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CHAPTER 5
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2024-11-26 05:26:56Marie stared blankly at him for a moment before getting in, she sat down heavily beside him and the scent of his expensive perfume drifted into her nostrils.
"What happened? You look pale?" He asked her.
Marie sniffed and looked out of the tinted window, "What do you care?"
Aaron took a deep breath, "I care so much about you, Mariagoretti, I do"
Her head shot back at him, her eyes flashing with much pain and hurt and he could see the tears that played at the side of her eyes.
"You dumped me, Aaron. You trashed me like I was some used diaper you have no use for anymore" Marie said, her voice rising with each word.
"Look, Marie, I know that there is no explanation for what I did, what I did was selfish and I'm sorry but…"He stared at her and inhaled,"....I still love you...so much"
Marie lowered her head, she was breathing heavily now as the memories came crawling right up her chest and made it hard to breathe, hard to think.
"I can't love you, Aaron. Look at you, you are rich and powerful and ... everything but look at me, I'm the total opposite. I just lost my job and I don't know what to do, I wasn't even paid. How am I going to get your money and take care of my dad?"
Aaron stared at her for a few seconds and then he dug out his phone from his jacket pocket and ran his finger across its screen.
Marie watched him, she felt angry, angry at her for ignoring her and doing some dumb thing on his phone but then she heard a chiming sound from her phone.
Marie reached for her phone in her wooly sweater pocket and then a message stared at her, her mouth hanging open.
It was a credit alert...she had been paid her salary for the month!
Marie slowly turned to look up at Aaron who had a smile on his face, she seemed confused for a moment then it hit her hard and a soft gasp escaped her lips.
"You are…."She let her voice trail off.
Aaron nodded, "Yes, I am the owner of the cafe where you work. I had my men follow you and I figured out that yesterday"
The look on Marie's face was indescribable, "You jerk! You made him fire me, what did I ever do to you?"
"Calm down, Marie. You are going to be my wife in two days so there will be no need for you working in such a place" He told her.
Marie's eyes flashed with all the anger in the world, "Are you kidding me? Your wife? You have got to be kidding me"
"I'm not, Marie, "He said mechanically.
"You know what? I can stay here with you, I freaking can't be having this conversation with you" She said and pushed open the door, "I'll get your money tomorrow, yes tomorrow, if I don't then you can do whatever you want to"
Aaron didn't say a word and neither did he stop her, he rested back in his seat and watched her walk angrily across the road without a backward glance.
Well, if she said tomorrow...then tomorrow he shall come for his bride.
Marie's thoughts were a rollercoaster, she went back home and sat heavily on her bed, she went through so many loan websites but at that moment, none of them seemed to be able to give her such money in just two days, even in a week.
She felt as if Aaron was all around her, he practically knew everything about her but she didn't know half about him.
Marie cried herself to sleep, she missed her mother and wished she was here, she lost her many years ago but the memories still seem fresh inside her.
Marie went back to the hospital the next day with some homemade meal for her father, she rehearsed how to break the news about the money she borrowed from Aaron and her being fired from the cafe.
But on second thought, she chose not to break it to him so quickly, maybe she would wait till he got back home.
"Hi, dad," Marie beamed, rushing over to him.
He was sitting up on his bed and a lovely smile stretched across his lips, "Marie! Thank God you are here"
"I brought food, Dad. I know you have missed homemade meals so much," She said, settling down beside him.
He laughed heartily," You always know what is good for me, don't you?"
"How are you feeling now, Dad?" She asked.
"I feel alive" He replied with a smile and nodded slowly.
Marie smiled relieved and brought out his packed meal, she could feel his eyes steady on her and she looked up at him feeling uneasy.
"You still haven't told me how you got such an amount of money under short notice, Marie. If someone had borrowed the money, I would like to thank whoever it was" He said slowly.
Marie bit the side of her lips, she was about to say something when the door pushed open and they both turned to the sound of the door.
Marie's eyes widened as she stared at Aaron standing like a supermodel by the door in an expensive suit, a smile crossed his lips as he stared at her.
"Hello, sunshine!" He said.
Marie wanted to say a word, to ask him why he had barged into her father's ward or even protest but only air came out through her lips.
Her father looked at them confused, "Who is he, Marie?"
Marie turned to look at her father and then back at Aaron who was still smiling, she didn't know what to do or say, she was blank.
"I see she hasn't told you yet, sir "Aaron answered when she didn't, "My name is Aaron Sanchez and I am her fiancé"
Marie's eyes widened and her heart started beating fast, she just realized that she had promised to refund his money, all of it today, or agree to his offer. Dam it.
Her father turned slowly to her, he was finding it hard to understand the whole thing.
"Marie? Is this true...Is he the guy you have always wanted to show me? The one you got engaged to while I was sick?" He asked.
Marie held her breath, she knew he was talking about Mark and she realized she had never gotten to introduce him to her father. It dawned on her that Aaron had been smart, he investigated all that before planning this all.
Marie looked back at her father and forced a smile on her face, she swallowed, she had to agree to this, she couldn't escape from it.
"Y-yes, Dad...Aaron and I are engaged to be married"
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Their eyes locked and she looked away quickly, feeling tiny as if she had been dominated by him. Their features were stern and impassive, and Sinclair had a positively evil look in his eyes.Marie’s stomach twisted. She still did not know what his identity was, but the feeling that went through her when she met him was fearful.“Hello, father.” There was no love, no care. Apart from this, he was formal as if she made him uneasy.She looked at Aaron, wondering how he felt at this point, but he seemed not to hesitate—a vein beat in his temple and his stare was at the floor, away from his father. Marie could easily sense that this was not a joyful reunion even though the characters hadnot spoken a word.The man – Aaron’s father – smiled then, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. What was more, he looked like a giant who was slowly advancing toward them, his movements as calculated as those of a programmed automaton.‘Congratulations,’ he told them both but looked at Marie when he sp
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The limousine moved gracefully up the long curved road supporting the house in the distance. It was huge, she wouldn’t be exaggerating if she said it was castellated, embraced by the light of the moon. The high gates that separated the estate from the nearby houses parted slowly, and the car drove through immaculate lawns, and only occasional impressive columns of the house became visible. The enormous house rising in front of her caused Marie’s chest to constrict as if the building itself was strangling her.Finally, it was Aaron to speak, but his voice was husky with anger. “Pick up your things, and get inside.”The parking lot suddenly came to a halt, and Aaron got out of the limousine without saying anything. For a moment Marie had sat frozen and then slowly leaned forward to take her suitcase that lay on the seat next to her. The feel of it in her hands seemed almost symbolic; everything she had left behind was inside of it.Upon getting to the door, there was a maid, she was cle
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Unspoken words weighed down the room as they finally parted ways. Marie’s heart continued to race as she stood there, her chest heaving. They were both absorbed in the ensuing silence and did not move.And it was evident in that silence that their relationship had changed forever. Aaron shifted uneasily, quickly stepping back and pulling his hand away from her face. He cleared his throat while his gaze shifted abruptly away from her.“I... I'm sorry," He muttered, his words seeming to be forced out. He turned to face the door after running a hand through his hair. "I should not have—" Marie reached out before he could say anything more. Her fingers found his wrist in an unexpectedly firm grip."Wait," She said in a firm but slightly tremulous voice. "Why, Aaron?" She kept his hand in hers and turned him back to her, her thumb lightly stroking his skin." Why are you like this? Why do you always act so distant and cold? “She asked.He scowled, his facial lines becoming more pronounced
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Marie's heart pounded in her chest. She dared not turn around and give him a look. In anticipation of his next move, her body stayed motionless. He was too close, and even though she wanted to keep her calm, she felt a wave of heat wash over her cheeks.She was caught in the intense tension of the moment and stood motionless, uncertain of what to do next. There seemed to be a crackle of electricity in the air between them.With her thoughts dispersed, Marie's mind raced. The intimacy and the sensation of his body against hers felt utterly different from anything they had experienced together in years, she had to admit.The easy, carefree affection they had once shared was gone. It felt heavy now, full of memories they both wanted to forget, unresolved feelings and unsaid emotions. And yet once more, they found themselves standing this close together, the silence bearing down on them. It seemed there was no longer any world outside of the office. It appeared that only the breath that
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Aaron left for his meeting, leaving Marie alone in his office's silent emptiness as the minutes dragged on. The only noises in the room were the air conditioner's hum, the faint rustle of papers, and the sporadic click of the wall clock.Because he was no longer there, the atmosphere in the room felt sterile and businesslike. Aaron had left a mess, and Marie glanced around. The desk was strewn with files, some open and some forgotten.Several coffee cups rest on the desk's edges, half-drunk and cold, and the inbox is bursting with unread emails. Aaron had been too preoccupied to clean up after himself as usual, so he left everything to someone else.That someone, of course, was Marie. She sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and went to work. The task didn't bother her; it was a minor aspect of her work. She disposed of the empty cups, organized the papers, and filed them neatly.She kept thinking about their time together before he left. When she was standing next to him, the way his body
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The mood changed the moment Aaron's office door closed behind them. Aaron seemed to have not missed a beat because of his quick and deliberate movements. His tone was authoritative as he pointed to the desk before him without pausing. "Come closer", he commanded in a firm tone. "Please take care of this."She saw his eyes skimming the document as he slid a file across the table in her direction, his thoughts already elsewhere.“That’s easy. Make the required adjustments and adhere to the guidelines provided here. "Not daring to question his tone, Marie approached him with deliberate steps. As she positioned herself next to him, she could feel the cool edge of his desk at her fingertips and the suddenly thick air between them.She pretended to be focused on the task as she looked down at the file, but she could feel Aaron's presence pressing down on her. He drew her in with his masculine scent, a mix of pricey cologne and something more profound—something that was definitely him.Inv
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The ride to the company was uncomfortable. Neither of them spoke, maintaining a suffocating silence. The quiet hum of the car's engine seemed more audible than the silence that separated them.Marie gazed out the window and watched the passing landscape. She didn't want to dwell on the kiss, the rage or Aaron's heartless actions. She could practically feel the tension emanating from him, but it was better to concentrate on the city and the things she could not control. Aaron broke the ice when they eventually pulled up to the company. "Wait here," He said in a tone that made it impossible to argue with him as he got out of the car. Marie remained motionless as he strode to the opposite side of the car, opened her door, and extended his hand with a well-honed civility. She hesitated for a second before putting her hand in his. She reminded herself that this was all part of the performance. They made their way through the parking lot, hand in hand, toward the entrance of the company.
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Marie tried to stop her mind from racing as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her hands hovering over the chilly porcelain sink. Her mental storm had not been much calmed by the shower. She was angry at Aaron but she felt empty inside as if her rage wasn't enough to make up for the emptiness he had created. She gathered herself and wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye with a tired sigh. No more giving in.She couldn't afford to show him how much he meant to her. Not at this time. Before heading downstairs, she changed swiftly into a dress that was simple but elegant. The silence of the morning shrouded her in an eerie silence in the house.Aaron was reading the newspaper at the table in front of him, his breakfast still untouched when she got to the dining room. He didn't raise his head when she walked in. With his expression unreadable, he continued to stare at the paper.He seemed unconcerned that she had just walked into the dining room. Only the rustle of the ne
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Marie opened her eyes slowly, squinting against the intense light that flooded the room. Her mind was cloudy, and her head felt heavy as she tried to remember what had happened.She was momentarily confused by her surroundings. It was not her room—not the plush sheets under her, not the strange smell in the air. She froze; she was in Aaron's room. Aaron had her lying in his bed. She also realised that her clothes were different from what she had previously worn.The sleeves of his loose, too-large clothing hung over her hands. She looked around, trying to make sense of the situation, and sat up quickly, her heart thumping in her chest.Aaron had his back to her, his attention elsewhere. She heard a cup clinking softly. The sound she recognised was the stirring of coffee. Aaron’s voice was flat when he said."You're awake." l wish I had lacked the worry that had been present the previous evening.The fact that she had just regained consciousness didn't seem to surprise him or concern h
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Only when the day was over did everyone pack up and leave for home, and the office fell silent. Marie wiped her face.Marie stood before the bathroom mirror for a few more seconds, trying to collect herself. Trying to make sense of the emotions inside her, she shut herself in and allowed the tears to fall. Everything seemed to be crashing down on her: the lies, the anger... everything.She stood before the mirror, staring at his dull reflection. Her eyes were swollen and red, and her face was pale. She stood there for a long time and didn't know when the seconds turned into minutes. She felt empty and broken. She inhaled deeply before leaving the bathroom and moving slowly down the silent corridor. As her steps reverberated, the lights above flickered, creating long shadows.She needed to leave that area, away from everything that had transpired and away from him, but she wasn't even sure where she was going. She froze when she turned the corner and turned to face her office.The do
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As silent tears streamed down her cheeks, Marie sat in the water closet in the women's restroom. Even in the restroom, she could still feel the oppressive weight of her feelings pressing against her chest even after locking the door. Her nostrils were filled with the sterile smell of soap and bleach, but nothing could make her internal heaviness go away. With trembling fingers, she took out her phone, which flashed seven of Aaron's missed calls. Seven.He was almost comical in his persistence, calling repeatedly as if he were unaware of the actual wall she was erecting between them every second. She gazed at her phone, the tiny blinking alert taunting her."Why are you still calling me? You don't give a shit about me." She thought angrily.The thought tore through her mind like a raging fire. After all, it's a stupid contract. She unlocked the screen and scrolled past his desperate messages, each one more desperate than the last, and her eyes began to well up with tears once more.
