Chapter One Hundred and twenty four

Ariana's POV;

"You're sure this is the place you want?" I heard him ask once again.

"For the umpteenth time,'' I rolled my eyes. "Yes babe, this is exactly what I want." I affirmed.

"It's small." He said unable to hide the disgusted frown at the filthiness of the place that was yet to be cleaned up.

"It's almost as big as our bedroom." I pointed out.

"My point exactly."

I gave him a blank stare.

"Babe be supportive." I requested.

"I am and that's why I'm telling you to let me buy the whole building for you, so we could have it demolished and create a place of high taste." He said raising his hands to demonstrate his point.

"I want to start small, with my own money." I enunciated.

We had been bickering over this matter all morning and I was getting exhausted but I wasn't going to give in to his persistence, I had to do this on my own.

"At least let me do something other than moral support." He practically pleaded.

"Well, you could give me some free business consultation and mentorship. Give me a list of recommended contractors for jobs like these and help me out when I'm ready for hiring of employees." I counted on my fingers as I listed the options.

"Babe," he sighed.

"Are you going to help with those or do I have to get someone else to do it?" I persisted.

"Of course I'll help but I want to help you build a brand of high standards."

"That's a jumpstart and I actually want to grow into it and face every challenge of business start up like every other business person did, including you." I poked at his chest.

"Yes I get that. But those people didn't have the opportunity you have now. If they did, they definitely would have jumped at it." His statement was valid but at the same time not.

"Well I want to know what not having the opportunity feels like." I turned away, knowing he was going to protest.

"I'm not changing my mind Damien." I said with an air of finality, drawing the argument to a close.

I looked around the place and shut my eyes picturing table arrangements, the scent of Spanish cuisine, the buzz of excited customers, the clanking of fine cutlery against fine crockery. Perfect!

I pictured a happy kid blowing out the candle on his birthday cake, overly excited about the treat his parents decided to impress him with for his birthday. A birthday reservation just for him.

I opened my eyes and sighed.

It was beautiful to dream but I could only hope that this dream would come through soon enough

"Earth to babe." Damien said, snapping his fingers in my face.

I smiled sheepishly.

"The cleaning people are here, we should let them do their thing." He said and ushered me out as the people got started.

"You do realize you'll have to come all the way down here almost everyday, yeah?" He asked as we sat in the vehicle.

"Yeah." I said.

"Your driving lessons begin the moment we return from Germany." He said, leaving no room for me to decline.

"Yes boss." I teased with a mock salute.

"So why didn't you go to work today?" I asked.

"Didn't feel like it. I just want to spend the day with you." He placed his palm on my thigh and squeezed a little.

"Or you're worried Cheryl would suddenly change plans and you want it to be when I'm around you?"

"Mhmm maybe. I don't want you going off on me anytime soon."

"You're making it sound like I get explosive whenever I'm annoyed." My eyes narrowed at him.

The not so innocent look on his handsome face gave me the perfect answer.

"What? That is not true." I said calmly.

"You're not on the receiving end, you know." He said.

"Damien I'm not a temperamental person, if anything, you're the one who turns into a fireball when aggravated." I countered.

"I admit to that but ever since," he cleared his throat, watching closely for my reaction while my eyes followed his every move.

The nervous twitch of his fingers that were barely noticeable unless you were in close proximity with him. The way his tongue rolled over his thin lips like he was lubricating his words before they fell out through them.

Whatever he was about to say would most probably strike a chord and I wasn't sure if I was ready for it.

"Since February or maybe some time before that, you've been going off on me a lot."

I chuckled at his euphemism for the unfortunate events that had happened before. At least it didn't prick my heart as much as it would have if he had plainly called it out.

"But I've given you a chance after all, so what's the problem?" I asked, biting slightly on my lower lip so it was hardly noticable.

"I'm worried that you're going to start taking my feelings for granted by getting angry over the littlest of things because you don't trust me enough."

I kept mute, letting his words sink in.

"I'm sorry if you feel that I'm trying to take your feelings for granted but I don't do that on purpose. I'll never do that you."

"I didn't say you're doing it right now, I'm just saying there's a possibility." He tried to make little of the situation but I knew where he was coming from.

"Is there something you're trying to pull out of me?"

"Something like what?" He asked back.

"A statement of some sort, a confession, maybe?" I questioned in scrutiny, analyzing his body language.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He denied.

"Babe I'm just saying that you put me on edge a lot, I don't think it's healthy to work on eggshells around you all the time."

"I used to do that around you all the time." I pointed out.

"Is this you being vindictive?!" He exclaimed. I shook my head slightly, chuckling a bit.

"No not at all. I'm just pointing out that the tables simply have turned. Not on purpose though." I gave him a cheeky grin.

I gave him a thorough glance trying to hold myself back from straddling him. He was staring at me the same way he always did but with a little more want and desire tucked in his eyes than I had to emit.

"Hmm." I cleared my clogged up throat to break us out of the trance.

"Is this why you locked the door last night, so I wouldn't leave in anger over the turn of events at dinner?''

I noticed andI did not forget that.

"Yeah. I didn't want to have to go through another petty fight that would escalate into us being apart again." He honestly admitted.

"I'll try to not blow up over petty things, I promise."

Though I did not see any reason why he would think I was always going off on him, I had to let him know that I was willing to make things work between us, he wasn't the only person who was going to be putting in the efforts.

"Thank you." He sighed out. "Same goes for me." He added.

"Good, now that that's settled." The leather squeaked as my bootie swerved on it to face him squarely.

"Why didn't you tell me the whole story about you and Cheryl?"

"I knew this was coming." He said more to himself than to me.

"I just felt it was unnecessary to delve into details about a past relationship. We're supposed to be focusing on our present and possible future together."

I nodded. His statement was agreeable but curiousity always held me by my ears so I wanted to know about it all.

"Just tell me about it please."

"Are you sure you wouldn't get more distrustful about me doing business with her if I tell you?" He asked nervously.

"I trust you enough to be sure that if anything happens, you would stay true to me." I said, looking straight into his grey orbs hoping he would get the message I was trying to pass.

He swallowed.

"I met Cheryl in college, freshman year. And we hit it off immediately and we were good friends, hung out together and stuff."

"We didn't get together until sophomore year when her ex boyfriend cheated on her and she ran to me to cry it out. One thing led to another and we got comfy under the sheets. After that, things moved so fast and we officially became a thing."

"She was supportive and understood how messed up I was and she kept me sane though we had lots of issues. It was a pretty toxic relationship, I won't lie, but then it was thrilling to settle everything with great sex."

It was difficult listening to my husband recount his escapades with another woman even though it was long before I even knew he existed.

"Things started to hit the rocks when I met her overly strict father for the first time and he detested my guts. He accused me of being a bad influence on his daughter and warned me to never go near her again. Of course I didn't listen."

"We did things in secret until he found out and decided he was going to permanently take her away to Germany. I tried convincing her to resist him but she was scared of losing her inheritance, like I was incapable of taking care of her." He tousled his hair with his palm and leaned back on the seat to stare up at the roof of the car.

"I was a budding businessman and tech guru at the time and of course had a promising future but she didn't believe in me and decided it was in her best interest to leave, throwing out three years of being together all away."

"It hurt but then I had to move on with my life. But then she summoned courage and came back after few months of being away only to find me in bed having casual sex with Aleena."

"Wait what?" I gasped.

"No strings attached babe, I let her know from the beginning and of course she always thought we could be so much more." He clarified.

"Anyways, back to my story. Cheryl almost screamed down my house that day. It was then she finally left and we haven't been in contact ever since, up until a week ago."

I blinked a few times, trying to take it all in.

"Now that was some story." I still couldn't get over the fact that he had taken her to points he hadn't done with me, yet.

"I'm glad we broke up though." He said, throwing me a side glance.

"Why is that?"

"Cause," he leaned in to kiss me full on the lips.

"I get a chance to be with instead." He smirked.

I smiled.

"I love you." He said gently.

I love you too, I almost said back but my mouth couldn't form the words.

In due time Ariana, in due time.