Chapter 44: Chapter 44
Angelica
“Can you call Allesandro? I need to leave as soon as possible.” I tell Augustus impassively. “You are hungry, tired and exhausted. Have dinner and go home.” His voice went as soft as a beautiful melody. “I wouldn’t wish to consume even a morsel of grain from your house and regarding tiredness and exhaustion I can take rest after going home.” I tell him gritting my teeth in annoyance. Why is he becoming so difficult...As though he loves and cares for me? It hardly took him a few months to forget everything that went on between us and start banging another woman.
Taking steps closer he stands a few feet away with his hands dipped in his pant pockets. What an arrogant sexy specimen....I take a deep breath beseeching my soul that I shouldn’t succumb to those irresistible carnal instincts while my body was begging me for a speck of his caress even if it may last only for a millionth of a second. Sighing deeply Augustus looks at me in languor. “Angelica you are not any more the eleven year old girl jumping in little puddles of water with mischief ridden in those beautiful blue optics.” He points to my eyes with his and lectures me like I was a child who got caught with her hands in the cookie jar. “You are a mother of a nine year old son and I expect you to behave matured because Sandro would definitely not like his parents fight like cats and dogs for simple issues.”
I face Augustus squarely with every cell in my body fuming in acidulation. How dare he orate, me the ways to behave in front of a child? Principally I am the only parent of Sandro who raised him since his birth. “I am no where wrong in what I am doing and I don’t have to listen to your stupid monologues. I tell him firmly. He gives out no emotion but tones his words inelastic. “Then let me be clear in my words too. I am not going to let you leave this place on an empty stomach.”
Crossing my arms across my chest I look at him with narrowed eyes obviously annoyed by his intractable behaviour. “Oh! Then what are you going to do?” I ask him challenging. One thing I erstwhile scaled about Augustus Martin is that he is an arrogant controlling mutant but very prudent in veiling his emotions in front of people. “If you want a drama in front of children then I am not going to shirk on it.” For a while there goes a staring contest between us with my eyes exploding like wild tornadoes while his remained deadpan.
There was no zeal in dealing with an arrogant weirdo. Looking at him in disapproval I go to one of the dining room chairs and sit. A slight smile plays on his lips but he was quick enough to conceal it behind that stony semblance. “Mary, call the children to have dinner.” His voice comes out enthusiastic. Within seconds the table was set with mouth watering cuisine of Italian white sauce pasta, chicken fried steak, tater tots, cob salad and for sweetening the tooth were Banana split and corn bread.
“Do you like the menu? I specially got it prepared listing your favourite dishes to the chefs.” He quietly tells me while personally serving the dishes in my plate. Giving him my nastiest flare I start digging out the food as my stomach growls and my mouth turned watery. Augustus was sitting opposite to me but his eyes were all through stationed on what I ate. Sometimes he was making casual talk with children discussing their studies and homework but no sooner will my plate be empty, he would instantly refill it.
My stomach goes crammed with overfeeding. “I can’t eat anymore, my belly hurts.” I say holding my brook. A faint smile occupies his features. He comes closer standing beside my chair and pulls my cheek in a cipher.
Getting up from the chair was a herculean task as my leg goes cramped. “Mom always has her left leg jammed whenever it is excessively cold because it is just a fixture of rods and bolts.” Sandro announces casually to everyone licking his fingers that were dripping with Italian sauce. “Kiddo, can you help mama please?” I stretch my hand asking my son to help me in my walk. He was instantaneously beside me aiding me to the sink in washing my hands.
As I come back from the kitchen, Augustus joins me mid-way. “Should I assist you in your walk?” He asks me inscrutable wiping his hands to a hand towel but I could see his knuckles going pale holding the napkin like it was some atrocious human that needs to be chastised straight away. Why is he suddenly so angry and disturbed? This man is unpredictable.
“It is past ten and is not safe for you to drive alone at this hour. He tells me with interdiction but before I could confute I was battered to a series of sneezes. “Fuck” he curses under his breath this time clearly showing his malaise. The next moment I found myself being lifted in his arms and carried to a dimly lit bedroom. The colours of grey and white dominated the entire theme and I could smell his perfume everywhere. Probably this is the master bedroom. But why is he bringing me into their (couples) bedroom? “You need to change or else you are going to catch cold. In front is the walk-in- closet filled with your dresses. Be free to change and no one is going to disturb you.” He tells me in aegis holding my face with his warm hands and kisses my forehead.
“What do you mean? How can my clothes be in your....” My sentence trails off as he shuts the door softly after his exit. I was pulsing high. My heart hammered against my chest. What the hell happened? My fingers tremble touching ‘the place he kissed’ on my forehead. He isn’t supposed to kiss me like that. After recollecting myself from the dazzling instance, I switch on the lights and meet with a king size bed covered in cream coloured linens at the centre of the room. My eyes scroll around the palatial room in admiration but abruptly stop fixed at a picture which clashes me to the shock of the world.
Few steps of walking around the corridor I could hear the cheerful laughter of children. Locating the sound I stand at the entrance seeing Augustus lying down between the kids with a story book in his hands. His legs were crossed at the ankles and he was smiling blithely at something spoken by our son. “Daddy, will Bear Lenovo die in saving Bear Akira? Abby asks her dad with doleful eyes. “Augustus pulls the cheeks of Abby. “Princess do you think Lenovo is going to lose his life in saving Akira? He is a smart boy. He protects Akira from the bad witch and also saves himself.”
As the story proceeds I was lost in my thoughts, a happy family of a son and daughter with a caring husband was all I imagined all my life since the time I fell in love with Augustus. “I will be there with you in a minute.” Augustus replies in a whisper noticing me at the entrance. Children were already asleep. He gets up from the bed cautiously kissing both their heads and exits the room closing the door with a soft lock.
“What is our wedding picture doing in your bedroom?” I ask him bluntly ones he is out of the kid’s bedroom. “because it is my bedroom.” He answers me directly. I wasn’t able to understand anything as I look at him spot blank expecting answers. “Veronica and I do not carry any physical relationship and Abigail is not my daughter.”