Chapter Forty

Damien's POV;

I reached for my phone and checked the caller ID for who had been buzzing my phone non stop. I slid the green button and dropped it since it was connected to my airpods.

"Miguel." I said into the phone, still focused on my computer screen as I read through some mails.

"Good day sir, she's done with her interview." He informed. I hummed.

"Anything else I should know?" I probed.

"She had a confrontation with some girl who claimed to being your ex while at Starbucks." He sounded really amused and that intrigued me, I wanted to get the full details.

"Go on." I said.

Miguel went on to narrate what had happened and I chuckled. I never thought Ariana had it in her, she was always so sweet and quiet. I secretly wished I had seen her in action but I was putting her at arm's length now.

The call ended and I got back to work. I had lots of meetings to attend, lots of documents to read through, the thousands of staff I had did not reduce my stress at all, it only heightened it.

But on the bright side, work helped me forget a lot of things. It helped me not think about how no one actually cared about how I felt and would always leave me for someone else. When I worked it helped me realize that I could actually get things done by myself and being alone was not all that bad. I hated having to beg anyone to stay because they were all the same. The moment people know how much they mean to you, they start taking you for granted and eventually leave you in shambles.

People are only there for the advantages that come with being with you, that is why, despite my cold and overbearing nature, my family still sticks around like nothing is going on.

Ariana was going to be the same as everyone else, it was always like that. I easily consented to her sleeping in another room for this same reason. I was affirmative that if she had the chance and was not bound to me by a contract she would have left without batting an eyelid but since it was not possible for now, her next best option was moving into the room opposite mine.

When I returned from the office the previous day, I saw that she had moved all of her stuff out of the closet that we shared. I was not at all surprised. I had not seen her for about two days now and I wanted it to stay that way unless we had something important to go out for, just like tonight.

I had been invited to a charity event and I needed a date to come with me. There was no one else I could have on my arm other than Ariana because we're married. Before now, I would have just called one of the many models or actresses I had associations with and we'd go but it was a different ball game entirely now.

I groaned as I felt a headache coming on. I had hardly slept because I was working all night long in my study and I had not had anything to eat either. I rang my assistant and asked him to get me something light to eat and some painkillers.

I leaned back on my swivel chair massaging my temples with my eyes shut when my door came open. That was fast, I thought.

"Place them on the table, Drew." I instructed.

"Who are you calling Drew?! Open your eyes man!"

You guessed right, it was Aiden. I groaned as I opened my eyes and glared daggers at him for banging on the table which only heightened the aching in my head. He was apparently unfazed by my death glare-the same one that had everyone around me cower in fear, except him.

"What are you doing here?" I muttered.

"I came to say hello." He said placing both his feet on my desk.

"Well hello to you too, you can leave now." I said pointedly.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked, looking concerned. I did not like it. I hated it when people pitied me.

"I'm fine." I muttered under my breath.

Soon, Drew came in with the things that I ordered for. I had my snack and swallowed the pain killers with water.

"You should relax." Aiden advised and I nodded.

"So..." Aiden dragged, thrumming on my desk.

"Are you and Ariana cool now?" He questioned.

"She moved out of the room we share, if that's what you're asking." I said exasperatedly.

"Whoa!" He explained.

"It's that bad huh?"

I shrugged. What was I supposed to say?

"You know you really messed up bro." Aiden chastised in his usual brotherly tone and I almost rolled my eyes. I ignored him and continued typing on my desktop.

"I'm serious bro, you should not have spoken to her like that." He went on. I sighed.

"Aiden, can you just let it rest already?." I sighed.

I was angry and she was trying to pacify me and I transferred the aggression to her, unfortunately. But, she should never have butted into the argument. I hated it when people did that.

I crossed my arms on my chest and leaned back in my seat.

"When's the last time you saw and spoke to her?" Aiden inquired, spinning on the swivel chair he was seated on. He was staring straight at me as he did.

I reached for a pen from the pen holder situated at the right end of my desk. I had no actual use for it, I just wanted to have something to distract myself with while we discussed. I rolled the pen in between my fingers as I spoke.

"The night she moved out of the room." I replied to his question.

"When do you think you're going to see her again?" He prodded further.

"I don't know, maybe tonight." I shrugged casually, slowly moving my swivel chair from left to right.

"You're attending the ELT Charity event with her, aren't you?" He quirked a brow.

"Yes I am."

"I'll have a dress delivered to her later along with a make up artiste." I explained, further letting him in on my plans.

"From what you told and from what I've seen about her, I think you should just let her be her simple self. I for one, believe that she looks even more beautiful without make up." He said and I was taken aback by his suggestion, though I did not show it.

"She has to look her best Aiden." I said.

"Doesn't she look beautiful enough for you?"

"I don't care about how she looks, I only care about what the world thinks she looks like." I lied through my teeth. I feared that if I had admitted to her being beautiful, he would start formulating thoughts of us working out and knowing Aiden, he would stop at nothing to make that happen. Aiden was a player and lover boy at the same time, I don't know how he did it.

"That sucks man." He said with an exaggerated pout. His eyes soon lit up with a glint of mischief.

"But I know you're lying. Ariana is such a beauty to behold, you know, have you seen those curves?" Aiden asked rhetorically outlining his statement with the gesture of his hands. I involuntarily swallowed at the thought of her curvy body.

"Keep my wife's body off your mind Aiden Smith." I warned in a deadly tone and he laughed hard. What exactly was funny about what I had just said?

"You say you don't care about her looks and all but you swallowed when I mentioned how sexy she looks." He laughed.

Sexy? Oh no he did not just call my wife sexy right to my face! He noticed the agitated look on my face so he regained his composure.

"I apologize Damien, I know it's inappropriate to talk about your wife that way but you really should have seen your face." He laughed right when I thought he was being serious.

"Haha, funny. Can you let this topic be please?" I asked with sarcasm lacing my tone while I spoke.

"But really, you should try being friends with her at least for as long as this marriage lasts, when is the contract supposed to expire so you can annul the marriage?" Aiden questioned.

There was a clause stating that we had to stay married for about nine months before we could decide if it was best to stay together or go our separate ways.

I was so sure that Ariana would jump at the opportunity of divorcing me so I did not bother myself with it.

"Nine months." I finally replied Aiden.

"Just try to be nice." He said

"Yeah, whatever." I mumbled.

I was not making any promises, I just agreed so he could get off my case.