Chapter 19

ADRIA'S POV:

"Noo... No.. No Adria dear you will make the soup salty if you put this much of salt in it", Charlie explained and I huffed for the nth time. This is the most difficult task. Even If you know everything about cooking but can't put the correct amount of salt in it, it would ruin all your efforts.

"I don't think I can do this", I sighed but Charlie being herself didn't allow me to back out she just patted my back.

"Don't be sad dear. Practice will make you perfect", She smiled and we again started concentrating on my cooking classes.

So if you guys are wondering what exactly is going on, then let me tell you, it's been two weeks Charlie and Damon are living at their son's place and Charlie was too excited to teach me few of her recipes.

Five days back when I was having breakfast with the Hawk family Charlie told me how excited she is about spending some time with me. And according to her, two women can know each other the best when they work together in the kitchen.

I was too afraid of enlightening her with the fact that I can't even boil eggs properly let alone prepare all the fancy dishes she wanted to try with me. So I let her think what she was happy with.

But the secret was out soon when she asked me to chop an onion and laughed loudly after watching me, struggling with it. The knife was sharp yet I couldn't cut the onion as I was trying to cut it using the blunt end.

I almost cried while telling her that I am the last person who should be allowed in her lavish kitchen but she just hugged me and told me she will be my teacher.

So after five days, I can finally break eggs (without dropping broken shells in the bowl), make an omelette, chop vegetables, and now I know I am learning how to prepare Austin's favourite 'Creamy Mushroom soup'. It's simple but tasty and Charlie is an expert making it. I can understand why Austin likes it so much.

"You know, other than our maids and few women I met while attending business parties with Damon you are the first woman I am interacting with after my marriage?", Charlie said while stirring the soup. I looked at her, shocked.

"What? Why?", She gave me a sad smile before turning the gas off.

"Damon has a dark past. Only he knows about his family and he never talks about them. Many people tried to know where this man came from and became so rich all of a sudden but never succeeded. Even I don't know about it and I don't dare to ask", She gulped after saying that. I could sense her body becoming tensed as she said this.

"So ... coming back to the topic, Damon has no family. And I ... ", she chuckled dryly. "I never had one. I was an orphan. So now Damon and Austin are my only family. I don't have any friends. Only our maids talk with me but ...... they are not family. And even if I try to treat them like one they are too afraid to consider me as one", a sob escaped her lips and she hugged me. "I always wanted a daughter, and I guess I got one", I was still. Too shocked to say anything but I realised I was crying too when I felt wetness on my cheeks. The warmth, the feeling of having someone..... someone like a mother was new to me. And it felt good. It felt nice.

"Can I call you mom?", I found myself asking but soon realised what I said "I ... I didn't mean that. I.. I", I stammered. Charlie chuckled and pulled back.

"Don't be silly, of course, you can call me Mom. And will have to one day", she smirked making me blush.

My relationship with Austin has gone to a weird point. We cuddle, watch movies, have dinner together, talk sometimes (at least he does). He behaves like a caring boyfriend nowadays. Flirting, joking and romancing. If you think we have sex every night than let me tell you we don't. We just hug each other and sleep.

One night I was talking with Charlie and we lost track of time. Austin waited for me till 1 am and slept only when I was in his arms. I know after all he did to me I should hate him but I don't know why I feel a strange pull towards him. It's like both my body and heart are rebelling against my mind. My heart melts just after seeing him smile and my knees go weak just by a small touch of him.

"Is the soup ready yet?", I was brought out of my thoughts by the one and only Austin. I blushed after looking him, remembering the kiss we shared this morning before he left for office.

Austin stood behind me and hugged me, circling his strong arms around my waist and resting his chin on my head. "I am glad I won't have to eat eggshells today", he joked referring to yesterday when he got some egg shells in the omelette I made for him. But he ate every bite, smiling.

"It's done", I whispered looking down and blushing aware of Charlie's presence in the kitchen but this man does not care at all.

"I am dying to taste another dish made by you. I know it is gonna be delicious" he leaned in "Just like you" and whispered in my ear. I bet I was looking like a tomato.

"ahmm ahmm", we were brought back to the world after hearing Charlie cough.

"Let's go now before your Dad starts complaining", She said before ordering the maids to prepare the dinner table.

The dinner was, as usual, Charlie and I eating quietly. Damon and Austin talking about business. Augustus passing jokes every now and then.

"The soup was good. Nice work Adria", Damon smiled.

"Yeh! I agree. But then again anything would taste better after eating eggshells", Augustus commented. I would have rolled my eyes if I had the old spirit in me.

Being here for almost a month I have learned that if Austin is dangerous than Augustus is not any good.

Austin is dangerous inside out but Augustus will make you believe that he is no harm and hurt you when you are most vulnerable.

"Don't tease her. She is trying", Charlie scolded him.

"Yeh and you are the last one to comment on someone's cooking skills. You remember when we were in college..."

"Don't dare"

Austin started but was stopped by Augustus.

"Shut up! So we were in college and Auggie just made a new girlfriend. He actually liked her and so tried baking a cake on her birthday. It looked horrible yet that poor girl tried a bite and was admitted for a week in the hospital. She broke up with him right after getting discharge", he completed his story and we all started laughing.

Augustus was red due to embarrassment.

"Oh god!", I finally stopped laughing and rubbed my eyes, wiping the tears away. When I opened them I found Austin staring at me.

"You are beautiful", he said.

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It was Saturday, Damon and Charlie were standing in the living area with their bags already packed.

"I will miss you", Charlie said and pulled me into a bone-crushing hug. I felt her tears falling on my shoulder. Even I was crying.

"When will you come again?", I asked. Charlie just smiled and shrugged.

"Maybe on your wedding", Damon said while patting on my head. he always does that.

I blushed looking down.

"Than I promise it will be soon", Austin said and circled his arms around my waist making me tense.

We walked Charlie and Damon to the limo and they both hugged us for the last time before sitting in the car.

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It's been almost an hour Charlie is gone and I have already started feeling lonely. Austin excused himself saying that he had some work in his office and asked me to wait in our room.

When Charlie was here she kept me busy throughout the day. Always taking on different topics, teaching me how to cook, forcing me to watch her favourite series with her, etc.

I never felt lonely cause she was always there.

But now it feels like I am back to the miserable time again. Again I am alone with Austin, under his mercy and no one present to save me from him.

Different thoughts messing with my mind. Different questions almost exploding my brain.

There was no one to hold Austin back now. Will he hurt me now? Will he do what he did before?

And what he meant when he said 'Than I promise it will be soon'. Was he planning to marry me? But why?

What about my dad? Where is he? Why can't Austin at least let me see him?

Can I marry a guy who caused me and my father this much pain?

I groaned in frustration and pulled my hair. This will kill me.

"Are you alright baby", Austin's voice fell on my ears making me jump in surprise.

"Are you alright Angel", he sat beside me on the bed and was rubbing my back.

"My... my dad. I miss him", I said between sobs. Austin hugged me tightly. My head resting on his chest.

"Shh... He is all right. Trust me he is alright. He is safe", He said, still rubbing my back.

"I want to meet him", I cried again.

"You can't"

"Why?", I pushed him away. freeing myself from his grip and looked straight into his eyes.

His features changed. His eyes which showed concern and pity now were blazing with anger.

This made me flinch back. Seeing my reaction Austin closed his eyes and rubbed his face with his palm vigorously.

"Don't push me away. Don't ever do that. I don't want to hurt you anymore Adria so please don't push my buttons", he said in an oddly calm tone. "Your dad is fine. He is safe but not in the condition to meet you. And trust me when I say that even you would not like to see him now. I will take you to him soon. For now, just sleep. Don't worry yourself", saying that he laid down on the bed pulling me into his arms and also covered us with the comforter.

If it were not for his skilful fingers massaging my head I would not be able to sleep last night.

The next day I woke up and found Austin's side empty. There was a tray kept on the bedside table with a cup of hot tea in it.

I smiled knowing who kept it there for me. As usual, there was a note under the cup.

But the words written on it were not those sweet words Austin writes for me every morning. The handwriting was different and the words mysterious.

'Don't fall for his lies'