Chapter Twenty five

Damien left for work immediately after breakfast, even when mom tried to stop him with the reason that he just got married the previous day, his response kept her mute for a few seconds.

"If I'd take a holiday for every little thing, would you be able to enjoy the luxuries you do now?"

Without another word he swiftly moved out. I was so tempted to tell him off because what he said to his mother was absolutely disrespectful and inappropriate. She may have covered it up with a smile in no time, but I knew that his words must have gotten to her.

"Come on," she stretched her palm towards me, I took it and followed her.

We were heading to what seemed like and adjoined building that was linked to the one ww were at by a huge mahogany door. Somehow, I found that we were outside but at the same time we weren't. This was a front porch with grass and a few flowers here and there but the place was fenced like it was built so it would seem like it was a part of the house we just came out from.

She led the way and we crossed the porch, she pushed open a metal door, which led to a nicely furnished lobby and to my utmost surprise, after the lobby, was a large living room with a staircase leading up to the rooms. This house was very similar to the one we just came out from.

My mouth fell open in surprise.

"What is this place? A spare house?" I asked sheepishly. She chuckled.

"No silly, this is where we live."

"I'm sorry, what now?"

This was not making any sense.

"You're welcome to the West wing of the mansion. Damien resides on the East wing, all by himself, but of course now, he has you." She said with a grin, like she did not just confuse me.

"But, why is he living separately from you all? Aren't you all family?" I had to ask because it was bothersome that he would allow his family live on one side of his mansion while he lived on the other one, all by himself. It would have made more sense if they lived farther away. I mean, if they were going to be living together, it should have been done properly. Why divide the home into sections? It sounded ludicrous to me.

"I'm surprised you didn't know. Did he not tell you about it when you were dating?" She asked, I froze for a second at the question. What was I supposed to tell her at this juncture? I had to think fast.

"He never mentioned it, he only said that he lived with his family." I lied through my teeth fighting the urge to shout the truth. She apparently bought my lie as she continued speaking.

"Well, Damien has always been ummm, different." She said hesitantly, heading to the fridge in her kitchen to pour us some juice.

"More like odd." I muttered under my breath. Damien was truly odd to be comfortable with such living pattern.

"Did you say something honey?" She asked, looking up from the juice she had been pouring.

I sat up abruptly on the bar stool.

"No, nothing." I shook my head in the negative as I tapped on the kitchen counter.

"So, you have a kitchen over here, why do you have to go over there for breakfast?" I asked.

"It's a way of bonding and spending time with him, besides I get tired of cooking sometimes." She said with a carefree shrug.

"As I was saying," she continued.

"Damien is my first child but he's always been different from the rest of my kids. I love him so much and I'm really appreciative of what he has done for the family, but I truly wish he could be more open with us." Her voice cracked as she spoke, I took her hand in mine and rubbed on it soothingly.

"It's alright mom, he'll come around." I asserted.

"I do hope so. I hope and pray your marriage changes him for the better." She said. I managed a nod, I could not say anything although I knew that it was never going to work.

Something based on a lie was surely bound to hit the rocks and I could not delude myself into thinking that I would be the angel that would change Damien's ways. I did not even like the dude.

I stayed with her, talking about anything and everything, Fiona joined in and we had a great time. I found out Jesse had gone to work with his older brother in spite of the massive hang over from the previous day. I felt bad for him. I left them after a few hours, I needed some time to myself again.

I walked past the front porch and pulled open the link door and walked into what I now figured was Damien's side of the house.

It was then it occured to me that them not living in the exactly same house as Damien and I could actually be a blessing in disguise.

It meant that I could sleep in a separate room and no one of his family members would know or be able to question it. But then again what if they came over and found out I was in a different room, it would raise suspicions.

I climbed up the stairs, still deep in thought about the sleeping arrangement between Damien and I.

When I got into the room, I laid on the bed and scrolled through my Instagram feed. Our wedding pictures and videos were all over the place and our hashtag was trending more than ever. There were even memes about the wedding. I did not even know how to react to all of it. I was just glad there was no negative energy from the internet concerning our marriage. I did not need the extra stress.

*****

Damien's POV;

I had spent a part of my morning staring at Ariana's sleeping state. She looked so peaceful in her sleep, one would think of her as an angel.

When she said something about me not wanting her on my bed. I almost pinched her cheeks for looking so cute while she spewed nonsense from her beautiful lips. How on earth would it make sense that I let my wife sleep on the couch while I slept on the bed? It would have been way better if she slept in another room. I knew I was brutal and harsh atimes but I was not that much of a meanie.

I noticed her staring at me several times while at the breakfast table after shutting my family up. I knew exactly what was on her mind. I had always and would always be the bad guy to Ariana but she had no idea why I was the way I was. She would never understand where I was coming from. She looked so adorable when she blushed, I made it a duty to tease her often.

I left for the office immediately after breakfast, pulling my silly younger brother, Jesse, with me, because I hated being idle and I had some papers to sign.

I could tell my staff was not expecting me to be at work that morning because the bewildered stares I got could not he counted on my fingers.

"Richard, my office, now." I said into the phone to my personal assistant. I was about to hang up when he spoke up quickly.

"Sir, you're supposed to be on your honeymoon!" He whined like a child.

"And who are you to decide where I'm supposed to be and what I should be doing?" I said coldly. I heard him gulp.

"Right, sorry sir. I'll be in your office in no time."

I hung up quickly. I booted my desktop computer and started working on it before my door burst open.

I looked up swiftly, wondering who had the audacity to barge into my office without knocking.

"You workaholic!!!" Aiden exclaimed dramatically as usual.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. Aiden? Of all persons? Really?

"How did you know I was in here?" I asked.

"I was in the building and was talking to your personal assistant, when you called." He said, plopping done on my settee with his arms spread wide and legs crossed on the small table in front of it.

"You do know you just got married right?" He asked rhetorically but I answered anyways.

"If this wedding band on my finger is anything to go by, yes Aiden." I said typing furiously on my computer in search of a work document.

"Even if you really had to work, what happened to your study?" He asked after a while of silence.

"I did not feel like being in the house." I said.

"Are you avoiding her again?" He asked.

"No I'm not. I just wanted to leave the house." I denied.

"Alright then, you've left the house, now it's time for me to make you go back in." He stood up, cracking his knuckles in a pathetic 'intimidating' manner.

"I'd like to see you try, Aiden Smith." I smirked.

"I accept your challenge."

We ended up playing a game of chess. As usual, I won, he lost. Which meant I got to stay at work, till closing hours and that I did.