Chapter 6
This had to be the eeriest ride back home, and more than anything, Aella was grateful that it was almost over.
Throughout the ride home, her mind flashed back to the sight of jubilation when she agreed to get married to Damien. She remembered plastering a fake smile on her face as people of high caliber came to congratulate them both with huge gifts.
"Finally, my son has become a man," his mother said with tears in her eyes as she congratulated them especially.
"There's no need to cry, mom."This is supposed to be a moment of joy. Don't dampen it with tears, Damien consoled her.
"I'm not crying because I'm sad." She got herself some handkerchiefs to clean her eyes. "I'm just happy that you've finally gotten over that daughter of Jezebel called Amelia. I'm happy you've decided to settle down with a good girl. Although the information came as a shock to me and the marriage was a quick one, I'm satisfied that you're now married. Your bride looks even more beautiful than that ex of yours, she teased Aella, who managed to smile a little at her compliment.
"Now, you both know the next thing to do. I want to hold my grandson in my arms before I leave this world, Damien. I want you to give an heir to your father's wealth, she said with a more serious face.
"Stop acting like you're dying tomorrow, mom."Don't worry, he dragged Aella close with his hand on the small of her back and placed a kiss on her forehead. "We'll give you what we want as soon as possible,"he assured his mother, and they all had a hearty laugh.
Funny how the same person who acted romantic hours ago had his head buried in his laptop, barely acknowledging her presence, despite the fact that they were in the same car. She needed no one to tell her that he was doing all that for show.
"We're home, boss," his driver announced, and he got his eyes off the laptop for the first time since the ride began.
"Good. Get down, he ordered Aella without even looking her way.
As they highlighted and approached the two-way mahogany door, the driver followed behind with a small bag that contained Aella's belongings.
"Thank you, Phil. Hand me my wife's bag. I'll take it from here, he said to the driver.
The driver obeyed and took a bow before taking his leave.
Once they got into the house, Damien left the bag to fall to the ground, and it fell on Aella's feet.
"Ow! That hurt!", She cried in pain, but he didn't bother to give her a response.
"You don't have to keep acting in front of other people, you know. If you didn't want to take the bag, you should've allowed me, she muttered in annoyance.
"Keep shut as you follow me," his baritone voice filled the large living room.
Aella couldn't help but gape in awe at the magnificence of Damien's house. She noticed the other fleet of cars outside, but his interior screamed wealth. From the Persian rug on the marble tiles to the high, whitewashed ceiling that held fancy incandescent lights, The furniture looked expensive without even being used.
"I know you haven't seen wealth before, but I really need to get some rest for tomorrow. When I say, Follow me, obey, his harsh words interrupted her moment of admiration, and his gray look wiped away the smile on his face.
Still, she had no choice but to follow him up the gold-laced stairs.
"I know we signed a contract, but staying with you in the same room as you will be the last thing I'd do."
"I've never allowed a pauper into my room, and I won't start now," he cut her off.
Shock and anger flowed through her veins, but she didn't say a single word. She simply followed him to a small, barely cozy room.
"This is where you'll stay until the contract is off," he instructed.
She took a look around the room and nodded. It's not like she could complain.
"Fair enough. I forgot to ask, when do I get to start working?"
She turned to the doorway, only to realize that Damien had left her by herself in her room.
She walked to the bed and collapsed on it, allowing it to embrace her.
"Even if I made the wrong decision, I did it for my family." Slowly, her eyes shut, and she drifted into a deep sleep.
****
"I need to talk to you, Damien!" She barged into his room. She knew he'd have her head cut off for her actions, but she didn't care. It was urgent.
She scanned the room, only to realize that he was nowhere to be found. Just then, she heard the revving engine of a car downstairs. She walked to the window and saw Damien driving out of the compound.
"Shit!!", She cursed and swore at herself angrily. She was too late.
"Now I'd have to wait till he gets back before I tell him to fulfill his own part of the contract," she sighed, slumping on his bed.
Just then, she felt his vibration in his pocket.
She took it out of her pocket, and she saw that it was a call from Dr. Martinez.
"Good morning, doctor. I know my grandma's health is at stake. I promise I'll pay the money soon.
"I'm surprised you're sounding like this. I just called to thank you for paying her bills on time. We'll start the surgery immediately, the doctor said.
Aella was confused.
"Her bills have been paid for already?" She mumbled, perplexed.
"Yes, it has. You'll have to come to the hospital to sign some documents, however. Have a nice day, the doctor said, ending the call.
Aella was still trying to figure out what was happening when she got a call from an unknown number.
"Who's this?" she questioned immediately after she picked up the call.
"It's Collins," was the answer she got.
"What?!", She jumped from the bed in sheer shock.
"Wh... How did you?"
"I just got woken up this morning, and they told me I was free and that you'd paid for bail already. How did it happen?"
It didn't take Aella long for her to figure out what was going on.
"How did you get the money for the bail, Aella? How did you do it?" came her brother's question.
She heaved a sigh of relief.
"I got married."
"What?! Why am I just getting to know about this now?!" Collins exclaimed in utter shock."It happened too fast, honestly. Plus, I didn't have any other options left on the table. Either I got married to him or I got thrown in jail for assault, leaving you and Granny to rot. I couldn't even bear the thought of not being there for grandma."Aella tried to explain to him. Collins had barely come out of jail when he called his sister. Aella had to meet him at a coffee shop instead of her "marital home" for fear that Damien would somehow find out she brought a stranger to his house."Let's look on the bright side, Collins. You're a free man again. Grandma has a chance at survival. I just signed the documents, and the surgery will commence in a few hours. What we have to think about is how to get you a job so you can survive in this country."Collins didn't give her a response. He looked lost in his head for some reason. "I don't have a lot, but here's 500 dollars."Aella slid the thin w
"You don't know your way around, do you?" Aella gasped and turned sharply to face the direction of the voice, only to see a young man fully dressed with glasses that looked bigger than his face. He looked harmless overall, but a little funny with his pointy nose and big eyes. "I'm sorry I startled you. It's just that I noticed you were looking lost. This is the fourth time you've been on the floor with these documents, and every time you come, you scan with your eyes, but never ask for help," he said with a gentle smile. "I've been working here for two days, and it's obvious I don't know my way around. I'm embarrassed, she muttered and looked away in shame, wiping beads of sweat off her forehead. "There's no need to be embarrassed. It happens to everyone, he chuckled. "I'm Gareth. What exactly are you looking for?" "Who actually? Her name is Miss Marie Lopez. According to my husband, my boss, she's the head of the design department and my direct boss. I'll be working as a desig
"Collins!!!"Waves of shock coursed through the room., and murmurs arose from the rest of the people in the meeting."Was it our boss that this nobody called a rich bastard?""Why is our boss not doing anything about it?""The Mr. Damien I know would have this man locked up in prison for the rest of his life.""What's really going on?""How did he get past the security in the first place?""Why... Is it just me, or does he have the same brown eyes as our newest employee, Aella?"While the murmurs went on, Collins and Damien stood face-to-face with each other. Aella was just two seats away, wet with jittery sweat, despite the new air conditioning unit in the office."Is this the thank you I get for getting you out of jail and giving your life back?" Damien finally spoke out."Listen to me and listen well. I don't care whether you saved me from death or not. Don't act like you don't have ulterior motives for doing that. I'm not going to allow you to indulge in a lame act of charity in r
Damien had asked her a question, but with no reply, she furiously summoned the courage to glare at him dead in the eye. "I said! Do… I made myself clear, Aella."He repeatedly questioned her. "Yes, yes,” she replied, furrowing her eyebrows and making her eyes narrow. She felt so much distress and was also left dumbfounded by Damein’s actions; he sure does have lots of connections. "Now let me go, or are you planning on cutting my arm down, huh?" She bravely questioned. He kept glaring at her, seeing she mustered so much courage to talk to him like that. He was about to realize her arm was in his grip, but she furiously took her arm from the tight grip she felt. He saw that she was acting stubborn but still ignored her, took the restriction agreement papers, and walked up to his room. "Release him and make sure he returns safely," Damien ordered, and he flung his phone on the bed. ****** "Hey dumbhead," the police inspectors called out to Collins. "It's time for you to get your
Everyone in the design units was busy working on their designs, and Damien was inside his office waiting for the designers to display their samples.Aella was almost done with her design sample; she was swift and careful, and the dress came out perfectly. Although it was just a sample, it was more like the original design. She completed it, did a few finishing touches, and took it to the display room. She was the first to bring her dress sample.She was there beside her sample until Marie came in and told her to go check up on the other designers to see if they were doing well.“Wow! I must say, bravo! Your work doesn't even look like a sample."Go! Quickly check on the others before they mess up theirs!” Marie said with a little evil smirk on her face. Aella didn't notice.“Yes! Thank you, ma'am. I'll be more than happy to help, Aella, who was inches away, answered and went out of the display room to help the others.“Now let me see how you are going to get praised and hyped in the
Aella stared at Marie with a mix of disbelief and anger. "Seduced Mr. Damien into marrying me? What are you talking about?" Aella retorted, her voice firm and determined.Marie, caught off guard, tried to regain control of the situation. "You don't know the truth. You're just a naive newcomer who thinks she can make it big in this company."Aella took a deep breath before responding, "I might be new here, but I'm not ignorant. Tell me the truth, Marie. What's your issue with me?"Marie hesitated, glancing around as if searching for an escape route. Aella wasn't about to let her off the hook."I know you sabotaged my design earlier. Why? What have I done to deserve this?"Marie scoffed. "You think too highly of yourself. This company is everything to me, and I won't let some outsider steal the spotlight."Aella's eyes narrowed. "Outsider? I earned my place here, fair and square. If you have a problem, let's settle it professionally."Marie, realizing she couldn't intimidate Aella, chan
Aella's phone was ringing continuously as she didn't answer the first call. Grandma and Damien got worried upon seeing she wasn't answering the call.Damien knows she would answer if it was Grandma that called, but still, she didn't answer, which got him startled seeing that she didn't answer Grandma's calls, "Grandma, is she in some sort of trouble?'' Damien growled with such a wave of uneasiness.“No! Child, you shouldn't say such things, grandma said with a look of worry on her face.Meanwhile, Aella came out of the bathroom, and upon hearing her ringtone, she wondered who was calling.“Oh my gosh! It's Grandma, but why did she call me? That too three times! She questioned as her worries heightened. She was about to call grandma back, but another call came in. “It's grandma,” she said, quickly tapping on the green (accept call) icon.“Grandma!!” She yelled softly in order not to confuse Grandma even more.“Aella! Your…!” Grandma was about to say Damien's name but got cut off by hi
It was so hot and heated in the Damien fashion world, as every designer was trying hard to make their work count.All aligned, they were ready to fetch the garments they would like to use.Damien was in his office, waiting for Marie to update him on whatever the designers chose.Aella picked her garment; she does have good taste.Marie, who was supposed to supervise and check on all the designers, locked her eyes only on Aella, trying so hard to put Aella in a tight spot.Steve, who was always supporting Aella, came close to her and put his hands on her shoulder, saying, “I got you." He took his hands off and went to the sewing room.Aella knew she wasn't alone in this, as Damien was also weird yesterday; he was going to help her, or so she thought.They all went into the sewing room, leaving only Marie behind.Marie, making sure everyone was fully engaged, went straight back to Damein’s office to report.“What's the situation?” Damien was questioned as he awaited a reply from Marie.