Little lie

Chapter5

I took a deep breath before I rang the doorbell of the Gray house. Their house-mansion, I mean. The house is coated in expensive white paint. There are random trees and flowers around, making the place seem less intimidating and comfortable. I took another deep breath.

After rejecting Mr. Arion Gray’s offer, here I am, standing in a blue dress and black heels-the clothes that he bought-right in front of his house, ready to meet his mother.

The whole thing sounds funny to me. Who ever thought I would ever get married? Well, given the surrounding circumstances, it isn’t a real marriage. My conscience is pricking the back of my head, but I got rid of her long ago. Sometimes, she awakens in my dreams and blesses me with sleepless nights.

I push the thought away when I hear someone walk towards the door. The locks turn and soon, the door is wide open.

A man in a white shirt and dark pants smiled at me. He has a tiny bow tie on his chest and his hair is slick with gel.

“How may I help you?” he asks sweetly.

“I-I’m Daniella Rosour. I was asked to come here. Mr. Arion Gray asked me to come.

I mentally slapped my forehead when I realized that my statement made no sense. If the man is already criticizing me in his head, he doesn’t show it. The smile was still plastered on his face.

“I’m Dane. One of the butlers here. And according to Mr. Arion, you were supposed to come here tomorrow.

I close my eyes and curse Arion with every fiber in me. The thing is, we haven’t even talked about all this. I didn’t even tell him that I'd accepted or gone through the contract. I hate the fact that I’m doing all this for money. But the amount that he’s going to pay me in a month is enough to secure my future for five years. That’s all the money I need to protect myself.

I can already imagine the smirk on his face when Dane tells him I’m around.

Well, you can tell him I’m around. It’s Saturday, right? Is he home?”

Dane nods. The master is home. Please hold on a bit.

I plaster a fake smile on my face too. I nod and practically hop from foot to foot as I wait for Dane to return. The door opens once more.

Sorry for the inconvenience, ma’am. You may come in.

I nodded, clutching at my handbag before following Dane inside. I brace myself for one of the worst things. I stop breathing as I walk in, appreciating every inch of the walls and every piece of furniture. Almost everything is antique and obviously expensive.

I stand at the center of the living room, directly under the huge glass chandelier that is emitting a low gold light. I’m brought to my senses by the loud clicking of heels on the staircase. I look in the direction of where the noise is coming from.

I took notice of the beautiful coming down from the stairs. There was a small smile on her lips. But then it looks like her lips are always like that. She’s putting on a white turtleneck blouse and a white flared satin skirt, complimenting her white heels. Her dark hair is tied in a ponytail. The edges are straight, and I’m wondering how many hours it took her to comb them like that.

“Hello, my dear,” she says, approaching me with her hands outstretched. Her voice is tiny, smooth, and beautiful.

“Hello, ma’am,” I said, reciprocating the gesture by hugging her and kissing the air beside her twice on each side. She nods in approval as I inhale her flowery perfume. The internet got all the etiquette right.

“What’s your name?” she asks, as she sits down.

“Danielle Rosour,” I told her. “May I sit?”

“Sure,” she says, gesturing for me to sit. “Such good manners.”

Dane brings both of us drinks. I don’t bother to look at it even if my throat is completely dry.

“Arion has been telling me so much about you,” she says, beaming as she mentions her son’s name.

“Hope all he has said is good things, though.”

“Yes. He told me how both of you met each other on the trip to the Bahamas.

I almost cough at the revelation of the lie he told his mom. Why is he taking steps without even letting me in on them?

I give her a nervous laugh. I know mothers. She would probably think I was just nervous about meeting my “Boyfriend’s” mom. My nails are digging into my knee, through my dress.

“Is Arion around?” I asked her and she smiled again.

“He is. He just had this Zoom meeting. He’ll be down pretty soon.

He had better get down as soon as possible. I feel so hot on the inside even if the air conditioners are blasting my face.

So before Arion comes down here, why don’t I ask you a few questions? Just to know how much you know my son.”

“It's fine,” I said, licking my lips and ignoring the pounding in my chest.

“What is Arion’s favorite food?”

“Black coffee and sandwich,” I said without thinking twice. She nods in approval.

“His favorite color?”

“He never wears anything except black,” I say and she laughs. A real laugh.

“You know him so well.”

I nodded quickly, taking a deep breath, hoping she wouldn’t notice. So there are a few things you are supposed to know. At least before you get married to Arion.

“What kind of things?”

She takes a deep breath, takes a sip of her wine again.

Arion doesn’t have a dad. He died in an accident. Something I hate thinking about. Arion still lacks that warm love. Forget how strong he might look.

“What was his father’s name?”

“Dajendro Gray,” she says and my breath seizes.