Chapter Fifty four

I stood in front of Avilla Corp contemplating how to face everyone in the office after my absence owing to the previous week's fiasco.

I walked into my office and saw that Stephanie was seated there already. I guessed I was late this time because I always came in before her.

"Hi Mrs Kingston." She said as soon as she spotted me and I froze. Of course, she had heard, just like everyone else, no wonder the stares did not stop as I walked through the hall, down to my office.

I shut my eyes and turned to her.

"Good morning Stephanie." I bade with a nervous smile.

"Why did you not tell me about 'the' Damien Kingston being your mystery husband?" She asked, straight to the point as always.

"Mystery?" I said, confused at how she thought my husband was a mystery being.

"Answer my question." She dismissed mine with a wave.

"It never came up?" I defended weakly.

"Oh I'm sure it did. You just decided to hide it away from all of us." She countered. Then she paused and made a face like she just got an epiphany.

"Oh, now I get it. That's why the CEO called you up to his office the other day." She said nodding to herself while at it.

"Oh well, you've figured it out." I sighed, shrugged casually and sat down.

I reached for my pen and got started on the files that were piled up on my desk.

"Oh no, we're not done here." Stephanie spoke up as soon as I sat down. I looked up at her questioningly, what else did she want me to say?

"I just want to know how you snagged up such a man and how you're still so humble." She said sitting right in front of me.

"Damien's achievements are his, I have to get mine, that's why I work here." I stated plainly.

"I know a lot of girls who would leave everything they ever worked for to be with someone like Damien. Like you're literally set for life girl!"

I shrugged as she spoke excitedly.

"People are different." I said and it was the truth, different people have different ways of reacting to different situations, I could not be bothered about all that he owned because it was not mine to keep and in less than a year, I would have to give up all the luxuries and go back to my simple life. I had to continue being myself whether or not anyone believed I should have done otherwise.

"I guess so. Your husband is really good looking though but he's not my type." Stephanie said dismissively with a wave of her palm.

Now that was a shocker. I had never seen a female who was not fawning over Damien's face and body.

"What's your type then?" I asked, now interested in what she had to say.

"I don't like overly muscular guys, I like lanky dudes with beards but he has neither and he's the type that would stress a girl out because he's wayyyy too fine and almost every girl's type. It's a good thing you tamed him, he was a notorious playboy." She explained and I nodded to everything that she had said except the thing about taming Damien. I could not agree to that.

She got off the table and soon got to work, just as I dived into it and tried to clear my desk that had piled up with work ever since my absence. It was so exhausting, I knew I was going to have a long day.

The whole thing was so overwhelming I knew it would take a lot more than my normal work hours to handle. I called Miguel to let him know I would be working late and that he could come in later instead of waiting for me but he insisted on waiting for me to finish up. Stephanie left after staying an hour extra with me but she soon had to go meet up with her date, so she left.

I was so busy I had truly lost track of time and when Miguel came up to my office, I told him to give me a few minutes. I eventually rounded up with my massive work load and gave myself an Imaginary pat on the back.

I rushed out when I saw the time and met Miguel about walking in to get me. I walked quickly and sat in the vehicle and the driver took to the wheels immediately.

I just wanted a to rest after such a long day. This was my first time working so late but I was glad that I had accomplished all I needed to. It wasn't easy but it was worth it.

The ride took about an hour before we arrived at the villa. I sighed in relief.

I was already imagining taking a cool shower and getting cuddled up in bed for the rest of the night but as soon as I walked into my bedroom and met with Damien's furious scowl, I knew that I had to hold that thought for a while.

****

Damien's POV;

I sat in my office that Monday morning, working on my computer while I sipped some coffee. I had a really rough night because of the recurring nightmares I had been having. I figured that sleeping next to Ariana made me feel safe and helped me a lot. For all the nights we slept together, there was not a single trace of them and it was really weird because it had never happened before.

I reached for my coffee mug and found that it was empty. I rang for my assistant to get me a refill and waited for him to come in.

Few minutes later, my door came open and I was met with an unexpected visitor, I kinda expected it but not so soon. Oh well, here goes. I sighed exasperatedly.

"What are you doing here?" I glowered at him in anger. I eyed his bruised nose that had a plaster around it, I felt somewhat guilty that I was the one who had inflicted such an injury.

"Man, please listen." He said pleadingly.

With a scowl, I gestured for him to sit and he slowly did.

"Speak." I said coldly watching his every move like a hawk.

"Damien, I did not mean for it to happen." He started off on a bad note.

"So you wanted to keep screwing my sister without anyone finding out?" I asked, feeling my anger rise.

"No I really wanted to come out in the open but..." He hesitated.

"But what?"

"I was worried, dare I say, scared of what your reaction was going to be." He eventually admitted.

"So why did you continue with the act in secrecy when you knew my reaction would not be a nice one?" I questioned rhetorically.

"You just wanted to use her isn't it?!" I slammed my palm on my table as I raised my voice, getting agitated at the thought of my little sister being one of his play things.

"No, damnit! Tracy is not one of my flings, I truly care for her!" He yelled defensively slamming his palm on my desk as well.

"Prove it." I spat.

"I will, I'll make it right by her. I'll be the best co parent there is, I'm not abandoning her and my child." He said seriously and I knew he meant it.

"Do whatever you want, I just don't want to ever see my sister hurt." I said eyeing him while I spoke.

"I give you my word Damien, if I ever hurt her then you can hit me all you want." He promised sincerely.

"You don't have to tell me twice." I said and we joined our hands in a firm handshake before he left.

The day went on smoothly asides that. I had signed a couple of deals and in a few weeks I would have to go to London to seal another one. The resort in Italy was turning out nicely and I was thoroughly impressed at what the workers had been doing in my absence. I commended their efforts because it was huge project and we had so little time to complete it.

I ran my hands through my hair, thoroughly exhausted after a really long day and I wanted nothing more than to get home to a cool shower, home cooked meals and of course, some good sleep with no nightmares.

I called for my driver to get the car ready as I walked into my personal elevator. When I got out, I slid into the back of the vehicle and was soon on my way down to the villa.

The ride was slow because of the massive traffic that came with the time.

I eventually got home at about 8pm and had my meal brought up to my bedroom.

"Where's my wife?" I asked as one of the shy maids looked up at me.

"She's not here yet sir." She said shakily. I nodded, hiding my surprise at Ariana's absence, she was always home before me and this was the first time she was coming in after me. I ate my meal in silence after sending the maid out of my room. I picked up my phone and called her but she was not picking up. I got a little worried and decided to call Miguel who I knew would be with her.

"Sir." He said after picking up at the first ring.

"Where is she?" I questioned.

"She's still working sir, I was with her just a few minutes ago." He said.

"Get her out of there and bring her home right now." I instructed.

"Yes sir." I hung up and tried calling her again but she still did not pick up. I clenched my jaw in fury, I hated it whenever anyone ignored my calls, it irked me to no end especially someone who was supposed to be my wife.

An hour went by before I heard from Miguel informing me that she was already coming into the building. I strode out of my room in quick strides and walked into hers to wait for her. I sat in the dark and waited for her to walk in.

As expected, she shrieked when she turned the lights on and was even more startled when she saw me seated on her bed waiting for her.

"Damien, hi." She breathed, trying to get herself together.

"Where have you been?" I asked ignoring her greeting.

"Uh, work." She said with a confused look on her face.

"Look at the time." I said gritted through gritted teeth.

"I had a lot of work to do." She said.

"And you could not bring it home or better still leave it till tomorrow." I said tapping on my foot steadily.

"You don't see me complaining when you work all the time but I spend just one night seeing to all the work that had been piled up on my desk because of you and here you are whining like a kid." She said snarkily and I got on my feet quickly. My height certainly towered over hers and she took a reflexive step back to steady herself.

"You don't pay the bills around here, I do."

"Oh now we're doing the money thing? Just great!" She threw her hands up in the air as she ended her speech.

"Now you're being sarcastic." I stated.

"No Damien, I'm saying it as it is. You know what, just let me be, I've had a long day and I really do not have any time for this." She tried pushing past me but I held her in place.

"Do not walk out on me!" I half yelled at her.

"Don't raise your voice at me!" She yelled even louder.

She shoved me out of the way and got into the bathroom, muttering something in Spanish as she slammed the door behind her. I strode out of her room and slammed the door behind me as well. Two can play the game.

.