Chapter 600: Chapter 600

600 Seeing Him In A New Light

“Chelsea?” Arianna called out, clearing her eyes with her hands and trying to make sure she was seeing right. Was she hallucinating or what?

She had to pinch her thigh to confirm that and it hurt, greatly. This was no hallucination or dream. That was Chelsea in blood and flesh.

She wasn’t the only one shocked, because Chelsea in question jumped off the jeep, staring at her closely only for her jaw to drop to the ground, “Arianna?”

“Oh my God!” Arianna squealed in excitement as Chelsea ran over to her and both women embraced each other tightly.

“When the girls said we were meeting someone called Arianna, you don’t know much I prayed It would be you. Who knew prayers were still being answered,” Chelsea celebrated, hugging her tighter.

Chelsea was no other than one of the friends she made while still at Big Joe’s turf. Arianna had lost contact with her on the day of her wrecked wedding and Arianna was highly relieved to see her again. The world was indeed a small place.

While Arianna wanted to catch up with Chelsea – she needed to know what happened to the Red Giant after she left – seven other women needed her attention as well. Hence, their reunion had to be cut short.

With the help of Lydia, Arianna was able to connect with the other six women and so far they were well behaved. If they were faking their kindness or not, Arianna had no idea, but it seems the fear of Marcel was the beginning of freedom. No one was willing to offend her in fear of incurring his wrath.

Good for them, then, she had no time for women’s drama anyway. Arianna had a lot of issues on her plate and dealing with a troublesome woman was not one of them. She had far better things to do with her time – like finding Elijah and connecting with that mother of hers, all without upsetting her relationship with Marcel. Yeah, tough luck.

.....

By the time they went back into the house, Victor had already set up a bar and they each went to get a drink. Arianna was not a huge fan of drinking, however, she had a feeling that she would need one for the night ahead.

Hence, she grabbed a cocktail, and went to Chelsea who had her own drink in hand as well, and said to her,

“It’s nice to see you, again,”

“You too,” Chelsea admitted, the both of them taking a seat and staring at the people already in a party mood. Even with the DJ slamming numbers that already had people moving to the tune of the music, there was an awkward tension between Arianna and Chelsea.

It has been a long time since the both of them saw each other and had questions for each other. They just had no idea how to ask it. Things have changed and so, have they.

“So, Marcel, huh?” Chelsea was the first to break the silence, taking a sip of her drink.

“So it seems,” Arianna breathed nervously, unconsciously tapping her foot against the floor.

Chelsea said, “At least he’s better than Big Joe or Kenith,” She turned to her for confirmation, “I heard that he treats you well, tell me it’s true.”

Arianna’s heart melted and the nervousness seeped out slowly from her body when she realized Chelsea was merely concerned about her.

“It’s true. Although he was an asshole in the past and all I wanted was to get away from him,” Arianna quickly added when she saw the way Chelsea’s face changed, “Don’t misunderstand me, he didn’t hit me or torture me or anything, but I was a captive and all I wanted was to get away from here. I was a captive in Big Joe’s hands and it was not happening again.”

“And now?” She raised a brow curiously.

Arianna shrugged, “Stuff happened, Chelsea. I fell in love with him, no, we fell in love with each other. And I know, it sounds crazy to you and you would probably conclude it’s Stockholm syndrome, but I know what I feel for Marcel and it’s not a psychological bond with my captor during captivity. I didn’t feel the same for Big Joe or Kenith. Trust me, I know what I feel. ”

Chelsea stared at her for a long time and just when Arianna thought she would argue about her feelings for Marcel, she said instead, “If you’re happy with him, who am I to interfere then?”

Arianna boomed at her, “Thank you.” a warm feeling ignited in her heart. Yes, she didn’t need Chelsea’s approval to be with Marcel, but having a familiar friend on her side was comforting.

“It’s nothing,” Chelsea said, taking another sip of her drink, “It’s your life, you live it to the fullest. And if being with Marcel would fulfill you, then you do that without looking back. Life is too short for you to go about seeking people’s validation.” She advised her.

“Duly noted.” Arianna noted and it was her time to ask, “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“What happened after Big Joe died? The fact that you are currently working for Marcel, means that you finally got out. So why still choose this kind of life? I thought you would find something better?”

“Something better like what?” She queried and Arianna frowned slightly, feeling that she might have somehow hurt her feelings unintentionally.

She swallowed down her cocktail, the alcohol shooting straight to her brains., “I honestly don’t know, but anything but prostitution, Chelsea. You have a better future now, you know.” Arianna told her.

“I’m sure that you of all people should understand that sometimes we have no control over her lives. Moreover, this is the only life I have ever known.” She told her.

“You can still change it,” She tried to convince. She was better than this.

But Chelsea merely chuckled at her, as if finding her reaction funny and unnecessary.

“You don’t have to worry, Marcel doesn’t let us do that kind of stuff. I’m not trying to praise him or something, but he doesn’t joke with his girls. He treats us better than any other person, ” Chelsea said to Arianna’s relief. She was beginning to see Marcel in a new light. There was more to Marcel than he let’s on and he was all hers.

Chelsea went on to say, “We are merely dancers. If a client wants something extra? it’s on our terms and conditions. And we take it out of his club. Those kinds of stuff attract legal trouble and Marcel likes to make gains, not losses.”