Damien packed all the files and dropped them in his drawer, he cleared his table and put the place in order. He left his office, locked it, and headed outside the company. He got to his car and met Lawrence leaning on his car with a long face.

"What is the problem? Why the long face?"Damien asked

"Why would you make that shameless thing in charge during your absence," Lawrence said with a frown

He was not in support of Damien putting Marissa in charge of the company, he felt this temporal position will get into her head and she'll begin to start misbehaving and treating her colleagues badly.

"Is that why you are wearing that long face? Who did you expect me to hand the place to? She's my assistant, Lawrence and I can't do anything about it." Damien said

"I understand she's your assistant, but that lady is full of wickedness" Lawrence scoffed

"Lawrence are you sure this is not about something else? Because you're taking this too far, or did she do anything to you?" Damien asked since he couldn't bring himself to understand why Lawrence hates Marissa that much

"She can't possibly do anything to me, I just don't like the aura around her. Forget about her and let's go get ready for our trip. I'll see you tomorrow" Lawrence said, walking away to his car and speeding off

Damien stood there watching as Lawrence drove off. He also got in his car and boozed off

**Damien's residence**

Damien got home and met the door locked, he got his spare key and opened the door. He was wondering where Gracie had gone because she's not someone who likes to leave the house unless she needs to go to the market, which she did just last week. 

He couldn't figure out where exactly she had gone, so he decided to go in and change, then wait till she arrives. 

He went to his room, washed up, and put on a grey shirt. He walked out of the room and made his way downstairs, just when he was about to step down the stairs, Gracie came in hurriedly 

"May I know where you're coming from?"Damien said in a hoarse voice

Gracie jumped in fear since she was not expecting him to be home by that time.

"Damien...how was your day? You're back quite early today, is everything okay in the office?" Gracie said, ignoring the question he asked, and forcing a smile to make sure Damien suspects nothing

Since the day she visited Mr. Gary, Damien's dad, she has been visiting him from time to time, and she knows Damien wouldn't like to hear that she has been visiting the one man he hates with everything in him. Gracie has been the one who is literally taking care of him, as Nora hardly visits Gary. Gracie began thinking of a lie to make Damien less suspicious

"That doesn't answer my question and stop trying to make me forget about it, I need you to answer me," Damien demanded

"I....uh.... I went to see a friend" Gracie blurted, she was already getting scared that she might spill the truth anytime soon.

She knows if she tells him about her frequent visit to the hospital to see his father, he'll be very angry at her. 

"And why are you with a basket, what's in it?" Damien asked

"Why does it seem like you're interrogating me? Do you feel I'm hiding something from you?" Gracie asked

"I can't doubt you, but it seems you have been behaving oddly of late. Never mind, I was just surprised to see you weren't in the house" Damien explained

"Oh, there's nothing to worry about okay" Gracie assured him with a smile

"Anyway I have something to tell you," Damien said

"Before that have you eaten since you returned?" Gracie asked

"No, I haven't, I was waiting for you to return" Damien replied

"You didn't have to, Damien you're not the little baby you used to be anymore. Stop waiting for me all the time before you eat" Gracie scolded 

"I need to make sure you eat too, you are more like the baby here not me, you don't have time for your own self" Damien rolled his eyes

"That's because I'm always busy making sure you are okay," Gracie said, as she dragged him to the dining table.

She had already set the table before leaving so that in case he arrives before her, he wouldn't have to wait for her before eating, but stubborn Damien would never listen to her. He has always had the habit of eating with her beside him even in his father's house, he was like the big baby in the family after Queenster

The sudden thought about Queenster made her mood change, no one has heard of her ever since she left for the States, whether she was fine or not, no one knows. Damien once told her he has hired an investigator to look for her whereabouts, but she has received any update from him yet, so she decided to ask about it today.

"Damien" Gracie called

He looked up at her wondering why she was calling him. That's when he noticed she has not touched her food

"Is everything okay?" he asked with a concerned look

"I'm fine, I just wanted to ask if you have gotten any information about Queenster's whereabouts," Gracie asked

Damien dropped his spoon and cleared his throat, he knew as much as he misses Queenster, Gracie is also worried about her too.

"That's the reason why I came quite early today. I got a hint of where she could be, so I'll be traveling to the States early tomorrow morning" Damien narrated

"I'm so happy right now. Please bring her back as soon as possible if you find her, I can't wait to see my princess once again" Gracie beamed, and she began eating happily

Damien watched how happy she is and smiled. He has known Gracie since he was a toddler, Gracie had been like a second mother figure to him and his siblings. So it's not surprising to see her this excited. 

Damien stood up and cleared the table, he took the dishes to the kitchen and washed them, Gracie insisted he leaves them in the sink for her to wash them but he refused. 

He kissed her goodnight when he was done and went upstairs to his room, he packed the necessary things he'll need while he is away. He went straight to his closet to pick a particular shirt, but a box fell out right after he opened it. He picked it up and smiled sadly, it was the gift he bought for her that fateful day she was taken away without his notice, he smiled sadly and put it back before closing the closet.

**Next morning, Damien's residence**

"Damien, someone is here to see you" Gracie called from the living room

Damien came out wondering who could be looking for him this early. He went downstairs and met none other than Lawrence sitting comfortably in the living room with his left leg crossed over the right as he was watching the news, Damien shook his head in disbelief and walked up to him

"What are you doing here?"Damien asked, startling Lawrence

"Do you want to give me a heart attack? I still have a lot to achieve, don't ever do that again" Lawrence glared, earning a scoff from Damien

"I asked you a question"Damien went on

"What do you mean by that? I'm obviously here because of the trip, or did you change your mind?" Lawrence said, confused by Damien's statement

"You told me you were going to meet me at the airport," Damien said looking at him with a serious face

"I know I said that, but how do you expect me to leave without having Gracie's breakfast," Lawrence said, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly

"You're so dumb, I woke up very early thinking you might be waiting for me in the airport, and here you are thinking of breakfast, you nut head" Damien yelled chasing after him.

Lawrence took to his heels, running around in the living room with Damien chasing him. Gracie heard the commotion and came out to check what was happening.

She was shocked to see Damien and Lawrence running around like little kids playing, she smiled happily seeing how much influence Lawrence had on Damien. Lawrence got tired and sat down, raising his hands in surrender.

"Damien, stop it already I'm running out of breath," Lawrence said panting heavily

"What a weakling! I'm going for my bag, I'll be back" Damien said, and with that, he left for the stairs

"Lawrence, I'm done making your breakfast, come here and eat, Damien has already eaten his" Gracie called from the dining room

Lawrence rushed in and sat down and began munching on the food

"Wow, I think I should just marry you, Gracie, I love your food" Lawrence praised her

"Please stay with him always, I can see he seems to forget about a lot of things, when you're around he gets distracted and I think it somehow helps". Gracie said

"I understand. Don't worry, Damien and I are stuck together" Lawrence assured her

Damien came down and to his surprise, he met Lawrence eating 

"What do you think you're doing? We are already late, you unreliable friend of mine"Damien yell at him

Lawrence ate in a hurry and bid Gracie goodbye. She smiled and bid them farewell.