As soon as Ariana, got to her room, her phone rang and she was grateful it was Calhoun. She had missed him so much. She wished he was there with her, so she could embrace him and whisper to him all that had happened in just one day and how she had somehow been saved.
"Babe, what's going on?" Calhoun asked.
Ariana thought of telling him what had happened but the urgency in his voice, made her realize that if she dared say anything, he would fly out of where he was and come back to that house to get her in an instant.
"Not much. Just been trying to get along with your family," She said instead which wasn't a lie. She had been trying. It was just difficult.
"I hope they're not giving you trouble?" He inquired. She could hear the worry and uneasiness in his voice and she wished she could hold him in that moment. But she couldn't.
"Not the one beyond what I can't endure," she said wisely.
They both laughed.
It was an unprepared laughter that just came out of their lips for different reasons. Ariana laughed because she was trying to hide her broken heart from the incident that had happened to her. While, Calhoun laughed because he had missed her a lot. One day without her was unbearable. He couldn't cope but he knew his grandfather would find a way to blame Ariana if anything were to happen.
For Ariana, one day in the Calhoun's house was what was really unbearable. She had wanted to cry out and tell Calhoun everything, but Ariana refrained because she was afraid. She didn't want him to act rashly. She was afraid her only chance of winning the trust of his family members would be snatched out of her hands.
They were all important in her eyes and she wanted all of them to approve her. She was nothing like they thought she was and she would not give up till they saw it too.
Calhoun on the other hand was looking for a reason to act rashly. He remained obedient to his grandfather which was something he rarely did, all because of Ariana. He knew that whatever action he took at that moment would reflect back on her and she would be labeled as ""the bad person. Personally, if he was the one to get the labeling he wouldn't care. Because it wouldn't even be the first time he was being labeled. Yet, he remained calm, all for his Ariana.
"Will you come home, anytime soon?" Ariana asked in a small voice as she picked up a pillow and hugged it to her chest.
"The deal is genuine and I have told the man to arrange the necessary documents for me to audit and then we could go ahead to the signing stage. Yet it is taking him forever." Calhoun explained with a click of his tongue. "If he doesn't bring it up as soon as possible, I will return and send Zion to do it."
At the mention of her friend's name she felt truly bad. She hadn't called neither Zion nor Lisa, since she got to the Lawson's mansion. They must have missed her so much. Even Olga and Sarah in the office. She made up her mind to give them a call as soon as she was done with Calhoun.
"Ariana?" Calhoun called urgently.
"Huh, yeah?" She replied.
"You seem distracted, what's going on? Did grandfather say something to you?" Calhoun asked as his heart started beating fast in anger. He knew Ariana was hiding something but he couldn't quite do anything because he was far and there was just nothing he could do from where he was.
"No, I am fine. Grandfather didn't do anything to me. He didn't say a word either. I am good." She was now rested on the bed with her stomach facing down. The phone was pressed against her ear as relaxed onto the bed.
"Ariana, you can tell me anything. Please babe, if it's starting to get overwhelming, go home. You have the keys. Please, go home," Calhoun begged.
"Babe, really it isn't that." Ariana whined. "Okay, I got distracted a few seconds ago because I just remembered that I haven't spoken to Zion or Lisa, in a long while," she said. Yes, she had the Lawsons to worry about but she also missed her friends.
"Are you sure?" Calhoun insisted.
"Yes, I am."
"Fine, I will send Zion to the house or maybe speak to grandfather to let Lisa stay in the house for a few days at least till I return." Calhoun suggested.
"No!" Ariana screeched. "Baby, that would only make your family more uneasy around them. I am supposed to spend time with them and not my friends. It isn't a good idea."
"But it's just for a few days," Calhoun said clickinghis tongue.
Ariana could feel his frustration. If the situation was different she would have accepted but this was different. In the bigger picture, it wasn't even about her, it was for the Lawson family and Calhoun. If Lisa saw what had happened that day for instance, she wouldn't be able to keep quiet. A fight would surely break out and in the end, everything she had been trying to build would crumble down. Plus they might even feel offended.
"Calhoun, bringing my friends is like I am saying, your family's company isn't good enough. I'll be fine, do not worry about me..." Ariana trailed.
"I can not do that..." Calhoun breathed out. "But fine, I won't talk to grandfather. I'll just round up quick here and come back home, okay? Just try to hang in there for me," he whispered.
Ariana felt her heart squeeze. She could feel his love even through the phone. She knew that one word from her would get him running to her, but this was her battle. He had proved his love for her beyond any reasonable doubt. It was her turn to do the same.
"I will be fine," Ariana said with determination.