Chapter 17
A R I A N A
The meeting with Voss Corp had dragged on for hours and my back ached from sitting in the stiff boardroom chair.
I barely got enough sleep last night, Asante had sincerely manage to fill his thoughts inside my head, he was getting to me and I hated that.
My head ached from listening to numbers and projections, I needed a break, a long comfortable one.
I just wanted it to be over.
Finally, the CEO stood up. “Thank you all for your time. We’ll reconvene next week p>
I barely understood what was going on, I’m thankful Raya was here to take notes, I’d run through everything at my convince before make my decisions.
People started to leave and I belong to pack the papers in a file, eager to leave the place and return to the comfort of my office.
“Ariana p>
I looked up and it was Damien Voss stood at the end of the table, smiling, I hadn’t notice that everyone else had already left the room it was just us.
“Mr. Voss,” I said politely. “Was there something else p>
He walked around the table toward me, too close. His cologne was too strong. “I was hoping we could talk privately p>
I took a step back, bumping into the chair behind me. “About p>
His hand reached for mine before I could stop him his fingers were warm and slightly damp. “You’re even more beautiful up close,” he murmured, thumb stroking my knuckles.
I yanked my hand away. “I’m married p>
Damien chuckled like I’d told a joke. “To Dante Russo. We all know what kind of marriage that is sweetheart”
My face burned.
Did everyone know about our arrangement?
“You should join me for lunch sometime,” he continued, leaning against the table. “Just two business associates talking p>
The way he said “business associates” made my skin crawl.
“I don’t think that’s appropriate,” I said firmly, grabbing my briefcase.
Damien’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Dante doesn’t have to know p>
That was it.
“Meeting’s over, Mr. Voss.” I walked quickly toward the door. “Have your assistant email me if there’s anything else p>
I didn’t wait for a response I just hurried out of the boardroom, my heart pounding.
The elevator couldn’t come fast enough when it finally arrived, I practically jumped inside.
As the doors closed, I leaned against the wall, taking deep breaths.
Men like Damien thought they could take whatever they wanted and with me being his rival’s wife, he thought he could use me.
Well, I wasn’t for sale, not to him, or anyone.
Not even to Dante.
The elevator dinged at my floor and I straightened my skirt and walked out, heading for my office.
I let out a breath as I walked into my office a sudden need to grab a cup of water or coffe hitting me but my thoughts come to a halt when the door burst open.
Angelo.
His face was red with anger his tie was loose, his hair messy like he’d been running his hands through it.
“You!” he spat, pointing at me. “You did this p>
I frowned. “Did what p>
“My demotion!” he shouted, slamming his hands on my desk. “I was head of marketing! Now I’m some junior analyst buried in paperwork p>
I sat down slowly in my chair, keeping my voice calm. “You’re lucky you still have a job at all p>
Angelo’s eyes burned with hate. “You bitch. You’re enjoying this, aren’t you p>
I stood up again, my own anger rising “Enjoying what? Watching you suffer? Maybe a little p>
“What is your problem Ariana p>
“It’s you, I want to watch you suffer, I want to destroy every piece of you that I had spent and sacrificed my effort and time in building you and everything you’ve ever owned, little by little I want to remind you that you were nothing before me and you will never be anything without me p>
He moved so fast I didn’t have time to react, one second he was across the desk, the next his hand flew through the air
SLAP!
The sound echoed through the office, pain exploded across my cheek.
My head snapped to the side tears sprang to my eyes instantly.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then Angelo gasped. “Ariana… I p>
He reached for me, his face suddenly full of regret.
I jerked away. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” My scream tore from my throat tears streamed down my stinging face. “GET OUT p>
Angelo’s hands shook. “I didn’t mean p>
“NOW p>
He stumbled backward, his face pale.
Then he turned and fled, leaving the door swinging open behind him.
I collapsed into my chair, sobs wracking my body my cheek burned where he’d hit me but the pain in my chest was worse.
How could I have loved him?
How could I have married him?
How could I have been so stupid to stoop so low for a piece of crap like him.
I buried my face in my palms the pain growing, my life was messed up, everything was and the worst thing was I had no control over it.
I cried until my throat hurt, cried for the girl I used to be the one who believed in love and for the woman I’d become, trapped in a marriage with a man just as cruel.
Most of all, I cried because no matter how much I hated Angelo now, part of me still remembered loving him.
And that hurt most of all.
I wanted everything back, how my life use to be a few months ago, when Angelo would come home to me complaining about work and how I’d give him foot massage till he felt better while we discuss.
I was the happiest, because for me it was the little things that matter.
Being married to Angelo brought me peace even though it didn’t last but it did, and I wouldn’t trade that feeling for anything if I had the choice.
Angelo really did mess up.