Chapter VI

Callum's words hung in the air like smoke — thick, vengeful and impossible to ignore.

Ariana turned away, arms crossed tightly over her chest, blinking fast. Her jaw clenched as she stared into space, trying as much as possible not to cry. Not in front of him. She couldn't keep looking weak and helpless.

Behind her, silence stretched like a wire pulled too tight.

Then — a quiet sigh. The sound of expensive shoes stepping softly against her worn wooden floors.

“Ari…” His voice was different now — stripped of the venom, kinder, Softer.

She didn’t turn. If she did, the tears she was trying so hard to keep at bay would flow.

Callum ran a hand through his hair, frustration giving way to regret. “I shouldn’t have come in like that. I shouldn’t have said those things.”

She finally looked at him, her eyes glassy but defiant. “You think you can just walk over everyone and everything, and I’m supposed to get in line because your last name has influence?”

He shook his head, closing the distance between them. “No. I just… hearing him answer your phone kind of snapped something in me. I know I have no right to control who you're with or who you speak to but I know my world, things can get really messy quick and all I'm asking is that you be careful.”

Ariana swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. “I will be as careful as possible. Just stop treating me like I'm a pawn on a chessboard. My life is already spiraling out of control. ”

He reached out, brushing his fingers along her arm — slow, almost hesitant. “You’re not a pawn. I know we just met and things right now may not be ideal but I can assure you that it would all be worth it in the end.”

A shaky breath escaped her lips, and she leaned into his touch just enough to let him know he wasn’t the only one unraveling.

“Then stop pushing me away any time you feel out of control, I have already agreed to the arrangement so technically we're a team” she whispered.

His forehead rested against hers, and for a moment, the world shrank down to the space between them.

“I’ll try,” he murmured.

It wasn’t a promise — not yet. But it was enough.

For now.

"Coffee?" Ariana offered with a radiant smile.

"Yeah sure I'll have some. Just cream, no sugar thanks". A deep frown took over Callum's face as he watched her. Her hand precisely seemed to have been bruised. She was trying to hide it but she kept rubbing her wrist when she thought no one was watching.

"Did he lay his hands on you?" Callum got his answer when her entire body went taut at the question. That bastard, a low life. Whoever he was, Callum was going to find him and teach him a real life lesson.

Ariana was thrown off guard by the question and it was only when she traced his gaze to her arm did she understand the origin of his question. She quickly let go of her aching hand . "It's not what you think..."

"Can I give you a piece of advice?" Callum wasn't buying her act. "Don't allow yourself be mistreated by anyone. You certainly deserve better than that."

His words hit home but the truth was a bitter pill. Ariana looked away. The fact that Callum could easily read through her facade bothered her but at the same time she found it endearing that he was nice enough to notice the littlest of things about her.

"So what's the case with lover boy?" She didn't respond to his question hoping he would let it go but he persisted. "Let me guess, he doesn't want to agree to the breakup?" Callum went on.

"He came here from Dallas saying he heard I moved and he just wanted to talk. Nothing else happened."

"For obvious reasons I find that hard to believe but I'm not surprised. Who wouldn't want such a pretty face all to themselves"

"Believe it or not, that's all it was. Excuse me, I need to get mugs for the coffee" Ariana walked into the kitchen hoping he would let go of the conversation by the time she came back. She returned with steaming cups of coffee and just as she set them on the table, she heard him speak again.

"So I take it that you'll not be seeing him again..." Callum asked and though she didn't reply, he knew she had heard him.

Ariana took a sip of her coffee and lowered the mug on the table. "You said you had something to discuss with me?"

"Did you mention anything about the contract to him?"

Ariana gave a stiff nod. "No I haven't mentioned it to anyone."

"Alright then. I brought the documents again and I'll like you to go through them so you properly understand the terms of this agreement, Mrs Guer...Miss Cruze."

Callum cussed inwardly for the slip up though it was undetected by the fidgeting girl. He pulled away from her and went back to the living room to retrieve the folder in his briefcase.

He came back with the file and slid it towards her and she picked it up. "Go on. I'll be here to answer any questions"

Easing into the chair beside opposite her, Callum pulled his phone from his pocket and tried to distract himself. He felt guilty enough for using this situation to his advantage and didn't need to see the constant look of disapproval on her face.

Ariana went ahead to properly read the terms of the agreement because the last time she held these documents she barely glanced through as she was desperate. Damn nature for putting her in such a morally degrading situation. It was not like her to jump into things so blindly.

She read the first part of the contract, which basically talked about their roles and how they were to go about this game of deceit. The relationship needed to be as realistic as possible if not the media would catch on. They needed appearances both on social media and at public events. She was not to disclose the details of the agreement to anyone or grant any interviews once she came into the spotlight.

Spotlight- That was something she wasn't prepared for at all. She didn't belong in their toxic world.

Placing the file on the table, she said, "I will like to take my time and go through the entire document. This is a whole bunch of stuff and legal jargons for me to unpack right now."

Callum nodded. "Alright then I'll leave you to it. Before I leave, I need you to get ready for a trip to California tomorrow. I have a business meeting and the earlier we start making appearances, the more believable all this would be."

Ariana's eyes widened. "Tomorrow? Isn't that just too soon? We're still yet to finalize things with my sister's treatment"

"Charlie is being attended to by the best doctors round the clock so I can assure you that she is in the best hands and once she's stable enough to fly she will be brought closer to you."

Ariana wanted to oppose but she had nothing reasonable to say to him. They did have an agreement after all and he was upholding his end of the deal and it would only make sense for her to keep to her own end of the deal.

"Pack a bag, Ari. We leave in the morning". And with that he left.