A different person

I walked in and the smell of great food wafted through my nostrils making my stomach rumble. This place always had this effect on me.

"Well, well, well. Look who we have here, if it isn't little Miss Ariana." I heard Sabrina's taunting tone behind me and I halted. I shut my eyes and cursed my ill luck. I turned around slowly and met with her pretty evil face.

"Hi Miss Sabrina." I gave an awkward wave with a fake smile.

"Where have you been?"

She jutted her chin and narrowed her eyes at me, a posture that spelt trouble.

"Ariana Delaney! I am talking to you."

Oops. I sort of zoned out while she throwing a fit.

"Uhmm it's a long story Sabrina."

"I'd like to hear it."

"Ariana?!"

That was Nolan. I spun around and locked eyes with him.

"Nolan." I called out, relieved that he was there.

He took off his Apron, wiped his hands and came to my side.

"Bebita, where have you been?"

"I uhmm, Nolan I need to talk to you, I..." I was finally going to explain myself.

"What's going on here?" A new voice came through from behind me, one that sounded oddly familiar.

"Sir," Sabrina switched up from her fierce demeanor and soon started acting flirty.

I spun around and almost had a heart attack when I saw Damien behind me.

"She's an irresponsible employee and I was just firing her sir," Sabrina reported like a petulant child pointing at me in an accusing me.

In all honesty, I was tongue tied. I stared at Nolan confusedly just as he thanked Damien for the raise in his salary. Damien gave a nod in response.

"Wait, you own this place?" I narrowed my eyes while pointing at him. He didn't say anything, he did not even bat an eyelid in reaction to my query

"You know him?" Sabrina sneered.

Nolan just stared at me both worried and confused at the same time.

I was so overwhelmed, it felt like the earth was spinning.

"I think it's about time you left Ariana Delaney." Sabrina ordered, beckoning on security.

"Sabrina?" Damien finally spoke up.

"Yes sir." She answered meekly.

"She's not going anywhere."

"But sir she's disrupting..." Sabrina protested.

Damien gave his signature hard glare that shut her up immediately.

I felt him come close. He wrapped his arms around my waist, I slightly shivered at the contact.

"Ariana is my wife to be. Show them your ring honey." Damien sounded so petty.

I almost laughed at Sabrina's expression but I couldn't look up at Nolan, I didn't know how he would take it. The gasps of surprise came in from both the staff and guests present.

Slowly I raised my ring with shaky fingers and the snap sounds from different phones filled the air. This was going to be on all media platforms again, a confirmation was just what they needed and Damien had given them just what they wanted.

Nolan marched out angrily and I really wanted to run after him but I couldn't. Damien would have my head on a plate if I tried something stupid that would tamper with his reputation. I was bound by him literally and otherwise.

I spun around quickly and hid my face in Damien's chest while he ushered us out of the chaotic place. His guards soon appeared and stopped the people from taking pictures and videos and that was when I burst into tears.

I ran outside, only to be met by the blinding lights of the paparazzi. Someone must have tipped them off.

Not again!

I froze on the spot until Damien came and took my hand tenderly and for the first I saw worry in his eyes.

This was just the beginning.