Chapter Twenty
So Laurence shifted her into his bedroom along with her stuff. They made out for sometime and then cuddled in one another's arms. ''My work here will be wrapped up in two days, then we'll head home and get married,'' said Laurence, kissing the top of her head.
Arianna nodded, it was going like a whirlwind for her. She was overwhelmed by the suddenness of it all. She didn't know why Laurence was hurrying so much with everything. She was too puzzled to ask. ''We'll get married in two days. I've already applied for the license, it should come in by tomorrow,'' said Laurence.
"Have you told your parents about our wedding?" She asked him hesitantly.
"No we'll get married first and then I'll introduce you to my family, " he said and she was more puzzled.
"But what if they don't like me?" She asked with concern.
"It doesn't matter. I love you and that's all that matters," he told her. Arianna nodded not knowing whether he was doing the right thing or not.
"I'm scared Laurence," she said honestly. Would she be able to win the hearts of his family? They were billionaires after all.
"Don't be scared darling, you have me, don't you? I'll take care of you till my last breath," he promised, drawing her closer to himself.
She snuggled closer and relaxed into him. Her eyes started closing from exhaustion till she couldn't stay awake any longer. After she had dozed off Laurence stared at her innocent sleeping form. He knew his parents would never accept her. They had shifted to Las Vegas with the sole purpose of uniting with their friend Eric Parker who was a billionaire hotelier and owner of the Parker Suites all over the world. He was five times more wealthier than them and his parents wanted him to marry his daughter Serenity Parker.
However, Laurence never gave in to their wishes and so everyday the convincing continued at his home. While his mom tried every possible way to get him to hook up with Serenity, his dad tried his level best to get his twelve year old sister Lisa to hook up with Serenity's younger brother Liam Parker. Lisa wasn't interested and avoided her parents as much as possible, staying at her best friend's house over the weekends, spending more time at her music classes, at the library and so on.
Laurence sighed at his bad luck. He wanted to stay alone with Arianna but he couldn't leave his little sister alone with his parents. He knew his mom. She would try some trick and he would be forced to return back and live with them. If Arianna would have been a billionaire's daughter then she would have been welcomed into his family with open arms but under the current circumstances, there was only one way. He would have to marry her without his family's knowledge and then take her home. It was late when he eventually dozed off to sleep.
The next morning, a blissfully happy Arianna woke up in Laurence's arms. "Good morning darling," he whispered into her ear.
Sh smiled lazily, "Good morning, " she said.
"We have a meeting at eleven with the real estate agent. He will show us commercial buildings here for the production department and office," said Arianna and Laurence grinned.
"Yes ma'am, " he said, rolling his eyes and Arianna giggled. "I don't want to work today. I just want to lie down with you in my arms," he said.
"I'm a bad influence on you then," she pouted.
"Never darling. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me," he said sincerely with deep emotions reflected in his eyes.
"And you're the only good thing that's ever happened in my life, Laurence. I couldn't have loved anyone else the way I love you," she said and Laurence hugged her tightly to his chest.
"I'm so glad that we've found one another," he whispered.
Later he carried her into the en-suite and they bathed one another. Then they made breakfast together and enjoyed it with each other. When Arianna went to get ready for he meeting, Laurence called up his friend Troy and explained the situation to him. He asked him to make the arrangements for their wedding. After disconnecting the call he booked tickets for a honeymoon trip to Italy. Satisfied with himself, he went to his room to get ready for the meeting.
They left the apartment twenty minutes later to meet the real estate agent. He showed them three properties, all upscale and luxurious but Laurence chose one which was strategically located as well. It was easily accessible from all their outlets. After finalising the deal, Laurence and Arianna went to Laurence's London office. There he held a meeting with his team and planned the shifting and the renovations. He appointed Katherine West to get the paperwork ready by evening so that they could get possession soon.
Laurence and Arianna left for lunch while Katherine got all the papers ready for Laurence's signature. The deal was over by evening and they received possession of the building.
The next day they would plan the renovations to be done. It was already late and they returned back to the apartment.
"What are you cooking for me darling?" Asked Laurence seeing Aria engrossed in cooking their dinner.
"Fish pie with this salmon," she answered preparing the fish.
"You love cooking, don't you?" He asked her, impressed by her. His mom never cooked. She always fell sick whenever she needed to cook. He had learned to cook at a very tender age. It was a very basic lesson that he needed to learn in order to survive. Now that he could afford it, he had kept chefs to do the job. Seeing Arianna cook for him with so much love and care made him fall in love with her even more.
"Yes and more so for you," she said with a shy smile.
"I'm honoured, darling," he said going closer and embracing her from behind, kissing her neck. "No one's ever cooked for me with so much love."
Ariana stared at him, confused. He was a billionaire yet no one had lovingly cooked for him? "Oh," she answered. "I will cook for you, everyday, " she said with a smile.
"After you move in with me at my house, you wouldn't be allowed to. There are chefs to do the cooking and mom won't allow to into the kitchen," he said with a lopsided smile.
"Oh, why?" She asked perplexed.
Laurence shrugged, he couldn't tell Arianna that his mom dictated everything in their lives, what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, what to wear, what to buy, where to buy it from, everything. If Laurence would marry without her knowledge she would be furious and wouldn't take it well. But Laurence couldn't marry Serenity as she wanted him to. He didn't love her and he would never marry for any monetary gain. If he married it would be only for love and he couldn't love anyone else the way he loved Arianna. So he had to marry her without his parents' knowledge. That was the only way. But was it a good idea to make Arianna move in with him at his parent's house? Maybe if things didn't improve he would have to move out with Arianna.
He helped her make the mashed potatoes and they sat down to eat the fish pie with the mashed potatoes and tender veggies on the side. "Awesome," he appreciated and Arianna smiled widely at him. The prospect of not being able to cook for Laurence after marriage saddened her but she knew that Laurence knew his family the best. So if he warned her about his mom, then maybe it would be wise to listen to him. However, the more she heard about his family, the more worried she became of her life after her marriage at his house. There was only one day left in London for them. They would have to return the day after. She was scared of what was in store for her.
They did the cleaning up together. "I love to do house work with you. It makes me feel married already to you," he admitted.
"We wouldn't be able to do this after marriage, isn't it?" She asked with disappointment.
"No, we have people to do it," he said disappointedly. He liked being alone and carefree with her.
"Then what will I do whole day? Wouldn't I get bored?" Asked a Arianna with dismay.
"You can study. Complete your school and college studies?" He suggested.
"I've enrolled back into my school. Uncle David helped me. So I'll just appear for the final exams and then get a graduation certificate if I sail through, " informed Arianna.
Laurence smiled appreciatively. "That's wonderful news, " he said, clapping. "Have you started studying yet?"
"No I will after I return," she promised. They finished their work together and then cuddled up to sleep. Arianna wanted to make the most of her time with Laurence as the future looked scary to her and she was unsure about her fate after marriage.
