Chapter 14
Ariana slept comfortably in Michael's soft and comfortable King Size bed. She did not felt like waking up until her phone went off. She was annoyed by whoever calling her this early in the morning. Withou looking at the phone, she answered, "Hello?"
"Ariana, what did you do to Mr. Johnson?" Ashton voice came angrily through the phone speaker. He did not know what exactly transpired but he knew his daughter has something to do with it. "Good morning to you too." Ariana responded sarcastically.
"What is so good about the morning? It is already noon." Ashton felt like his daughter was mocking him.
Ariana was astonished, 'Did she really slept until noon? It was good that Michael gave her a sick day.'
"Dad, what are you talking about?" despite everything, Ariana loved her dad dearly and hope one day he can love her back.
"You really want to play dumb with me? Did you have Michael Matthews mess with the Johnson's Group? I did not know I raised such a heartless daughter. You are vicious just like your mother." Ashton was so angry that he had no time of thinking about his words.
Ariana felt sour in her heart and her mouth became bitter. It was the first time she heard her father mentioning her mother and it was due to his anger. She refused to believe that her mother was that kind of woman. The mother she remembered was loving and gentle. Her mother cared about her and even though no one told her but she guess her mother leaving has something to do with Angela.
Ariana decided to get down to the bottom of this and if it does have something to do with Angela, then she will take her revenge on all of them for their contribution in separating her from her mother. "You can say anything about me but you can't say anything about my mom, she was once your wife." Ariana was getting agitated, she just don't understand why the reason for her mother leaving has to be disclosed from even her. Ariana felt really sour in her heart because she was almost raped by Mr. Johnson yesterday and her father was more concern about his company.
Ariana did not felt like saying anything else because her father would not believe her over Gina. "The Johnson's Group has nothing to with me. I do not have the power to have The Matthews' Group personally dealing with Johnson's Group for her. Ariana honestly don't believe Michael would do that for her.
"Then if it was not for you, then what else could it be." Ashton did not believe her for he saw how Michael stand up for her that day at her apartment.
"Believe it or not, that is how it is." Ariana did not want to hear any more so she deliberately hung up.
After she hung up, she sat in the middle of the bed thinking how her father used to love her when her mother lived in the Fearon's Villa. He came home in his lunch break everyday even though he had a business to run, and that was all because he wanted to play with her. Sometimes he brought her to the company so he could be close to her.
She woke up one morning and her mother was not there. She came downstairs and saw a little girl about her age and a woman. Her father introduced them as her new mother and sister. She remembered crying for her own mother until she went into a coma.
Ariana was deep in thoughts that she did not noticed the man walking in. Michael walked over to her and wiped the tears off her cheek. "Why are you crying?"
Ariana finally looked at him in a daze and after noticing that it was Michael, she flung herself in his arms and rest her head in the crook of his neck and cried. Michael was heartbroken to see her crying and even though he did not know the source of her tears, he felt happy to know that she turned to him for comfort.
After a long time of crying, Ariana finally calmed down but her eyes were red and swollen. Michael kissed her remaining tears away. "Can you tell me why you were crying?" Michael wished to fix all her problems so she can be the happiest woman on Earth.
"I don't want to talk about it." Ariana did not want to be pitied by him. Michael saw through her but decided not to prolong. He respected her and hope she will tell him in due time.
"I have packed your clothes in the closet, your skincare are on the table there and all you necessities are already in the bathroom." Ariana looked up at his with her bright eyes but did not say anything. 'How can I mad as tyrannical as Michael Matthews be so considerate and thoughtful?' she was really toughed and she felt a warm current flow into her heart.
"Okay, I am going to wash up." Ariana suddenly felt extremely shy around him. She like him but was afraid he did not felt the same.
Michael nodded in response. After some thoughts, he asked, "What do you want to eat? I will ask the cook to prepare it."
Ariana was indeed hungry, "Anything will do, I am not picky."
"Okay, come down when you are finish." He then got up and walk out of the room.
Ariana went into the cloakroom and took out a sunshine yellow dress with small red petals design. Afterwards she went to the bathroom to get wash up.
Fifteen minutes after she came down the stairs where he saw Michael already seated at the dining table. She walked over and sat opposite of him.
"Don't sit there." Ariana looked at him confused.
Michael frowned, "Come and sit beside me."
"Why didn't you just say that from the beginning?" Ariana rolled her eyes at him and went around the table. She finally thought of something, "Why are you here?" He raised his eyes at her, "Am I not allowed to be here? It is my house." He liked to tease her, for she looked like a little rabbit when she is gets mad.
"You know that is not what I meant." She frowned at his question. How could she think that?
He decided not to trouble her anymore. "I came back to check on you. I dealt with meetings in the morning and my schedule is cleared for the rest of the day."
Ariana did not believe that he has a cleared schedule. 'How can a man as busy as a CEO have a clear schedule'?
He seemed to had read her mind, "I completed all the major work and left the minors to Alex to complete. He had been following me for years so I know his capabilities." Michael was being honest. "Well it wouldn't be any good to have an Assistant following you around and cannot handled a portion of your workload." Ariana thought it is necessary for Alex to help out when needed.
"I want to talk to you about something." Ariana finally ready to ask the question on her mind.
"Go ahead sweetheart." Ariana blushed at the way he addressed her.
"I want be transferred back to the Marketing Department." Ariana truly did not want to be a Secretary for another day. Michael did not know about her encounters with the employees from the Secretary department. He thought she wanted to go back to the Marketing Department is to be closer to Kevin. The Financial department is the same floor as the Marketing.
Michael was angry at the thought, "How can you repay me?"
She suddenly leaned over and kiss his cheeks. Michael was flustered but as soon as she removed her lips from his cheeks, he picked her up and hurried upstairs.¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶