Chapter 4
1404 Words
Ariel's POV
"So you're trying to tell me that he can't let you spend the weekend at his place?" My sister asked, her tone etched with offense.
"No, that's not what I'm—"
"Then what are you saying? Because to me it looks like he doesn't care if something happens to you or not."
"Its not that—"
"I know about the contract our parents forced you to sign, but at the same time... I think he should be normal enough to let you stay the night and maybe come back on Monday. It's Friday for crying out loud. Plus it's late."
"You're getting it all wrong, Bella" I took a deep breath. "I want to leave. He hasn't asked me to. He brought... She is..." I couldn't find the words.
"He brought another woman?" My sister snapped. "You're trying to tell me that he brought the other woman?"
I was silent.
"He didn't wait for you to leave? That guy is a f*****g monster." I could feel the agony in my sister's voice from the other end of the phone. "You know what? Stay put. I'll enter the next flight come over there and teach him a f*****g lesson."
"No no no." I stopped her immediately. "He's not worth it. They're not worth it. I just called to let you know that I'll be coming over this night. You don't have to do anything okay? I love you."
Bella was silent for a while then she exhaled, before responding calmly, "Alright, sis. I'll be waiting for you."
The call ended and I dropped my phone gently on one of the boxes I had packed.
After I witnessed the kiss, I couldn't let myself spiral or think about things that weren't real.
So I quickly started packing my stuff, which wasn't much, and even called the movers. The movers should be here in a few hours.
Still packing, I heard a subtle knock on the door and that startled me.
A few hours ago, Matt left the building and I could swear I saw him leave with her...
Who then was knocking?
"Who is it?" I asked softly without taking a step.
The door opened gently, and Beatrice walked in with two cups of coffee in her hands.
"Thought you could use this." Beatrice smiled, "Moving is very exhausting." She handed me a cup and hesitantly, I took it from her.
I just couldn't tell why, but this act of kindness felt cruel.
"Thank you." I managed to say.
"Can I ask you something?" Beatrice sat on the bed.
I sat on the edge of my reading table, a few feet from her, "Yeah, what is it?"
"Did you love him?" She asked softly, with no trace of anger or jealousy in her tone.
"What?" I froze.
"Matt. Did you love him?" She repeated, this time her eyes meeting mine, "You must have heard us arguing..."
"I'm sorry if that was about me. He only came to—"
"He told me you were just roommates... that it was a business arrangement for his grandfather's will." She added.
"Yes, you're right." My voice sounded like a whisper.
"Well," the chestnut-haired lady gestured to the boxes in the room, "this doesn't feel like a business arrangement."
I wasn't following.
"What did Matt tell you about me?"
"That his grandfather forced him to marry someone, you, for five years. That this was transactional. That to his grandfather you were married, but between the two of you, you were just roommates. That you understood." Beatrice's eyes were searching mine. "Did you understand, Ariel?"
Did I understand? That was the perfect question...
Because I loved him every single day. I loved him through every breakfast, every polite goodnight, and every moment he held himself back from me.
I loved him knowing he'd never love me back, so maybe I didn't understand that.
"It was exactly what Matt said it was," I answered, lying to myself. The words are bitter on my tongue.
"Good." She slowly nodded. "Because I need to know there's nothing..." She stood to her feet and was about to leave then stopped like she forgot something, "Do you know he talks in his sleep?"
No... He doesn't.
"I'm not sure. We don't sleep in the same room." That wasn't the entire truth. We did sleep in the same room sometimes, although nothing ever happened, but I didn't want her to know that.
"When we stayed at the hotel, the night he came back from his business trip. He kept saying a name. Over and over." Beatrice's eyes locked on mine. "He said your name, Ariel. And when I asked him about it in the morning, he looked so confused. Like he didn't even realize." She paused.
"He said it must have been stress. That he was worried about the transition being hard on you."
The excuse was so Matt, logical, and distant.
"That sounds right," I muttered.
Beatrice studied my face for a long moment.
"You're a good liar, Ariel. Better than him." Then she reached into her pants pocket and pulled out a little business card.
"My therapist... She's wonderful. She helped me through my last breakup." Beatrice placed the card beside me. "Just in case you need someone to talk to. About... transitions."
I didn't move, I didn't look at the card, I just kept my chin up till she walked out of the room.
After Beatrice had left, I picked up the card, and at the back of the card was a write-up, which I believe was in Beatrice's handwriting ...
"He doesn't know what he wants. But you do. Choose yourself."
***
I didn't let my conversation with Beatrice ruin my day, so I continued packing up and just when I was done, I picked up my phone and called the movers.
They should have been here twenty minutes ago and it was getting pretty late.
"Hello, ma." They picked on the first dial.
"Where are you? You should have been—"
"My apologies, ma'am. But we had a bit of an accident and wouldn't be able to make it today. We apologize for—"
"No, no no... I won't take that." I snapped. "I need to be out of Chicago and in Australia this night."
"I'm sorry ma'am but—"
"You don't get it!" I shouted over the phone... "I can't stay here any longer."
"Please accept our sincere apologies. We'll be at your address by eight in the morning." The call ended and my heart sank.
My knees threatened to buckle beneath me and gently, I found my way to the bed, as I let the emotions course through me.
Then a knock came to my door along with a voice, "Ariel? Are you okay?"
Quickly, I wiped my eyes with the hem of my gown, sniffled, and forced a smile on my face as the door opened and he walked in.
"Yeah," I cleared my throat, "yeah, I'm okay."
"I heard you shouting over the phone." He kept on taking slow steps toward me. "Was that your movers? Are they still coming?"
"No..." I shook my head.
"Oh, that's bad." He rushed to my side. "But you don't have to beat yourself up about that." His hand found its way to my shoulder, and I shrugged it off.
"It's fine... I'll lodge at a hotel and in the morning, I'll come for the—"
"First, I won't let you do that and secondly, where would you even go?"
"My sister's."
"Your sister's? Bella's? Bella stays in Australia." He said with concern or something deeper written all over his face.
"Yeah," I answered.
"That's... far."
"That's the point." I shot back.
Matt nods stiffly, "Well. If you need anything. A reference for apartments, or—"
"Matt," I called him with my eyes shut.
"Yes?"
I looked him straight in the eyes, "You can stop now. You don't owe me anything anymore."
Matt's face did something strange like he'd been slapped.
"Right, of course." He turned to leave, then stopped in his tracks. "What time are they coming tomorrow? The movers?"
"Probably eight in the morning."
"That's alright. I'll make breakfast. One last time." He said it like a question.
I should say no, but instead I nodded, and just then, relief spread through his face and the sight of that was devastating.
- Writer
