Chapter 143

Calhoun swung on his swivel chair from side to side as he flipped through the memories he had made with Ariana. He couldn't believe she was all his now. There was no way he could get over her beauty, her softness. Last night they made love, and it felt more amazing than ever.

Initially, Ariana was worried about the episode with her parents. But the ecstasy of the lovemaking erased every bit of her distress. They both knew how to satisfy each other until exhaustion took over.

Calhoun's phone beeped. It was a message.

It was from Ariana.

"Hey babe," it read. Calhoun smiled sheepishly. He was in love. He'd never really known what it felt or meant. Now he was intoxicated with it.

"I'm okay, honeypie. Was just thinking about you and last night," he sent, still smiling and turning on his swivel chair.

"Can we talk?" came the reply. Calhoun paused. Something had gone wrong. He could sense it.

"Meet me at the parking lot."

Calhoun cancelled all his appointments for the day. He waited for her in his car. She soon came out of the office and they drove off.

Ariana was unusually quiet. Calhoun was uncomfortable. She had said they needed to talk but here she was, not even saying a word.

"You can talk now my love," Calhoun prompted her. He searched her eyes for what could be an explanation for this strange behavior of hers. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Calhoun was cut deep. He held out to her and embraced her, caressing her like a little baby.

It took some moments before Ariana could get back herself.

"Lisa called. She says dad and mom are all over the news," Ariana sobbed some more.

Calhoun was no doubt infuriated. He hated seeing Ariana in this state. He'd do all he could to make her feel better.

He took out his phone and begun typing as he always did. His face was shrouded with an enigmatic look.

"Did she say what channel the news was reported?" Calhoun asked, still typing away on his phone.

"No, why?" Ariana was now more puzzled than moody.

"Never mind," Calhoun stopped texting and dropped the phone.

"Driver, take us to Eagle's park," he ordered. Calhoun deliberately announced the location so Ariana could take her mind off the situation with her parents and the media. Now she wondered why they were going to Eagle's park.

The car stopped. Calhoun came down and got the door for Ariana. He held her hand as she came out and they began to walk.

Calhoun made her rest her head against his shoulder and he embraced her as they went slowly.

The cool breeze in the park was heavenly. The tall trees that made the pathway formed an umbrella that provided an evening shade to the park even though it was yet mid day. One could easily get lost in thoughts just by being in the park.

Calhoun spoke first after a long distance covered, "I'd always come here ever since I was a child. I wanted so badly to get away from the evil in the world and just be by myself. I often get bullied by some nut heads in school and I'll run and hide in this park. One day, I sat down watching the trees and I saw a little spider. It was about to get eaten by a rat. The spider ran as fast as it could but the rat was faster. All of a sudden the spider stopped and faced the rat. It waited for the rat to approach."

Ariana was afraid for the little spider. "So what happened?"

"The rat got very close to the little spider," Calhoun continued, "but it got stuck. The little spider had made a web so the rat couldn't get to it. The more the rat tried to get to the spider, the more the rat got entangled with the web. Eventually, the rat gave up."

Ariana was happy the rat didn't eat the little spider. Poor spider.

Calhoun stopped walking suddenly and turned Ariana around so they faced each other. He held her by the waist and she held his arms.

"My love, the point is, there'll always be rats. They'll come at us with all they've got. But I need you to understand that I'll always be there to protect you, my little spider. I'll be your web. I'll protect you from the rats and I'll love you with all that I am. They'll never get to you. I promise. Just trust me. Everything will be okay. You need not be afraid."

Ariana stared deep into his eyes. She could tell he meant every word that he said.

"I love you Calhoun Lawson," Ariana exclaimed passionately, not caring if the guards that had been following them heard or not.

"I love you too my angel," Calhoun assured. And to seal the contract, they both broke into a kiss.

Calhoun pressed unto her as he placed his lips against hers. He cupped her face as she surrendered into his embrace.

The whole world stood still as they transported into another universe. Stars were falling off the sky like rainfall and the moon was big and round. The rainbow was bright and colorful and the birds were drinking off a fountain. The flowers bloomed and sparkled and everything was all beauty and paradise.

Ariana and Calhoun were still relishing the pleasure of this fantastic moment when Calhoun's phone began to ring.

He took out the phone with one hand and saw the caller, then rejected it.

"You should take the call," Aria suggested.

"No, it's not important," Calhoun returned the phone into his suit pocket.

The phone rang again. It was really getting Calhoun pissed off. Ariana broke away from him.

"Please, take the call."

Calhoun put up a frown. This time it was a different caller. He cleared his throat and braced himself for the conversation.

"Hello grandpa," Calhoun saluted, almost like he was been forced to be polite. Ariana's heart skipped. She wondered why Calhoun's grandfather would be calling. Last she checked, he hadn't really accepted her.

"Is this how to run a company?" grandfather scolded, " do you have any idea how long I've been in your office waiting for you? Your secretary said you went out. She tried calling you but you wouldn't pick up. What's going on with you boy?"

"I've got some business to attend to," Calhoun explained, not thinking how he got the response.

"Well, you better cut short that business of yours and come over to the office. We've got something serious to discuss."