His Christmas Present

Damon's POV 

I was sitting behind my desk and looking at the file before me, but I could not make sense of any words. My head had been in the same rut over years- Liana. My girlfriend that disappeared after that accident. No one, not my girlfriend, thought that she was alive.

Daniel was standing opposite me, crossing his arms, and looking at me with that wearied expression which he had when this subject was brought up.

"Any update?" I requested him the third time that morning.

He sighed. "We are still searching, Damon... however, as I have said, I think you know my honest opinion. It's been years. No sighting of camera, no hospital record, no travel record. Nothing. I believe that you need to come to terms with the reality that you keep denying."

I looked up at him sharply. "Don't say it."

"Why not?" Daniel shot back. "She had had a terrible accident. They never found her body. Everybody thought that she drowned in the river. Damon, maybe she really-"

"She's alive." I cut him off, my voice steady. "I know she is. Dead people don't disappear. Dead people are found. Had she died, somebody would have discovered something, anything. But no one did."

Daniel rubbed his forehead. "Or they didn't because.." 

"Daniel." I sat back in my chair and stared him right in the eye. "Keep looking."

He let out another sigh. "You're crazy, you know that?"

"Probably," I muttered.

He opened his mouth to protest once more, when my phone started to ring. The name of my sister appeared on the screen.

I groaned. "Here we go."

I picked up. "Hello..." 

"Damon!" she snapped. "Do you know what time it is? You are nearly late to dinner with Caleb and his fiancee!" 

I closed my eyes. "I'm not late. I'm almost late and by the way I do not think the words almost late should be placed side by side in a sentence. It makes no sense."

"It makes sense, every sense! Get in your car right now! And do not go here with your freshly rolled out of office appearance. Look like an uncle! Not a CEO!"

"I'm literally in my office. I have to look like a CEO!"

"Exactly! Move! Head home and change from your suit! You know what, just come like that." 

She hung up without my response.

Daniel snorted. "You're dead."

"Yes, yes," I said to him, and took my keys. "Call me as soon as you get any information on Liana. And don't stop looking."

He threw his hands up. "I already said you're crazy!"

I ignored him and left.

When I got to the house of my sister, she was already at the door with her arms crossed across her chest. 

"Do you enjoy stressing me?" she asked.

"I'm here arent I? ," I said, "and I'm not almost late at all." 

She grinned and rolled her eyes , hugged my arm and walked me in. Caleb was seated beside a young lady, his fiancee, apparently. Pretty girl. Polite smile. Looked nervous.

"Uncle Damon, so glad to see you. " Caleb said. "This is Selene, my wife-to-be."

"Nice to meet you," I said with a nod.

Selene smiled too brightly. "Nice to meet you too, sir."

We sat for dinner. My sister continued to boast about Caleb and his new CEO  status, their upcoming marriage and that Selene was the best girl to marry him. I made an attempt to listen, but my thoughts went back to what Daniel said.

Move on.

Accept the truth.

Liana is gone.

I clenched my jaw. No. She wasn't. I would feel it if she was gone. I always believed that.

Midway into dinner, my phone was buzzing. I anticipated it to be Daniel whining yet again. Rather, I received a message of one of my guards.

Boss, we found Liana.

My heart stopped.

I opened the picture which he had sent, and stood still.

It was her.

She was standing in front of one of my clubs. From the cab behind it, it looked like  she had just gotten out of a cab.

I shot to my feet. "I got to go." 

"Damon!" my sister snapped. "And where do you think you are going! We are still eating!"

"I have an emergency," I said hastily. "I need to leave."

"Emergency? What kind..."

"I'll explain later."

I didn't wait for her reply. I left the house and was literally running to my car.

As soon as I entered it, I called the guard.

"Is it true?" I demanded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir. About five minutes ago she came in. She's drunk. I think she's alone."

I tightened my hands on the steering wheel. "Don't let her leave. In fact, clear the club."

"Yes, sir. I already started. But please hurry."

"I'm on my way."

I ended  the conversation and floored the accelerator. I did not mind about the traffic lights. I didn't care about the rules. I didn't care about anything.

She was alive.

Alive.

I couldn't breathe properly. Years of searching. Years of refusing to give up. Being labeled obsessed and crazy over the years. And now, finally...

She was here.

Upon my arrival at the club, the guard was waiting outside.

"She's inside," he said.

I entered, and my heart beat the more as I went on.

The club was empty. Chairs scattered. Lights dim. And at the bar, where she sat, back to me, was a young woman. Her head was as drooped as though she was tired or drunk. Probably both.

My guard pointed. "That's her."

I gulped, my legs were trembling and I managed to sit.

Was it really her?

Did I dare believe this?

I continued to stare at her in fear that she might disappear once more.

My guard took the glass of alcohol off her and she raised her head.

And I froze.

Her face.

Her eyes.

Her.

It was her.

Exactly her.

The woman I loved.

The woman I lost.

The woman who had been dead, everybody said.

I sounded low, tremulous, incredulous.

"Liana?"