THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 24: POKED

Chapter 24: POKED

It wasn’t just the presence of Celine Atticus that had Fay ready to disappear into thin air, it was everything else her presence brought. How it had suddenly gone from scorching sun, to whirlwind evening in a matter of seconds. How the birds that usually danced around the sky, chirping in unison were all still. How the whooshing water slowed into random droplets.

She was dressed in all red, down to her lipstick. A glove made of the finest leather, covered her hands. Standing like a tall, ancient oak tree, she narrowed her gaze to Fay.

"You’re finally home. I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while," she said, her tone completely reeked of boredom.

"So–sorry for–kee–keeping you wai-ting," she stuttered.

"Erhmm, it’s no problem," she waved a dismissive hand. "You’re here now. Come, let’s go in." She stretched out a gloved hand.

Fay cautiously glanced at it, her insides trembling in fear. She already knew there was bad blood between her and Ace. Naturally, she was inclined to take Ace’s side. But even if he wasn’t her husband, she didn’t think she could support a woman who looked outrightly menacing. It didn’t help that she had also brought her Aunt to the family dinner, just to embarrass her.

"What is it? Are you scared?" Faux concern marred her forehead, as hooded eyes continued to stare at the redhead.

She was beautiful in a fairytale way. The kind of beauty that made you think about fairies, and extraterrestrial beings. She could see why her nephew had specifically sorted her out. A kind glint in her cat shaped eyes, that was bound to put a spell on the family. After all, their favorite pastime was pretending to be above being mean.

Never her though. She couldn’t pretend to be what she wasn’t. Rich, powerful with an ambition to dominate. But there were people trampling on her path to success. People that needed to be exterminated.

"If you don’t want to take my hand, that’s fine. Let’s go in," she said, and turned around.

Marilyn gave Fay a pitiful look, as the poor girl sauntered forward, with her fingers twisted in front of her, and her head bowed.

Cam didn’t seem pleased either, as he grabbed her shopping bags out of the car boot.

"Should we call the boss?" She hastily asked Cam.

"No need. He’ll be here soon," he said confidently.

Inside the house, Fay found Celine already seated, with one leg crossed around the other.

She walked to the couch directly facing her, and sat down too.

Chef Alice, who had watched the awkward conversation from the window, returned to the living room with a tray containing snacks and drinks.

"Good evening Mrs Celine." She bowed her head graciously.

"Yeah," Celine responded with a nod, and a scrunched nose.

"Good evening Mrs Fay." She curtsied, and smiled.

"Evening chef Alice." Fay returned her smile with a weak one of hers.

"I brought snacks." She raised the tray up, to show it to her.

"Smells delicious," Fay said.

"Would you drop the tray and leave us alone?" Celine interrupted before she could respond to her mistress’ praises.

"Yes ma’am." She dropped the tray on the table, and twirled out of the room.

However, Celine did not speak immediately. She allowed her eyes to roam around the living room. This was supposed to be her house. She was there when it was being built. Her father before he died, poured out his entire heart into this building. To what end? For the grandson to inherit it. Not the daughter who toiled righteously by her father’s side, tending to him as he worked day and night.

Teenage Celine who brought snacks, and drinks for the builders, during their food break. All of that hard work, just to be displaced by a scamming fraud. But not anymore. Things were going to change, starting from now.

"We didn’t meet in the best possible way, and I think that needs to be corrected. What’d you think?" She began diplomatically.

Fay, eager to keep the peace, nodded in agreement. "Yes ma."

"But that would be impossible without the truth," she dropped sinisterly. "You’re a young, beautiful lady. I’m certain you have dreams you’re desperate to see come through. That would explain why you accepted Ace’s proposal, right? How much did it take you to sell yourself to the highest bidder, and discard your family? Name it, and I’ll triple it."

Her words hit her like a tsunami, but what she hated the most was how quick her brain did the math. Triple of what Ace offered her would set her generation up for life, even though what he offered her was already centuries changing.

It was true she was naive in so many ways, but not so much that she couldn’t see through what Aunt Celine was trying to do.

"Is it so hard to believe Ace actually loves me, and I love him too?" She asked.

"Good question, darling," she said without skipping a beat. "It is absolutely unbelievable, putting Ace’s dating history in context. He plays with women, never takes them seriously. He had two to three girlfriends at a particular time. The only exclusive relationship he ever had was with Reign King. Do you know what all these women have in common?"

She shook her head. Deep down, she didn’t want to know, but she knew the answer was inevitable.

"They are all socialites. Already made women, not looking for a come up. You don’t fit any of these descriptions. Not to mention, the timeline of your relationship makes no sense. He was in an exclusive relationship with Reign until you. Pray tell, how he suddenly decides to marry you, when you’ve never been in the picture?" She asked, her voice sounding more and more testy.

Fay sighed in her head. It was all valid, logical questions, she’d admit. Something told her any response she gave now could be used against her. She had never been a good liar. Honesty flowed like honey from her mouth, but things were changing rapidly as the days proceeded. Right now, to save this facade of a marriage, she had to come up with the perfect lie.

"I met Ace when he was still dating Reign. We met at a restaurant I used to work for, when he came to eat," she began, mixing the truth with some lies. "Naturally, we gravitate towards each other."

’Oh Fay, you should be an orator,’ a voice mocked in her head, but she quickly dismissed it.

"We fell in love, and got married. That’s the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

Celine gave her a once over, then chortled. "You’re telling me right now you started dating Ace when he was still having a thing with Reign, and you both kept it a secret? Do you see how bad of a look this is for you? Maybe your mum was right about your gold digging ways. You look innocent, but behind those gentle eyes is a demon that must be exorcized," she snarked.

Her words instantly transported Fay to the dinning room of her aunt’s house. Hurdled together like aunt’s transporting crumbs to their anthills. Exactly the same words her Aunt said to her on that fateful day.

"You’re a demon Fay. You need to be dumped into water, and cleansed off your mortal sins, so that you can stop hosting the legion residing in you." Just because she was complemented by the son of the mailman about how good she smelled. How was she supposed to know he was one of her cousins crush? Or that she’d go tell her mother, Fay who didn’t even know the meaning of the word, ’flirt’ was flirting with a boy?

"Did you hear me?" She felt a finger snap across her face, and her eyes popped.

Celine was standing right in front of her.

"No." She shook her head, scared to death of the nearness of the woman. It felt like the world had gone completely still.

"I said you need to know the truth about the man you’re living with. Whatever he’s sold you are all dreams. He’s not going to inherit the Atticus fortune. He’s only using you. I’m sure you don’t mind, since you’re using him too. But I promise you, you’re going to get burnt the hardest when it all goes down. Save yourself now. Run back to your family. They’re the only ones that’d ever truly embrace you."

"But I can’t," she whispered in a hushed tone.

"Is he holding you hostage? I could call the police on him right now, and you’d be saved," she further stressed.

"It’s not like that. He’s not—"

"Don’t defend him. I know Ace very well. He’s an abusive narcissist. Has he hit you before? Show me." She grabbed her hands, and checked for injuries, or any skin abrasion that’d support her claim.

"Please stop," Fay pleaded in a trembling voice. Feeling invaded, tears welled up in her eyes.

"This is for your good. I’m only trying to help," she said, prodding further.

Sitting there helplessly, she let the tears fall. Aunt Celine really was like her own Aunt, because it was the same words she used when she’d hit her. "This is for your own good, Fay. It is to cast out the demon in you, before it destroys you," she’d say, landing slap after slap.

"P-l-e—"

"What the hell are you doing to her!" A booming voice suddenly saturated the air, as heavy footsteps, trode into the room.