My mother always told me, "You don't have a filter on your mouth." I never understood what that meant. I thought it was a compliment.
Until today.
My subconscious chided me for messing with the man but me being me, I couldn't help it. I wanted to see what he would say.
I looked at him and to my utmost surprise(not) he was still glaring at me. He called a man who I suppose was his bodyguard." Chequebook.", he asked him.
The bodyguard handed the book and took Kia with him. Mr CEO raised one sharp eyebrow at me."How much?"
I squinted my eyes in confusion."You think I'm asking for money?"
In reply, he just gave me a deadpan look. Does this man really think I'd ask for money for taking care of a lost kid? Is he stable in his mind or what? I've never come across someone more infuriating than this specimen.
I closed my eyes for a second and cooled myself otherwise I don't know what I'd have done."You are contemptible." and with these last words I stormed off, swearing never to see his face again.
I made my mind not to go back to the Arnold Enterprise, no way in hell would I be able to bear this man for a second more. Looking into my GPS, I walked to my second and final destination- Halcyos. It was the leading event management company and I think I can be an efficient employee there.
After a walk of 15 minutes, I reached Halcyos. I walked inside the company and asked the receptionist about the interview. Lucky for me, the interview had already started and I was a little late, thanks to Mr How-much. I scoffed thinking about him. The receptionist told me to go to the twelfth floor since the next turn was mine.
I straightened my blazer and pressed the button for the lift. My hands were a little moist due to nervousness. I needed this job anyhow. The ding of the elevator brought me out of my reverie. I stepped out and walked to room 1203.
I was just about to knock on the door when I saw the nameplate and the name made me gasp with shock, fury and disbelief.
Nicolas f*cking Arnold. Obviously 'f*cking' was not written but that's not relevant. What's important is that this company wasn't under Arnold Enterprises, then why the hell does he have a cabin here?
Did I contemplate knocking this time?
Hell yes!
Do I want to work here knowing he's the one who I'll be working under?
Hell no!
Do I want the job?
Unfortunately yes!
Can I work under this money-minded man?
Absolutely not!
Hence I concluded on leaving this interview and going back home. I'll perhaps get another one tomorrow. Today's day is only bad.
Just when I was about to turn and walk back, I got knocked out by a woman who was rushing to another side and my back hit the door and it flung open throwing me inside Mr Arnold's cabin. I fell to the floor groaning in pain due to the unexpected backache.
Talk about embarrassment! Someone f*cking dig the floor and bury me inside.
"Don't you know how should one enter the room? As normal human beings do.", a very known voice echoed in the room. I was lucky due to me falling backwards, my head was near a chair and he couldn't see my face.
"Get up woman.", he grumbled. I immediately stood up in anger. I know I'm never going to work for him, why not give him a piece of mind before saying a final bye.
His eyes widened just by a nano millimetre. Does this even exist, who cares?
"You kidding me.", he voiced out."Don't tell me you're here for your petty apology or thank you or worse you're stalking me."
"You wish.", I gave him a pointed look "I'd rather die than stalk you.", I rolled my eyes. Very unladylike I know, but that's who I am, thank you very much.
"Why are you here then?", he asked standing and walking around the table towards me. But the question is why the f*ck is he walking towards me.
"I was here for an interview, only if I knew it's you who's taking it, I'd never step inside the building, let alone thinking of grabbing the job.", I took a step towards him, "Stop making judgements about people every now and then. Behave maturely."
I turned to walk out of the door when I was pulled by my wrist. My breath got caught in my throat when my back hit his chest. "Who do you think you are to ridicule me again and again, hmm?"
"Leave me.", I hissed.
He held my hand tighter behind my back." I let it slide the first time since Kia was safe but that doesn't mean I'd let you speak anything to me.", his breath on my skin was making my breathing difficult. Bloody hell! This man is so darn infuriating.
"Y..", before he could complete his words. The door to my left flew open and came out the little girl with the same woman.
I quickly kicked Mr Arnold in his knee and his grip on me loosened. I stepped aside and breathed a sigh of relief. Kia left the woman's arm and rushed towards me. She tugged on my dress and gestured for me to kneel down. I did and she clung to me. My heart filled with warmth." What happened Kia baby?", I asked rubbing her back.
"Why did you leave me?", she asked, her eyes filled with tears."Don't leave me again.", she hid her face in the crook of my neck.
Once again I could see myself in this little girl.
"Mumma please don't leave me. I can't do this alone."
I gulped my tears and before I could say anything she was ripped away from me by the woman. She looked very pissed. Did I do something wrong?
"Kia, why are you clinging to some stranger?", she asked and though I knew she was right, I was not more than a stranger, why did I feel hurt by her words?
"She saved me. She's good and I like her.", Kia tried to pull out her hand from the woman's grip but the looks she was firing at her made me frown.
"Kia stop behaving like a brat.", she yelled and before me, Kia was pulled away by Mr Arnold. His blank eyes were filled with anger.
"How dare you?", he seethed in fury.
"Sir, you... you here?", she stuttered. Her eyes widened when she realized Mr Arnold is also standing here."I was just trying to discipline Kia, she shouldn't move towards a stranger."
"Don't give me this sh*t.", he yelled. I quickly closed Kia's ears and pulled her to my side."You are fired. Get out before I call someone to throw you out of my estate." The woman wasn't needed to be told twice, she rushed out of the cabin as if her tail was on fire.
I pulled Kia into my arms and she glued to me like a koala to a tree."Bad aunty... she always shouts at me.", Kia sobbed and I felt overwhelmed.
What was happening today? I felt everything was going in a rush. Why am I seeing Mr Arnold and Kia again and again?
I looked at Mr Nicolas who had one hand on his waist and the other on his forehead. Am I too good because I was feeling bad for him for this moment?
"You'll not leave again?", Kia asked me, once her tears stopped. I gulped seeing the hopeful look in his eyes.
"I-", before I could answer her, Mr Arnold's bodyguard came. She gave me a peck on my cheek. She told something to Mr Arnold in his ear, since the bodyguard had lifted her.
Mr Arnold passed a cold glare to Kia but she didn't get scared, the girl laughed instead." Love you uncle.", she kissed his cheek and waved at me exiting the room.
Mr Arnold turned to me, his eyes colder and harder."I want you."
"I want you."I threw the duvet that I'd pulled over my head to escape those three haunting words. Why the f*ck did I go there? Why in God's name did I meet that devil's son and what in the world did I do to land up in this situation.The last few hours were the most traumatizing hours of my life. Why?Let me recap.As soon as Mr Bodyguard left with Kia, Mr Arnold turned to me, his jaw ticking like a time bomb making me scoff.I was about to take a step towards the door when his voice echoed stopped me dead in my tracks. "I want you.""I'm sorry what?""You heard that.", he seethed.I was angry was an understatement. I was furious. What does he think I'm, a f*cking object? My fists clenched ready to punch the brains out of him but I controlled myself. Violence is the second option.I walked to him and kept one hand on his bicep and stood on my tippy toes, tough move Ari! He stiffened when I kept my forehead against his. His eyes watched my every move intently and for that moment I fel
Shut up! Stop tormenting this poor soul early morning!Ding! Ding! Ding! *Click* Click* Click* Click*I groaned in dismay and tumbled down my bed in a pure clumsy manner. But who cares. I'm alone and no one can see me embarrassing myself. That's the only thing that matters. I let out a heavy sigh and closed my eyes but regretted it the very next moment.The noises from outside my house grew louder. I could hear people calling out my name and that made me frown and confused since I knew no one here.Not personally for sure.My residence was in a good neighbourhood, safe for sure and that was a good thing since I lived alone.Tring!My mobile phone rang loudly and the frown on my forehead grew deeper. Who the heck is calling me? Me? The loner who hardly talks to anyone. It's not like I don't want to but again I say I have high heights of trust issues and when I say high I mean my benchmark is beyond the sky.My doorbell rang again. Bloody hell! Curse that person to the seventh circle of
I glared at him witheringly urging him to start with his "talk". He peered at me, uncomfortable with the silence, and finally said, "You know this is your mistake right?"I didn't say anything in reply, just looked at him, staring him out with utter disbelief. This man is the most infuriating specimen I've known and I'm quite sure I'll ever know. "So I was saying it's your mistake these people saw me with you. Only if you hadn't thrown those nonsensical tantrums and had accepted my offer of babysitting Kia, I'd have not come to that park and you and I wouldn't have been spotted together."I shot him an extra sweet smile and turned to open the door but he ceased my movements by holding my left wrist. "Jesus Christ! Why are you so stubborn?", he grumbled under his breath.Me?I'm the one who's stubborn.What a joke?"See Mr Arnold.", I took a deep breath."I'm actually trying my best to control my anger but if you do not stop with your outrageous comments I'll definitely lose my calm. If
"Kia where are you? If your devil of a", I heard a voice come from the corridor behind me but I couldn't see the owner due to how tightly this little girl was holding me. I was astonished by her vice grip on me but at the same time my heart was touched seeing her affection towards me, it was the first time after Mumma that someone hugged me. "Don't leave me again.", she mumbled, her head in the crook of my neck. Can someone get attached to someone within a few minutes? This was just so surreal for me that for a moment I thought as if it was some kind of two-hour movie going on. Unrealistic at its height. "I won't.", I whispered to her running my hand up and down her back to soothe her tense muscles. "Come on, show me that pretty smile of yours Kia." She pulled back and her face lit with a toothy grin. The kid was too precious. "Kia.", the voice came again. She peeped across my shoulder, my eyes watching her actions intently, and she gave a quick wave to the person behind me. My ey
Turns out I underestimated the job. Kia was a notorious kid, you won't know what she'll do or say next moment. Pretty unpredictable! And as if she has freaking wheels under her feet, the girl can't stay at a place for more than a moment."Kia baby stop running. You'll get hurt.", I yelled for the third time. We still were in Arnold Industries. While Mr Arnold was cooped up in his cabin or may be working, I was running behind the kid on the same floor. Her laughter was echoing in the corridor. "Ari catch me.", she peeped from another cabin which I got to know belonged to Mr Ryan, Mr Arnold's secretary. He was around his late twenty and sported light brown eyes with blonde hairs. I took a deep breath, bless the child but right now she seems a devil incarnation to me.I kept my hand on my waist and dragged myself to his cabin. In my defence, I was never good at sports and as much as I hate to publicize my weakness, I have got low stamina. I can't exercise for long even if my life depend
Now the scene was I, meaning the clumsiest and most unfortunate person on the earth was lying right beneath Mr Arnold and curse me if I'm lying, he was really heavy on top of me, and that was why I was having some pain in my head and why was I dizzy. I wanted to get up and make my escape, but I was caught in a very awkward position, no, I got myself caught in a very awkward position, I had my arms pinned to my sides and my legs were pressed to the ground by his weight. Goddamnit!I tried to get up but I couldn't. I tried to move my legs but they were getting tangled up with his. Mr Arnold's head was right beside my neck and then I heard him mumble."Coconut."What the-? I hit my head on the ground, why is he being the insane here? That's another thing, he always acts like this.Weirdo!"Wait Ms Summers.", he grumbled then placed his hand on my waist. Heat crawled my neck as I looked up at him. I saw he had his head tilted to the side and a small smirk on his face. "So clumsy.", he a
"Please don't hurt her. I'll do whatever you want. Just don't hurt her. I can't take it if you-ah!", her screams rang in the air."Mumma", I screamed. I could still see the man's hand reaching for her, but it didn't matter anymore. I closed my eyes trying to erase those nightmares that left me traumatized for years. I knew that opening my eyes would only make it worse, so I clamped them shut and waited for darkness to pull me in but, bloody hell it never did.It's been four years still the wound is as fresh as then.Four years for that dreadful day.Four years of me running from my past.Four years of carrying the guilt that I was the reason for her not being with me.She was the best Mumma in the world. She was like the sky and the wind and the earth all wrapped into one. When she smiled at you, the sun came out. When she hugged you, the world was a better place. But when she was gone, the sun turned dark and the winds turned cold and the earth became the ground.I looked at the cloc
The mall was buzzing with smiling faces and loud conversations as families took advantage of the pre-Christmas shopping rush. After a long week of working hard, it was all worth it. There was a sense of excitement in the air as everyone ran to buy the perfect gift for the ones they love. It was a great time to spend with those you care about.Kia, Evans, Aiden and Sienna were all excited to go Christmas shopping. They had so many people to buy presents for this year unlike me who once again is going to spend her holiday in a blanket with a tub of cookie dough ice cream or crying over the fact that this year also I couldn't make a friend.Pathetic I know!I shrugged my depressing thoughts and looked ahead only to witness Tara and Evans holding each other's hands and strolling down the aisle looking for a gift for each other.The love!I smiled and looked down at Kia who was again whispering something in Aiden's ear. What's with these two?I walked to a jewellery shop nearby where I tho
Arielle's POVItalics: Flashback"Mumma, please don't leave me." Tears streamed down my face as I held onto her hand with a death grip. Her eyes, once bright and full of life, were now dull and lifeless, pools of sorrow reflecting the storm within her. I leaned in closer, my heart aching with a pain so deep it felt like I was on the verge of a heart attack. "Mumma," I whispered, my voice a mere breath against her cheek. "I can't live without you."The sterile hospital room was a tomb, the hum of machines a relentless dirge.I felt the cold, hard grip of her hand, my trembling like a leaf caught in a cyclone.Her words echoed, a haunting melody of regret and sorrow. "My Ari,""Mumma, please," I begged, my voice a desperate cry. "Don't give up. Please fight."She closed her eyes and smiled painfully, breathing, a difficult dance with death. I squeezed her hand tightly, my heart a heavy stone in my chest."I would fight wars for you, my child," she whispered, her voice a fragile thread in
Something seems amiss. I can't shake off this persistent sense that an unforeseen event is looming on the horizon.Something dreadful. The feeling is like a stubborn itch that won't go away. I cannot keep happiness in my heart as this sense of impending doom looms. The looming sense of impending doom creates a cloud of uncertainty that casts a shadow over my present and with me, my husband's happiness.He has tried to talk to me but how do I explain this feeling to him when I, myself am not sure about it.I don't know why.Why am I feeling this way?Everything has been going fine.These past eleven months have been smooth sailing, without a single hiccup. Then why am I feeling this way?Maybe I am just overthinking.It was Nick's and I's first wedding anniversary and the whole family was pretty excited for the same. That's a low-key term to define their excitement.They resemble cumin seeds in oil, bubbling with happiness and anticipation. I, on the other hand, could not shake off
"Nick you can't hide like this, I'm telling you. Once I find you, you will regret starting this game." I shouted as I searched for all the places he could hide. "With you, I've never regretted anything, my love."The echo of his words bounced off the walls, making it difficult to pinpoint his location. The anticipation grew within me, fueled by anger, excitement and curiosity. I knew Nick was skilled at hiding, but I was determined to find him. I mean, who does he think he is? He can't just use the charm of his words and melt me all the time. He'll be punished this time and that's final. No more letting his words melt me. I need to toughen up and stand my ground. This game of hide-and-seek has turned into something more, a war. And Arielle Summers Arnold, you'll not be easily swayed this time. "Amore you won't be able to find me."It was clear that the game of hiding and seeking had taken a romantic turn for him. Nick's words, both teasing and affectionate, echoed through the room,
I officially hate my friends.Here I was in a crisis and they were messing around. It was the worst time for them to joke around and not take things seriously.I had never felt so betrayed in my life.My friends were laughing hysterically, but I was in no mood for their antics."This isn't funny, idiots." I shouted as I walked to Mama and laid my head on her lap as she glared at the two of them."Both of them, if you don't stop now I will kick your asses out of here."This made them shut up."I'm still unable to wrap my head around the fact that you, a charmer managed to get a girl so angry she slapped you... twice.", My face twisted in shame and embarrassment as the morons started to laugh again."Two slaps and a punch in the gut, Mama.", Nicolas F*cking Arnold, as Arielle used to say in the past, seemed perfect for the moment to me.Bastard!The reason I was so mad was not just because they were making fun of me, but also because, f*ck I felt too furious, how could that woman, that st
It has been two years and five months since our marriage. Life with Arielle has been full of loving and memorable moments. Although I've said it before I can't help myself but say it again, I'm blessed to have such a wonderful wife.I'll forever be grateful to my Mama for giving me the wisdom to wait for the right woman.Arielle is the one, and I love her with all my heart.I looked at my wife's face which was tucked into the nape of her neck, and with the tip of my finger, I traced the outline of her face. I reached up to run my fingers through her hair, I can't seem to keep my hands off her.A small whine left her lips and I felt a rush of love for her again. She is so responsive, so giving. I leaned down to place a soft kiss on the top of her head. I softly massaged her neck and shoulders as she quietly snuggled in closer to me. I breathed in the scent of her hair. I feel a sense of comfort in being wrapped up like this. It's something so simple but it feels so right.I pressed my
Peace.It's been peace with him. Every single day has been a reminder of how lucky I'm to have a great husband like Nick.How these six years passed, I couldn't know. It's not like it was a straight line. It was more like an unpredictable track. I guess it was the best part of my life and I wouldn't trade it for anything.I was really proud of my husband. He had successfully overtaken his other company and his vision of getting Arnold empire back in Mama's hands was completed. And as much as I was feeling bad for his father, he hurt Mama and however hard we try, it's impossible to forgive his deeds.Anyway, Caleb and Kia's bond had grown, Kia had always been smart and intellectual for her age but as she grew up, she accepted him as her father but that doesn't mean it affected her relationship with her Nicky Uncle, all it did was get stronger.He was genuinely happy when Kia told him that she accepted Caleb as her father doesn't mean she loved him more.He was the one who gave her the l
Today I learnt a new emotion about human beings.JEALOUSY.Jealousy is an emotion that can consume a person entirely, leaving them blinded by their insecure feelings. It can be as simple as wanting to be more beautiful, or as complicated as wanting to be better than someone else.But right now, all I wanted was to rip that clingy woman off my husband and crush her with my bare hands. Woah! Arielle, crazy much. Relax, she's just a random woman and you're his wife. His legal wife.Nick loves you, why are you being so violent?Nick and I had arrived at the birthday party of one of his closest friends, the owner of Halcyos. Nick was dressed in a black suit, looking hideously dapper. I was dressed in a black off-shoulder gown. We came inside and Nick got indulged with a business friend, we didn't even get to meet the person for whose birthday we came, I'd just stepped to a side to admire the decoration when that woman came along. I tried to ignore her, just like I ignored all the other w
It's been three weeks since our wedding and I've been the happiest since then would be an understatement.These weeks have been a whirlwind of emotions and I think I've been on cloud nine more times than I can remember. I feel so blessed that I get to wake up next to the man I love every single day.My husband is the most amazing man I've ever met in my life, sometimes I feel I'm living my own fairytale with him. He not only respects my choices but also my emotions. I don't think I've ever felt so loved and accepted by anyone. And sometimes I genuinely feel that he's too generous to be real.Just to make sure I don't get uncomfortable, he waited for a whole bloody week before making a public appearance with me which was a big deal since along with it, he was also going to announce the company he built in name of Kia and Amara."Arielle Summers Arnold, my wife." His words are still fresh in my mind and it makes me smile. The look of pride he had when announcing the same was something I
I was anxious, nervous and excited as I entered Nick's room, now mine too. It was not the first time I'd entered his room, but today I didn't step in as Arielle Summers, his love.Today I stepped in as Arielle Summers Arnold, his love as well as wife.My heart was beating so wildly that it was almost painful. I could feel my cheeks burning as I walked up to the mirror and stood in front of it. I had never been tenser in my life. It's not like I haven't slept with him before, but he never tried to start anything with me.He always kept me before himself, my comfort, my feelings and as much as I was ready to give all of me to him tonight, a major part of me felt scared.I looked at the gifts in front of me, I couldn't help but smile. I picked up the black box with gold lettering and walked towards the bed. I stopped in front of it and opened the box. I took the ring out of the box and held it in my hands, it was so beautiful.It was given by Mama. I smiled as the precious gem sparkled i