573 Leave Him For Elijah
âMarcel...â Arianna croaked, trying to bring back her attention to her when he pulled away.
âNot now, Arianna,â He tried to put space between them but she wouldnât let him go.
âCanât we stop fighting? Canât we talk about this, Marcel?â Arianna threw her hands in the air helplessly. She was not used to this routine of blowing hot and cold at the same time, and knowing that it was her fault didnât help things either.
âYou mean, youâre ready to tell me about Elijah?â He demanded, looking her dead in the eyes. There was no compromise on this one. If she wanted transparency between them, then she was going to take the first step.
âGod!â Arianna groaned, turning her head, annoyed, âIs that how itâs going to be, huh?â
Marcel said firmly through clenched jaw, âIt just doesnât work that way, Arianna! You donât just forget a betrayal like this one and move on as if it never happened!â
He told her with a pained expression,
âI trusted you, love. I fucking trusted you! But you had been playing me for a fool all this while. Perhaps Macy was right, I fell for your innocent face and eyes. I was the stupid one all along.â
âGod, stop this, Marcel! You are not stupid, okay!â Arianna countered his words with gestures.
.....
She then glanced up at him with tears in her eyes, âIâm so sorry for lying to you, I never meant to keep it from you, but I hate us being this way. I just didnât want you and Elijah to tear each other apart! God, I love you Marcel and I would never leave your side. However, you need to let go of Elijah. Thatâs the only way to solve all of this, â She held his hand, reminding him of the advantages, âAnd heâd return your weapons, remember, and leave us the hell alone to live our lives? â
Marcel was tempted, really tempted, to consider her offer, but then he was the leader of the Luciano family and had to do what was right.
âWhat is the assurance that Elijah would really leave us alone?â He asked her.
Arianna swallowed, âIâll make him leave. I swear on it with my life.â
He straightened up, âSo you plan to meet him and you think he doesnât have plans of his own? Do you think he wouldnât try to take you away from me? What even makes you think I would let you meet with such a dangerous man and your ex at that?â
Arianna didnât say anything, she just pressed her lips together stubbornly, while looking at him. He would never trust her. Marcel would never see her as an equal. To him, she was probably just a property worth protecting.
Marcel came closer till he was backing her into the desk once again. And he reminded her.
âThe fact that Iâm having this conversation with you amicably when I should be torturing you for his whereabouts is a betrayal on my own part. Your beloved Elijah threatened the safety of my family and itâs my responsibility as the head to bring them justice. So Iâm sorry, Arianna, but the redemption period is over for your ex-boyfriend?â He stated, making his final decision.
Marcel picked up the phone and read a message with deep concentration, before turning to announce to her, âOur guests have arrived, Arianna. I would really love it if you donât make a scene.â
But she scoffed, âSo I am the unreasonable one now, is that it, Marcel? I never took you for a sexist. Real smooth, Marcel. Real smooth.â
âYou know I didnât mean it that way,â Marcel groaned, rubbing the back of his neck. He hated this. He hated them fighting, but then, he was torn between love and duty â and duty seems to be winning.
âOf course, you donât donât mean it.â She said sarcastically, âYou know, If we are going to be fighting like this from now on, you better let me go because I canât be with someone who doesnât have forgiveness in him,â Arianna said.
There was a tick in Marcelâs jaw and it was obvious that he was having a hard time with that statement. Was she suggesting that they broke up?
No!
It was not going to happen!
Did she plan to leave him for Elijah?
He would rather die than let that happen. She was his woman and would not let that happen.
Marcel grabbed her arm, âLetâs go.â He said, without giving her a response to her request.
However, Arianna refused to make a move and that didnât sit well with Marcel.
âDonât make me carry you on my shoulder over there. We donât want to feed our guest with such a sight, donât you think so?â He breathed down her neck, the threat in his tone obvious and she shivered not out of fear, but desire.
Arianna hated her bodyâs instant reaction to Marcel. Why couldnât she just hate him for once properly without desiring him at the same time?
The attraction between them grew slowly like a small fire until it expanded exponentially like an inferno threatening to burn them alive and Marcel snapped out of it knowing if he started, there was no backing out until he finished it.
âLetâs go,â He was a lot gentler this time, placing his hand on the small of her waist and leading her out of the office.
The breakfast was held outside and that was where they headed. The food was already set up and it was almost as if they were celebrating a feast because there was too much on the table.
âYou said they are here,â Arianna sighed, taking her seat, annoyed. She has lost her interest in this breakfast and wanted nothing but to go back to her room and spend the rest of her day in misery. It didnât help matters either that Mimi left this morning with Victor to go see her parents. She was all alone now.
âThey are here,â Marcel gestured behind her and Arianna turned around reluctantly only to blanch with shock.
No way.