Chapter Fifty six

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I walked into a small but very tasteful looking cafe not so far from the villa along the busy streets of LA. I sat, looking around the finely furnished place which had only just a few customers waiting around for their orders.

Miguel had gone to get me my order even when I insisted that he did not have to. I took a sip from my juice and surfed through my phone as I did, reading some work emails.

I looked up and saw someone who looked oddly familiar seated not so far away from me. She was wearing a black leather jacket with some dark shades and looked like she was trying to keep a low profile.

I went over and said hello, just to satisfy my curiousity.

"Hi." I waved and she looked at me through her shades.

"Hello, do I know you?" She asked politely and from the sound of her voice, I knew it was her.

"No you don't, but I know you." I said with a confident smile etched on my face.

"You do?" She questioned in an indecipherable tone.

"Yes I do? You're Brianna Ellen." I said with a wide grin.

She sighed then smiled.

"I guess you caught me." She gave in. She slowly took off her glasses and I watched with bated breath as she unveiled herself.

I held back a scream so I would not attract any attention.

"I see what you're doing there and I'd love for you to keep the energy, I wouldn't anyone to know I'm in here." She said as she gestured for me to continue holding my scream in. I nodded and exhaled heavily before smiling at her. I was trying to not be starstruck but this was Brianna Ellen. 'The' Brianna Ellen, one of the best actresses Hollywood has ever had, my all time favorite that put her best foot forward for any role she was given. I absolutely adored her.

Last week it was Eva Turner, my number one TV anchor and now it was the actress I only imagined I would ever meet. Someone pinch me, I must be dreaming for real.

"Sorry. I'm Ariana, I'm a big fan of your work." I breathed out eventually.

"Nice to meet you, Ariana." She smiled softly, I mirrored it.

Brianna's a redhead, she has small emerald eyes with flawless pale white skin and red heart shaped lips. She looked angelic in whatever she had on and there was no doubt about it. She's British and her accent is so lovely.

"What do you do Ariana?" She asked as she sipped on her cappuccino while I ordered for another glass of juice.

"I'm a financial analyst." I replied.

"I got a day off so I thought to take a stroll to get rid of the boredom." I added.

"That's nice. Is that your bodyguard watching us from over there?" She asked and my eyes followed her line of sight until my gaze fell on Miguel who was seated at the table I had occupied before coming over to Brianna's.

"Yes, my husband wouldn't let me go anywhere without him." I rolled my eyes when I thought about Damien.

"Oh you're married?" She asked.

"Yes I am." I responded with a nod, sipping my juice soon after.

"How long?" She prodded further.

"A little over two months." I said.

"Newly wed huh? Congratulations." She shook my hand and viewed my rings.

"Thank you." I said.

"Your rings are so beautiful." She gushed, looking like she wanted to tear up.

"Thank you." I said again.

A tear dropped and she caught it before it rolled off her cheek.

"Are you okay?" I asked concernedly.

"Forgive me, I just went through a really bad breakup and it gets to me a lot." She said and tried blinking back another tear.

"I'm so sorry about that. He doesn't deserve you." I reached out and held her soft palm.

She shook her head patting my palm with other one.

"It's my fault." She said.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked her but she shook her head slightly.

"Not now. Let's get to know you." She said wiping her eyes and smiling like she was not an emotional wreck just a few seconds earlier.

"There's nothing much to tell actually. I'm just plain and simple Ariana." I said with a casual shrug.

"Girl with that outfit, I don't see anything plain." She tried mimicking a black American accent and failed woefully, I laughed so hard and she joined in.

I soon saw a camera flash, she saw it too and both our laughs came to an abrupt halt. Brianna got up abruptly and I followed suit.

"These paparazzi, I wonder who tips them off." She groaned, picking up her glasses and putting them on.

How was I going to get out of here when I did not have a car available?

"Miguel what are we going to do? We didn't bring a car." I said to him in panic.

"I'll call someone to send a car over." He said and I nodded. He was bringing his phone out when Brianna who seemed to have overheard the conversation dissuaded him.

"Don't worry, we'll drop you off at your address." She offered.

"You really don't have to-" I tried declining.

"Nonsense, It's the least I can do, at least we can continue our conversation in the vehicle." She said and I nodded with a smile. Her guards soon came in and guided us out of the cafe, away from the prying eyes of the several paparazzi that had crowded one side of the pavement.

With our heads bowed amid the nonstop flashes, I got in after Brianna while Miguel got into the second vehicle that came with her, that one was for the extra security that went everywhere with her.

"I don't live so far away from here." I said to her.

"Oh, who's your husband again?" She asked me as she took her shades off and flipped her hair back. I imagined her doing that in slow motion just like it usually was in the movies.

"He's Damien Kingston." I said after a little contemplation.

She gasped in shock.

"You're Mr Kingston's wife?!" She exclaimed, wide eyed. I nodded as I scratched the back of my neck nervously.

"I knew I had seen you seen you somewhere." She said like she just had an epiphany. She went on to tell me how she had gotten an invite to our wedding but she couldn't make it because she had a shoot so she gave it to someone else who had to represent her. I was awed, I would have been over the moon if I was aware that she attended the wedding.

"I must say, you look so much more beautiful in person without the make-up and all." She said to me. I blushed at the compliment and thanked her. She had rolled her eyes at the mention of make-up and I assumed she was not a big fan of it, I asked to satisfy my curiousity though.

"You're not a fan of make-up?" I asked.

"I'll prefer being barefaced any day but the nature of my job would not let me." She said with a tired sigh. I nodded.

"We're here ma'am." The driver called from the front and when I looked out through the window, I saw that we were parked in front of the villa's large gate.

I quickly exchanged contacts with her while she promised that we would be hanging out soon. I got out and waved goodbye and watched with Miguel as her vehicle sped out of sight.

I almost did a happy dance when I thought about what just happened but I somehow kept my composure and walked the long driveway down to the mansion's front doors.

"Hi Pa Walter, " I said with a wide grin as I spotted him coming down the stairs while I was about heading up.

"Hello Mrs Kingston." He said with a teasing smile, fully aware of how I did not like him being so formal with me.

I rolled my eyes and smiled at him.

"You seem to be in high spirits today." He said.

"Yes! I just met with my favorite actress of all time, I'm trying to not scream!" I exclaimed cheerfully. He chuckled as he shook his head.

"You should go up now, your husband's in." He announced, taking me by surprise. I checked the time on my phone and saw that it was just a little past noon and Damien was in? It was strange.

"Is he alright?" I asked a little worriedly. I was hoping it was not the nightmares getting to him again, he still had not told me anything about them.

"I'd rather you go see for yourself." Walter said, heightening my fears even more. I nodded and climbed past him.

I stopped at Damien's door and knocked.

"Come in." He said from the other side and I pushed the door open and walked in. He looked up at me from where he was leaning on at the bar.

"Hey." He said with a raspy voice, when he looked up, his eyes looked bloodshot. There was nothing anyone could tell me, Damien was not okay.

"Are you alright?" I asked anyways. He cleared his throat before speaking.

"I'm good, how are you?"

"I'm alright." I said.

"I'd be leaving for London later today." He said. I frowned. This was a major first.

"You're telling about your travel plans for the first time." I reasoned out.

"You deserve to know." He said blithely as he moved towards me.

I had an impressed look on my face as he walked past me but then I switched back to a poker face before he turned around.

"When are you going to be back?" I asked playing with my ring as I spoke. I had developed a habit of twisting them and admiring how well they suited my fingers. I had to admit they were really beautiful and not so flashy but when they caught your attention, they had your eyes glued to them.

"Missing me already?" He said smugly and I looked up at him.

"What? No! I'm just asking." I said defensively and he chuckled in amusement.

"Right." He said sarcastically. He gave me a full smile for the first time and his dimples showed, I never noticed them since and I'm wondering how that was even possible. His smile looked so beautiful, I just needed to see him laugh so I could die happily.

"I'll be back in a few days. I just need to seal a deal." He finally answered my question.

"I'll see you in a few days then." I said conclusively and was about walking out when I remembered that I had something to ask him.

"Did you have any nightmares last night?" I asked him and watched as he paused for a second, apparently not expecting my question.

"Yes." He answered honestly without any hassle.

"How are you going to cope on your trip?" I asked in concern.

"Well, since I can't take you with me, I just have to see how it goes." He shrugged as he tried to arrange his luggage. Key word-tried.

"You couldn't get anyone to do this for you? " I asked, taking over and rearranging the mess he had created in the name of packing for a trip. I almost laughed.

"I only let ma Rosa pack my stuff but she's mad at me right now." He said sitting next to me as I folded his stuff into the small suitcase.

"What did you do this time?" I asked with a sarcastic eye roll.

"This time?! You sound like I always do something wrong to someone, I could be the victim here." He feigned a look of hurt while he whined. I rolled my eyes again and chuckled at his surprisingly playful side.

"Yeah, right." I said disbelievingly.

"Well, she's actually mad about the fact that I'm traveling again, she says I never have time for you." He explained and I kept mute.

"Aren't going to say anything?" He prodded.

"I have nothing to say." I shrugged as I zipped the suitcase.

"You don't feel like I don't have time for you?" He asked further.

"Damien this isn't real so I'm practically indifferent about your presence and absence." I said truthfully. He nodded.

"Yeah. I'll see you when I get back then." He said and I bade him farewell before leaving the room.

Why did I feel like I just said something wrong?

I pushed my thoughts aside and went into my bedroom to chill.