D*mn it, Maria!

6◕⩊◕ Ari Revealed

Few more days passed and Maria still attended school. Caleb's plan to expel her hadn't succeeded. Fed up with her calling 'Mon-Mon' at every opportunity, he finally hired a private investigator. If he couldn't find her weakness inside the school, he would look beyond it. Then, it's game over.

Just after he arrived home from the meeting, Frederick brought him the news. "Your father is waiting for your call, Sir."

"Directly?"

"Yes. No need to call the secretary."

He went up to his room. It was one of those moments his father wanted to talk to him without the nosy Teo. It meant something important.

"Good evening, Sir," he greeted.

[I won't be home this weekend] His father said without greeting back. [Something came up over at the European branches.]

"Noted."

[Same with William. The dinner is moved. However, you and Ari will meet this weekend. She's already been in the Philippines for some time. Be sure to impress her. This engagement is very important.]

"I understand."

[Good. Teo will call you for the details.]

The call ended, but he remained seated, staring at the screen. The time had come. He's going to marry someone he didn't even know. When he searched for William Ong's daughter online, no picture came up.

There was a rumor of a daughter out of wedlock and another adopted child, but that's just it. She could be a sheltered girl or some wild spoiled brat, but he didn't care. She would be his first stepping stone in conquering the world.

Caleb went to school earlier than scheduled on Friday. He was waiting for the elevator when a tap made him turn, only to see Maria's excited face. "Hi, classmate."

"What do you want?" he asked. The elevator was unusually slow today of all days.

"Are you excited?"

"For what?"

She stood on her tiptoes and stretched Caleb's cheeks for a smile. "That should do it." She nodded in satisfaction and walked up the stairs.

Left alone, his gaze followed her until she was gone. Then his face returned to a frown. "That little shit," he whispered.

"You said something?"

He almost screamed. Tamara's pale face was so close to him, the dark circles under her eyes more dominant than ever.

"Your teeth are black," he said. He stepped backward, his body angled away from her.

"Ah, sorry." She closed her mouth, her tongue doing magic to clean it. "I ate grilled squid this morning. It must be the ink."

Who the hell eats grilled squid in the morning? Caleb wanted to ask. And who grills squid without cleaning it first?

"You got bad luck." Her ominous grin made him queasy. "A big one."

The elevator dinged and he flinched in a second surprise. He quickly entered after two schoolmates exited it.

Tamara was giggling until the doors closed. If only he could scream abuse to all the weirdoes in school, but such barbaric manners could be seen on the CCTV.

In the classroom, only three people were earlier than him. Maria and Lord's conversation revolved around good sightseeing places in the city.

He caught the third person, Shalla, throwing frustrated glares toward the two. Caleb didn't care about them. He even ignored Maria's second greeting and went straight to his seat.