Chapter Thirteen

My phone rang late into the night, while I was fast asleep. I moaned and groaned before stretching my hand to pick it up from my night stand. It was about 10pm and I just slept about two hours before. The day had me stressed out, so sleeping early was my only option to forget everything.

"Hello?" I mumbled sleepily into the phone.

"Oh honey, did I wake you up?" A sweet voice said that sounded really familiar said into my ear.

I furrowed my eyebrows and squinted at the brightness of the phone while I checked the caller ID.

"Oh hi, Mrs Kingston." I said.

"How are you dear?"

"I'm well,thank you. How are you?" I yawned in between my statements.

"Oh sweetie, I forgot about the time difference,I didn't mean to disturb your sleep. I'm so sorry." She apologized.

"Oh no, it's fine. I'm sure you called for something important." I lowkey wanted to hear what she had to say so I would know if I had to travel soon.

"Well dear, Damien came home without you and I when I asked when you'd be arriving, he said in two weeks. That's so little time to plan such a big wedding." She informed me.

Damien had gone back to Los Angeles without even letting me know. Amazing, isn't it? I could have fooled myself if his mother had not mentioned it.

"Oh well, I planned on coming in next week instead of two weeks time ma'am." I said.

"Oh that's much better but I'd advise you come in as soon as possible. I'm sure you know Damien wants a big wedding but he wouldn't help in the planning, silly boy. We hardly have time on our hands, weddings like these take months to plan but we have weeks, weeks!" She rambled.

Damien wants a big wedding? I had no idea.

"Uhmmmm..." I didn't know what to say.

"Oh don't mind me, I must be tiring you out,"

"No, not at all." I reassured her.

"We'll see you very soon, yes?" She sounded hopeful.

"Yes, I promise."

"Alright then. Good night, sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite." She giggled like a teenager, it was infectious.

"Good night." I said before she hung up.

I laid awake for a while pondering on what I was going to do. I considered the time difference getting in between like it just did, as well as, many other feasible factors. I needed to get accustomed to my new environment anyway so I thought it best to leave in two days. In as much as I did not want to see or speak to Damien anytime soon, I had no choice but to go with it. It was bound to happen anyway.

The hands of sleep drew me in again before I could think of anything else.

****

The next morning came and went and before I knew it, I was on my way to have lunch with my dad at his house.

I hopped out of the apartment in high spirits, I just felt happy for no exact reason. Miguel noticed.

"Someone's happy today." He commented with a lopsided grin.

"Es bueno se feliz." I said with a smile. (It's good to be happy.)

He hummed and smiled back.

"Por supuesto." He concurred.(Indeed)

I hopped and instructed the driver to take me to my father's place

****

"Dad?!" I yelled the moment I got down from the vehicle.

I soon started hearing hushed conversations all around me, some people even pointed at me shamelessly. I sighed and shook my head. I decided to ignore and try to get used to it until I heard shutter sounds.

"Oh no!" I covered my face

I rushed inside the house, only to be met by my father who was just leaving the kitchen.

"Hola papá" I said giving him a hug and a peck on his left cheek that wasn't stained by flour. I wiped it off for him.

"Gracias miel." (Thank you honey.)

I picked up an apple and munched on it as I watched him work. I tried helping him out but he refused my help telling me he would have done it himself if I wasn't present.

"Hope you're taking your medications dad?" I asked casting him a scrutiny induced glance.

"Of course. You and your questions Ariana." He mumbled.

"Do you need money for anything? Should I help you get something done?" I inquired.

He dropped his chopping knife and stared up at me.

"Why all these questions? Is there something I should know?" He quirked his eyebrow at me.

"Oh nothing, just that I'll leaving for Los Angeles tomorrow." I bit on my apple nervously.

"Ah..." He drawled wistfully with a small nod.

"Why so soon though?"

"Damien's mother called and requested my presence, she said we have to start planning for the wedding and my presence is very much needed." I explained.

"Hmmm.." He hummed but did not say anything else.

We stayed in silence for a while

"Dad?" I called, he seemed to be deep in thought.

"I don't know when I'm going to see you again. I wish you didn't have to get married and live so far away." He said so effusively, I burst into tears.

I went straight into his arms and wailed.

"I'm sorry I had to put you through this, it's all my fault." He bemoaned. I shook my head in disagreement, I could not allow him blame himself. It was his debt but I agreed to the condition.

"Dad promise you won't keep blaming yourself." I poked out my pinky finger. He hesitated.

"Lo prometo." He said after a while.

"Pinky swear?" I wasn't satisfied. He intertwined his left pinky finger with mine.

"Pinky swear." He said and planted a kiss on my forehead.

"Papá eres tan dramático."I teased, to lighten the atmosphere.(Dad, you're so dramatic.)

"Dice el Ilorón." He teased back with a laugh.(Says the crybaby)

"That's not fair dad." I whined playfully and he laughed even more.

We had lunch and enjoyed ourselves by playing board games.

"See you at the wedding Dad." I gave him one last hug.

"I'll see you there. Always keep in touch."

"I will."

We said our goodbyes and I got into the vehicle. He waved from the front porch and I waved back until he was out of sight. I missed him already.

I exhaled deeply at the thought of leaving my apartment and never returning. I certainly did not see that coming.

I was leaving New York for good, that is until I could get a divorce from Damien and that, I was sure would not be anytime soon.

I k ""now, we hadn't gotten married yet and I was already thinking of a divorce. I just knew that a relationship between him and I was never going to be possible. We were polar opposites and with the way he got on my nerves every time we were together, we were heading for the rocks. I was sure of it. It was never going to work.

It was just a deal and I was going to treat it as such.

****

The next day...

"Why are we here? Miguel?" I asked in confoundment. We were parked in the private hangar instead of the airport. I had booked a flight for 8am the previous day and it was 7:30 already.

"Sir said to not let you fly public airlines if you're not taking business or first class. And of course, as your personal body guard I have to accompany you." Miguel explained.

My mouth fell open. I already paid for te ticket, and he wasn't supposed to know that I was leaving for Los Angeles today. I glared at Miguel.

"Why did you tell him?"

"He called to ask about you and I just had to tell him."

I was shell shocked but I scoffed. He was most probably calling to ask for a run down of all my activities for the day. Damien didn't give two shits about me.

"Well, why didn't he call me instead?" I frowned at Miguel, faking a jealous pout just so he wouldn't know that Damien never called.

"Did you two have a fight?" He was oblivious. That was good.

"Something like that." I mumbled, looking away.

"I'm sure you'll sort it out in no time." He said and continued sipping on his coffee.

I huffed angrily. It was not fair that I had spent my hard earned to buy a ticket only for it to be declared null and void by the arrogant brute I was engaged to.

"He's not even here but he's already ruining my day." I muttered under my breath.

"Did you say something madam?" Miguel turned to me.

"No, nothing at all." I said with a fake smile.

He helped me carry my luggage and soon we boarded the jet. The interiors still marveled me just like they did the first time.

About thirty minutes after settling in, the jet took off. I unbuckled my seat belt and was about heading to the bathroom when my eyes fell on a packet of condoms placed underneath the compartment in front of me.

I held in a gasp but could not hide my shock as my eyes went wide. I saw that two of the small paper boxes were empty which meant they had been used and very recently too. It was obvious that no one would have the audacity to do such and not clean up afterwards, no one except Damien.

I felt like I had been cheated on which surprised me. I understood that it was just a sham but expected him to respect me enough to not do such a thing while we were labeled as a couple.

But then again, he's a man, he must have had needs. Needs that I'm sure not willing to fulfill, not with someone that I had no emotional attachment to. I assumed it was going to be an open marriage or maybe he was enjoying his last few weeks of being a bachelor. I concluded on the latter eventually but I made a mental note to discuss it with him before we tied the knot.

I decided to read a book to clear my head. That was a perfect distraction until sleep took over.

****

Hours later...

We touched down just before noon. A car awaited us at the private hangar in Los Angeles. Typical of Damien Kingston to have everything planned out. I rolled my eyes and got into the vehicle.

I was back again in the hotel I had stayed the last time I was here but this time, I was taken up to the penthouse suite reserved for Damien alone.

I took a long bath, I soaked my self in the tub to relax my aching joints. After several minutes, I got out, dressed in a pair of pink cotton pajamas and went out to the extra large living room. This place looked too good to be real.

I sucked in a breath the moment I set my eyes on the sumptuous meals laid out for lunch on the dining table.

"Excuse me?" I called out to the house keeper who rushed to my side immediately.

"Is your boss joining me for lunch?" I asked.

"No ma'am, he's in his office."

"So all this is for me?" I gestured with my hand for emphasis.

She nodded. My jaw dropped. These people have got to be kidding me. There was no freaking way I could eat even a quarter of what was on the table.

I sat down and ate the little that I could, I even offered her some but she politely turned me down.

"Please call me Miguel." I requested. He came in shortly after.

"Yes ma'am." He answered, walking in briskly.

"Have you had anything to eat?"

"Not yet ma'am."

"I asked you to call me Ariana."

He chuckled deeply.

"The boss would have my head if I ever did that in front of him."

"Hmm suit yourself." I shrugged.

I asked the housekeeper to pack him some food for him and his family. I dismissed for the rest of the day. He hadn't seen his family for a while and he deserved to spend some quality time with them after being away in New York for a while. He thanked me profusely before heading out.

After his exit, I decided to tuck myself in bed and relax till whenever. I texted my father to inform him of my arrival, he called shortly after and we talked for a while.

My finger hovered over the call button in front of Nolan's contact, I really wanted to talk to him but then I considered Miguel's advice and just let it be.

Fingers crossed till whenever.