( Beverly Hills, California.)
“You’re not gonna let that slide, are you?” Arian asked and she guiltily nodded. Natalia recognized the middle aged man she met with Arian when she woke up on new year’s morning.
He was one of the most capable and influential lawyers in the country. Most of his cases were a huge success with only a few lost ones in his outstanding record. He was really famous and Natalia had seen him in the news a couple of times before.
“I wanted to figure out a way to end my engagement.” He disclosed. She looked at him.
“You… you did?”
“Yeah. But he needs time to review the whole legal procedures taken and documents signed before coming up with a solution.”
“I thought you wanted to change your surname and move away.” She murmured. Arian shot her a wry smile.
“Why would I think of doing that? The fact that Sir Argent messed up doesn’t mean I’ll change my identity…. especially because of him. I’ll not be leaving the country either, because you’re with me.” He gingerly licked his spoon.
As much as Natalia was flattered, she didn’t want him having that thought. Because it was dangerous for her mission. She knew she couldn’t always be there for Arian especially as she had a murderer to bring to justice. So she had to reunite him with his family as soon as possible.
“A penny for your thoughts?” Arian asked, breaking through her thoughts. Natalia adjusted herself on the bed and sat well.
“You look worried. What’s bothering you?” His voice sounded concerned as he dropped his bowl and edged closer to her.
“Arian, I don’t want you to leave your family, or your life itself… just because I’m not with you.”
“But you’re my life.” He stated as a matter of fact.
“I’m flattered, but I can’t be here with you forever.” She accidentally slipped and swallowed a gasp. His eyes grew serious.
“Why does it sound like you’re planning on leaving me again?” Natalia quickly held his cold hands.
“Arian, you’ll always have my heart so I can never leave you. All these…” She motioned to the house. “As real and awfully perfect as it might seem, it isn’t. This isn’t our reality. We’re hiding from reality in here. My main point is, your family comes first before anyone else. Think of them. I don’t want you to attempt…” She couldn’t bring herself to say it before continuing.
“… because I’m not physically present with you.”
“Natalia, you’re more than family. You’re a part of my soul.” He chose the part of her words he wished to listen to.
God, he wasn’t listening! Natalia silently prayed for strength.
“Arian, I’m extremely flattered. But I don’t want to be the reason you’ld give up on your whole life just because I’m not with you. Consider your family. They should come first! If I have a single chance to bring back my family, no matter how little, heaven knows I’ll give up ANY thing in a single heartbeat!
“Value the people around you pricelessly even though they fail you tirelessly. No one’s perfect. We all make mistakes, most of the time ignorantly like I did with you…. and your father too.
“Don’t let the disappointment you justly feel rob you of his love. Your dad made a mistake and I’m sure he’s sorry. You might see him as cold hearted and negligent, and most of the time he might prove you right. But deep down no matter what, you’re still his son. His biological blood.
“And he loves you so much. I’m a hundred percent sure of it. He just didn’t express it the right way. The same family you’re turning your back on are the ones desperately trying to find you, to bring you back home. Even Tommy is a wreck too.”
Arian looked away, trying to keep his emotions heavily guarded. But Natalia knew she was finally getting to him.
“They’re losing hope of ever finding you. You should’ve seen your mom…”
“Why don’t you simply tell them I’m fine. At least… she’ll stop worrying.” He pursed his lips in a tight line. She smiled and gently turned his face back to meet hers.
“Others may be relieved, but a mother’s heart cannot easily be calmed by simple words. She’ld want to see you and hold you. And confirm you’re really okay. Besides, it’s not in my place to tell them anything… It’s yours.” She softly caressed his cheek.
Arian lowered his eyes for a long time, fighting a lot of demons in his heart. When he finally looked up, a slow polished grin graced his gorgeous face.
“Why I’m so addicted to you… I love you. You know that, right?” Natalia returned a brighter smile and nodded.
“I know. I’m just too charming. I try not to let it get into my head sometimes though.” She smugly shrugged.
“You’ve got no idea how charming you are right now.” He noted. She dropped her hand from his and picked up her spoon.
“Right? Tell me.” Arian smiled and leaned in closer like a predator.
“It’s so much that I wanna kiss you.” Natalia gasped and turned to jump off the bed but he captured her lips with ease.
“Now you’ve gotten ice cream all over me!” She whined when he pulled away, staring down at the trail of ice cream above her cleavage. Natalia stood up to use the restroom but Arian hastily flipped them over, taking her by surprise.
“What…”
“Allow me.” He smirked with a hot look in his eyes and leaned down to drive her insane. Natalia squealed because it was ticklish. She giggled until she found it hard to breathe.
“A… Arian st.. top! C… I… I can’t breathe!” He didn’t stop. Rather, he added in his idle fingers to tickle her. She giggled the more. Suddenly, a phone started ringing in the background. Natalia tried to escape and failed miserably.
“C.. cut it.. o… out! It’s my… my p.. p.. p.. phone!” She finally managed to push him off long enough to stretch over for it. But the moment she touched the screen, Arian pulled her back again. She screamed and giggled harder.
“You’re crazy!”
Arian cocked a naughty brow making him seem more funny which in turn, made her giggle more. Suddenly, they started slipping off the high bed.
They froze and looked at each other.
Natalia swiftly pushed Arian away and tried to save herself but he mercilessly pulled her back. She chuckled loudly.
“Arian! D… do you want us to f… fall off the bed?!” She screeched and tried to break free.
“Till I’m done licking it off you!” He chuckled. She screamed as they fell off with the duvets. Arian broke their fall so she wasn’t hurt. They continued giggling again for no reason.
“Shush!” Natalia gasped and covered his mouth with her palm when she noticed the call was already connected.
“Hello?” She breezed, trying to control her wheezy voice while Arian kept vibrating under her! Natalia mouthed at him to keep shut. He obediently nodded and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. She smiled back.
“Alexis?” A confused voice glided into her ear and her smile faltered.
“Es… Esmond?” Natalia stood up, breaking contact with Arian in the process. Massive guilt swept through her as the Royal realised she hadn’t really thought about Esmond since the moment she stepped foot in there.
Arian’s amused face suddenly turned grim. He stood up without taking another glance at her, slipped on his house slippers and walked away silently. Natalia turned to him but Esmond’s voice interrupted her intentions, saying something she didn’t really listen to.
“How… How did you get this contact?” She asked as her butt dejectedly met the bed.
“Elva gave it to me… only after I insisted.” Realisation made his voice bitter. Natalia mentally groaned and raked her messy hair…
~~~
A couple of minutes later, she rushed downstairs as fast as her legs could, looking for Arian. But he wasn’t in the living room. She searched around until she bumped into Megan.
“Have you seen Arian??”
Megan sensed the urgency in her voice and quickly looked through the surveillance footages on his tablet to know where her employer was. When she was done, Natalia snatched it from her and replayed it from the moment he left.
Arian walked out of their room and stood quietly for a while. Then he raked his hair frustratedly and pushed something down before storming over to the bedroom across. Natalia breathed out a thank you before running back upstairs into the dark room.
She breathed out in relief when she found him already tucked in bed, going through his phone. She moved closer hearing her uncertain feet make light taps on the plush carpets draped around, underneath the bed’s space. Natalia might’ve been a ghost for all the attention he paid.
“Arian?” She muttered and looked down at her feet.
Silence.
She looked up slowly and took a closer look at him. Arian had showered and changed clothes, judging from his moist, packed hair and fragrance of his billion dollar wash soap still lingering in the air. Natalia took her lip in and tried again.
“Ar…”
“I’m not deaf.” The sharpness in his usually sultry voice startled her that she flinched. He didn’t even raise his head to gaze at her and it painfully added to the tears in her eyes.
“I’m sorry.” She tearily breathed, nervously gripping her phone tight.
“For what? There’s no need.” He said, unconsciously trying to convince himself. Natalia was too occupied with her emotions that she didn’t notice his softened tone.
“Okay. C.. can I stay with you?”
“I think we should spend the night apart.” He rhythmically swiped his phone again and her heart fell.
“W… why?”
“It’s better that way.” He plainly said, continuing scrolling too fast. Natalia wiped her tears and nodded before taking a step back…