Demon

chapter 73

"Jake can we talk" Clara asked at lunch time. They usually spent it together so she had gone to find him.

"What is it Clara" he asked , he sounded annoyed.

"You don't need to sound so annoyed. We always have lunch together " she said.

"Look Clara, this isn't the place to have a talk like you want" Jake said.

No one was around though. Everyone had left to go for lunch.

"No let's have that conversation .You've been snappy ever sense I told you about the training last week" she said.

"Fine. You're wasting your time. You'll never amount to anything more than what you are now"

"Yes I will. I want to build a career" she defended as she remembered Damon's words.

"A career? You're job is fine for now but when we have a family, you need to stay at home. That's your job" he snapped.

"And another thing, if you want us to stop together you'll stop throwing yourself at every man you meet" he added.

"I don't throw myself at men" she said quietly.

"Yes you fucking do. Now let's go get lunch and put this conversation behind us" he snapped but his tone changed to sickly sweet.

Clara followed him and he acted like they hadn't just had the conversation, he was sweet and kind.
But Clara knew she had just seen a side to him she didn't want to admit was there.

A logical person would break up but she wanted to do the whole normal relationship so she wanted to work on it.

"I've got to go, I just remembered I've got extra work and don't want to stay late tonight " she said after quickly eating.
She didn't have extra work.

Back at her desk she went through the paperwork. She looked up moments later to find Damon stood in the doorway.

"You don't usually get back for another 15 minutes" he stated.

"I wanted to get on with my work" she stated.

She looked at Damon who was stood observing her, he was dressed in a suit, everything about him screamed power, authority, serious, and I'll kill you if you so much as breath the same air as me without my permission.

She couldn't help wonder if he had the same ideals as Jake.

She wanted kids in the future but she never wanted to give up her career.

"You're either lost in thought or checking me out" Damon said with a smirk , it interrupted her thinking and when Damon saw he had her attention, he winked.

"I was thinking" she defended herself even though she knew she'd been staring at him.

"About me" he added.

"Not everything is about you" Clara replied.

"Of course it is. Why wouldn't I be the centre of everyone's lives" Damon said slightly dramatically to gain a smile from her.
And Clara did smile.
"You can be childish sometimes you know that right" she told him refering to how dramatic he was.

"You wound me" he replied putting his hand on his chest.

"Why exactly aren't you being bossy though" she was genuinely curious.

"Lunch break isn't over so I'm just making conversation besides you seem upset and I like seeing you smile" he stated.

"I'm just thinking if this is all worth it. Yes I want a career but I also want a family. I don't know whether I'm wasting your time with training if I'm not going to use it" she said carefully wording it. She wasnt giving up her career but she wanted to know what Damon's opinion on having a family and career were.

He seemed like the type to just want a housewife to look after kids.

"Well that's stupid. I see no reason why you can't have a career whilst raising kids.  You just put the child in daycare and go to work"

His anwser surprised her. But maybe he meant in general, maybe his attitude would be different when he settled down.

"What about if you were in a relationship, you had kids, would you expect your girlfriend or wife to stay home" she asked.

"No. If I can go out and get a career, I don't think it's fair that she would have to stay home doing housework instead of following her dreams" Damon replied.

He realised exactly why she had asked. She was going to talk to Jake, she must have done it and he must have expected her to become a traditional housewife in the future.

And part of him was glad he thought like that.  He knew Clara wouldn't be like that, and they'd end up breaking up. And he didn't like them together.

"Anyway lunch break is over. Back to work" he stated and walked out.

Clara had been thinking all afternoon. She wanted to give Jake a chance, he might change his mind.

That evening when she went over to his apartment, he seemed angry.

"I told you to stop throwing yourself at guys, I saw you with 3 different guys going out if work today" he snapped.

"Okay first one was our boss, he was filling me in on tommorow, then one was just a staff member who held the door open for me, and another was a client the boss was seeing" she defended feeling rather annoyed.

"Liar. I know what you're like. Every time we go out you're there talking to waiters, any nan possible" he snapped.

"I'm being polite. It's you who I wanted to be with" she said.

"Fucking liar" he snapped and slapped her cheek.

She couldn't believe it and neither could he.

"Clara I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. Come on we can go get some ice and I'll cook your favourite meal" he seemed friendly.

Yes Clara should have left, she knew how to fight, but she was used to criminals. She had no idea how to handle a relationship that wasn't with a gang member. She thought Jake was normal and safe. She was clearly wrong. She would go along for tonight then break up in public tommorow.

It made her wonder if it was her though. Her ex, the 2nd in charge of her old gang,  he slapped her around a few times. He was a criminal though and she knew how to handle herself.

But Jake wasn't a criminal.

Maybe it was her. Two boyfriends slapping her. It was probably her fault all along.

Jake gave her ice and cooked what he thought was her favourite meal. Pasta.

"See that wasn't hard was it. You just have to be good" Jake said as the two watched TV.

She wanted to leave but she was still in shock.

"I didn't do anything wrong " the comment about being good made her snap out of shock.

"You never learn Clara. I'm trying to be nice. I've been nice, I've been the perfect boyfriend and you still treat me like shit. You have to learn to be the perfect girlfriend. Don't worry you will be perfect from now on"