Mr Arrogant

Lucas

She didn’t know who I was!

I watched Ariel’s reaction with an interesting surprise. She didn’t flinch.

There had never been a time I called those names to someone and didn’t get a reaction from them. 

Everyone knew Nicholas Donovan. Therefore, everyone knew Lucas Donovan, his son. Boston's billboard was littered with my picture, and my company was featured in almost all popular magazines in America. 

However, here I was with a woman who didn’t have the tiniest idea of who I was. Somehow, I found it fascinating. 

Nicholas Donovan, my father, was a reputable and highly infamous business tycoon. He owned large telecommunications companies, factories, hotels, classic restaurants, and several other businesses spread across the globe. 

My father’s face was on several billboards in Boston a few years back. Due to our uncanny resemblance, most people could hardly tell my father apart from me. 

Our faces were featured in various interviews on TV screens, in newspapers, and all over the internet. 

Something I never really appreciated because one thing I learned in the course of my life was that being a billionaire comes with its prices. Good and bad. 

Good, you could enjoy all the fine things money can buy. Nevertheless, bad, you never have privacy. 

Which was why I had come to hide out here in Woodstock. Thankfully, judging from Ariel's reaction to my name and my face, I wasn’t all that popular. 

That meant I could live without fear of being recognized here while I waited out the heat in Boston City to cool off.

The situation in Boston was something I didn't want to think about. What I had planned when I arrived in Woodstock just this evening was to get to the house Kelvin, my assistant, had arranged for my arrival, take a bath, and rest my head, pushing away all the worries for a later time. 

However, Kelvin was a fool who couldn’t close the deal on the duplex downtown in time. Now, I had to settle for a mini condo apartment where I was almost taken for a thief.

Kelvin was the only one who knew I wasn’t in Boston.  

He had suggested I get away, and by the time I returned, the rumors about me getting Kimberly pregnant must have died down.

I doubted that very much. As long as Kimberly had my parents and even my sister on her side, there was no chance they'd let this slide unless I married her to protect the family's reputation. 

And marrying Kimberly would be till hell freezes over.

I sighed; I didn't want to think about Kimberly. And I certainly didn't want to think about this feisty lady, staring at me intensely with expressive green eyes that were both mysterious and inviting. 

Ariel. 

I let her name play in my mouth as I made a quick assessment of her. Her face was framed by tousled brown hair, casually tied back in a ponytail, allowing a few rebellious strands to escape. 

She had smattering freckles that adorned her cheeks, giving her a hint of youthful charm. And she looked like someone who didn't get beaten down easily, not without a fight. 

My back hurt in places her broomstick had smacked me. She just beat me with a broomstick and made me laugh with a crazy assumption that I was a thief. 

Me, a thief? The most ridiculous thing I’ve ever been accused of in my life. Well, the second. The first was being accused of impregnating Kimberly. 

Kimberly, whom I hadn't been with in over four months. Till now, I found it hard to believe how she was able to make my family side with her.

“Is your name supposed to mean something?” Ariel asked, bringing me out of my thoughts.

“What?” 

“You said your name like I am expected to know you or something of that sort.” She continued to stare at me like she hadn’t seen anyone weird. 

“I hadn’t met anyone who didn’t recognize my face or my name.”

"Well, Mr. Arrogant, no one informed me I'd be meeting the creator of the universe today; I just hope you're here to grant all my wishes… God!" Ariel feigned a bow, eyeing me distastefully. 

"So you're not just pretending not to know me? Interesting." The thought that this lady didn't know me should be a relief, but somehow, the need to get her acknowledgement overwhelmed me, and I couldn't tell why. 

"Is there a price attached to knowing who you are? If so, then I'd be so inclined." 

Her sarcasm and insolence were beginning to get on my nerves. 

The exhaustion of the flight from Boston to Woodstock began to weigh on me. So, instead of standing in this small room arguing with this small woman about whether she knew me or not, I should retire to bed.

Besides, I was in Woodstock to hide from vultures and everyone who knew me. So, Ariel, not being able to identify me should be a blessing.

"Well, there's no price, and I am glad you don't. I should get going and let you rest." 

I pushed myself from the kitchen table where I had been resting and picked up my duffel bag lying on the floor. The bag contains a few personal things I had stuffed hurriedly into it. 

For the few weeks I planned on staying here, anything work-related would be handled by Kelvin, and I trust him to do an awesome job in my absence.

“See you around,” I said, making for the door. 

“I remember you.” Ariel’s voice stopped me. 

“What?” I didn’t turn.

“Iris Hotel, two months ago. You gave me a lift.” 

Slowly, very slowly, I turned to face her. 

Then, it hit me. The memory of the night I had stormed into Iris Hotel after having another heated argument with my Dad. I’d come to Woodstock for a business deal, and I’d loved it. 

Hence, my determination to come here to cool off for a short while.

During my first time in Woodstock, I’d met a young lady who wouldn’t stop crying about an ex leaving her. 

His name was Ryan; I remembered because she wouldn’t stop talking about him. Plus, she’d gone to a club to beat up Ryan’s new girlfriend, and she was kicked out of the club.

I’d given her a lift and dropped her off at her best friend’s apartment. 

As much as I tried, I hadn’t been able to completely erase that night from my mind. Not her cries when she was telling me about her ordeal about her ex.  

Secretly, I had wished that our paths crossed again. And now, here we were. 

What were the odds?

As I stared at Ariel, it all came rushing back. Her intelligent green eyes had kept me captivated all night long. 

The defiance in her drunken voice that had continuously told me stories of how she detested her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend. How the job interview she had gone to had gone South because her interviewer didn’t think she was classy enough, even though she’d be good for the job.

When I continued trying to tell her not all rich people were that way, she asked me if I was rich. 

I was glad to see her in a saner climate today, but I didn't need any females in my life. One was already trying to ruin my life; I didn't need another with a motive I couldn't fathom. 

I was in Woodstock to take a break from the chaos happening in my life, and that was what I should focus on.

Nothing else. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t remember you.” I lied, “You must have mistaken me for someone else.”

With that, I walked out the door, trying to push aside the shock I glimpsed on her face. 

***

The clanging sound of metal against steel dragged me out of the depths of sleep. 

I grumbled, opening my eyes and turning awake as the small bed creaked. Last night, after leaving Ariel with the denial that I didn't recognize her, I found myself unable to shake her off my mind.

The mini condo Kelvin got for me was right beside hers, and as I entered the place, the urge to scream overwhelmed me. 

It was late, and it was all I could do not to call Kelvin at that hour and blast him for subjecting me to such slavery. 

The room was small, like Ariel’s. The kitchen was even smaller. Not that I’d make use of it. The bed in my room in Boston was ten times bigger than the one in this room. 

The bathroom faucet was working, the same with the tap in the kitchen. The room had a ceiling fan, a ceiling fan, for crying out loud, not even an AC, and it wasn't working well to crown it up.

There was no water heater, and I was too exhausted to bother about anything; I had fallen asleep like a log, molding myself to fit into the bed.

The noise continued coming from outside my door; I reached for my phone to check the time and discovered six missed calls from my sister and ten from my Mom.

I had been ignoring Mom's call for a while now because all she talked about was my ex-fiancée, Kimberly. 

It was 6: 15 a.m. Jeez! Who was making so much noise at such an hour?

Just as I sat up, trying to process my thoughts, my phone rang in my hand, checking the call ID. I saw 'Fiona,' my sister.

I thought to ignore the call but then pressed the green button before I could stop myself.

“Finally,” Fiona’s voice came with relief. “Why haven’t you been taking your calls? I’ve been so worried!” She cried as if she’d appear before me to give me a punch of her soft hands. 

“What do you want?” I asked tightly.

"Don't be hostile. I just want to check in on you. Where are you? I'm in your house, and no one has seen you. Mom is worried; she's planning to track your phone." She informed me.

I grind my teeth. "Just two days, and I can't even be away without you guys trying to pry into my life. Tell them to give it up and back off."

I heard my sister sigh heavily. “Where are you? There’s so much noise.”

“It’s none of your business where I am, and stop calling me.” 

Beep. I ended the call and got out of bed, still in my pants from last night but shirtless because of the heat. I didn't bother to put on a shirt as I was sweating. 

Opening my door, I was greeted by the first rays of the morning sun that was just rising in the east. 

Crouched on the floor, I found Ariel her back to me, hitting a small fencing post with a hammer as a boundary between her doorstep and mine.

“What are you doing?” My voice is rusty, still heavily cloaked with sleep.

She continued slamming the hammer, acting like she didn't hear me. 

“Don’t you think it’s too early to disturb the whole neighborhood?” I asked again. 

I watched Ariel stand up, her right foot hanging in the air as she leaned on the wall for support. She ran her eyes up and down my body, lingering on my bare chest, before lifting them to my face.

She wasn't wearing the pullover from last night but a blue polo that shaped the swell of her breasts. 

I dragged my eyes to her face, deciding to look at no other part of her body but her face. That was easier. 

Ariel looked angrily at me, and I was reminded of the hurtful look on her face last night when I denied knowing her.

“What are you doing?” I asked again.

“What does it look like I am doing?” She fired back. 

“Setting a demarcation, I can see. But why?” 

"We don't know each other, so we don't have to infringe on each other's space. I don't want you walking past my window, breaking things that belonged to my mother." She spat out.

Belonged. Was her Mom dead? None of my business, I thought. 

It was obvious she was hurting from my words last night, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Suppose she wanted a demarcation, fine. I couldn't care less.

“Couldn’t you have waited till later when everyone was awake? People are still sleeping.” I was irritated.

"You're the only one still sleeping, my lord; your creatures are already awake." She said mockingly. 

I balled my hands into fists, gnashing my teeth in frustration. Why did Ariel have to be so annoying?

When I planned on coming to Woodstock, I didn’t bargain to be neighbors with a nuisance. 

"I think you've sworn to be a pain in my neck, and I haven't even stayed here for a day!"

"You've got to stop obsessing about yourself. I couldn't care less about you." Ariel limped, squatting again to continue slamming the hammer on the wood. 

How was she even able to do that, I wondered. But, too frustrated, I didn't care. 

“Keep the bloody noise down! I won’t ask again.” I barked, entering my room and slamming my door.

I had enough for just one night.

The best thing to do was call Kelvin to get me out of here. 

The door didn’t slam because Ariel stopped it with her hand. She looked at me as if she had caught me in a crime. 

"I think I know who you really are!" She was sure and confident as well, and now, I felt like my cover was blown.