Chapter 76 Because I Said So
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Aria had been on her way upstairs when she heard Monica’s malicious words. She stopped and turned towards the room, a slight smirk on her lips.
“Monica, there’s no need to sound so malicious,” Madam Graves berated, frowning in a displeased manner at her.
Aria’s smile widened when she heard Madam Graves defend her. No matter what, she had managed to capture the heart of this elderly woman.
Nathan’s fists clenched against his thigh, “Mother, you know Monica is only speaking for the good of the family.” He cast Aria a flaming look, “why would Aria go about spending money this way? What would people say of our family?”
“They would say the Graves family has brought in a money monger,” Monica added, her eyes flashing with hatred and jealousy.
She had peeked at some of the items which had being brought in earlier and it was pure luxury all the way, things she’d her eye on but she had not even gotten around to getting them.
She was almost in tears, “They’d say we brought in a country bumpkin with no regards for dignity!”
“Why are you all so worried about what people would say, instead of just trying to treat your own family member right?” Madam Graves practically wailed in exasperation.
Nathan and his wife was silent but Aria could see their mouths tighten with displeasure. As if to say, “Over our dead body would she be a family member of ours.”
“And Monica, I’ve told you to stop referring to Aria that way,” the Chairman put in, his voice gruff, “She’s your elder sister in law, so you must treat her with respect.” He wagged a finger at her, his eyes and tone stern, “If you disrespect her once more, I’ll make sure you don’t get off so lightly!”
Monica was shocked, “Father!” She wailed piteously, then cast an hateful look at Aria.
Aria scoffed delightedly.
If Monica decided she wanted to go against her, it would only make Madam Graves and the Chairman’s favoritism more blatant.
And Monica would become more miserable.
Well, Aria took extreme pleasure in that, so she lowered her eyes and sighed wistfully, putting on a sombre expression.
“I’m sorry, Monica.” She uttered softly, “I know it doses seem a bit too much but I could not stop Lucian.” She sighed once more, “He just went on buying, taking everything off the racks and I couldn’t do anything.”
She looked at Monica, blinking innocently but mockery could be clearly seen in the depths of it.
Monica scoffed, enraged beyond words that Aria dared to mock her this way.
Was she rubbing in her face, the fact that she had a wonderful husband who spent on her without thinking about the money?
The money was not the problem.
They were the Graves Family.
It was the fact that Lucian went out into the city and paraded Aria around as his loving wife.
This country bumpkin who was beneath her!
Lucian had never had any involvement with girls before now, so what’s the big deal now? What was so special about this Aria Beaumont?
Aria could see the look of anger mixed with rage on Monica’s face, and she smirked triumphantly.
Madam Graves, unaware of the silent battle going on between both women, patted Aria’s arm as she uttered, “Don’t ay that dear. I know Lucian. You can never get him to change his mind when he’s set on something,” she laughed softly, unknowingly fanning the flames, “Besides what’s wrong with an husband pampering his wife?”
“You’re right, Mother,” Aria uttered with a shy laugh, “I don’t blame him. He just wants his wife to look good when working.”
Monica’s ears perked up at those words, “Working?” She asked sharply, “What do you mean, working?”
Aria swallowed a smile as Madam Graves turned to Monica, with a proud sigh, “Aria will be starting work in the company next week.”
Nathan and Monica bounded their feet at once, their eyes wide with shock, “WHAT?!” They yelled in unison, causing the Chairman and Madam Graves to look at them in surprise.
“Why did you yell so loudly?” The chairman thundered at them, “Are you trying to send me and your mother to our graves early?”
Monica was red in the face, “Father! Why is Aria going to work in the company next week? She’s just a country bumpkin, not fit for the company at all!”
“You unfilial child, I told you not to disrespect your sister in law!” The chairman warned, “Are you going against me?!”
“Father, you know that’s not what important right now,” Nathan countered, baring his teeth at Aria, “Just why would Aria be working in the company?! To make a fool of us?!”
Aria quickly rose to her feet as well, pretending to be contrite but her eyes held malicious delight.
Nathan and Monica had definitely not expected that news. They had such hatred in their hearts that all they could think about was Aria failing if she starts working in the company.
Well, that was no news.
She had an even bigger one for them.
“Nathan. Monica.” She uttered calmly, looking them in the eye, “I know that you think I will not be able to do well because I did not attend college. But as the marketing team head…”
“What did you say?!” Nathan interrupted once more, his eyes narrowing into slits, “The marketing team head?!”
Aria hid a smile.
She had deliberately let that slip and now she raised her chin confidently, “Yes, the marketing team head.”
“Why the fuck are you the head of the marketing team?!” Nathan and Monica screamed simultaneously.
“Because I said so!”
A deep voice uttered from behind them and everyone turned to watch Lucian walk into the room. He glared at them all as he walked towards Aria, placing his arm possessively around her shoulder.
“I wanted her to work in the company and I also made her the head of the marketing team,” he uttered in a voice that brooked no complaints. His blue gray eyes settled on Nathan’s obsidian ones which were filled with rage, “Do you have a problem with that, brother?”