Forced to Love

Chapter 8

She never looks away from me but starts using that knife to cut the vegetables and I can't help but feel relieved that she won't be using that knife to do something to me.

I explain everything but she stills sides with Aria. Which is not surprising but I know she feels bad for me because she knows how much that little house means to me. She is the only one that knows the meaning behind it.

"You better apologize to her tomorrow and don't let this kind of situation happen again. She's been through enough and she doesn't need this on top of that" Mari says making me confused. What does she mean she's been through enough?

Mari must've seen my confused state so she speaks up again. "It's not my place to tell you".

And I understand that. I won't be glad to hear Mari told her something super personal about me if I wasn't aware of it so I respect she doesn't want to tell me about her. But I can't ask Aria. I'm sure she won't let me in or let me get to know her after how I treated her. And I deserve that.

Mari's words go through my head once again and only now I register that she said I can talk to Aria tomorrow. "Where is she now?" I ask and Mari turns around to check on something that's on the stove. "She is with Lindsey. They went shopping for your celebration party" she answers and I just nod my head.

I was surprised when she actually agreed to go with me. I mean I wouldn't ask her to come and be around all those people, but those people know we are married and it would raise suspicion if we didn't show up together.

"Dinner will be ready soon" Mari pulls me from my thoughts and I just nod again. I would lie if I say I didn't miss Aria's food. She is a great cook and I'm a great asshole for being so mean that night when she first made dinner for us. It was so delicious and painful to lie and stop eating just because I wouldn't let my guard down and so I could feed my ego. And that day when they tricked me and told me she made that lunch only after I ate half of the plate already made me feel so embarrassed and speechless, but at the same time, I'm glad I was caught because now I can enjoy her food without me pretending I don't like it and making a fool out of myself.

"Okay. I'll be in my office till then" I inform her and go to do some work so I won't be so busy tomorrow.

...

"Come on man. We should go out and relax a little and from the way you look, I don't think we'll get any job done for today" Lucas tries to convince me to go with him to a bar tonight. I am exhausted from last light. After dinner I stayed in my office, burying myself in work just to get my mind of her and that awful feeling of guilt. And today I had to get to my company early so I didn't get the chance to apologize to her yet. That's why I look the way I do. Like someone ran me over with a truck.

"Lucas..." I close my eyes, leaning back in my chair and taking a rest for a while. "Please, Lorenzo. Just one drink I promise" he begs with puppy eyes that kids would usually do to get what they want. And somehow I cave in.

"Ugh fine" I groan but he does a little happy dance that makes me shake my head.

I grab my suit jacket and he does the same before we leave the company and get in the car to get to the bar.

I almost wince at the loud music and the stuffed air that filled this bar. I was never a fan of these places, not even when I was young. Not that I am old now, I'm 27 but still, I never found what is so fun about this.

God, I sound like a grandpa.

"Will you stop frowning and enjoy a little" Lucas speaks as he places our drinks on the little table we are occupying. I just give him a look and drink the whiskey he ordered us in one go. "Woah there buddy. I'm going to get you another one" he stands up but I pull him back instantly. "No, it's enough for me" I shake my head but his eyes widen. "No it's not" he quickly lets out and scurries away before I can stop him.

I sigh and look around, noticing some people from my company here as well. Lucas comes back with a tray in his hands and I raise my eyebrows at him. "Did you quit your job and start working here without telling me" I joke and he shakes his head at me. "Haha very funny. I just figured it's better to do it like this so I don't have to go back and forth every other minute" he explains and sits down.

There are ten glasses of whiskey on that tray. "Oh come on man, loosen up" he hits me in the shoulder and takes another glass. I sigh and do the same. There is no way I'm escaping this now.

"Hi, handsome" some woman joins us at the table and stares at me. I look over at Lucas who chuckles and then back at her. "Sorry, I'm taken," I say surprising her and even me. I mean theoretically, I am taken even though what Aria and I have is fake, but I still made a contract where I promised I won't be seeing any women until the contract is over.

But still, I don't why it felt good to say I'm taken and that with Aria on my mind. Ugh, what is happening to me? "Ohh...is it serious though?" she dares to ask. I look over at Lucas and see that he is shocked by her words as much as I am. I look back at her again and wave my hand where my wedding ring is. Her eyes widen and she clears her throat. "Well okay then..." she awkwardly says before she leaves.

"Well...that was something" Lucas chuckles and I just take another glass of whiskey, losing count of how much I drank already. He smirks at me but still worries even though he invited me here for this specific reason. "Take it slow buddy" he pats my back but someone joins us again.

"Hey...wanna dance?" another girl speaks while she leans over our table but looks over at Lucas. He quickly downs his drink before standing up. "See you later buddy" he slaps my back leaving me here alone. I can't believe him.

I hold my half-empty glass and spin it in my hand when someone joins me at the table. Ugh, not again. Can people just leave me alone? For fuck's sake.

"Hey, boss".