Chapter One Hundred

Damien's POV;

The hospital room fell quiet when I walked in. I had called Aleena's mother who lived in Palm springs and she arrived in LA the next morning. No one in the house had volunteered to look after Aleena so I just had to bring her mother here.

"Hello Damien." I stared at her mother and inwardly cringed at the heavy makeup that covered her face. The extravagant outfit she had on proved how unfit she was for the task but Aleena's her daughter, she has to do the right thing.

"Hello Mrs Berkeley." I said courteously.

"Just call me Katrina." She said and I nodded.

"Aleena. How are you feeling today?"

She pursed her lips and sat up to look at me properly.

"I'm better but I still feel a little pain here and there." She said.

I nodded and dropped the bouquet of flowers Amy got for me to give her.

"Thank you." She softly said and I nodded.

"It's so sad that you two lost the baby." I heard her mother comment. We both simultaneously turned to her.

"But," she continued.

"I'm sure you'll have another one in the nearest future."

"Mom, Damien and I are not together."

This was the first time she was denying anything between both of us in front of another person. It was a relief.

"Oh."

"That's not what you told me before." She pointed out and I did my best to hide my surprise.

"Mom, please excuse us, we have something to discuss." Aleena said with a shake of her head.

Quietly, her mother excused us and I turned to her.

"Damien, I'm sorry for being a burden."

I quirked an eyebrow and sat back to hear what she had to say.

"I was so careless with the pregnancy and I'm sorry we lost the baby." She sniffled.

Is it bad that I felt relieved that the child was gone? Thinking about it, made me feel bad and irresponsible.

"It's alright. I guess it wasn't meant to be." I gave a one sided shrug.

"Damien, you know I've been in love with you for a very long time." She said nervously wringing her fingers together.

I didn't know how to respond to that so I did not say anything.

"And, I know that you've been wondering how this pregnancy came about."

That piqued my interest and I sat up.

"I honestly did not plan to get pregnant, I just wanted to," she swallowed and avoided my gaze.

"That night in London, I," she stopped speaking, looking like she just wanted to disappear.

"Go on," I urged her.

She soon started shedding tears and I winced.

"I paid the bartender to drug your drink at the club." She cried out with a whimper.

It felt like I heard glass shattering.

"What?"

"Explain yourself." My words came out more calmly than I thought they would.

She shut her eyes and exhaled a shaky breath.

"I had someone planted in your house who informed me of your every move and when she told me you were in London, I tailed your until you got to the club. There I saw how you were drinking so much so I found a way to drug you and, and," she hiccuped

"And?"

"And I followed you to the hotel and made you make love to me."

"You're sick." I spat out, hatefully glaring at her. I had lost all form of respect for this woman.

"I had a sextape and I wanted to use it blackmail you because you just kept mentioning Ariana while we were at it. I just knew that I couldn't get you because all you thought about was her. The pregnancy wasn't part of the plan, I swear I just wanted some money." She narrated in tears.

I nodded continuously, letting it all sink in.

"I don't ever want to set my eyes on you again."

"Damien please-" she tried reaching for my hand and I shifted farther away from her.

"You want money right? It's fine, I'll give you some but you better stay away from my wife and I." I warned her, taking out my checkbook from my back pocket.

"I promise I won't bother you two ever again." She said nodding frantically.

"And," I raised my index finger to indicate I had a condition.

"You're going to go on air and tell the world what you just told me. Denounce any claims to a relationship with me and make sure you go far away from here because your career over here is over."

"Damien, please don't do this to me!" She begged.

"You heard me. Do you want the money or not?" I quirked an eyebrow at her.

"I do!" She cried out.

"Then do as I say. I'll have my account officer give you some money when you've done the needful. Don't try to reach me." I said and walked out of the room leaving her crying behind me.

"So there's no hope of you two being together?" Aleena's mother said. I saw her leaning by the doorway as I stepped out.

"I'm married."

"I know that but I hear your wife has left you. Aleena should be your rebound, don't you think?"

"My wife may have left me but I'm surely going to get her back." I said firmly.

"You sure about that? My daughter looks like a perfect match for you."

I was visibly irritated. Surely the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Aleena was simply following her mother's footsteps. I had always known Mrs Berkeley to be loose. That was what caused the separation with her husband, Aleena's father.

She took custody of Aleena and since then and I believed she was the one who pressured my once sweet innocent best friend to become something else. Too bad for them.

I ignored her and walked away. I had no time to exchange words with someone like her.

***

"Boss."

"Any news?"

"Brianna's very private, no one knows where her beach house is located. We just know she just got one in San Diego."

I was disappointed. All efforts to trace Ariana's location proved futile and time seemed to be ticking by quickly.

"Keep digging, there has to be something we can find."

"Boss, if you permit me, can I suggest something?"

"Go on." I gestured for him to speak.

"Why don't you just talk to Brianna yourself? She's the only person who can give you accurate information about your wife's whereabouts. They seem like good friends." He said, tentatively watching for my reaction.

He was standing in front of me in my home office where I had been cooped in all day to avoid questions from my family members especially Amy concerning my wife's return.

"Hmmm." I hummed thoughtfully, spinning from side to side on my swivel chair.

"I guess you're right. I'll have a talk with her and we'll see how it goes from there but on your own part, do not relent." I said.

"Yes boss."

"You may leave now."

He nodded, slightly bowed and left.

I picked up my phone and messaged Brianna. She replied in minutes. I asked if I could call her via text and she obliged.

"Hello, Mr Kingston."

"Hello Miss Ellen." I said in the same formal tone.

"To what do I owe this honour?"

"You know why I'm calling Brianna, cut the pretense." I said swirling to face the window overseeing the large expanse of land at the back of my villa.

She chuckled.

"Can we meet up please? My treat." I requested. I never thought I'd see the day I'd be pleading with people to meet up with me. Love is something else.

She sighed.

"Do you have any place in mind?"

"The cafe you met with Ariana at is fine."

"Alright then. Time?"

"As soon as possible." I said a little top eagerly.

"Hold your horses sir, I have things to do!" She exclaimed.

"What time are you free today?"

"Today?" She questioned, sounding surprised.

"Today." I reiterated.

"5pm."

"See you then."

"Yeah sure." She said and hung up on me.

"Ariana see what you're putting me through?" I said to the wallpaper of my smiling wife and I in matching PJs during Christmas. It was such a beautiful picture and I couldn't resist putting on my phone so I could smile at it every time I woke up.

"I miss you baby. I really do." I said wishing she could hear me wherever she was.

Five o'clock rolled by before I knew it and I found myself in the small cafe that held a small part of the memorable moments I've had with Ariana.

I walked in with my two of my security guards following closely behind me.

I searched the room for a particular redhead and I spotted seated by the window on the left side of the room.

She stood up when she spotted me walking towards her and we shook hands.

"Would you like anything?" I asked as we sat down.

"I already ordered a scone and some cappuccino." She said.

"Alright. Let's get down to it shall we?"

"Mhmm." She hummed and sipped on her coffee.

"I know my wife is in San Diego and she was spotted with you. Please tell me where she is so I can go get her back?"

"Ariana wouldn't want me to disclose such information, you know that Mr Kingston."

"Besides, - I know it's not in my place to pry but, - isn't your mistress expecting a baby for you? Ariana certainly would not want to stay married to you under such circumstances."

"I know that and that's why I gave her the space she deserves. Aleena had a miscarriage."

She gasped.

"Oh goodness! That's so sad." She said in concern.

"Mhmm." I hummed uninterestedly.

"So if she hadn't lost the baby you wouldn't have bothered trying to find Ariana?"

"What? No! It's nothing like that!" I said defensively.

Brianna stared at me like she did not believe what I was saying.

"Believe me, I've been trying to search for her ever since she left. You know that, because I came to you and you refused to let me know where she is." I pointed out.

She listened to me more quietly.

"But, I'm begging you to please help me. I need to see her. I'm going crazy without her, please Brianna, I'm begging you. Anything it is that you want, I'm willing to give it to you, just mention it."

I was desperate pleading. I could go on my knees if I had to.

"Calm down Mr Kingston. I'll give you the address." She said looking overwhelmed.

"But, I have a condition."

"Whatever it is, consider it done." I said quickly.

She feigned a thinking pose and gave me a smirk as her eyes sparkled in mischief.

I gulped, a little scared because women thought of the darndest things.

What have I gotten myself into?