Chapter 65 Speculations.

Chapter 65 Speculations.
Ariel

Jonas and I were let into Felix’s office the minute we got to the executive floor later that morning. “Good morning, sir.” We both greeted him as we stepped into his very large, very bright office space.

“Good morning, Ariel. Jonas. Please have a seat.” He pointed to the lounge set-up that was made in the far right corner of the room. Black couches, a glass coffee table, a flower vase right on the glass – it seemed pretty comfortable and informal but also triggering since the last time I'd been here, I found out that my new CEO was, in a way, related to the people holding me captive.

He joined us there after a minute. “So I'll get straight to the point. I'm guessing you've both heard about the scandal, right?”

Jonas nodded his head immediately. I did a beat later. I recently just found out after all.

“Good and you must have heard about all the speculations and conspiracies that are being dug up?”

I pursed my lips. “Speculations?” 

"Yes," Jonas replied instead. “I didn't mention it earlier because I thought it was stupid but because of the scandal, people are coming up with this weird idea that something might be going on between us too.”

I furrowed my eyebrows instantly. “Us?!”

“Well and a few other artists. I know it's ridiculous.”

“That's crazy. There's nothing going on between us.”

“I know. But we have your album coming up and promotions which we can't mess up; hence, I came up with a temporary solution to steer attention away from you guys.”

We both stared at him as we waited for him to say what it was. It's just so ridiculous. I and Jonas??

“Stop all activities that require meeting up in Ariel's home. I know. I know. It's a hard solution but if we're going to make sure every focus is on your album by the time it comes out, that's what we need to do right now.”



I was still so thrown off by the whole speculation thing with Jonas, especially after I saw the claims and supposed evidence these online bozos seemed to have; it took me a long time to connect the obvious dots.

Or maybe not so obvious because is it actually possible that this whole scandal thing was planned? Like Jonas has been my manager since I signed with the entertainment company, there has never been a rumour or speculation about us but the moment I mentioned the possibility of my manager or team finding Vincent in my guest room, suddenly there were speculations.

Is this what he meant when he said he would figure something out?



Throughout the day, till I got back to my apartment, I kept questioning a whole lot of other things. Like Chloe. What was she doing right now? 

She hasn't contacted me since she drove off in the parking lot of the diner earlier this morning but that's no guarantee that she isn't doing something crazy right now?

Also, the current skeleton in my cupboard. Vincent. How was he faring? Not that I cared, but I wouldn't want to have a dead man in my apartment now, would I? And then, what was going to happen next when he woke up?

I collapsed onto a couch in my living room the moment I got in and nearly dozed off for a second there. God, I was so tired. And sleep-deprived, it felt like all my muscles were under weights.

Before I could convince myself to stand up and go to my bedroom, I'd dozed off again.

I didn't realise that, of course, until hours later when I shot up from the couch, still fully dressed and restless from the nap I'd just had. It wasn't exactly a nightmare but it hadn't been a peaceful sleep either.

“Fuck!” I muttered as I felt around for my purse to check the time on my phone. The light from the screen blinded my eyes for a moment right before they adjusted to it in the dark. 

3:05 am. Fuck. That was four hours. I had only a few more hours till I had to get out of the apartment again.

I stood up and headed straight to the kitchen, where I grabbed myself a bottle of water. Then I headed to my room, which I was about to enter when I heard a sound.

My ears perked up immediately. Huh? What was that? It had sounded like a voice. Then I heard it again. Oh fuck, was it Vincent?

I glanced down at the guest room door that was just a few feet away and strained my ears to catch the sound again. A groan?

Fuck, was he awake? 

I contemplated going closer to check but went against my better judgement when I heard the sound again. It was clearer this time.

“No… please…”

A nightmare?

I pressed my ears against the door to listen again. It sounded like he was having a nightmare.

The fuck. What do I do? Should I go in? I mean, I have to obviously, right?

At this point, I wasn't even thinking of sleep at all and kept contemplating my next move until I pushed the door open slowly after a stressful minute.

I poked my head into the room slowly to try and gauge the situation properly before entering in. Okay, he was still on the bed. He looked quite unconscious with his eyes but his mouth kept moving as he muttered something.

“No…”

I stepped in properly and approached the bed slowly. That had to be a nightmare with how much he was sweating. He was also moving now that I was so close to the bed, especially his hands.

I unconsciously found myself taking in other parts of his body. Like his arm and torso that were tatted up, and his eyebrows that were pulled taut into a frown. 

I turned away when I realised I had no idea what to do.

I should go and call Kael.

But before I could take a step, he muttered something that made me stop dead in my tracks.

“Mom.”