"I'll be back soon. Wait for me, hmm?" Arik bid me farewell after I shared with him what I had heard from Hannah."Is there no one at your place? Where is she? Where's your Dad?" I asked with confusion.Was she alone at home? She seemed so terrified, and I couldn't tell if it was true or one of her hallucinations.Is this what he was telling me? Does Hannah experience hallucinations sometimes?"Arik," I called out to him again when he didn't respond. He seemed agitated, lost in deep thought. I approached him and tried to calm him down."Calm down, please. I won't let you leave acting like this. Something might happen to you on the way."He slumped onto our bed, cursing repeatedly."Damn it. I knew it. Right from the start, I knew he had something to do with Mom's disappearance. Both of them." He said vehemently, as if full of threats.Looking at him, his eyes were filled with danger. He's furious! And I know that when he leaves, his anger will escalate and something bad might happen.
"You're creepy, Benj. How do you know what I'm thinking?"He rolled his eyes and gave me a serious look. "It's so easy when it comes to you. You're very obvious. Does Arik know where you're going?"I didn't flinch. Arik left early this morning to go to the mansion before heading to his office. I've been contemplating visiting Genesis to confront him about what happened. If I tell Arik, he definitely won't allow me."Just a quick errand. Please, don't tell him, Benj. He's dealing with something right now."He just sighed and hugged me, then kissed my head. "Call me."After leaving Benj's place, my heart raced during the drive. I know this isn't right, but I just want to know something. I dialed Genesis' number after talking to Kim."Hello?"I heard his deep sigh on the other end, as if distancing himself from the noise wherever he was."Celeste.""Can we meet?" I asked him directly."Does Arik know about this? I don't want to end up dead, Celeste." He chuckled."What? Why would you die
"Why don't you try to listen to me for once? Why are you so hard-headed? Do you even know what you're doing, Celeste?" Arik's voice sounded like thunder when I entered his office."Kim already explained to you what might happen to you if you rush the procedure, didn't she? Do you still not understand that? You can forget your present memory, Celeste! Goddammit!"I bit my lower lip as I could clearly see how he was holding back from exploding. He's holding back himself and I can't do anything to calm him down."I… I-I'm sorry… I just want to help, Arik." I stuttered. "It didn't work out—""Because Kim called me that's why it didn't go through! And what happens when you get what you want, huh?" His tone was more emphatic.I just bowed to the side there.After picking me up from Kim's clinic, he brought me to his office. I thought we were going home but we weren't. He even ignored me the whole time while we were on our way here.And that Kim, I don't know if she considers Arik more of a
Arik picked me up as he sat on his swivel chair and placed me on his lap. My legs appeared because I was only wearing a blouse and skirt and the coat I was wearing had been taken off of me earlier."Arik… How many have you brought here to your office to do this thing?" I asked him when we separated for a moment.He grinned and shook his head as he removed his tie, one hand still on my waist."What are you trying to say here, my love? That I'm a playboy?" Desire and lust became more visible in his eyes as he stared at me.When he finally removed the tie, he followed by unbuttoning his sleeve. His tattoo appeared on his chest that reached his neck."Aren't you really like that?" I said and started tracing his tattoo. It's a dragon tattoo. It connects up to his arm. The one on his neck seems to be a vein tattoo."You were a playboy. I'm sure before that night, you brought many women here just to do this."Arik's hand moved again. He squeezed my
"I told you not to let anyone into my office, didn't I?""Even so! Even if it's her, Max!"I heard Arik cursing loudly at the person he was talking to on the phone before he flipped it over on his table.Arik had to lift me and bring me to the connecting room of his office when I couldn't get dressed anymore. Hannah was just watching us angrily the whole time while I was still laughing.Her statement was so funny that I still can't forget it. How could she say that when they weren't in a relationship? Was that some sort of a taboo experience? Those stories that Aurora told Kim and me before? Step Siblings? Yuck. Fuck it."Hey…"I just looked at Arik who was currently fixing his long sleeve and its button while I was putting on my bra.I grinned at him. "Hannah's very mad. What will you do with her? She witnessed us making out, Arik.""I would love to bail out to continue that, Celeste, rather than face her and explain. Fuck. I'm so so&h
Arik's lips pursed as he accepted my brassiere. He seemed confused for a moment."You bitch. You really don't know how to be ashamed of your actions, do you? Right in front of me?" Hannah's behavior was so angry that I looked at her."What's your problem? My bag is really small, see?" I raised my bag in front of her. "Arik doesn't want me to wear a bra because he prefers that I don't wear anything. What's wrong with that? We're together and we have a daughter." I declared and stared at her even more.She looked at me more and more as if at any moment she wanted to hurt me. She's lucid. She knows what she's doing and what she's saying now, especially what she said to Arik because she knows I'm listening to their conversation."How can you say you're better than me when I'm sure he won't fuck you because he considers you a sister?" I asked her.She seemed to be shocked by what I said because there were traces of anger on her face. She's clenching her fist. She
I placed the ice bucket on the round table and glanced at everyone who was still laughing. I noticed Arik's gaze fixed on me when I didn't sit next to him."It's still spacious here. Why are you over there?" He asked me. Everyone heard it."Don't tell me you're still embarrassed because of what we saw earlier, Celeste?" Aurora boldly asked me, laughing. I almost wanted to slap her face.My cheeks grew warm, and I took a sip of the drink meant for me."Celeste," Arik called me, so I looked at him."What?""Sit here next to me. Sarah will sit there later," he said. The woman had left for a moment with Benj to buy more food.I glared at him, then reluctantly stood up and sat beside him. His arm immediately wrapped around my waist."Why didn't you tell her that today's your birthday?" Oliver asked as he sipped his whiskey. "Of all people, you didn't inform Celeste. Naturally, she'd be upset."My irritation grew even stronger.When I foun
"That's all you need to know, Celeste. Don't worry, we'll provide updates about the case soon.""Thank you so much, Yumi," Oliver said to her and stood up as well.I was the only one left seated, so the two of them looked at me. I sighed and then stood up."Thank you, attorney."I excused myself immediately, telling them I needed to use the restroom. I couldn't look at her for long. Besides feeling disheartened by the slow progress of the case, I also couldn't forget her text to Arik last night. I was sure that after our meeting, she would be going to see Arik. Should I call him? Until now, he hasn't sent a single text, even though I didn't say goodbye before leaving. I couldn't help but feel a bit hurt about that. I also couldn't understand why his mood suddenly changed. Was it because of that woman? But who is she? Who is she in Arik's life?"You're going?" Oliver called out to me as I adjusted my handbag.I just nodded and didn't respond."Are you okay? You'v