The Game Of Redemption (#2)

Chapter-2 A meeting in the park...

                                                                           Damien

"Mountains, ski trails, forests...it's more than perfect," Lisa Robinson, pointed at the bright beautiful pictures at screen and stared back at them expectantly. 

"I think it's amazing, a good idea for sure," Richard agreed, nodding his head and they both turned their eyes to him. 

"A ski-resort?" Damien mumbled wryly. "It's a small town, I don't know how much of a profit we can churn from a five star ski-resort," 

"It must be a small town but...Stowe is incredibly popular for skiing," Lisa added. "If we can use what that beautiful town has to offer, you know adventurous but romantic gateaways for couples, the snow, the small shops...it's amazing," 

"But..." Damien muttered but Richard placed a hand on his shoulder. 

"How about we go and check for ourselves this coming weekend?" He offered. "It would be a nice break, we can check the property out and also do a quick feasibility check. I am sure you will know when you see for yourself. You have a sharp eye," 

"That seems like a splendid idea," Lisa backed him and  Damien sighed. 

"Fine, if you guys insist. Let's go and check it out this weekend but we need to be back before Tuesday because I have an important seminar to attend," He said. "And so do you," 

"I know, I remember that," Richard answered. "Okay, so if this is all, I am off now. See you guys tomorrow," Damien and Lisa nodded their heads and Richard waved as he gathered his stuff and headed home. 

"You always get your way," Damien commented as Lisa flopped down on the table in front of him.

 She grinned, shrugging her slender shoulders and Damien shook his head. Lisa Robinson was their business advisor c*m very good friend. She was Richard's collegemate which was why Damien was automatically skeptical about hiring her. Sofia was Richard's friend too and they both knew how that turned out for them. But after the way she nailed the interview, there was nothing much left for Damien to be said. She was street smart, witty and very good at her job. Over the years, somehow she, Richard and Damien turned out to be a trio. How that happened, Damien doesn't remember but he was glad to have a friend for once. However, as always Lisa wanted to be more than friends with him. He knew her feelings run deep and over the years he has effectively managed to dodge that. 

"I do, don't I?" She smiled warmly. "It's a good investment, trust me. I did a lot of research on this one. I have a feeling in my gut that it will turn out better than we expect," 

"Fine, let's go and check it out this weekend as decided," Damien answered. "Okay, I guess we should call it a day now," 

"It's around midnight," She commented. Damien nodded his head. 

"Yes, that's why let's call it a day," He answered. "Should I drop you off? It's late," 

"It's New York, Damien. If it's not late, it's not normal," She laughed and Damien smiled at the comment. 

"Well, drive safe," He said, gathering his stuff. "Good night...day," He was about to stand up when she grabbed his arm and halted him. Damien didn't like the look in her eyes. It reminded her of someone. It was the same look that changed his life six years ago. 

"What?" He asked nevertheless. "What's that look for?" 

"Are you still taking, the sleeping pills?" She asked softly and Damien averted his gaze. 

"I can't sleep without them, you know that too well," He replied. Lisa sighed in response as she slowly caressed his face. 

"It's been six years, Damien," She said, her voice anguished. "Can't you let her go now? I have been waiting for the last four years, just for you. Yes, maybe I am not her but..."

"Lisa," Damien begin but she placed a finger on his lips, halting him. 

"I love you," She whispered. "Why can't you give me a chance? You need to move on, Damien. Let me help you. Please?" 

"I don't want to talk about it," He answered. "And you deserve someone much better than me. I am not capable of giving you what you want," 

"You are what I want, with all your flaws and darkness," She said, staring down at him. "You need to forgive yourself and move on now, Damien and you can't ever do it alone. Please, let me help you. I know you better than anyone, I can show you the way," Damien gazed at her and she softly caressed his face as she slowly moved closer, her lips inches away from him. He closed his eyes, trying to allow her to hold him and help him out of this endless pit of darkness and misery. 

"Because I love you. I fell in love with you," 

"I can't," Damien said softly, moving back. "Sorry, I...I need more time," Lisa gazed at him and slowly nodded her head. 

"Okay, but you need to have a limit otherwise no amount of time will be ever enough for you," She said. "Until we get back from Stowe. I have waited for four years, Damien. That is all I can wait for now. I know I sound desperate but it really hurts me to see you like this. So this is an ultimatum. You have got until we get back from the trip to let the memories of her fade and for your to start a new chapter," 

"Okay," Damien answered, nodding his head. Maybe it was good to have a time limit with him because otherwise he will loose track of the days as they melt into each other. That's how  he spend the last six years and if he doesn't have something, any kind of dead end, he will keep going the same way for the next six years or ten or maybe until the very end of his life. He hated the way he felt. But he was also afraid that if he allows the memories to go, he will end up losing whatever facet of her was still left in him. And he was terrified of that. He was terrified of losing himself if he let go of her. 

"Thank you," Lisa smiled and placed a kiss on his forehead. Just the way she used to. "I will look forward to it," 

Damien forcefully punched the security codes and forced himself to walk inside. This places almost closes in on him now. But there was no one or nowhere else he could go to either. Here, he still had her memories. It's been six years since Hazel left him. She just left. No words. No goodbyes. No nothing. The last words he said to her were I love you, Hazel. The last words she said to him were me too. And then, it all collapsed. How...when...Damien was clueless. He came back from Savanah, unable to reach her on call, only to find that she was gone. She found the truth out and she was gone. Where did he not look for her? Every street, every alley...he helplessly looked for her but she was nowhere. It was almost like she didn't exist in the first place. 

And from that day to today, six years has gone by. Six long, exhausting years. She pulled him out from the hell he endured all along but pushed him back to another one which was even more excruciating and painful than the previous one. Here, there was no way to ease his pain, the stifling, gut wrenching pain he felt everyday. Damien tried everything he could to get over her. He tried going through women after women like before but that didn't work a bit. Not even a bit. He tried normal dating too but what the f**k does he knows about that? She was supposed to teach him, one step at a time. He tried alcohol, he tried drowning himself in work, it helped his business grow but didn't ease even one percent of the blinding pain inside him. 

All through this, Richard stood by him and he was really glad that he decided to mend the ties with him, again courtesy of Hazel. He wasn't very good at consoling but it felt good to have someone to go to. They decided to join their companies and now they were probably one of the strongest, most powerful business entity in the entire states. Their stocks sold out in the blink of an eye, they have expanded their business across the globe, featured in numerous big magazines and newspapers it was all amazing in career but he would give up all that, every single thing in one go if only he could get her back. She was all he needed even now. She was all he looked for every where he went, hoping to just accidentally bump into her somewhere. But there was no trace of Hazel and many a times, Damien was prompted to think whether he just imagined all of that. 

He turned the lights on and stared around at all the neatly hanging clothes. His only memory of her. He walked inside, running his hands over them. They used to smell like her and it reminded him that she was real and not just piece of his imagination. But now that's gone too. His eyes landed on the neatly folded ridiculous Spongebob set she used to wear. He flopped down on the ottoman and closed his eyes, sniffing at her favorite piece of clothing and trying to feel her presence lingering somewhere in that.  

"Damien!" He turned his head and his eyes widened in surprise to see her standing by the door. He blinked as she walked inside, smiling brightly. 

"You can't hate that...that's my favorite," She chastised. "Give that back," 

"You are back," He whispered, and raised his hand to touch her and just like always...she melted away into the thin air. He was imagining her again. Sometimes, it would be so real that he even blurs away the line of reality and fantasy. She really was gone, never to come back again. He closed his eyes and let the tears fall as the usual black hole of pain started to pull him in until morning arrives. If only he didn't lie to her. If only he would have told her the truth himself, maybe she would still be here. Beside him, holding him in her arms tenderly and with love. He can only imagine the pain she must have felt to have left like that. He remembered her last message to him. 

"Tell him...Not to play with anyone's feelings again. Because some people do have a heart that gets hurt and feel pain. Not everyone is heartless like him,"

He could only imagine the hate she must feel for him. All he needed was to see her once and apologize. Go down on his knees and apologize. He will take any punishment she has to give without any word. He will endure all her hate and angst. He will do everything he could to get here back. And that was the point....

Where was she? 

contd...