I'll make sure of it." He laughed maniacally and raised his hands. "Together, we'll reform the family and bring new life into this stuffy place. And, if anyone gets in our way, we'll crush them!"

I gulped. "Are you serious?"

He hummed. "Well, I would prefer things to be a bit less violent. I was thinking you could try to win over the others. You know, with your womanly charms and all that."

I blushed, feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment. "What the hell are you implying?!"

Damien laughed. "Don't get so worked up. I wasn't talking about that kind. I'm talking about your ability to influence people and change minds. I'm sure you have that talent."

I frowned. "How do you know that?"

"I'm a good judge of character. I've been watching you since you arrived. You're strong and determined. You wouldn't have survived this long if you weren't. And, you're not afraid to stand up to people. At least not Cassian. That guy is the worst."

I looked at him, confused. "You've been watching me?"

Damien smirked and picked up a remote control from his desk. It looked like a drone remote. He pressed a button and a screen appeared on the wall. It showed the outside of the mansion and the garden. It looked like a live feed.

"Hey, you're spying on us?!" I snapped.

He laughed and shrugged. "It's not really spying. I'm just keeping an eye on you. I'm not some creep, you know."

I wasn't sure if I could trust him. But, I didn't have much of a choice. If he could help us, then I had to go along with him.

Damien hummed. "To be honest, you're not what I expected. I was expecting someone more... feminine. You know, someone who's a bit more uwu and easy to manipulate. But, you're not like that at all. And, I like that."

I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is uwu?"

He smirked. "It's a term used by people on the internet. You know, those cute anime girls that are all flirty and innocent. I'm sure you've seen them."

I rolled my eyes and looked at him. "What kind of anime do you even watch?!"

He laughed. "I'm into the idol genre. You know, cute girls doing cute things. I'm a big fan."

I stared at him. I couldn't believe this was the guy that was going to be the new head of the family. What a joke. But, at least he seemed harmless. I wasn't sure what to make of him. On the one hand, he was a bit weird and eccentric. On the other, he seemed to genuinely want to help me and Toren. He didn't seem like a bad person. Just a bit... odd.

Damien hummed and looked at me. "Anyway, I'll leave you to get settled in. You have a lot to learn about the family. And, if you need anything, just ask Zara. I put her on guard duty. She should be setting up your room right now."

"Alright," I said. "Thank you, Sir Veyron."

He smiled and waved his hand. "Hey, none of that 'sir' business. Call me Damien."

I smiled and nodded. "Alright, Damien."