Chapter 42: Chapter 42

Author's POV

Damien had gone to Dylan's office, he needed to see you for a very important matter but on reaching there, he was told that he was in a meeting and will have to wait, it was his fault for not informing Dylan before coming yet the knowledge of that didn't stop his irritation as he walked back and fault in the visitor's hall, he glanced at his watch, he has been there for only ten minutes but it seemed like over a decade, he blew out his breath as he clenched his fist and hit them against each other, just as he turned to pace one more time, he hit someone who had just bumped into him and reflexively, he caught her just before she could fall to the ground, his eyes widened when he saw who he had caught, "you!" He and Samantha screeched at the same time, "what are you doing here" her eyes narrowed as an idea formed in her mind about what he must be doing here, "are you following me" she mouthed, acting surprised and putting on the air of an important personnel, Damien scoffed as he let go of her when she had finally found her footings, "don't flatter yourself, what made you think you're that important that I would waste my precious time following you?" She was chagrined by his words and she lifted her chin, but he put up his hand before she could utter a word, "perhaps, you bumped into me on purpose"

"What! I wouldn't do that"

"Then why did you bump into me?"

"It was obviously an accident, you donkey"

"Some accidents are planned, monkey" the nerve of this man, who does he think he is, she thought furiously, feeling like scratching his eyes out, "what? Did you just call me a monkey?"

"And did you call me a donkey earlier?"

"Arrrhhh, you're so petty, get out of here"

"What's going on here?" Dylan's voice boomed and she froze, her eyes widened, she was done for, she swallowed, thinking of an excuse, and Damien bit back a smile, turning to Dylan, ", oh! it's nothing, I have been waiting for you like forever" Dylan stared at Samantha and furrowed his brow, "you've got something to say?"

"N...no s...sir" she stuttered and mentally kicked herself, while was she being tongue-tied around him, she must sound like an idiot, she got Damien's smile and would have fired words at him if not for Dylan's presence, "let's go to my office," Dylan told Damien and they both walked away leaving Samantha, Damien looked over his shoulders, caught her eyes and winked at her, she returned it by the roll of her eyes, "what an idiot" she muttered.

Ariana's POV

I ran out of the house with my hands still covering my mouth, I almost ran into Dylan's driver, what the hell was he doing here? I ran to the side of the building and heaved uncontrollably, "ma'am, are you alright" he asked tentatively and I nodded, "tell me, why are you here?"

"S...s... sir had sent me" for some reason, I was irked at his reference to Dylan, I was so hurt right now I guess I needed someone to vent it out on, "get out" I screamed at him and watched droplets of sweat run down his cheeks, "ma'am, please, sir had asked me not to return, unless I return with you"

"Well, that is your business because I am not going back with you, get lost" I felt something hold my legs as I turned to leave, I looked down to see that it was the driver, he was already, kneeling and holding my legs to keep me from walking out on him, "ma, please, I don't want to lose my job, I still have a family to take care of" would Dylan really fire him if I do not go with him? I don't think so, "your boss just said so, he wouldn't push through with him, so go and tell him that I refused to come, he shook his head, "he'll really do it, I've known Sir fir a long time now, he'll stick to his words, please madam, I don't want to lose my job, save me" he just wasn't getting my point, what should I do to make him leave? But before I could think of a way, my attention was distracted when I heard a loud thud and a groan, it was coming from my dad's room, the driver must have heard it too because his gaze went towards the direction of the sound as he let go of me and we both sprinted to the room.

"Dad!" I screamed when I entered the room, he was lying on the floor, his stitches opened and blood was oozing out, "please save my father, do something" I begged the driver as I was very confused, I lifted his head on my lap, tears flowing from my eyes, "I won't let anything happen to you dad, y .. you'll be fine, alright"

"Let's get him to the hospital" the driver suggested, lifting him, he carried him to the car as I followed behind, in the vehicle, dad kept muttering, "you'll be fine dad"

"I shouldn't have hated you all these years, I shouldn't have blamed you, it was not your fault"

"Shhh dad, don't say anything" he coughed and blood spewed from his mouth, he ran his hands over my cheeks, "I'm sorry my baby girl, I shouldn't have hated you,"

I swiped away the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand, "stop talking dad, driver please, go faster" I felt the vehicle was moving in a slow pace, my father smiled and closed his eyes and then he was still, we soon got to the hospital and immediately, the was wheeled in, i couldn't stop crying, my father had apologized to me and God knows I hold nothing against him, now, I just want him to be okay and be a father to me, there were a lot of things I want to do with him, it suddenly crossed my mind to call up Samantha, she picked on the third ring, "father is in the hospital" I told her in a teary voice as soon as she answered the phone,"what! What have you done this time" she asked and I closed my eyes against the chill in her voice, we were still talking when the door opened and the doctor came out, he shook his head as he walked to me, "doctor, is he alright" from the look on his face, I knew something was terribly wrong but before he said, "I'm sorry, we lost him" my mind went blank, what was he saying? I shook my head, "impossible doc, we can't lose him" I screamed as I swayed, the world turning on its axis, "what is he saying?" I heard Samantha ask through the phone, I placed it back to my ears, "he said we lost dad, dad is dead" I couldn't believe it, I let the phone slowly fall from my hand and in devastation, I sat on the floor as the driver tried to console me.

Dylan's POV

The driver had called me and informed me about Ariana's dad, I clenched my teeth as I tried to ignore the pain in my heart, she must be going through a lot and I should be there with her, whether she wants me or not, God knows what she must be going through, I quickly stepped out of the office and told my secretary to cancel all of my appointment for the day, I can't let her suffer alone.

She didn't utter a sound when I got there, she was just sitting on the floor looking so lost and forlorn and my heart bled, I quickly wrapped my arms against her and held her in a hug. Big mistake, I forgot for a moment that the press were sharks, always ready to devour, Ariana doesn't need the press right now, my eyes narrowed to the direction of the flash and I inwardly gritted my teeth, I turned to the driver, "stay with her, I'll be right back" I stood up and worked towards the direction of the camera.