CHAPTER 4

ARABELLA CAMERON

I was sitting in my room when Uncle came to tell me that Diego would be paying a visit today in the evening.

Why would he come to see me?

But it's good that I'll be getting to know my soon-to-be-husband at least once before marriage.

In the evening choosing a nice dress I wore it and went downstairs but halt on my steps as soon as I saw a beautiful man sitting on the couch with his phone in his hand typing something while Uncle was talking continuously.

He's rude.

"Ara, you're here," Uncle said on seeing me.

As Uncle said Diego raised his gaze, and our eyes met with each other. I couldn't help but stare at him. Getting up from the couch he made his way towards the staircase, I too moved down. When we were close to each other he stopped and introduced himself "Diego Hernandez."

Damn that voice! Kill me! He is just like a hot and sexy character in a book!

"Arabella Cameron," I replied.

"Nice to meet you, Arabella."

"Likewise."

He is not rude to me as he was to Uncle. He moved a little closer to me "I need to ask something."

"What?"

"Would you like to go out with me?" He asked in a low voice.

"Out? With you?"

"I asked so of course with me."

"But I don't even know you that well, we just met how can I just go out with you?"

"Your Uncle and brother know me quite well, so you can at least have faith in their choice. I am the one they have chosen for you to get married to. But anyways if you don't want to-"

"But I am not allowed to-"

"I asked would you like it or not?" He asked again emphasizing the word 'you'.

I nodded.

Honestly speaking, I am dying to get out of this house to somewhere else other than that park. For 6 months I have been trapped here and finally, I can see a ray of hope in front of me I can't turn my this chance down. And he wouldn't hurt me anyways or kidnap me, we are about to get married.

"Good then." He said then hand intertwined our hands pulling me with him to where Uncle was sitting. Standing in front of him he asked Uncle "Mind if I take her out?"

Uncle's brows furrowed he checked the time on his watch "At this time?"

Diego nodded.

Please say yes.

Please say yes.

I prayed in my mind.

"Are you sure?" Uncle asked, he looked a bit unsure about Diego taking me out.

"Don't worry Christopher she'll be safe with me." He answered.

Uncle nodded his head looking between me and Diego. "Take care, Ara." He said to me.

Like a gentleman, Diego opened the door of his car for me. Getting in I buckled up the seatbelt he sat beside me in the driver's seat and started driving. I saw through the mirror there were a few cars behind like following us.

"So where do you wanna go?" He asked making me stop being suspicious about the cars behind.

"You asked me out, you must know it."

"I asked you out because you were in that house for 6 months and I can say clearly that you were not kept there on your will."

So damn right.

"How do you know that?" I asked.

"I know everything about you."

Typical billionaire, just like the books. Always stalking people.

"Let's get some dinner first. We can talk about the marriage then." He suggested to which I just nodded.

The car stopped in front of a luxurious restaurant. Getting out of the car he came to my side opening the door for me. As I got out those cars too stopped Diego once nodded looking in that direction and a few men came out of the car. They looked like bodyguards wearing the same dresses.

I looked at Diego "Who are they?"

"Bodyguards."

"Why are they-"

He did not let me complete and said "I am a billionaire, if you don't know I always have to have bodyguards."

I just nodded but still wasn't satisfied with his answer.

The waiter led us to our seats from where the outside view looked breathtakingly beautiful.

"Two red wines for now," Diego ordered. I looked at him in confusion.

How does he know I like red wine?

Then I remembered what he said earlier 'I know everything about you'.

I rolled my eyes.

Typical billionaire.

The waiter placed the menu card in front of us and left. Diego looked back at me "So Arabella, are you really ready for this marriage?"

No.

But I don't have any other option.

I bit my lips and replied "Yes."

He leaned forward towards me a bit and cleared his throat once, looking straight into my eyes he said again "I want an honest answer."

Oh, Sweet Jesus! He is so intimidating.

"No." Finally Ara! You said it.

Big deal.

He nodded "I was expecting that."

"How can you even think that I will be happy with a forced marriage?" I said getting a bit angry.

A light smile spread on his lips "May I know what your Uncle told you about getting married to me?"

"That these all is for a deal which is very important to Simon. I am marrying you just for Simon, he has done a lot for me. He has taken care of me after Mom-Dad's death and I don't want to let him down."

Diego stared at me for a moment then spoke again "Let's not talk about Simon. Let's talk about you."

"What about me? You already know everything about me."

At the same time, the waiter came with two glasses of red wine and placed them on the table then asked "Your orders?"

Diego looked at me asking me to place the order. I ordered for myself.

"And for you Sir?" The waiter asked.

"Whatever she asked make that two." He answered then again said, "And yeah bring it after a few minutes."

The waiter nodded and left.

"It may sound rude but it's my habit Arabella, to know the person with whom I am dealing with. Can't trust everybody and I pay my private investigator for a reason."

"So you searched my i***a account too?" I asked curiously because I surely stalked his I*******m account.

Taking a sip from his glass he replied "The i***a thing is your personal stuff I don't want to invade your privacy."

I can't even be proud of myself in front of him about my i***a followers because his followers are in millions and mine... okay let's not talk about it.

"What are your likes and dislikes?" I asked casually taking a sip of my red wine.

His brows furrowed as he took another sip from the glass.

I shrugged "I must know something about you. You know everything about me."

Gulping down his wine he kept the glass back on the table and rested one hand on the table "I am not here to talk to you about my likes and dislikes, I have another reason."

Placing my glass back on the table I focused on him.

"There are things we need to talk about before the marriage."

The marriage? Yeah, it's the day after tomorrow.

I nodded.

"As you were locked up in your house, it won't be the same at my place. You can go out but with me and no one else."

I nodded.

At least it's better than being locked up all the time.

"Second if you go somewhere nearby you'll always carry your cell phone with you so that I can track you easily and one of my men will always be with you for your safety but of course not to invade your privacy he would always be a distance away from you."

I nodded again.

"We won't be sharing a husband-wife relationship. It is just a deal that will end by the end of this year."

I remained quiet.

What was I expecting? Hearts and flowers from him? Too much.

Typical billionaire.

My book characters are not this rude.

He understood when I remained quiet "I am sorry Arabella but I don't do relationships. My past is horrible which won't allow me to love someone."

I stared at him.

Horrible past? What could it be? Oh, Sweet Jesus! Bad past of the male lead! Just like my story. I hope it's not as bad as it is in my story.

"What horrible past?" I asked.

"Someone I loved was taken away from me."

"Who?"

"You have already known enough about me." He said looking straight into my eyes.

"So you can have your life and I will live mine but one thing, if it's really important then only you can go out otherwise for at least a month no." He completed.

"Why?"

"Why did Simon keep you caged for 6 months?"

I shook my head "I don't know. Never asked him."

"You've never asked him 'why'?" He asked in disbelief.

I shook my head.

I had my reasons for not asking him that.

His eyes scanned my face. I guess he's trying to understand me but I couldn't understand myself sometimes how can he do that by meeting me an hour ago?

He was trying to read me look broke when the waiter came back with our orders. We ate silently. I don't think he was thinking something but in my mind, a lot of things was going on.

"I too have few things to tell you," I said.

He nodded "Sure."

"After marriage number one, you won't boss around me. Number two, you won't be rude to me. Number three, you'll take me out once a week at least. And the most important one number four, I won't entertain you having an affair." I completed with a proud smile on my lips.

He sighed "For the first, I ain't bossy."

"Sorry that no one has told this yet to you but you are. And you are being bossy since the time we met."

He rolled his eyes "About the third one, I won't make any commitments but I'll try. Till then you aren't going anywhere."

My smile faded "But Simon said I can go anywhere I want after marrying you."

Of course, Simon said it, that's why I am marrying him.

"No Arabella, you can't because." He stopped as if he was thinking about what to say next.

"Because?"

"I have many rivals in business who may hurt you."

No. Not again the locked up thing.

"I won't stay locked up forever."

"No. Not forever but at least for a month or two, you have to." He held my hand that was resting on the table then said "Please Arabella. I promise not the whole year but please just for some time."

What is the point of marrying him then? I wanted out from this locked up shit but he is telling me I have to be locked up in his place too.

Fuck my life.

"And about the affair thing, you don't have to worry. I'll always be loyal to you." He said smirking.

I wanted this to be a marriage with love. Like they are in my books a cute love story but I guess we are not in a book nor I am the beautiful female lead of the book. I am just a normal girl.

And the overall conclusion I get from this is my life sucks.

After we were done with dinner, we left the restaurant. He was taking me back home but I didn't want to go back to that cage again so soon.

Facing Diego, I asked, "Can we go for a long drive?"

He looked at me "Long drive? You don't want to go home?"

I bit my lips looking down "It's fine if you have work. You can drop me back."

He chuckled "This evening is totally for you so whatever you say."

My face instantly lit up.

Hell yeah!!

I stared outside the empty road, I don't know what this place is but the empty road with a light wind blowing felt amazing.

Pulling the glass down I closed my eyes enjoying the wind hitting my face with a smile plastered on my lips.

"Ah! This feels so good."

I missed this feeling so much.

While I was busy enjoying myself Diego scolded me "Arabella put your head back inside." When I looked at him to see his eyes fixed on the road with an evil smirk playing on his lips. I glared at him when he was not looking of course then went back to enjoying the wind hitting my face.

"Arabella, I said put your head inside."

Taking my head back inside I sat quietly.

Jerk.

Light music, wind hitting my face, long drive with a guy. Okay... love thing is not there between us.

I got a bit carried away.

As we reached in front of my house after the long drive Diego said "Pack your things, I'll ask my men to do the shifting tomorrow if that's okay with you."

I nodded "So that means you'll be coming too, tomorrow."

His brows furrowed "Do you want me to come?"

I do.

"If you're busy then it's fine."

He nodded "I guess I'll pay a visit then."

That made me smile.

"I'll take my leave now." With that, he drove off.

******

The next morning I packed my things and was waiting for Diego's men to come and take them.

They arrived in the afternoon but Diego wasn't there.

I felt a bit sad not seeing him.

Oh, Sweet Jesus! What's happening to me? I just met him once how can I already miss him?

Oh no. I don't miss him.

What am I even saying? I have better things to do in life. I have a wedding tomorrow for which I have to be prepared.

Why the hell am I thinking about him?

Shu. Shu. Diego.

Go away.

In the evening, I was just sitting in my room going through the pictures of my wedding dress that the designer just sent.

Well, I have done a lot of hard work for this dress. I am not marrying every day, right so I wanted a dream dress just like in my books.

At night when I was about to go to sleep my phone rang. I looked at the caller id, it was Diego.

Well, today you hurt me Diego Hernandez, so I am definitely not gonna pick up your call.

He gave me fake hopes.

Putting the phone on silent mode I lay on my bed closing my eyes and trying to drift to my dreamland.

If he's gonna act like an asshole then I'll be the bitch.