The Mogul's Intense Adoration

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Allen

"Here is the telephone number of Robert." Arianna immediately scrawls a number on a slip and hands me the moment I tell I would talk to Robert and settle the matter. Accepting the chit from her I foster a heart of steel. What a hapless geezer I am! I would probably be the only guy on earth who would be marrying off his wife, to another man. "You should have called him." I tell her with a forced smile. She grins from ear to ear. "Believe me, I did many times but the phone was always unreachable." Her eyes cover in a glum expression.

"Robert was very sad when he learnt about my marriage. He left the city soon after he heard the news. Even Nancy wasn't allowed to attend my wedding." I pat her shoulder in a strained a smile. "I will talk to him and make everything alright." She beams spirited that lifted the brightness in her eyes. "I know you are capable Allen and you will set things rights." Pocketing the slip I walk away from her without sparing a second glance to arrest the quaver in my heart.

*****

It has been past a month since mine and Arianna's marriage. The alarm blares and I open my eyes to the clinking of utensils. Pushing away the covers I walk in my flip flops to the kitchen and find Ari cooking. "Ari, why are you straining yourself in making the breakfast? You are a guest here and you need to take rest. Come on, give me the knife. I will make the breakfast for the both of us." I tell her like a teacher to a kid.

She pulls back her hand behind her that was holding the knife. "Allen please....I am feeling bored staying at home 24/7 without any work and don't you see I am fine with my health also." Like a primary grade student she raises her hands, jumps and does a couple of push ups to prove it to me that she was fit. I split into chortles. "Okay Ari, I give up." I seal my lips mimicking a zip lock. "I am going for a walk. Do you require anything on my way back?"

Stacy has gone on a leave after my marriage. All this while she was forced to stay at home because she had to take care of the house and cook for me as I had no time to bake meals. Now that Ari is at home, she was very happy for she could rest a few days. She went on a month long vacation to stay with her family in Ireland. No one including Stacy knows about the truth of our marriage - Arianna is going to leave me and my house after a few months. The feeling brings a pit in my stomach whenever I hark back to the thought.

I return home from walk with a box of chocolates for Ari. A sensitivity that I am never going to disclose to anyone is the urge to fight tooth and nail to win a smile on my wife's lips. "Here is a small gift for you Ari..." I place the round purple box in her hands. Her eyes sparkle in happiness as she opens the lid. "your favourite almonds and pistachio chocolates." I tell her in a gentle sussurus discerning the beautiful smile on her rims. "Thank you so much Allen.."

I take bath and return to the dining hall with my morning daily smelling something been cooked very delicious. Ari places a cup of coffee on the dining table. "Here is your double shot espresso with one spoon of sugar, one spoon of cream and your favorite breakfast." There was accomplished smile ornamenting her features.

"Wow pancakes dipped in strawberry syrup, I love them. Thank you!" I look in joy at Ari ready to devour my favorite breakfast. "I am happy that you allowed me to serve you. I do not want to be a burden to you Allen." There was a tinge of dejection projecting in her voice. "You will never be a burden to me Ari, even after you leave this place, you are always welcome at my home." I assure bringing her to a friendly embrace.

"But if you make such mouth watering breakfast everyday," I point to the pancakes set on the dining table. "I am going to get addicted to your cooking and may not be so willing to send you back to your boyfriend." I wink getting her light hearted and the tensed atmosphere relaxes in the room. "Your anecdote is creditable Allen but I know Stacy is a great cook." Ari sits beside me and puts some pancakes in her plates. "She had been taking care of you for so many years and it doesn't mean you would stay a bachelor all your life."

My mouth went dry hearing her blatant diction. She is the only one for me. I am never ever going to re marry but I won't open my wounded heart and hurt her. There was this feeling of vulnerability that pained unbearable. I finished the breakfast in haste and strided to my car in a hurry. "I will be late from work Ari, do not wait for me." I try telling her in nonchalance but the truth was if I stayed there for one more second I would end retching my feelings in front of her.

After reaching work at around twelve I find my phone ring with Ari's name flashing on the screen. My hands prick me to lift up the call. May be she needed something but I purposefully ignore it attending my patients and get home at well passed eleven. I know I was trying to ignore her but I did not have any other way to save my heart from getting punctured. The more I involve myself with Ari the greater is the damage I would suffer after she leaves.

As soon as I open the entrance door I find her resting on a sofa in a deep slumber. A Sherlock Holmes novel settled on her chest and hands in the most uncomfortable position. I lay my arms under her in an attempt to lift and take her to the bed but before I could do the needful she stirs and opens her eyes. "Sleep" I tell attempting to carry her but she stops me and rubs her eyes to get rid of sleep.

"You are late. Did you have a lot of patients to attend today?" There was concern in her tone peering into my eyes. "I promised Stacy I would ensure you had your meals on time and stayed healthy but I think I lost my word to her." She makes a cute pout. "You weren't picking up the calls and I was worried. I wanted to ensure you ate your lunch." She lays her hands on either side of my chest rubbing them slightly. "Please just a message that you had lunch. Will you from today forward?" She asks me curious giving her puppy eyes that go big with anticipation. I wanted to hug her tight and kiss her senseless but I am supposed to guard my feelings before they get out of the cocoon.

"Didn't I tell you I would be late from work today and you need not wait for me? What are you my mother, always interrogating with your senseless questions?" I spurned over knitting my eyebrows at her. "Mind your business and stay away from my matters. You are only a guest here, do not try to be holder of my house." Before I could assimilate the damage caused by my words her eyes were already welling tears.

"I am sorry." She whispers, blinks continuous to keep her tears at bay and strains to hold her voice even. "You finished your breakfast today morning in a hurry. I thought I must see, you have your dinner in leisure." Before they spill on her cheeks I wanted to run and wipe away the waters from her eyes. Instead I stand there motionless and tell her. "I will have my food after taking bath, you can leave now."

Ari nods but hesitates to walk to her bedroom. "What?" I almost shout at her. She shifts between her legs for a couple of moments. "The food might have gone cold, can I heat it so that you can have it warm. It would just take me a few seconds." Why is she making my already complicated emotions more complex? I resist her from moving holding her hand. "I am sorry." Bringing her closer I look down at her arresting her face in my hands.

"Stop me if you don't want this to happen." I tell her softly and kiss her slow and passionate.

Well, the irreparable just happened.
Is there a future to this love birds together or they will part the ways and find their happiness separately?