Chapter Twelve

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My phone was buzzing again. Messages from different people came in from different social platforms, some congratulatory and others shrouded in envy over the fact that I had snagged a rich and dashingly handsome man.

All this was overwhelming because before a few days ago I did not know this man existed and now that I had gotten engaged to him, I realized he was well known but for what exactly? I still had not googled him to find out about it. It always skipped my mind.

I scrolled through the blogs and found some hateful comments, I shut my eyes and grimaced after reading through a few of them.

My phone was taken out of my hand the next minute. I stared at him weakly, I had no energy to argue with him, it was just too exhausting.

"I'll advise that you do not read through comments on anything out there. It's not good for you." He said gently but I was already so frustrated that his gentleness irked me. It came in at the wrong time.

"And how would you know what's good for me?!" I snapped at him but he just gave me a poker face, his eyes gave nothing away and it annoyed me even further.

He was not the one getting to put his whole life on hold for a loveless marriage, I was. He couldn't have known what was good for me even if I let him.

"You know what's not good for me?" I whispered. I saw him look up at me from the corner of my eye.

"Marrying you." I concluded. He did not reply but I saw his jaw clench as well as his fists. I truly hoped that my words hit a nerve and he would understand how I felt.

"Stop the car." I ordered the driver in a no nonsense tone. I narrowed my eyes as he stared at his boss for permission through the rear view mirror.

"You heard her." Damien uttered coldly without sparing me a glance.

I scoffed and got out, slammed the door behind me and walked away without looking back.

****

Damien's POV

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"To the airport." I ordered sternly.

"Yes sir," The driver said making a U-turn quickly.

I put a call across to my crew to prepare for the flight earlier than usual. I planned on going back to Los Angeles today but with the unexpected happenings, I figured it would be best I left earlier than planned so I could head to my office as soon as I landed.

I was really angered by Ariana's outburst. There I was, trying to show her a little bit of care and concern because it was because of me she had to go through all that, but, she threw it in my face.

I promised myself to not ever show her a bit of my soft side ever again because she would never appreciate it. This cold hearted person was who she would get as a husband and nothing was going to change it. Nothing was going to save her from it, not even her beauty and innocence. She was going to be treated the same way I did with everyone else.

I boarded my jet and sat comfortably with a glass of whisky in hand. I crossed my one leg over the other as I scrolled through my phone.

A slender palm rubbed over my shoulder few minutes after we took off. I looked up, ready to snap at whoever had the guts to touch me. I thought it was one of my guards but it turned out to be one of the air hostesses.

"Sir, do you need anything?" She asked shamelessly with a seductive smile. I smirked, she obviously wanted something. She drew down her top and exposed a little cleavage all in a bid to seduce me. She was pretty and slim unlike Ariana. I pushed the picture of Ariana out of my head and focused on the redhead in front of me.

I thought about it for a second and decided, why not? I needed to get laid, to let off some steam. Ariana had me really pissed off and I needed to take my anger out on something or in the case, someone.

Warning!!! Mature content below...

I grabbed her behind roughly and had her straddling me the next second. She tried kissing me but I blocked it. I was in control and I never let anyone dominate me especially not in bed.

I pulled her into my bedroom on the plane, laid her down and had my way with her. I was rough, I knew because she was pleading for me to go easy on her. I chuckled darkly. She did not know what she signed up for.

I flipped her over suddenly during our second round and spanked her so hard, she was in tears. I rode on her from behind till I had my release. When I was done, I slipped off the used condom and threw it in the bin. I went to take a quick shower, by the time I got out, I realized that the girl- I never got her name- was still in my room.

"Get out." I ordered indifferently as I stared at her laying comfortably on the bed. I was done with her, so what was she waiting for? A proposal?

"But..." She tried protesting but my hardened gaze kept her mouth shut.

I took some notes out of my drawer, and threw it at her.

"Take it, get your clothes and get out." I commanded in a clipped tone. She looked like she was on the verge of tears but I couldn't care less about it.

She put her clothes on and turned to walk out of the room solemnly.

"Not a word about this to anyone." I warned and she nodded quickly.

"And, go get someone to clean up this place."

She nodded again and walked out of the room.

Silly girls thinking a one night stand would make me fall for them. How pathetic!

I walked out of the room and continued working on my laptop till the flight came to an end.

****

Ariana's POV;

I paced the room waiting for a knock on my door. I had texted Nolan earlier and after several hours of ghosting me, he eventually replied. He gave me cold, monotonous answers but I somehow managed to convince him to come over to my apartment.

An urgent knock came through and I rushed to the door to open it. I was met with a fuming Nolan and an equally upset Miguel.

My eyes darted between the two of them.

"El problema?" I asked (what's the problem?)

"Él lo inició." They both said, pointing at each other like little kids.(He started it.)

I shook my head with a sigh. I could tell what was wrong. Miguel was most probably doing what his boss who's name must not be mentioned, had instructed. To 'protect' me, he must have tried to stop Nolan from coming in which must have definitely offended him greatly because Nolan was no stranger to me and before all this, he used to hang out at my place all the time.

I turned to Miguel and said softly.

"Miguel, es mi amigo y siempre es bienvenido aquí." (He's my friend and he's always welcome here.)

"Entendido?" I said emphatically.(Got it?)

"Si señora." He nodded.(Yes madam)

I gave him a small smile before I turned to Nolan.

"Adelante." I gestured accordingly. (Come in.)

Without a word, he walked into the apartment ahead of me.

"Nolan please sit," I said because he stood in the middle of the room like a stranger.

"I don't have all night Ariana, why did you want to see me?" He said in such an uncaring manner, it hurt so badly.

"Nolan, I.. I don't even know how to explain it, it's all happening so fast." I managed to say with so much emotion, I hoped he could understand me.

"Why didn't you tell me, Ariana?" He said.

"I didn't know how. The proposal happened unexpectedly and now the wedding is about a month away, I don't..." I was rambling when he cut me off.

"You're getting married in a month?!" He thundered and I recoiled.

"Damien wants it that way."

"But what do you want? And for how long have you two been together?"

"A while now." I answered with a tight lipped smile.

About a week has to count for something right? Right.

Nolan shook his head, apparently disappointed. I really wished I could tell him the truth but I couldn't, I would be risking his job if I did. I was sure Damien had his eyes on my every move so I couldn't risk it.

"I thought we were friends, I even thought we... Ugh never mind!" He sounded so pained, I wanted to reach out and hug him.

I sat still, blinking back the tears that came to my eyes.

"Oh well," He shrugged with a defeated sigh.

"That's a nice ring, Congratulations. I guess you're off the market now." He chuckled, but I knew it was forced. I nodded somberly in response to all he had said.

"I hope he makes you happy and treats you like you deserve. You're a queen and I know he has all the money to give you the luxuries you want." He said, pacing the room as he did so.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I scowled.

"What it means is that there's no possible way you would agree to marry someone so quickly if he doesn't have something on you!!!" He half yelled.

He was close to the truth but then again he was getting it all wrong.

"Nolan, I love him!" I lied.

"No you don't!" He countered veraciously and I couldn't agree more, but the truth was just for me and Damien to know, no one else.

"I don't know what has gotten over you Nolan. You should be happy for me!"

"I can't!"

"Why? Why can't you be happy for me?!" I yelled even harder.

He paused, breathing heavily. He looked straight into my eyes when he spoke seconds later.

"That's for me to know and for you to never find out." He muttered before marching out of my apartment.

"Nolan!" I called out tiredly, but he was gone.

As I stood in the middle of my small living room that evening, breathless from all the yelling I had to do, I hoped I had not lost my one true friend. I hoped it was just a rocky phase that would pass and that we would go back to being best friends again. I just hoped.

I ended up sitting on my couch fo a long time, just staring into space. The pangs of hunger eventually hit me and I decided to order pizza. I had no energy left in me to cook anything.

After waiting for another thirty minutes, I had my pizza handed over to me by Miguel. I was sure he noticed my sullen look when he suddenly decided to sit by me in front of my kitchen counter.

Without saying anything, I served him some pizza which he took gratefully. We made small talk and I found out he was married with two beautiful kids. I smile and got all fuzzy inside when he told me about his small family. I wanted something like that but I wasn't sure about it anymore.

"Madam," He called after we had a few laughs.

"Just call me Ariana." I said with a grin, he mirrored my expression and nodded in response.

"Your friend will come around in due time, you just have to give him some space to cool off." He advised.

I nodded.

"I guess you're right."

"And, I honestly feel you should move down to Los Angeles sooner, it would be difficult for you to handle your wedding planning from over here, Sir Damien would have nothing to do with it. You can't let someone plan your special day for you." He said cautiously, like he did not want to offend me with his opinion.

Miguel was giving me a lot of wise words. I smiled gratefully.

"Thank you Miguel. I'll think about what you said."

He smiled and bade me goodnight. I shut the door after him, cleaned up and called it a night.

I guess tomorrow's another day.