Chapter 26

It was Saturday and I had officially spent a week being married, I released a sigh at the thought.

I had gone around the whole house the previous day and I found an indoor gym, I assumed that was where Damien was because he had such a well sculpted body. I figured it would be a great way to pass time and keep my body in shape.

I was currently in the bathroom, wrapping my hair up in a towel when I heard Aleena's voice from outside.

"Come on Dee, why do you have to go to work today? It's Saturday!" She said whined in a childlike manner. I did not hear what he said to her but my curiousity got the better part of me and I came out of the bathroom only to see Aleena sitting on our, I mean, Damien's bed while he arranged a few documents and carried his laptop apparently about to leave for the office.

Aleena spotted me as soon as I came out and she gave me a wide grin.

"Good morning, Ariana." She bade.

"Good morning, how was your night, Aleena?" I said to.

"Fine, thank you." She said and then turned back to Damien.

"Damien, take a break, just this once!" She exclaimed, throwing her arms up in the air. He said nothing in return, he just gave her a small smile.

"Ariana, doesn't your husband listen to you? Tell him to not go anywhere today."

She had put me on the spot again. I squeezed tightly on my robe in nervousness, I bit on my lower lip, a habit I had formed whenever I was put in a tight corner and I did not know what you do.

I could not let Aleena suspect anything was wrong with the relationship between Damien and I, so I had to do something quickly.

I walked up to him slowly, then I shakily stretched on my toes and wrapped my arms around his shoulder, instinctively, he pulled me closer. His gaze was questioning and in all honesty, I did not even know what I was doing. His small beautiful grey orbs soon captured mine as I pulled his face closer.

"Please stay." I whispered before looking up at him, his pupils dilated, leaned closer and our lips were about touching, when someone cleared her throat.

"I'm right here people." She waved with a sarcastic roll of her eyes.

"I'll stay." Damien uttered huskily and I blushed. He shook his head and cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure before swiftly walking out of the room.

I turned to Aleena, still a blushing mess. She had her mouth agape.

"How the hell were you able to make the Damien Kingston so flustered. I've never seen him that way before." She said in bewilderment, her eyes darting between me and the door Damien had gone through.

I shrugged. I myself could not believe I had pulled that off, maybe I should be an actress after all. Aleena laughed for a short while, when she stopped, she asked another one of her usual questions.

"Why's there a pillow wall on your bed?" She asked, turning around to look at it before looking back at me.

I cringed inwardly at the massive lie I was about to tell.

"Oh well, Damien can't seem to keep his hands off me all night, so I had to put up a pillow wall with a strict condition so he would let me rest for a while. You know these men and their insatiable desires." I said, casually flipping my hair back as I did.

Aleena turned pink and she chuckled awkwardly.

"Too much information?" I asked with a hint of sarcasm in my tone but with an innocent face.

"I'll just leave you to dress up now." She rushed out of the room before I could say anything. I held the laughter until I heard the door come to a close.

I laughed at her flushed look after I what I said. She prodded way too much and it was beginning to get to me.

After her exit, I picked up a pair of black form fitting jogger pants with a sports bra and went out of the room. I bumped into Damien's rock hard chest the moment I came out.

"Sorry." I said as I drew back.

"What are you wearing?" He asked all of a sudden. I looked down at my outfit and frowned.

"Clothes?" I said.

"Go put on another top." He said dismissively and was about to walk past me when I held him by the arm. I removed my hand the moment he stared at down at it.

"What's wrong with my outfit?" I was genuinely confused.

"I don't want my wife showing off her body like this." He eventually said after we engaged in a stare down.

"Damien, I'm going to the gym downstairs." I explained calmly. His eyes lit up in realization.

"Come with me." He pulled me back inside the room while I followed silently.

He went into the closet and in no time came back in his gym attire. This man sure looked drool worthy but he did not have to know that I thought so about him.

"Let's go." He said. I followed him and when he got to the top of the staircase, he held my hand as we walked down.

"Hi mom," I said, releasing myself from Damien's hold as soon as I spotted her. She was still in her pajamas and was sipping on a cup of coffee, I assumed she had Rosa make it for her and she was going back to the west wing of the house.

"Good morning sweetie. You two are headed for the gym, I see." She said, giving me a hug, she went over to Damien and did same.

"You two have fun." She waved and was about leaving us when Damien spoke.

"Where's Fiona?"

"She's right here!" Fiona hopped out of the kitchen, startling me while at it.

"You two look so dope, I have to take a picture." She gushed, bringing out her phone from her back pocket.

"That's the exact reason why I was looking for you." Damien said, shocking me. I turned to him with a questioning gaze but he did not spare me a glance.

Before I knew it, I was striking poses for the camera on Damien's IPhone 13.

He had them sent to his assistant who posted on his social pages. I learnt that he did not handle any of his social accounts by himself except WhatsApp which was his private media and only for restricted interactions.

My initial eagerness to get to the gym had died after I realized that Damien did not want us going to the gym together for any other reason than taking pictures and feeding his fans something to gush about for the rest of the weekend.

"I'll just go in and change." I said.

"Is there something wrong babe?" He asked with fake concern, I almost rolled my eyes at his pretense.

"No, I just don't feel like working out anymore, babe." I said with emphasis on the last word, I hoped he got the message that I was not happy with him. Getting my hopes up just for a media stunt was just not cool. But, I had to admit that we looked really good together but looks are surely deceiving.

I trudged up the stairs sullenly and was just getting into the bedroom when my phone rang, I picked up without delay when I saw who was calling.

"Dad!" I exclaimed, now lighthearted.

"Bebita..." He called sweetly with a longing sigh. It made me miss him even more.(Baby girl...)

I pushed my hand through my hair as I smiled, giddy at the sound of his voice.

"How are you dad?" I questioned.

"Very well and before you ask, yes I've been taking my medication religiously." He said, I could imagine him rolling his eyes. I laughed ebulliently, this man knew me so well.

"That's good dad. How's New York?" I questioned as I flipped a strand of my hair behind my ear. I was now outside and leaning on the railing at the balcony, enjoying the soft breeze that came with the morning.

"Not the same without you but we're good." He said.

"I'm flattered, dad." I said pleasantly. He chuckled softly.

"How are you Ariana?" He asked seriously now.

"I'm fine dad," I said.

"Your new family treating you well?"

"Yes, they are." I answered with a smile in my tone. They were all really nice to me except for Tracy who seemed indifferent when it came to me.

"And your husband?"

I shut my eyes as soon as he mentioned him.

"He's...alright." I said hesitantly.

"Are you sure?" He prodded.

"Yes." I said flatly.

"Is he treating you right?" He questioned further and it made me uncomfortable.

"Dad why all these questions?" I whined.

"Cause I want to be sure my daughter is okay wherever she is." He said.

"Dad, I'm fine, I promise."

"Alright then."

"Papá como esta Nolan?" I questioned, it had been on the tip of my tongue every since the conversation started. (Dad, how's Nolan?)

"Él està bien. Simplemente se fue no hace mucho." He said and it warmed my heart that he still kept on checking on my dad even while I was away. (He's fine. He just left not too long ago.)

"That's nice. Por qué no Ilamaste cuando estaba allí para que pudiera hablar con él?" I asked. (Why did you not call me when he was there so I could talk to him?)

"Lo siento mi amor. No se me pasó por la cabeza." He apologized. (Sorry my love. It did not cross my mind.)

"Estas perdonado." I said pettily while he laughed over the phone. The guttural sound of his cheerful laughter warmed my heart so much, I smiled like he was right in front of me. (You're forgiven.)

We chattered for a long while, talking about anything and everything. I truly missed my father and did not want to say a good bye even if I had to.

I heard the bedroom door come open, that was my cue to end the call with my father. I wrapped up the call swiftly and ended with the conversation with an 'I love you too.' In response to my father's words.

I hung up and turned around to walk into the room. A scream escaped my throat before I could stop it when I saw Damien standing behind me, staring at me strangely.

"Damien, really you have to stop scaring me like that, I could have a heart attack." I bemoaned holding my palm to my chest in a bid to calm my racing heart.

"Who were you speaking to?" He asked.

"Huh?"

"You heard me Ariana, who were you speaking to?" He said with an edge to his tone. I instantly got annoyed.

"And, how is it your business who I speak with over the phone?" I spat angrily.

"It's my business because you're my wife!" He said, his voice went up a little as he did.

"And what does that have to do with anything?" I placed my phone down on the table as I spoke and faced him squarely.

"It means that I own you and you're not for any reason supposed to harbor any other man in your life while you remain married to me." He said icily. His voice had gone higher by an octave.

"You don't own me Damien and don't ever accuse me of something you're not even sure of!" I argued hotly, matching his pitch.

What happened next was like a dream. In his fury, he picked up my phone from the table and flung it straight into the pool below us.

I screamed in horror as I watched my phone go over the railings and fell straight into the large swimming pool.

"Damien! What the heck is your problem?!" I shoved him just as hot tears streamed down my face. He didn't even move.

I ran out and locked myself in the bathroom as I cried my eyes out.