Chapter 81: She lied!

She meets up with Ethan. He doesn’t know what to believe. He had told her to remain indoors and yet, she sneaked out and met him in her former apartment?

What can they possibly be doing for over an hour behind closed doors. He hopes history won’t repeat itself again? Clara was unfaithful and he trusted her so much that he refused to see that her lover was always around him.

But Arianna, she’s not just his girlfriend, she’s Eli’s Mom. He has grown to love her. He hopes she won’t cheat on him and make him look like a fool for the second time.

“Arianna will be resuming back to the Hudson’s holding tomorrow. Make proper arrangements for her return” Jace announced.

Chase smiled. He gave Jace a thumbs up. “I was going to ask you to persuade her to return. There are a lot of clients on our neck for designs and none of our men were able to please them.

Our artists also were having a tough time, creating a perfect piece for the contest coming up. And these areas are Arianna’s specialty. We need to bring her back and make her work hard for the next two weeks” Chase declared.

“A contest?” Jace asked. He wasn’t aware of any contest.

“There’s going to be a contest, an international one. It’s based majorly on Designs, artists sculpture and painting. It’s in celebration of the incumbent Prime minister’s mother.

The woman loves it. And as it is, foreign investors would be around and whoever takes home the Gold medals would be an attraction for foreign investors…” Chase explained.

“Why didn’t I know about this?” Jace asked. His mind immediately drifted to the imperial group. Are they also aware of this when they decide to hire Arianna?

“My error, CEO Jace. I received the notification 48 hours ago and I should have copied it to you. Please forgive me Boss” Chase apologised.

“What companies are in?” He asked. “All our competitors are in and it seems there is a high demand for experts in designing and painting.

All our staff are not competent enough. Arianna is an expert and I am glad she’s coming in tomorrow” Chase explained.

“It then means the imperial group is also contesting, right?” Jace was not satisfied with the answer Chase gave to his curious question. He wants to link everything up.

“Yes, I heard they are first in line, ” Chase answered. He saw that Jace’s countenance became usually dark. When this fellow becomes like this, it means something is amiss.

Now, everything makes sense now. They have known and hence decided to hire Arianna. He was glad he refused her working for anyone else.

“We are on the number line?” Jace Hudson asked. He perceived foul play in this.

“Number 7” Chase replied in a solemn voice. How can Hudson’s holding be made number seven? The highest and fastest growing company in the country.

“Looks like we are not favoured. By the time they call us, the judges would have been tired and cannot judge properly”Jace voiced out.

“I think we were deliberately pushed backward. Someone is trying to make us look incapable” Chase declared.

“Get our employees ready. I will let Arianna put in her best and we have to prove our supremacy. We can’t relinquish it” Jace declared.

Sarah walked in and announced that Doctor Richard Delmark was there to see him.

“Let him in,” Jace Hudson permitted.

Few minutes later, the three men were laughing hysterically. Richard was holding hands with Jace and said “I just wanted Arianna to be happy. That’s all”

“And now that she’s happy, we are fine Altogether” Chase chimed. Richard said that’s true. And as it looks, we will be having a great time henceforth.

“When all is over, please return if you can,” Jace Hudson requested.

“If dad wins, I might not be returning so soon. I have to work side by side with him” Richard replied.

“I will be expecting you and Arianna this weekend. And you Chase, who will you be coming with?” Richard asked, staring at his friend with a megawatt smile.

“I never run out of emergency needs for a woman. You know me too well Richard” Cause replied.

“You’re a bad guy, Chase Hudson” Richard reprimanded jokingly.

That evening, Jace returned home. It wasn’t yet dark when he returned. He didn’t get in but asked the servant to tell Arianna that he’s waiting for her in the garden.

She soon joined him. It’s like a relaxation centre in the garden. Seats were arranged in a circular way under a beautiful tree that cast a shadow over the seats.

It’s an umbrella tree, very green and beautiful. Arianna hadn’t stepped into the garden before. The floor was covered with green carpet grass. Everything appeared greenish and beautiful.

It’s a beautiful, perfect place to be. It’s good for a lover’s day out and gives a feeling of romance. As she stepped in, she saw Jace seated with his legs crossed.

His gaze was on her and it was unfriendly. She feels as if she was being mirrored with his eyes. But then, she discarded the thought of it.

She came over and kissed his chin “Welcome darling” she said and sat down on the seat opposite his. “I missed you,” she added.

Jace forced a smile and said ” I missed you too” . A servant brought two glasses of coffee and left.

“How has your day been? Did you send the email to the Imperial group?” Jace asked, taking hos coffee to his lips. He took a sip and placed it down again.

“I did. But I was surprised when the CEO sent me another mail that they would triple my income. I could just try them out for a month and then, if I choose not to continue, they would be glad…” Arianna explained.

“Wow. Did you allow yourself to be convinced?” Jace asked. His eyes glaring at her as if he was looking beyond her face into her mind and heart.

“Of course not. How can I when you don’t want it? I won’t do anything to deliberately make you unhappy” Arianna replied.

“I see” Jace mumbled and sipped from his coffee again.

“And guess what, darling. Two other companies that I have applied to in the past contacted me. They want me to resume tomorrow. There is something about the urgency that I cannot explain” Arianna chimed.

Jace was not smiling. It seemed like he was unhappy. Many had made research about her and her previous achievement. He searched for her online and saw that a lot of people did the same.

“Anyway, I have told Chase about your resumption and he was glad. Tomorrow morning, you’re expected to be in the office” Jace informed.

Arianna nodded. She saw that Jace wasn’t smiling and he wasn’t looking good at all. She asked “Why are you feeling gloomy?”

“Nothing much. Just bothered about something” Jace answered flippantly and asked “How was your day? Were you bored, being alone all day?”

He wants to see if she would lie to him. If she would open up and tell him she went to her former apartment. If she confesses to him, he would listen to what she was doing with Ethan behind closed doors.

If otherwise, it implies they did something dirty. Her response would determine what his reaction would be and his willingness to believe her.

“I wasn’t bored at all. I stayed all day at home, slept and did what I love doing..”Arianna was still talking but Jace wasn’t interested anymore in what she was saying.

She lied, she lied to him!