I wasn't able to concentrate on the decor scrapbook the interior designer had handed me when I went out earlier today. I had finally found a space at a great price that fit into what I wanted for the restaurant. The moment I stepped into the desolate place that smelled like mouse poop, situated in uptown LA, I knew it was the one. I had talks with the agent and it was settled, I was going to pay for the space the next day. I called on the interior decorator mom had recommended as well as that of Brianna's and we immediately started drafting out ideas for the place. It was all going good until I felt my heart jump in my chest and the face of a certain someone played out in front of me. "Breathe Ariana, breathe." I said taking deep breaths to steady myself. This realization of mine felt more bad than good. I couldn't look at Damien the same way. Could I even look at him at all? It was past five o'clock in the evening and he was going to be here any minute from now. I had to keep it

Ariana's POV; "You're sure this is the place you want?" I heard him ask once again. "For the umpteenth time,'' I rolled my eyes. "Yes babe, this is exactly what I want." I affirmed. "It's small." He said, unable to hide the disgusted frown at the filthiness of the place that was yet to be cleaned up. "It's almost as big as our bedroom." I pointed out. "My point exactly." I gave him a blank stare. "Babe be supportive." I requested. "I am and that's why I'm telling you to let me buy the whole building for you, so we could have it demolished and create a place of high taste." He said, raising his hands to demonstrate his point. "I want to start small, with my own money." I enunciated. We had been bickering over this matter all morning and I was getting exhausted but I wasn't going to give in to his persistence, I had to do this on my own. "At least let me do something other than moral support." He practically pleaded. "Well, you could give me some free business consultation an

Damien's POV; "You okay, babe?" "Hmmm." She absentmindedly responded to me while her eyes roamed her surroundings. "I need to tell you something." "What is it?" "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier but Cheryl's father wouldn't be happy with you here." Her eyes went wide. "So why did you bring me? You should have left me at the hotel." "Thing is, uhm, he wants Cheryl and I to get back together for business reasons." I winced at the sudden high pitched scream that followed. "What?!" I literally saw flames brimming from her eyes. "That's why I insisted on you being around." "So you want me to spite him with my presence. Are you trying to get me killed?" She whisper yelled while trying her best to not alert the people in the elevator with us. People who by the way were already staring. "He's a powerful man, a business man who would do anything to get what he wants. What if he goes off and puts a bounty on my head just so you could get back with his daughter?" She was frantic.

Ariana's POV; I squeezed Damien's hand tightly, holding my upper lip in between my teeth. Cold sweat broke out on my face as my heart thumped rapidly in my chest. It had been over an hour and the baby was yet to come out. I could tell she was getting exhausted from how she was panting heavily. "You can do this Tracy, come on." Damien uttered. His eyes were glued to the screen and he looked as tensed as I was. "Baby, you can do it." Aiden looked like he was about to cry but was trying to pull a strong front for her. "Aiden I hate you!" She cried out weakly. "I know, I deserve it." He nodded frantically. She squeezed his hand as she writhed her upper body. He winced at the grip. "Almost there ma'am, you can do it!" A nurse said, rubbing on her knees. "Yes Trace, you can!" Mom piped up from the other side of her. We watched her push hard with our breaths held until we heard the cry of a baby. "Yessss!" Damien and I screamed at the same time, jumping up in excitement as we hugged

Nervous black eyes stared back at me as shaky hands tousled my black mane. I looked down at my simple pale pink lingerie rimmed with black lace and released a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves as I applied one of the several perfumes I had stocked up in the closet, behind my ears and on my neck. "You can do this Ariana. Let's go." I said to myself in the mirror, grabbing my robe. I pulled it on and loosely tied the knots. I turned to leave the closet but the nerves hit me again. I wanted to die of embarrassment at the thought of what I was about to do. "Oh Dios, I know this is the right thing to do but I'm so scared of what's to come." I lamented, hiding my face in my palms. I took one glance at my rings and bit on my lower lip. "We're married." I said. Maybe reminding me of our relationship status gave me a boost of confidence because I could not be afraid of being tossed aside like a one night stand the next day. "It's not something casual, it's intimacy." I turned away f