Chapter 10
"Usually, I don't eat where I'm not welcomed, even when I'm starving. But this is your family, so I'll let you make that decision," she responded.
"Fine, let's leave then. I'll come back later to see them. At least they are now aware that I'm married. Every other thing can be resolved." They walked out of the living room towards Orion's car.
When he noticed Ashely was peeping at them through her window from upstairs, he held Calista on her waist, pulled her to himself and gave her a kiss on the forehead before they entered the car and drove off.
"What was that for? I thought the act was meant to be for your family, but no one is out here." Calista said, looking at him curiously.
"Well, I would have ignored that question, but I don't want you thinking the wrong things, so I'll tell you why I did that."
"You better keep it to yourself, for your good," Orion said and Calista nodded.
Orion told Calista why he married her and how his adopted sister, Lilith had an unhealthy obsession with him.
"Are your parents aware of this?" Calista asked, surprised.
"No. Is there any need to disturb them with such? Anyway, let's see what she'll do now that I'm married. I bet she'll stop rejecting her many suitors and finally pick one to get married to or at least date."
"That's crazy. Now I understand why she was cold to me before she even discovered we were married," Calista muttered.
"Maybe, but that shouldn't bother you. She's the least of my problems right now," Orion said and focused on the road.
Her phone rang and she opened her purse to check but hissed and ignored the call.
It beeped again, and she received two messages.
An old client was bringing her a new deal, he referred her to his friend who needed her service, but she didn't respond. She was aware that the agreement she signed with Orion was for a year and six months, and she hadn't even been married for up to one month.
"Who's that?" Orion asked.
"It's no one important," she responded and quickly turned off her cell phone.
They got home and Calista finally ate something.
She went into her room and read the message again. She contemplated if she could lie to Orion about her whereabouts and accept the job since it wasn't so demanding and it was just for a few hours.
"The client wants me to show up at a birthday party with him. His ex-girlfriend will be there and he wanted to make her jealous as they broke up a few days ago. I don't need to confront anyone, just sit at the table with him, and we'll even leave before the event is over." It sounded so simple and the money she was being offered was quite huge. She was tempted to accept it.
She remembered the quarrel she had with Lyra over her kind of job and also remembered how Orion warned her to take a break until she was no longer his wife. But she also remembered that Orion required her to do some chores around the house before he could give her any extra money for school runs or pocket money. That didn't go well with her, her savings were going down by the day.
"Think Calista, think. You need this money. This one time won't hurt, and you need this money because you're broke," she muttered as she paced around her room.
"I'm sorry Lyra. I promise I'll stop after this." She muttered.
"I need to be careful so that no one finds out," she said before heading to Orion's room.
"What are you doing here?" He asked as he opened the door.
"Uhm… I'd like to inform you that I'll be going to Thalia's place to pick up my clothes tomorrow, and I'll go see Lyra at the hospital the day after."
"I hope you're not expecting me to take you there because I'll be busy at work and when I get back, I'd love to rest." Calista shook her head in response.
"But then, if you can wait till Saturday, I can ask Jaxon or find someone else to take you there and bring you back." He added.
"Thank you, Sir, but that won't be necessary. I can handle it myself. I just needed you to be aware." Calista said.
"That's fine, I don't have any need for you this week, but if something comes up, I'll let you know and you'll have to shift your plans, is that clear?"
"Yeah," she said and left for her room.
Calista wondered why Orion's tone was calm.
"Why is he even offering to send someone to assist me? Is he planning to extend the contract by another six months with that favor? It's good I didn't accept. I don't see him as a caring person, especially after carefully reading through the contract I signed again. Besides, what I'm planning to do requires me to move around alone." She said to herself once she was back in her room.
The next morning, she left the house before Orion.
She didn't think he would notice or bother about that since he barely checked up on her except he needed to give her a message.
Thalia was just waking up from sDonp but was glad to have Calista around.
She hugged her tightly and they bought sat on the bed.
"I thought you'd come back home the next day, Calista. I've missed you so much. It's just a few days but it feels like you've been away for months. So, tell me, how have you been coping with that control freak?" Thalia asked, rolling her eyes.
"It's not been easy, but I owe him you know, and marrying him was the only other option he gave me since I didn't have the money to pay him," Calista responded.
"Sadly, you got into such trouble because of revenge, but why do I have a feeling that he likes you?" Thalia asked with a faint smile.
"Orion… like me? You must be mistaken," Calista said and laughed hilariously.
"He has his reasons for what he did, but I can't wait to get out of his grip." She added.
"What other reason could he have? For a man of his caliber whom so many ladies are after to choose you as wife, he probably has something beneath his sDonves he hasn't told you."
"Choose? He indirectly forced me into accepting it. Besides, if he liked me, he wouldn't have made me his wife for just a year and six months, he would have done things differently, or even forgiven me for what I did to him." Calista said.
"Let's leave that discussion for another day, I'm here to get my things," Calista told Thalia.
'What? You're moving out just like that? I thought this whole marriage thing was a charade. I thought you still sDonpover at my place sometimes?" Thalia said, sounding like she was going to cry.
"Somehow I was happy you agreed to move in with me. I've always wanted us to be closer, just like you are with Lyra. Now you're going to be away from me for God knows how long, that's so unfair, Calista."