Chapter One Hundred and fourteen

Damien's POV;

I wanted her to apologize. I wanted her to realize that playing with my feelings aren't cool but it seemed like she wasn't getting it.

I mean, why would a person choose to play a song to purposefully spite someone in love with her? She was taking my feelings for granted and I couldn't take it.

I truly hoped she got the message and did the right thing but it was over a week and there was nothing forthcoming.

"Hey man." I said connecting to my airpods which I had purposefully not used when I spoke to Daisy just so I could get Ariana jealous.

"Hey bro, I heard the good news. I'm glad you're okay, Drew can catch a breather now." Aiden said in one breath. I chuckled.

"Yeah, I'll be at the office on Monday." I assured, biting into an apple from the fruit bowl Ma Rosa had sent up for me. She had been pampering me a lot more than she did when Ariana was absent.

"How's wifey?"

"She's alright." I muttered in disinterest.

"Ah, I know that tone. You two are at it again."

"She's been stressing me out a lot more than the accident has. We haven't talked for over a week and she's not even bothered."

"Just swallow your pride and apologize already." He said.

"She's at fault!" I said in defense.

"If there's anything living with Tracy has taught me, it's the fact that you don't have to be wrong to apologize. Say it first, put the fight aside and talk it out later so it wouldn't be a recurring theme in your relationship." He counseled.

"Look at you sounding like a sensible young man. I never thought I'd see the day." I teased.

"I'm about to be a father, what do you expect?" He said with a chortle.

"Happy for you man." I actually was. Aiden had become more responsible since he found out about him becoming a father and I was proud of him.

"Thanks. Can't wait to say the same for you."

I snorted.

"You know I don't want kids, dude." I said, running my hands through my overgrown hair. I needed a haircut as soon as possible.

"Ariana wants them."

"She's never said anything about it."

"Have you asked?"

"No..." I dragged bashfully.

"Besides I'm not even sure we'll be together."

"With how head over heels you are for her? I can bet you're going to trick her into sticking with you even when she wants a divorce." He laughed.

"True. But I wouldn't force her into anything she doesn't want."

"That's an improvement from the Damien I used to know. Love truly changes people."

"It does, doesn't it?" I said aloofly.

"I can tell you're already day dreaming. Go talk to your woman. We'll see you guys later tonight." Tracy was calling for him, I heard her voice in the background.

"See you later bro." I said just before he hung up.

I got up and paced the room, trying to practice my apology.

"Babe, I'm sorry for, for, for," I stuttered.

"What did I do exactly?" I asked aloud standing cluelessly in the middle of the room.

Taking Aiden's advise, I went out of the room deciding to just go with the flow.

I crossed over to the room opposite mine and opened without knocking and the first thing I laid my eyes on had them bulging out of my sockets. I could literally have had a stroke after what I said.

"Ahhhhhh!" Her ear piercing scream filled my ears, snapping me out of my daze. I blinked rapidly when a pillow hit my face.

"Damien! Get out!" She said, quick grabbing her towel to cover up herself.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to walk in on you nak-"

"Don't say it!" She screeched in warning and pushed me outside, slamming the door in my face.

A smirk crept up my face even as I felt a stirring in my lower region. There was no way I was getting that sight out of my mind. My wife just has to be one of the hottest women alive. Damn!

But now, she was madder than before. It was going to be an uphill task to apologize and have her forgive me now.

Sigh...

***

Ariana's POV;

My chest heaved up and down continuously as I held on to the towel.

Damien saw me in my birthday suit. How embarrassing could it be? I just wanted to sink into the ground.

I just wanted to pick up my phone that had been buzzing non-stop while I was in the closet, trying on dresses for the night. I had carelessly dropped my towel and was trying to scrutinize through the dress options Brianna had sent me to choose from.

And unexpectedly, Damien came in and saw me...

"Ahhhhhh!" I screamed into my pillow in mortification. How on earth was I supposed to face him after this?

"Wait Ariana..." I paused, having a rethink.

"This isn't your fault."

Of course it wasn't. Damien was at fault for barging in unannounced and if anything, he was supposed to apologize for such unruly behavior. And if he didn't, then I would be fully convinced that there was no chance for this man in my life. Simple.

***

"Ma'am, miss Brianna Ellen is here." A maid announced while I was seated cross-legged b my vanity mirror, applying finishing touches to my makeup.

"I'll be down in a minute." I said, dabbing at my highlighted face.

By the time I made it downstairs, the small intimate dinner I thought we had planned had grown into something bigger. I saw a few unrecognizable faces while I looked around in search of my only guest.

"Hey Ari!" I heard Brianna's sassy voice call out to me.

"Hey Brie." I grinned as she came over to hug me.

"You look amazing!" She said, twirling me around as she eyed the rose gold thin strapped satin wrap dress that I had on. My shoes of a similar shade were embellished with diamonds while my makeup, I made as natural as possible.

"Thank you. You look so gorgeous too."

"Thank you." She leaned closer to my ear, covering a side of her mouth with a vertical raise of her fingers.

"Who knows, I could meet a Damien of my own tonight, don't you think?"

"I hope you do soon, you've been single for way too long." I rolled my eyes as I chuckled at the astonished look on her face.

"I'll forgive you this time."

"Of course you would." I returned cheekily.

The man of the hour soon made his way downstairs looking drool worthy, sporting his new, clean haircut. His chiseled jaw looked like it could cut a sheet of paper in clean halves. His sharp eyes dazzled in the chandelier lit room. His clean black suit, white inner shirt and shiny polished designer shoes amplified the bossy aura he had always exuded.

Our eyes met briefly before his attention was caught by a few close associates of his I hadn't officially met. The mild chattering went on for a while as we welcomed the guests.

Pa Walter came forward with two other butlers by his side.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Dinner is served." All three of them bowed while we filed towards the dinning room.

I had my right arm intertwined with Damien's as we led the way and took our seats as theaaa Lord and Lady of the estate. How dramatic did that sound?

Dinner was going really well. Very well, until some blonde dude who was hitting on Brianna had asked a question about a series she was starring in.

"I think that character is somewhat difficult to execute because she haa a seemingly perfect marriage but is going through her lowest of lows while at it." Brianna explained her experience briefly.

"I'm definitely rooting for the wife and I feel so bad for her because she's stuck being married to an egocentric narcissistic husband who only thinks about himself." My eyes were trained on Damien as I spoke.

"Er erm." He cleared his throat and sipped on his glass of water, most probably catching on to what I had insinuated.

"I think life is all about perspective. On one side, you may think that the husband is most probably the worst person on earth but he could actually have good reason for it."

I scoffed.

"I think he's so controlling and doesn't care about his wife's wants." I said, looking down at my nails to avoid his eyes but I looked back up when hie started to speak.

"Maybe the wife doesn't know what she wants and needs a nudge in the right direction. She lets herself get pushed around by everyone and never gets to actually decide what she wants for herself because she doesn't know it." His eyes stayed on mine as he spewed those words.

His statement hurt my pride deeply.

"Maybe she actually had plans for herself and his presence in her life ruined everything. It's disrespectful to not regard your woman's choices." I steadily spoke trying to not make it seem personal.

"Well, maybe she should actually give the man a chance to do things right and stop playing with his feelings. He's not a monster, he just doesn't know how to express his feelings right. Maybe it actually hurts him to think that he's not deserving of her love and he really just doesn't want to let go of the one woman who makes him feel complete."

I was stunned to silence. Damien has always been a man of few words and him saying something like that made me feel awful for treating him the way I had been doing. I looked away in guilt.

"Uhm, that was an intense analysis." Brianna said trying to clear the awkward air and move everyone else's attention away from us.

Surely he lost appetite but held himself from leaving because of everyone present. My eyes followed him but he did not spare me a glance, not even once.