Chapter seven: My proposal

Chapter seven: My proposal
Aria pov

I really do have a way of making it to the headlines just as Damien says but at least this time around it wasn’t for a scandal. People who once called me reckless now call me smart. I was now engaged to the youngest billionaire in the city and I made sure to rub it on everyone’s face. I know for sure I would have to face the consequences of my action in the near future but I didn’t mind. I was tired of being perceived as being weak. Now I make my own decision and I’ll make a name for myself. 

A few days ago at my stepfather's office I left without Turning back and that was when I made up my mind to proceed with the offer I made to Damien weeks back. 

I wanted it to be luxurious. I want to paint the whole town red and I did just that. Damien played along; he also needed the attention to make our engagement real enough for his family to buy the idea. 

I was nervous at first but I desperately needed a way out just like Victor and Lucian, Demien were also rootless. Playing games with him would get me in more trouble but I didn’t mind. 

We go way back from my college days. He was in love with me but I couldn’t accept his feelings. He was an egomaniac who thinks every girl wants him, maybe every girl wanted to catch his attention but definitely not me, I was busy enough in my own world. My heart belonged to another. Celeste would often pressure me to give him a chance but I couldn't because she knew very well who my heart belonged to and who my heart longed for. 

But now it turns out that the one person who I couldn't accept saved me from all of my troubles. 

“I’m ready.” I said to Damien on the phone and my chest tightened. I clenched my dress. 

“Are you ok Aria.” I couldn’t tell that he had concern for me in his voice. He broke the news of Lucian being my dad to me so I sure he knows I’m hurting but I couldn't be vulnerable. 

“Yes I’m fine.” I struggle to bring out the words in my mouth trying not to show how bad I was hurting. 

“Tell me where you are and I’ll come pick you up.” Demien’s hoarse voice becomes soft. The normal me would have turned down the offer the normal me would have declined but i couldn’t swallow my pride this time around it was too big it I was choking 

“I’m at my father’s company.” My voice broke. I was trying so hard not to shed more tears. I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I hated how I  looked so  pitiful and weak. 

In a few minutes Demien drove into the parking lot where I stood waiting for him. 

“Aria..” he called out as he approached me. 

“Are you hurt?”

“Are you fine?” He could see how miserable I was looking. I just stood there numb words weren’t coming out of my mouth. 

“Come..” he said as he gently wrapped his arms around my shoulder and guided me to his car.  Usually I would flinch when another man tried to hold or touch me but I didn’t mind. At that point he felt like my soft spot, my resting point, the only place where I could be at peace. 

I followed sluggishly not because I didn’t want to go with him but because I was drained. The parking lot was quiet and peaceful, at least there were no reposters there. 

“Please take me away from here.” My voice broke as I followed him. 

“Where would you want to go?” He asked but I was clueless so I kept quiet. He's smart and he could tell I didn’t have any place in mind so he just drove. I didn't mind where he was taking me to. I just wanted to be away from all of this. 

As he drove out the reporters blocked our way trying to get me to address the issue.



I only realized the car had stopped when Demien said I could come out. I was lost in thoughts throughout the drive. 

“This is one of my mansions.” 

“It's private property. Nobody can find you here, not even my family.” He assured me as he assisted me to get out of the car.

“Oh shit.” He cursed 

“I’m sure you have not had anything to eat.” 

“And your dress..” he stopped midway with his sentence after examining me. 

“Why don’t you come in and get some rest? I'll be back before you know it.” He escorted me into the house and showed me to the room I would be staying in. 

I quietly followed him. 

“Thank you.” I whispered loud enough that he could hear me. 

He sent me a small smile before leaving. 

I had the house to myself. I had the quietness I have been longing for. I felt empty, my tears had dried up that I had non left to make myself feel better. I sat with a thud on the bed. I curl myself up in the bed and cover myself up with the blanket, the sheet smells and feels fresh.

I woke up with the morning sun rays kissing my face. I flinched when it hit my skin. 

“Good morning, pretty.” I turned to see Damien sitting by the corner of the room. I felt shy and wrapped myself more with the blanket. 

“You sleep a lot for someone with so much trouble.” He chuckled, He began with his tease. He didn’t lie. I actually slept like a baby. I felt at peace for the first time in a while. 

“Good morning Damien.” I returned his greetings even when I knew there was nothing good about the morning and my pictures are still flying all over the internet. 

“How did you sleep princess?” He was being so nice to me it felt creepy. It reminded me of Lucian. Everything seems to remind me of Lucian and I hated it. 

“I’m fine.” I tried to sit up properly and I noticed that Demien was still wearing his clothes from yesterday and so was I. He gave me a knowing look when he noticed I was looking at his outfit. 

“Yes I’m wearing the same clothes from yesterday.” He confirmed it without me having to ask. 

“I watched over you when I got back and realized you’ve fallen asleep.”

“You seemed so at peace.” He added. 

“Thank you but you didn’t have to do it.” I felt guilty. 

“Of course I didn't do it for free, you're going to be my wife soon as such I should take care of you.” His lips lifted for a smirk. Calling me his wife made me realize my reality. It hit a note in my head.

“Hmm..” I almost choked on my own saliva. 

“Here are some clothes I'm not sure what size you are so I got all of them.” He turned his head, giving me the gesture to look at the other side of the room. 

“What?” I screamed in my head they were so many boxes there. I'm used to living a luxurious life but I was amazed. He definitely got every size seeing the number of boxes and bags over there. 

“You should freshen up and come down. I made breakfast.” He added. 

I sent him a small smile and nodded my head. I didn't want him to know that I was impressed. 

Wait did he say he made breakfast? Damien must have had to put in a lot of effort not many guys I know even know how to make a sandwich. 

I took a long hot shower before picking out something to wear. I took a few minutes looking at myself in the mirror. I am beautiful but nothing about my life is. 

I didn’t notice the interior of the building when we came in yesterday. I was very absent minded. Demien does have a taste for good things. The space and lighting of the place made it look almost like fiction but it definitely was really with beautiful artworks hanging around each passageway. 

“Do you like it?” I heard Demien’s voice behind me. I was lost looking at an artwork that caught my attention. Every other piece was beautiful but this one caught my attention the most. 

“This is one of the rare paintings of Pierre Auguste Renoir. Got it at an auction in England. It reminds me of so many good and bad memories.” He tells me.  

“I guess it’s your favorite piece.” I turned and asked him

“Yes, it is.” He said, still looking up at the painting, I couldn't read any emotion from his eyes. 

“We should go and eat now.” He hands me a cup of coffee as we make our way to the dining area. 

“Wow there’s so much food.” I said it out loud without realizing it but I didn’t mind. 

“Did you really make all of this yourself?” I had to ask. I mean I can’t even cut a fruit properly. Yes it’s true victor controls and manipulated me throughout my life I was forced to study and engage in etiquette, plus I didn’t have a mother to put me through in the kitchen. 

I remember trying to fix myself a meal in the past and I ended up getting burnt and almost setting the mansion on fire. When I was little I would always ask for my mother when I saw my peers with theirs and sometimes I would request victor to get married again so I can have a mother but he didn’t listen to me. 

“Please dig in.” His voice brought me back from my thoughts. 

“You need all the energy you can get to face the world out there.” Damien said as he dishes me a plate and a salad for a start. I really do need all the energy I can get. 

“You can stay here for as long as you want but you know hiding away won’t do you any good right.” He said as he munched from his plate of food. He didn’t have to state it out but someone needed to say it anyway. He is right, all I’ve been doing ever since was hiding and running away. 

“How about an event to create a new headline.” I looked at him and our eyes met. He gave me a knowing look to go on. 

“Host an event and propose to me in it.” Since I have been on the news for a while now, I might as well just stay there. 

“Hmm not a bad idea.” Demien seemed interested. 

“I have an award night party for my organization coming up tonight. Can you make it?” His lips lifted for a smirk. 



The bright white lights from cameras flashes on me as I gracefully make my way out of the car with Demien. Everyone wanted to interview me but I wasn’t ready to say anything. I placed my hand gently on his and we both walked down to the red carpet area where I saw the last people I was expecting to see. Lucian and celeste. My chest tightened. I wonder what Demien was thinking when he invited them here. 

“Why did you tell me they would be here?” I asked Demien, talking through my teeth as I smiled. I didn't want anyone to know what I was saying. I wonder what games I was trying to play. 

“If I had told you, you probably wouldn’t want to come.” He wasn’t wrong but a heads up would have been better. This is an event for big business figures and Lucian would have probably gotten the invite before all of this drama started. Not that I was comfortable with his presence but I didn’t have a choice. 

People did their normal whispering as we made our way to the table. I had to sit alone most of the time since Demien had to go around greeting his guests. I sat pretty and confidently sipping on my glass of champagne. I ignored the presence of the people around me. I was starting to feel suffocated. I am not a fan of being where there are so many people anyways, so I decided to take a walk down the hallway as the main event was happening inside. 

It was a breath of fresh air away from the judgement and fakeness of people. As I walked further to the balcony I bumped into Celeste. Our eyes met and the air became thick. The environment suddenly became really quiet. 

“You shouldn’t be here.” She spat, breaking the silence between us. At first I had so many questions to ask her but now it was obvious she knew what she was doing all along ignoring my calls and texts. 

It was hard for me to believe that my best friend of seven years would betray me but something deep inside of me couldn’t bring out the rage I felt toward her. I played the bigger person and ignored her. I was going to keep walking when her next statement made me pause. 

“I’m carrying Lucian’s child”