The sound of a ringtone jolted Damien awake, and this was a mistake because as soon as he jumped up from the bed, his already sore head began to ache even more terribly than when he had first fallen asleep. Damien groaned in pain. After the last hangover he'd had some time back, he had vowed not to drink so much anymore, here he was again, with a blurry memory and a splitting headache. It also occurred to him that he had slept through the morning, hence missing his responsibilities at the office. He wasn’t bothered though because it was not like he couldn't take a day off, as he was the boss after all, but still he didn't like to leave work for lousy reasons such as a hangover. That was of his own doing, and he didn't believe in his responsibilities suffering for his own mistake. Sighing, he turned to his phone which had begun to ring a second time, and stretching out his hand to pick it up he saw that it was his mother calling. Taking a few seconds to gather himself first, he picked up and greeted hoarsely, "Hello, Mom." "Damien? How are you doing?" He shut his eyes for a few moments, weakness racking through him. He just wanted to get some sleep. "I'm fine, mom." The silence over the phone relayed his mother's worry to him, and he knew she was waiting for him to say more, but he was just too tired to do anything. With his free hand, he stretched toward the drawer, sliding it open and grabbed the bottle of aspirin he always kept there. Supporting his phone with his shoulder to keep it from falling, he opened the bottle to take out some pills, chewing the butter drugs without any remorse. "Are you okay? You sound sick.” His mother said again, this time sounding even more worried as she asked again, “Have you been taking care of yourself? And also have you been eating properly?" "Yes, mom. I’m fine.” Damien said, raking his fingers in his hair as he drank some water. "I just came down with a cold, so I'm home for today, but I've already called the doctor and I'm feeling better.” He lied, knowing it was the only way to allay her fears.Besides, he couldn't possibly tell her he was having a hangover. That would morph into a whole new conversation, seeing the time he had gotten drunk, and he honestly didn’t have the time for that. "So you're good then?" His mother asked again, and when he confirmed it, she went on to ask about work, and about Katherine. If Damien had been face to face with his mother, he would not have been able to hide his surprise, at her questions. She never asked about Katherine. Unless of course she was just trying to be polite, so asking about her now was a bit daunting, strange and a tad bit awkward. "She's good." "Ah, I see." If Damien was more in the mood, he might have laughed at the way she sarcastically responded, but he was just not in the mood and even now he just wanted to get back to sleep. So without talking to much, he just listened to his mother ask how he was faring, and if he had made up his mind about the dinner with her and his sister, and again just like he had said before, Damien informed her that he was busy. "Fine." After a pause she spoke up again, “I… I’ve been meaning to ask you something though son. Can I please go ahead?” She questioned and Damien lifted his brows before answering, “Yes do go on.” “It’s about that girl in the papers, about Madison?" Damien suddenly clutched his phone tighter, but he said nothing. Even though he was quiet, his mother kept on talking as if she did not notice. "Have you been able to sort everything out with her? I haven't seen any new tabloid issues with you you both so I guessed it had all died down. Hope that is the case?” Damien shut his eyes. Madison… He had completely forgotten briefly about everything courtesy of his hangover and drunk brain, but as his mother spoke, his fingers clutched at the phone tightly, as memories began to flood in his head. He vividly remembered how he was trying to get all the information he was getting out of his mind, but how? How was he supposed to unsee all of that? How was he supposed to just forget about it?The pregnancy… That alone sent chills through his body, and worse still he wasn't even sure yet who it belonged to. Why did everything associated with Madison have to somehow creep into his mood and ruin his day, his thoughts. She had fucking carried a baby. A baby that was most likely still somewhere. The thought made him so angry. A baby that could most likely be his, despite the allegations and scandal that made them break up back then and… He didn't even want to think about all that right now. "Honey are you there?" His mother's voice cut into his thoughts, "Did you manage to sort everything out with Madison? You’ve not said a thing.” Oh fuck! But he just wanted to scream his lungs out, and suddenly he had the urge to throw his phone across at the wall. "Mom, can you please not prod further about Madison’s issue. I really don't want to talk about this…" He stated gently, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible. "Damien, I know you and Madison were—" "I'm fine! Okay? Stop asking me all of these freaking questions.” He snapped, "I have to go now." Without even waiting for her to speak, or exchanging any farewell pleasantries he hung up on her, tossing his phone into the dresser and burying his head in his pillow to try and get rid of the thoughts.