Chapter 008

8.

After the event, people dispersed one by one leaving Samantha with Aiden, Seth, and Linda. Linda and Seth stepped aside, so the two could talk.

“Thanks for gracing this event today, Mr. Callymore. It was a great honor.” she appreciated him with a polite smile, but Ethan turned to face her, his expression serious.

“Ms. Salvador,” he called, and she blinked at him. “Why the formality? I'm your soon-to-be husband.”

“You're asking me about formality when you totally addressed me the same way just now?” she asked with a scoff and folded her arms.

“I'm allowed to call you “Ms. Salvador” aren't I?” he asked, a bemused expression on his face.

Samantha looked at him with an indifferent expression. “If you want to call me that you are free to, but don't complain because I address you formally. And I actually don't accept you as my future husband, so stop calling yourself that.” she stated firmly and he chuckled.

Samantha was quite different from the women he had come across. Other women would die from overwhelming emotions if he called himself their husband but here Samantha was… completely unimpressed. He found it intriguing and refreshing. It was something new for a start. “I like your spirit, Samantha,” he said with a smile. “But I'm afraid there is no way out of this arrangement.”

Samantha raised an eyebrow. “An arrangement that I am totally against and just had to agree to get my father off my back? An arrangement I don't want at all? You're not listening to me, Aiden.”

Aiden sighed. “I am listening, Samantha. But I'm afraid our families have already agreed to this arrangement. And I'm willing to make it work, if you are.”

Samantha shook her head. “You're still not listening to me. I don't want to marry you. I don't even know you.”

Aiden stepped closer to her. “Then get to know me. I'm willing to start over and build a relationship with you. But I won't back down from this arrangement. I promise you, it will be worth it.” he was so determined that Samantha wondered what his problem was exactly.

Samantha looked at him, searching for any sign of insincerity, but his eyes seemed genuine. “If you think I am like other ladies who would jump at the opportunity to marry you, you're wrong, Mr. Callymore,” she said and Aiden frowned slightly. He was happy she didn't use her formal tone earlier, but now she had to kill the mood by calling him that.

“You're a stubborn lady, aren't you?” he asked in amusement.

“Trust me, you haven't seen anything.” she looked away from him.

Aiden chuckled softly. “I like it,”

Samantha looked at him in shock. She wasn't expecting him to say something like that. “Huh?” she couldn't believe it.

“Most men would be intimidated by your stubbornness, but I find it refreshing,” he continued. “It's a challenge, and I love challenges.”

Samantha raised an eyebrow, surprised by his response. “You're not like most men, are you?” she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice. Just what kind of person was he? She was intentionally getting under his skin, and he still stood calm and composed.

Aiden smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “No, I'm not. And I think that's what makes this arrangement so interesting. We fit each other perfectly, don't you think?”

Samantha snorted, rolling her eyes. “You're something else, Mr. Callymore.”

Aiden chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “I think we're going to get along just fine, Samantha. And please call me Aiden. Mr. Callymore makes me sound like I'm 100 years old,”

Samantha smiled, a small, reluctant smile, but Aiden saw it and his heart skipped a beat. She rolled her eyes and looked away from him.

“I'll see you tomorrow,” he said, and she turned to look at him. He extended his hand for a handshake.

Samantha was reluctant at first but she took it. He brought the back of her hand to his lips and gave it a slight peck causing goosebumps to rise on her skin. “Until tomorrow, my stubborn lady,” he said with a smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Samantha pulled her hand back, feeling a flutter in her chest. She wasn't expecting that gentle gesture, and it caught her off guard. She turned and walked away, leaving Aiden standing there with a smile on his face.

Linda, who saw her walking out the door, quickly rushed after her after giving Aiden a slight bow. Seth walked to where Aiden stood and glanced at his boss, who was smiling like a teenager in love.

“You're smitten, aren't you?” he asked and Aiden quickly frowned.

“One more word from you and I'll cut your pay.” he threatened, and Seth made a zipping sign with his hand on his mouth.

****

When Samantha got home, she went to meet her father in his study. She got to the door and was about to knock when she heard voices. She recognized it to be Estella's.

“Dad, this is unfair! I'm your first daughter, and you handed over the company to your stepdaughter!” she snapped.

Samantha rolled her eyes.

“We both know why I entrusted the company into Samantha's hands.”

“Entrusted? Did, did you just say entrusted? You gave her full control, dad. I have nothing left because you were bewitched by that bitch Samantha and her mother.”

Samantha balled her fists as she listened to the gibberish Estella was babbling. It took all the self-control she had not to go in there and confront her.

“Don't talk like that, Estella. Jessica and her daughter are not witches. Jessica is my wife and Samantha is my daughter. I love you all equally. If you had stopped doing drugs, the company would have been given to you.” he explained.

“No, dad. You would have given it to Samantha still. That good for nothing wench left us and got married to someone you strictly warned her not to get married to. And now she is back, and you handed over the company to her just like that! I'm disappointed!” she yelled and Samantha didn't hear her father's voice again.

The next thing she heard was the sound of the doorknob turning, and Estella stormed out of the study, her eyes blazing with anger. She saw Samantha standing there, and her expression turned even uglier. “You!” she spat, pointing a finger at Samantha. “You're the reason for all my problems!”

Samantha stood her ground, her expression solemn. “I'm not the reason for your problems, Estella. You are the reason for your own problems. Your drug addiction and your jealousy are what's causing you pain.”

Estella's face turned red with rage, and she took a step closer to Samantha. “You think you're so perfect, don't you? With your perfect little life and your perfect little family. But you're not perfect, Samantha. You're just a fake, a pretender. And I'm going to expose you for who you really are.”

Samantha rolled her eyes. “You're not even making sense, Estella. And I'm not afraid of you or your threats. So, go ahead and try to expose me. I dare you.”