Chapter One Hundred and twenty two

I wasn't able to concentrate on the decor scrapbook the interior designer had handed me when I went out earlier today.

I had finally found a space at a great price that fit into what I wanted for the restaurant. The moment I stepped into the desolate place that smelled like mouse poop, situated in uptown LA, I knew it was the one. I had talks with the agent and it was settled, I was going to pay for the space the next day .

I called on the interior decorator, mom had recommended as well as that of Brianna's and we immediately started drafting out ideas for the place.

It was all going good until I felt my heart jump in my chest and the face of a certain someone played out in front of me.

"Breathe Ariana, breathe." I said taking deep breaths to steady myself.

This realization of mine felt more bad than good. I couldn't look at Damien the same way. Could I even look at him at all?

It was past five o'clock in the evening and he was going to be here any minute from now, I had to keep it cool around him. I had to.

I tsked the moment I was reminded of the fact that Fiona had once again taken Mico -my support system- over to their side of the house.

I paced for a while and decided it was best to pick out my dress for dinner tonight.

After several minutes of sorting through the plethora of dresses lined up on hangers in the wide closet, I settled for a nude cotton long sleeved dress that stopped a little below my knees. It had little white beads that were intricately woven in to the dress.

I brought took the dress out of and laid on the island. I had to try it on to be sure it would fit perfectly. My hands picked on the hem of my extra large top to take it off but I stopped because for some reason I felt watched.

Instinctively, my eyes sharply scanned the room and fell on the figure watching me from the doorway.

"Ahhhhhhhh!" I screamed and threw one of my heels at him.

"You really should stop throwing things, you could have hurt me." He said, casually strolling in.

"You scared me!" I yelled, trying to calm my racing heart by continuously rubbing on my chest.

He grinned. What was so amusing?

I glowered at him.

"Sorry but why would you think anyone would be able to bypass all the security situated around the villa and get to you right here?" He asked, walking further in.

"Anything could happen Damien, don't be so cocky." I said with a shake of my head, turning to bring the dress out of the nylon it was covered in.

"Hmmm if you say so."

"I didn't hear you come in, when exactly did you get back?" I asked.

"Not so long ago. You seemed so lost in your thoughts, you didn't even hear me come in." He answered, pushing my throng of hair aside to drop a kiss on the back of my neck.

"How was your day?" I asked, brushing my hand over the beaded bristles of the dress.

"The usual. How was yours?" He had his chin on my shoulder and arms around my torso now.

"It was good. I found a space and I'm paying for it tomorrow."

"That's amazing babe. Proud of you." He pecked my cheek slightly.

"Thank you."

"I'll go freshen up now, Cheryl's going to be here by seven." He informed.

"Of course, see you soon." I waved him off.

***

"It's past seven already. You're sure she's still coming?" I asked thrumming my fingers on the dining table a little impatiently.

"Sure. Traffic must be holding her up." He said, glanced at his watch and turned to the rest of the people seated at the table including Tracy who was in serious need of satisfying her craving for meatloaf that was staring her straight in the face. You could see on her face how badly she wanted to claw at it.

"Let's give her a few minutes guys." Damien said in a subtle plea.

We all agreed and started engaging in light chatter to distract us from the aroma of great food that surrounded us.

"Damien I-" I was saying...

"Gimme a minute babe, I think Cheryl is here." He said pausing my statement with the raise of his index finger. I clamped my mouth and listened as he told the guards to let her in and escort her down to the dinning room.

The room fell quiet as we awaited the presence of the woman that had us all dressed up for the night.

Soon, I heard clicking of heels that weren't mine, nor Fiona's or Amy's and not certainly not mom's. Let's not talk about Tracy, she's the literal definition of barefoot and pregnant.

Damien stood up on his feet as soon as she walked in and on instinct we all did too and had our eyes glued to the door until it popped open.

Strawberry blonde hair styled to perfection as against my simple single braid at the back of my head. Amber cat-like eyes that seemed to sparkle in the dark, a pointed nose that seemed too perfectly carved, high cheek bones highlighted to perfection and small plump lips dipped in matte red lipstick. All of these features crammed her face.

And, She stood tall at a whooping 5'8 while I seemed closer to the ground with my 5'6 that I thought was something to be proud of. I'm not short but I felt like it when she stood next to me.

My eyes trailed from her face to her long neck, narrow shoulders and a lean curvy body that was covered up in a fuschia knee-length dress that had a conspicuous bow at the back, long creamy legs shot out and her feet were clad in designer stilettos.

Did Damien say this woman was nothing to worry about? He definitely lied.

"Good evening everyone." A calmly sophisticated voice came out of her as she bade us with a smile.

Her mouth formed a circle as she looked around and her eyes fell on mom.

"Aunt Stella, you haven't aged one bit since the last time I saw you. You look dazzling!" She exclaimed going over to hug mom who was a bunch of smiles and warm as usual.

"Thank you. It's been so long Cheryl and you look even more beautiful now." Mom said.

"I try." She coyly accepted the compliment.

"Fiona." She said in a singsong manner.

"You used to be so little and cute and now you're growing into a fine young woman."

"Thank you." Fiona blushed, not used to compliments like these.

"Tracy? Oh my goodness! Congratulations!" She went over and hugged Tracy as well.

"Thank you." Tracy said with a tight lipped smile.

"I didn't know you were married."

"I'm not, Aiden's my baby daddy if that's what you're trying to ask." Tracy said nudging, Aiden forward.

"What's up Cheryl?" He gave a slight nod in her direction.

"The ever so handsome Aiden. Long time no see." Cheryl said eyeing him slowly. It seemed like there was some bad blood between them that hadn't totally cleared out.

"You look good." He said awkwardly clearing his throat.

"Yeah I know." She said.

With all that said and done, she sashayed over to the head of the table where Damien was seated and hugged him briefly.

"You look gorgeous as always, Cheryl." He complimented her with a lopsided grin.

He complimented her?! He saw me this evening and did not even bother to say anything about my looks. Not even the usual; 'I like seeing your hair down' thingy. Nada, zilch, nothing! Ha!

"Thank you." She grinned.

"And thanks for inviting me over." She said and turned to subtly glance at me.

"Cheryl, this is my lovely wife, Ariana Delaney Kingston." He reached for my hand and kissed it slightly. I smiled.

"And babe, this is Cheryl Schneider, same one I told you about."

"So you two have had reason to discuss about me?" She grinned like a cheshire cat. I wanted to gag.

"Anyways, nice to meet you, Ariana." She stretched her palm forward for a handshake and I firmly took it with a practiced smile perched on my face.

"Same here." I said and saw how her eyes ran over me in quick movement.

You haven't seen curves like these baby girl? They're real you know.

I smirked at how sassy my inner self could be at certain moments.

Soon we all had our seats and began eating in silence. Silence until our guest started talking when she wasn't asked.

"I must say your house is so beautiful Damien. It speaks so much class." She said and put a forkful of vegetables in her mouth.

"Thank you." Damien politely said, briefly looking up to stare at her.

"It's such a great improvement from the one I remember. It's much bigger and spacious on the inside unlike before." She said.

Was she trying to stir up memories of their time together while we were having our meal? She better not.

"I was a budding millionaire back then, now I'm a billionaire. There has to be a change." Damien engaged her, leaning back on his seat to raise his glass of wine.

"Cheers to that." She raised her glass as well and tilted it lightly in his direction.

The annoying part of this whole thing was that I was in between them as they spoke to each other like none of us existed.

"So, you two were a thing right?" Fiona piped up out of nowhere.

"Yes we were." Cheryl replied with a light grin.

"For how long?"

"Three years."

I almost choked on my water as soon as I heard that. He did not tell me that, not at all.