Chapter 33

Aria

I was sitting in Holly's living room on the phone with Josh. I needed my house to be rebuilt. I know Holly didn't mind me being here bit ,I needed my own space.Josh said Cross gave them some time off to help me. The resort wasn't on a time schedule.so they could take other projects in between . we agreed on a specific time for the rebuilding. He would forward the material list and cost of everything and I would get everything done.

He said he would hire some More guys so if possible the work would speed up. I thanked him and assured him the money wasn't a problem, that he could go ahead, I wanted it the same way it was before and I needed a security fence. After we decided ,we came to the decision that they would start next Monday .I ended the call and sat there.
I knew Holly wanted to say something but she wouldn't. I looked at her.

“ I love him Holly,I really do , but this thing with Catherine. She's insane and an insane person can and will go to any length to get what they want. Anthony isn't a problem for me , Lacy isn't either, neither is Jason. So now it leaves me to Wonder if it really is Anthony that had been doing this to me or Lacy”.

“ I'm sure Tyler will pop up and Jason will deal with him, so I don't have to worry about him. If Jason won't help Catherine she'll get help from someone else, she has money and that alone makes her dangerous. Tyler Benson also. I just want my normal life back Holly ”. She came over and sat next to me hugging me.

“ It's going to be okay. I'm right here with you, but please just. Don't file for a divorce as yet please ” , she said hesitantly, looking at me.

“ Did you promise him something?”.

“ No. I … please Ari. For the short time you were with him , You were happier than you ever was with Anthony please hold off for now “.

“ Okay. I'll hold off until my house is finished”.

“ Thank you “.

We called it an early night, however,sleep didn't come. I found myself crying in the early hours of the morning. I missed him but we couldn't be together. During breakfast Holly kept looking at me. My eyes were red and swollen. I gave her a check for materials for the cafe and she left. I couldn't go to town because I didn't know when and where I would run into the senator and his wife.


I opened my laptop and Checked some emails. I remembered to pay Mya and Grace,it was already Saturday. Mya and Grace haven't complained a single time even after everything that has happened they've all been sticking besides me and Holly. I texted them to let them know they're salary has been deposited with a hefty bonus because I was grateful for them.


I worked throughout the morning. I wanted to text him but I didn't. It was after lunch when I heard the doorbell. After everything that has been happening to me , I became cautious. I walked over to the side window and peeked out. Jason was standing there.

“ Come on ,Aria. you don't want people seeing me out here do you?”.

I walked over to the door and opened it. He just walked in.

“ We need to talk”.

I nodded and closed the door. I led him into Holly's living room. He took a seat and looked at me.

“ Your mother-in-law says you own a company?”.

“ She won't be for long. Yes I Own a software developing company along with my friend “.

“ What's the name of the company?”.

“ Umm , Onyx Software and Development” I answered quietly.

“ Excuse me ?”. He sat forward looking at me.

“ Onyx has done work for my company. So you and your friend are both Millionaires?”.

“ Yes. And with the way times are changing we'll Both be heading into our billions by the end of this year”.

“ God Damn. I guess , that's one good thing that comes from us having the same father is that we're brilliant and the Cafe?”.

“ That was my mother,our source of income for as long as I could remember. I spent my entire teenage years there, so did everyone in Payson. Holly and I left for College in Phoenix . I stayed there for years, visiting every weekend. She didn't need to keep the Cafe anymore but she wanted to do so I let her”.

“ And when she passed away, you kept it?”.

“ Yes “.

“ The Ex boyfriend of yours?”.

“ Anthony Mayers, He is not a problem”, I Said quietly.

“ Yeah ,you don't get to decide if he's a problem or not. I found out everything that has been happening since Cross came here “.

“ Don't mention him. I have nothing to do with him”. For some reason I didn't want to talk about Caleb.

“ Really. Well when I left his house he was leaving for the office and he looked like shit. Looked like he didn't sleep all night. So you want to divorce him?”.

I looked at him. How does he know about that?. He kept looking at me and I could almost see the thoughts behind his eyes.

“ Look. Catherine, Tyler, I don't know. Anthony and Lacy I do know and I don't think Either of them would go that far especially burning my house and cafe down. As for Caleb it's too complicated being with him. I want my quiet and simple life back “.

“ I see “.

“ How Did you find me here?”.

“ I asked Holly. I already spoke to Caleb's parents and got the story from them. Now I need to speak to Mrs Gertrude Winston and the police Chief to get a more detailed story so I can set this matter straight and end it”.

“ Okay. Gertrude is probably at the Cafe and Chief Matthews is at the police station”.

He stood up and looked out the window.

“ I'll head back into town now and speak to them. You're not getting a divorce “.

“ You don't have a say in my life choices”. I Said standing up.

“ Yes I do. I'll make sure that divorce papers are never filed, Cross will make sure it's never filed. Everyone that knows this secret will make sure it doesn't happen. So relax for the time being and stay away from each other. He'll Deal with Catherine and I'll deal with Benson “.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. First Holly and now him.

“ Trust me , it's for your own good Aria. Don't divorce Cross. I'll speak to you soon”. He said walking out the living room and through the front door. Did he think he had any right to say what I can or cannot do? The only thing I wanted to do right now was file for divorce and show them that I could.

The only hiccup I. My plan was I would need to go to town to do that and I couldn't because our father and his wife were here. God that sounded weird. Our father, I've never needed or wanted a father in my entire life,I didn't need one now. I continued working, putting the conversation we had out of my mind.

It was close to one when I heard the front door. I figured it was Jason again ,I walked over to her door and opened it , However no one was there. I heard knocking on the back door. I turned around looking Down the hallway. I closed the front door,and locked it. Someone was still knocking on the back door. I walked down the hallway. Halfway through the house to the back door,the knocking stopped and started at the front door again.

Someone was messing with me . I walked back into the living room and grabbed my phone. I didn't know Why but I called him ,and he answered immediately.

“ There's someone here”.

“ What ?”.

Now the knocking was coming from both doors.

“ I'm at Holly's House. Someone is knocking on both doors. I'm scared “.

“ Go and Lock yourself in the room. I'll call Nathan and Jason. Hurry up”.

I saw the shadows moving by the windows and doors. I heard a glass smash and I ran directly to the room.

“ There's more than One of them Caleb “.

“ Shit , Hide”.