Page 66 of Conflagration
“Oh, I’m sorry. He’s out of town and won’t be back until next week. Surely you know that?” she asks, and I know she’s fishing for information.
“Samantha, I’m not sure what he’s been telling everyone, but the wedding hasn’t been postponed. It’s canceled. Not happening. I haven’t spoken to him in weeks.”
Her mouth forms an ‘O’ and I have to suppress my grin.
“I just need to leave him something. Do you mind letting me in?”
She nods silently, unlocking his office door. “Just for a minute, Ms. Covington.”
“Thank you, Samantha.” I smile warmly then slip into his office, knowing she’s just biding her time so she can start the office gossip. I should feel bad that he’s going to hear about this secondhand, but he should’ve listened to me the first time I told him it was over. Instead of feeling guilty, I start myDear Benletter, more than relieved to place it, and the ring, inside his drawer.
A few minutes later, I exit his office, grinning when I catch Samantha whispering on the phone, not even bothering to stop to talk. Relief flows through me as I step onto the elevator, and even though I wish I could’ve confronted him face to face, just knowing that I no longer possess the ring and it’s out that the wedding is off is a huge weight off my shoulders.
One down. Two to go.
Instead of wasting my time going to my father’s office, I make a call and his secretary informs me that he’s out for the day. I call Victoria, hoping they’re together, but I get no answer. Glancing at my phone, I see that I have hours before I’m supposed to meet Branson, so I hail a cab and head back to my condo for one last walkthrough to make sure I’m not forgetting anything.
As the cab pulls up to my building, I smile when I see Branson’s dad’s truck parked out front. He must’ve finished business early. I practically float through the building, ready to enjoy the rest of my afternoon with him. Opening my door, I call out a greeting.
“Hey, babe. Finish up early? Maybe we can get in a quick one before—”
I’m cut off when I walk down the hall and step into the living room, stopping in my tracks when I see Branson, looking extremely sexy in a pair of casual, low-fitting jeans, a tight T-shirt, and no shoes—my favorite look on him. He’s leaning against the wall with a scowl on his face. That scowl is directed not towards me, but to my parents, who are looking equally as irritated, sitting on my couch.
“What the hell?”
Branson’s expression softens when he sees me, and he crosses the room, placing a kiss on my temple. “Hey, baby. Yeah, my meetings wrapped up early and I thought I’d come see if you needed any last-minute help before we leave tomorrow. I let myself in, and they arrived shortly after.”
Turning into his arms for a quick moment, I lean my forehead against chest and let out a loud groan. “Sorry. I tried to get ahold of them and couldn’t. I had no idea they’d just show up.”
He lifts my chin and smiles down at me. “No worries, babe. They got here just before you. I haven’t said a word.”
A throat clears behind us, and I turn to see my father rising from the couch. “Ariana, it’s about time you return home. Who in the hell is this man, and why did he have a key to your condo?” he demands, causing Branson to step forward.
I place my hand on his arm, stopping him, giving him a slight shake of my head. “Well, since you’re here, I might as well get over with. Branson, these are my parents, William and Victoria Covington.” Holding my hand up, I turn towards them. “This is Branson, my fiancé.”
ARIANA’S MOTHER gasps at her declaration, and I myself am slightly taken aback, not having expected her to tell them about us. At least not about the whole engagement thing. Suddenly, the realization that she really, truly is my fiancée dawns on me. For the first time since I told her that I love her, she’s used the term, and part of me wishes I could whisk her away from her parents, lock her in her room where I can ask her to properly marry me—for real this time—then make love to her for the rest of the afternoon.
“Excuse me?” a gruff voice bellows, pulling me out of my thoughts. Her father steps towards us.
Ari holds her hand up, stopping him then gesturing to the couch. “Sit. Please. And I’ll explain everything that’s happened since I left.”
“Do not tell me to sit, young lady. You have some serious explaining to do, starting with who the hell this man is.” His tone is commanding, and I have to ball my fists at my side to keep from decking him.
I don’t give a shit who he thinks he is. But for Ariana’s sake, I keep my composure, allowing her to take the lead on this one.
She stiffens and straightens her shoulders, looking at him directly. “You will sit and hear me out or you will leave. It’s your choice.”
His jaw tenses, and I think he’s about to head for the door when his wife calls his name.
“William, calm down. It’s not good for your blood pressure to get riled up. Now, I haven’t seen our daughter in nearly six weeks, and I’d like to hear what she has to say for herself.” Her voice is cool and uncaring, her eyes flicking back and forth between Ariana and me.
With a huff, her husband sits beside her, and they both look at their daughter expectantly.
She looks over and gives me a soft smile, nodding for me to sit as well, but instead, I take up residence against the wall opposite the couch, ready to have her back if need be.
“First of all, I’m sorry for the way I left,” she begins. I raise an eyebrow, but she ignores me. “However, I’m not sorry for leaving or for staying away. I realized I never should’ve agreed to marry Benjamin. I don’t love him. I never loved him, and I never will. I’m not going to sit here and explain myself, because I can see on your faces that anything I say is going to fall on deaf ears.”
Her mother huffs, but Ari ignores her and goes on.
