𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝙻𝚒𝚏𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 ✓ (𝟷𝟾+)

The Leap of Faith

Arin

I stood in front of Roger's mansion door. When help opened the door, her eyes widened and jaws unhinged. Needless to say, they knew who I was. Their baffled expressions might be because even though engaged, this was the first time I was stepping into Roger's place.

Placing a hand on my lower back, Roger gestured me inside. I followed the path where his hand directed. His lowered voice dictated something to the help. I was spellbound by the length and width of the place to hear him. Till today, I thought Oswald mansion was big, but I was wrong. This was bigger, better.

Unlike our place, it didn't have huge chandeliers hanging overhead, always having me worried for a day when a quake might bring it down. Roger's place was minimalistic. It was painted in cream and the beige and beige colored furniture matched the surroundings. Dark mahogany tables with a transparent glass vase filled with white lilies provided the contrast to the otherwise lighter surroundings.

I walked as directed. The pretense to be a loving, understanding fiancé was portrayed well. I would end this play only if the allegations stated by Brandon were true. 'Innocent until proven guilty' revolved inside my mind.

Roger opened the door at the far end of the hallway. He stood straight, holding it open for me to walk in. I witnessed his surprise when I supported him against Brandon's allegations. He spoke nothing about it on our way.

Standing inside his room, I saw the reflection of his personality.

Nearly arranged work table at the far end near the window, another entrance to his bedroom and a place to meet people. All were in black and white. There was no other color. Clearing his throat, Roger broke the silence.

"I will understand if you don't want to continue this contract after what Brandon told you."

I turned to watch his expression. Was he guilty? There was no remorse on his face. "Did you do it?" As straightforward as I could be, this question begged to be asked.

He placed his coat on the back of his study chair and walked back to me. Lifting my hand in his, he ran the pad of his thumb over my knuckles. We were at another staring contest but this time, something changed. I wasn't scared to look into his eyes. I wasn't intimidated. Ready to confront, all my inhibition melted away.

His hoarse voice asked, "What do you think, Arin?"

As much as I liked playing, the moment begged for a straight answer. "Tell me. I don't want to guess."

Coiling his arm around my waist, he pulled me closer. His warm breath caressed my face. I inhaled deep and exhaled slow. No time to be nervous. No time to think of him as someone who could induce cardiac arrest in me. It was time to get some answers. I chanted in my mind, ordering my brain not to shut down midway. We were glued together by his hand's force from behind. Seeing no struggle from me, he scanned my face.

"I want you to guess, Babydoll."

A man, who would be guilty wouldn't play around. He would definitely not be calling me that, knowing how enraged I would be if his answer was a yes.

I replied with another doubt, "Why did Brandon say it then?" It seemed like Roger got the answer he was looking for. My counter-question was an affirmation of my belief in him.

Falling back on the couch, he narrated the whole incident about Stella's betrayal and her false allegation. My insides burned in rage. If Stella was present anywhere close to me, she would have been punctured. Hell, she would be murdered by me. How dare that privileged piece of human garbage assumed it was fine to make up an allegation to ruin a man's life. A rape charge against a man who once loved her.