Chapter 119

Zion had just informed Ariana of Ethan’s visit and she walked fast into Calhoun’s office thinking the worst. She had come to realize Calhoun was not one to share whatever he felt belonged to him with someone else. She feared he might have done something to Ethan that might come back to harm him or his company.

She got to the door and didn’t even knock before pushing the door open. “Carl!” she called as she stepped in.

Calhoun raised his head from the papers he was staring into and looked at her approaching with panic in her eyes. “What the problem my love?” he asked her.

“I heard Ethan came by while Sarah and I went to get the office supplies. What happened?” she asked panting hard.

Calhoun pushed the papers he had been driven in aside and gave his full focus on her. Usually, he hated being disturbed at work or when he was doing a major job. But this was Ariana Brown, nothing she did made him feel angry towards her. Everything was on another level. He smiled at her.

“Those who informed you about it… didn’t they mention how it went?” he asked in a low voice.

Ariana tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear as she tried to decipher if he was angry or just speaking in that tone. She tried to remember when Zion had told her of the incident, she didn’t even wait to hear of the outcome. The moment she heard that Ethan was there, she turned her direction to Calhoun’s office. Not even Sarah’s voice could stop her.

“I guess they didn’t tell you. Well, I didn’t harm him. I just sent my lawyer to him. I hope he prepares himself for the court case.”

“Court case?” Aria screeched. Ethan might be a jerk but she didn’t want him to be dragged to the court. He wouldn’t be able to come out of it. There were already so many scandals surrounding him, that taking him to the court would destroy him.

“Calhoun, why?” she cried out.

Calhoun expected this type of reaction from her. Ariana was too good. Sometimes he wondered what he did to have deserved a lady like her. But Ethan had been taking advantage of her and it was enough. No more of it.

“He came here to create a scene as he owns you. Ariana I will not tolerate such behavior from him or anybody. No one claims you or disrespects you and gets away with it. I won’t let it happen!” Calhoun growled.

“But Calhoun, Ethan is just being silly… he won’t be able to handle it,” she said.

Calhoun stayed quiet for a few seconds and the silence enveloped the office as Ariana didn’t know what else to say without a reply from him. Calhoun knew that the only way to convince her was to play reverse psychology on her. She didn’t want Ethan to get hurt but not at the expense of hurting herself.

Calhoun got up from his seat and walked to where she stood leaning on the table. “Why do you feel so bad for him, when he feels nothing towards you?” he asked.

Ariana was taken back by surprise. She wasn’t expecting such a question from him. Somewhere at the back of her mind she was scared that he might think she still had feelings for him when she had none. She was just concerned about what the publicity a court case would bring. “No, I don’t feel bad for him…” she trailed off and paused. She closed her eyes and opened them again.

“Okay, I do feel bad for him but it’s not that. I am more worried about what all this drama would cost you! Your family already thinks of me as a problem, how will I ever face them when this comes out? Obviously, they’ll blame me for everything!” she cried out finally voicing her deepest fears.

Calhoun felt her pain. He understood her worries and his body crawled towards her. He circled his arms around her and pulled her closer. “I am here with you baby… no matter what happens never fear about family. I have told you their opinion of you doesn’t matter-” He tried to tell her but she stopped him.

“But Calhoun it matters to me! I grew up in a family way. I understand what it means to have an extended family and the kind of things they want to see in your partner… I want them to accept me Calhoun!” she said as she shook with emotions. She didn’t just want to be seen as Calhoun’s girl. She wanted everyone she recognizes her as his lover and friend too.

Calhoun was quiet as he rested his nose on her shoulders enjoying the scent of her skin. “I didn’t grow up with my parents, they are both dead,” he whispered and Ariana froze. She made to turn but he held her in place.

“Don’t worry it was a long time ago…” he told her and she raised her hand to his cheeks.

“I am so sorry Calhoun, I didn’t know,” she whispered back. When they went to his house she had been meaning to ask but she didn’t want to sound rude or like she was intruding or something. Besides Bianca could pass as his mum but he presented her as his aunt. Ariana knew that in good time he would mention his parents but she didn’t think they would be dead.

“It’s okay. I never really missed them that much. My grandparents made sure of that,” he said still leaning on her.

She wanted to point out that what he had just said was even the more reason why she had to make sure that his grandparents accepted him but she decided to hold her tongue since he was opening up about his past. They could go back to talking about her relationship with his family later.

“They gave me everything I needed as a child. At a point, I use to think they were my parents until Noah told me that my parents were dead…” Calhoun could still remember that day like it was yesterday. He had been super excited about inviting his grandparents for their school meeting when his cousin Noah, told him cruelly that he should go find his parents in the grave where they were burning to hell. The pain was still fresh as yesterday and it was one of the reasons he and Noah could never get along.

“So when I tell you not to worry about my family… please do as I say. My grandparents will come around. The rest are not important.”