Ariana’s pov~
I thought about ways to kill my father, the most painful way to snuff the life out of him.
Micola had sent a stylist not long after to dress me up for my date and she dorned me in the sexiest gown I’d seen.
Red had always suited me best, it was a convertible off-shoulder gown that revealed a nice chunk of my cleavage, it was longer and fit my body well, and it
It hid my bump quite nicely and had a nice long slit up to my thigh.
It reminded me of the first night here when Mateo had seen me in a similar gown.
I wondered how the date would go and I won’t lie I was excited.
It had been a chaotic few months with two toxic men chasing after me as they owned me I’d forgotten how to flirt.
It was nice to get asked out on a date.
Soon I heard the car drive into the estate, giddy with excitement like a 16-year-old on her first date, I opened my door to go downstairs to greet them.
But instead, I met a very annoyed Mateo perched at my door.
“Let me pass Mateo” I started before trying to get past him, “tell me, why are you so excited?” he inquired, evidently it was glaring on my face.
“Mateo I’m not in the mood for this, I have an important meeting to get to” I replied.
“Meeting? Just because I agreed to this crap to solve our money problems doesn’t mean I’ll let you rub it in my face” he clenched his jaw, in anger.
“So you can have all the women you want but I can’t go out on dates? This is the 21st century Mateo, pick a struggle” I retorted.
He growled before moving out of my way.
“I’ll be watching you Ariana, one wrong move, one hand out of place and I’ll cut off his dick and feed it to him” he wheeled away.
I shuddered at the thought of it, I knew he could and part of me was afraid he would.
I can’t have another innocent man die because of my husband’s jealousy.
I walked down the stairs gracefully, and memories of my high school prom flashed through my mind.
I was excited and Mateo could tell, I had dolled up so pretty, I knew this was a make-believe date but I wanted to feel every excitement of it.
I needed to distract myself from everything plaguing me. I soon reached the dining room and I strutted in beautifully, but to my surprise, there was someone else there.
A woman was on his arm. She was beautiful and she wore a flowing black gown.
“Hi im Melissa Shelby” she greeted me with a smile before stretching her hand, i quickly took it and glanced at Atlas before gesturing for them to sit at the table.
“Um.. yeah hi, im Ariana” I replied, confused but I smiled back.
“Sorry I didnt know he would be coming with a guest” I started before sitting down. “Clearly” she replied before eyeing my body.
“I hope you don’t mind Ariana, she insisted” I heard Atlas say, i didnt bother to look up I was immediately embarrassed, I’d overdressed for the occasion, but I just nodded and kept it cool.
“how far along are you?” she asked.
“Oh, about 4 months I guess” I replied with a smile, “you don’t look it, you look amazing by the way, sorry to crash your party, my ex-husband told me about your case earlier today and I was interested” She paused.
“Separated Melissa, I haven’t signed those papers yet” he mentioned casually.
She gave him a weak smile before turning back to me, “Especially after you invited him for dinner, I said gee, why don’t I tag along? See this new potential client myself, Interpol huh” she started before making a tutting sound.
I nodded and then I heard Mateo give a little laugh as he passed us, “Oh don’t mind me, im just passing through welcome Mrs Shelby” he smiled before moving on.
I threw him an annoyed look before he scoffed and disappeared behind the door, “asshole” I cursed under my breath.
“What was that?” she asked calmly, I shook my head, “Nothing Mrs. Shelby…”
“Miss Shelby, Ariana, im not married to this piece of shit as far as im concerned, but I do have to keep his name for legal purposes” she interrupted.
“And don’t mind my presence here, im just here to discuss your case, you both can continue your date after this, I have no problem with that” she added before glaring at my Peeking cleavages.
She had a problem with it, and I think this was her way of saying hands of my man.
I got up and dropped the napkin on the table, “Mr. Shelby can I see you for a brief moment, you don’t mind now do you Miss Shelby” I inquired with a warm shy smile.
“Of course not, hurry back soon, the earlier we get on this matter the better for us” She smiled before putting the potatoes in her mouth.
I directed Atlas to the kitchen and closed the door slightly making sure she still had a view, she seemed to peer in at every chance.
“What the hell atlas!” I exclaimed, “You could have warned me your wife was coming, and you told me you were divorced you asshole!”
He looked into the dining area before turning to smile at me, “You look breathtaking Ariana, I can see why your husband won’t let you out of his sight” he said before taking my hand and kissing the back of it.
“Are you fucking crazy? Your wife is right outside and she’s taking my case, this is a bad idea, I need you both to leave I’ll set up a meeting with her office” I replied before turning to walk back out.
He caught my hand and pulled me back to him, “I messed up Ariana… with Melisa” he started, I was startled by this and I shook myself free.
“What?”
“I need your help, I still love her, I fucked it up” he continued, I sighed, “What the hell did you do?” I inquired.
“I slept with her assistant” he confessed, I stood there in awe of his stupidity, “and her yoga instructor… and her masseuse” and the list went on as he mentioned a harem of women he had engaged in disgusting acts.
“No! Im not helping you get back that good woman you fucking piece of shit, were you trying to add me to that list!” I exclaimed.
He took both my hands in his, “No I saw the way your husband glared at me, my daughter still needs a father, from the look of things, this could fall to your advantage too, he is clearly in love with you” he continued.
I paused, this may be a good way to rile Mateo up, a counter-punishment for the shit he put me through this week.
He can have a taste of what it feels like to see me parading myself before another man.
“Fine, what’s the plan”
He gave a victorious laugh and I rolled my eyes, gently he laid the plan out for me.
“Are you sure they would fall for it?” I asked, turning to look back at the view of the dinner table, I caught Melisa peeking back.
“I think we both know the answer to that already”