Marcel didn’t return that night because he was engaged in meetings, meaning that Arianna had to spend the night alone. Although she knew that Marcel didn’t mean to leave her and was busy trying to find a way out of the wedding tomorrow, it still didn’t stop her from missing him terribly. She missed him so badly that it was difficult to breathe.
Hence, when a knock came on her door, she glanced up with hope, thinking it was Marcel only for Mimi to peep in and her expression fell instantly. However, Arianna still managed to put on a smile for her friend.
“You don’t have to try so hard, you know.” Mimi knew that she was disappointed.
“I’m sorry,” Arianna gave her an apologetic look, “I just thought -”
“You don’t have to explain, best friend. I know what you’re thinking.” She told her, “Victor’s away as well.” Mimi walked into the room.
Arianna was thankful that she had moved back to her own room earlier, else she wouldn’t know how to stop her friend from climbing into Marcel’s bed. Not that Marcel minded, but the bed felt intimate, personal to the both of them. Moreover, his room smelled too much like him, and with the events of the day, it seemed like the world was crashing in on Arianna, so she had to leave. It was suffocating.
However, the moment Mimi stepped in, her gaze shifted to the lion lying at the corner of the room, facing the bed, and halted in her footsteps at once. Nope, not happening. She was not ready to become Samson’s food.
Arianna, noticing Mimi’s reactions to the lion, encouraged her,
“Don’t worry, he’s well behaved right now.”
.....
Believing Arianna’s words, Mimi took a step when the lion made a warning growl at the back of his throat. She was about to cross the territory he was assigned to protect and he didn’t like that.
“Maybe, he’s still a tiny bit temperamental. Today was too hard on him.” Arianna pointed out, shifting her gaze to the lion, “Alright Samson, you don’t have to go all macho on her, she’s a friend.”
Having done that, Arianna gestured to Mimi to move, but Samson released another growl. Although this time it was less threatening than it was still a warning and Mimi felt the vibration deep down to her bones and stopped. As much as she loved her best friend, she was not ready to become a lion’s meal.
“I don’t know what’s up with you males,” Arianna sighed as she got out of the bed and walked over to Samson, beginning to run her hands through his beautiful mane. The purr Samson produced told Arianna that he was enjoying her treatment.
With each day that passed, she was beginning to fear the lion less than the first time they met, but that doesn’t eliminate the fact that he’s a predator no matter how tamed he was. Hence Marcel taught her every trick in the book on how to treat him, just like now. Lions were domineering, hence she couldn’t impose on their actions. Just like now, he doesn’t want Mimi near her, so Arianna had to pet him and bribe her way through.
“Mimi is family, so if you’re going to protect me, you would have to keep her safe too,” Arianna told him, scratching and petting Samson in areas that were sensitive to the touch till he gave in. Just like men, lions couldn’t resist women as well.
“Aww, I love you so much,” Mimi pressed her hand to her chest when she finally passed through. She was so touched by Arianna’s gesture that she pulled her into her arms and hugged her friend tight.
“I’m fine,” Arianna said, trying hard not to cry.
“I know,” Mimi answered, “I’m fine too, but I need to hug you right now,”
Arianna didn’t know she needed comfort until Mimi was tapping her back and she leaned into the hug. She was so lonely. They stayed that way for over five minutes and the next, both women were on the bed, hugging each other. It has been a long time since they spent time together like this, just like the both of them.
“It’s going to be okay, you know,” Mimi said, using her hand to straighten the furrowed brows she had formed unconsciously.
“I hope so,” Arianna said without much conviction. The wedding was tomorrow, what could they do now that would make a difference? Would Marcel even go to war for her? Arianna didn’t know the answer nor did she want a war. There’s always a casualty loss in war. War does nothing but take.
“Hey,” Mimi propped herself up on her arm, “Listen to me, Arianna, you have come a long way here and there’s no way on earth you’re giving up on your relationship just because your-would-have-been handsome-but is an unstable father-in-law wants to separate the both of you. That is not happening, young lady, not on my watch, do you get me?!” She told her firmly.
When Arianna didn’t answer, Mimi shook her seriously, “Do you get me?!”
“Fine, you win! I won’t let Marcel go and would cling to his side like a damn parasite, are you satisfied?!” She said at the top of her lungs.
Mimi smiled, “Now, that’s the spirit. Come on, let’s sleep. Tonight, it’s just the both of us.” She pulled Arianna close to her body, and spooned with her.
Together, they were prepared to sleep when Arianna suddenly remembered,
“Chloe! Where’s Chloe?” She was curious to know.
Thanks to the incident today, she had forgotten all about the mission to bring Chloe home. Arianna’s heart arched for Marcel, he had too many battles to face.
“So where is she?” Arianna had a bad feeling the mission didn’t go as planned. If Chloe was back, she would have heard of it already.
“Nah, mission failed,” Mimi answered nonchalantly, lying on her back.
Arianna’s heart sank. It didn’t work. Who knows how Marcel is feeling right now? He needed to meet his sister badly.
“But don’t worry, we have a second plan, and Winters has a temporary job as a nanny already.”