Beneath The Lies

by Sapna Bhog

  “I thought you said he’s making progress with his memory.”

  I sigh. “It’s slow, Jas. At times he remembers a book or a song or a movie but he doesn’t remember people or places. I’ve asked him to seek help, to visit a therapist, but he refuses to let some outsider poke into his mind.”

  Ever since that night when Damien remembered a TV show, we’ve been going through books and movies and other TV shows to check what he recalls. But it’s been difficult and frustrating, especially for him, when he racks his brain and still can’t remember. But then there are those good times when something clicks inside his mind and he’s so excited about it.

  My heart warms thinking of him.

  “Aaliya, are you okay? You keep blanking out,” Jasmine interrupts my reverie.

  “Yes, I’m here. Sorry! I’m just so preoccupied with everything.”

  “Hmm! How is he with you?” she asks cautiously.

  Taking a seat on my chair, I stare out the window of my little office. “He’s great. He cares for me, worries I don’t eat enough. He’s still a fitness freak. That hasn’t changed.” I smile. “He still wakes up at six to work out at the gym in the house.”

  “But he’s also different,” I say. “He’s so much more confident of himself, stronger in character. It’s hard to explain, Jas. The Damien we knew was so easy to be with, understanding and carefree. Now, he’s dominating, strong, stubborn, and alpha. Even his working style is different. When we worked together earlier, before his accident, he gave me a free rein at work, only commenting when needed. Now he challenges me like never before and we argue on decisions often. But in the end, we hash things out and I can see the results getting better and better as they show in our work.”

  My life seems to be set on a roller coaster path with him and I don’t know which dizzying turn comes next.

  “So, you’re happy with him, this new him?”

  “Jasmine, even in my dreams I would never have imagined wanting anyone else other than the Damien I fell in love with and married. But this man, with his cold eyes and tortured soul, calls out to me. I want to heal him, Jasmine. I want to make the ice in his eyes crack and shatter completely.”

  And it is cracking. Each time he makes love to me, every time I willingly submit to him, the ice splinters a tiny bit more. As I spend more and more time with him, I’m falling in love with him all over again. I’m falling for this stronger version of him.

  “Hmm,” Jasmine’s voice breaks into my thoughts. “Then tell him, Aaliya. You have to tell him soon. Don’t delay it.”

  “I won’t, Jas. I will tell him soon. I have to,” I sigh. “Is Rian okay now?”

  “Rian is fine. He’s playing with your mom. I’ll call you again before bedtime. You take care, Aaliya and remember what I told you–tell Damien the truth.”

  There’s a knock on my door as soon as I hang up and Jonathan peeps in.

  “Hey babe! How are you?” he says in his usual affable way as he enters my office. The space is bright but small, with just a window at my back and a little space to seat two people in front of me, that’s it. It is however on the same floor as Damien’s office and I’m glad for that as it gives me a reason to be close to him.

  “I’m good. What brings you here?”

  “Oh, I was just in the vicinity and wanted to see what my favorite designer was up to.” He rounds my desk and stands directly in front of me.

  I look up at him and smile. “I just finished finalizing the designs for your glass room. I was going to email them to you, but now that you’re here, maybe you can see them and we can discuss your opinion first hand.”

  “Oh! Work can wait, babe. Tell me, how are things with Damien. Have you told him yet?”

  “I’m going to Jonathan, soon.”

  “Babe, you have to tell him. I do not agree with Gabriel. You can’t keep this from him.”

  Jonathan’s been after me since he found out to tell the truth to Damien and Gabe’s been against it. So far, I have listened to Gabe as I know the risks at play but twice now, in the space of fifteen minutes, two people I trust have advised me to open up to Damien. My time is running out. I have to tell him soon.

  “The longer you delay, the worse it’s going to be. I know him and he doesn’t like surprises,” Jonathan warns me.

  I narrow my eyes at him. “And you didn’t think of that when you sprung me as a surprise to him at your home in Scotland?”

  He leans against my desk, giving a dismissive wave of his hand. “Of course, I did that to annoy him. Somebody ought to keep him on his toes. Not that I knew about you and him then. But come on, you have to accept that it is because I invited you there that you’re in his life again.”

  “True that,” I grin. “I thank ye, the all-knowing, almighty Jonathan Wright, Earl of Sommerfield. What would I have done without you?”

  I stand and press my hands together, my fingertips pointing upwards and my thumbs joined at my chest and I bow to him. “Namaste,” I tell him. “In India, this means I bow to the divine in you.”

  He grins from ear to ear and repeats my stance folding his hands similarly to mine. We both burst out laughing. I turn my head and see Damien staring at me from the door.

  “Damien!” I exclaim with joy.

  Jonathan immediately straightens beside me. “Hey, mate. How are you?”

  Damien steps inside my office and comes towards us. “Why is it that whenever I see you, you’re always with my girl?”

  “I happen to like your girl,” Jonathan says, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

  Damien tugs me to him and puts a possessive arm around my waist.

  “Why are you here, Jonathan?” Damien grumbles.

  Jonathan folds his arms in front of him. “Now is that how you talk to all your clients?”

  “Not all, just you,” Damien replies.

  I throw my hands in the air. “Stop it, Damien. Jonathan was in the vicinity so he dropped in to say hi and I thought we could show him the final designs of the glass room.”

  “Yeah,” Jonathan nods and points at me. “What she said! By the way, I like her more than you.”

  Damien flips him off, showing his middle finger to him.

  Jonathan rolls his eyes. “Bastard!”

  “Asshole!” Damien responds.

  “Dip shit!”

  I cross my arms and stare at both of them flinging useless curses at one another until they both turn to me.

  “If you’re both finished, we can actually get some work done here.” I glare at each of them in turn.

  Damien squeezes my waist. “You are right, I shouldn’t be arguing with a wanker.”

  “Hey,” Jonathan grumbles.

  “Enough, Damien,” I push at his chest.

  “Ok sorry, what you got?” Damien gives me a soft smile.

  I open a few files on my laptop and proceed to show Jonathan what we’ve created for him.

  He asks several questions and we discuss several ideas, until he says, “It’s great. I love it. When will you start with the construction?”

  “Two weeks would be my rough guess,” Damien confirms.

  “Great!” Jonathan checks the time on his watch. “I have a meeting at the Ritz. I have to go. I’ll see you both soon.”

  He leans forward to plant a kiss on my cheek and whispers, “Tell him!”

  Giving me a pointed look and a nod to Damien, he leaves.

  Damien pulls me into his arms. “You do like him, don’t you?”

  “I do. He’s a lot of fun to be with.”

  He rolls his eyes at me. “He’s a crazy wanker.”

  “Come on, he’s one of your closest friends.”

  “That doesn’t mean I have to like him around you. You’re mine.”

  His words warm my soul.

  “He knows that, you silly man.”

  Damien caresses my cheek. “I feel like I’ve known you forever. You’ve become such a crucial part of me that I can’t imagine life without you. Being u
s is easy, it’s comfortable and so familiar. I think…I think I’m falling for you.”

  My pulse thunders in my ears as my heart that has loved him for so long trips and falls for him all over again. This man, this strong, powerful man has fallen for me not once but twice in one lifetime and here I am, still lying to him. What will he think when I finally tell him the truth? He gazes at me in that achingly familiar way that he used to in the past and I know it’s time. He needs to know the truth. I open my mouth, but before I can form a word, he plants his lips on mine.

  Our mouths meet hungrily and I let him kiss me for a moment more before I lift his face.

  “Damien, please, we need to talk. I have to tell…” But I’m cut off by a knock on my door.

  Both of us turn to see Mike standing at the threshold. Damien bids him to enter. “What’s up Mike?”

  Mike walks in with an iPad in hand. “Sir, I have some updates for you. Shall we retire to your office?”

  Damien tilts his head. “You can talk in front of Aaliya.”

  Mike glances from me to Damien “Firstly Sir, I’m still looking into Kardesh Areen and the other names you emailed me, but so far there is nothing concrete.”

  “Keep digging.”

  “Yes, I will,” Mike agrees. “Also I’ve been scanning all the camera feed from Annette & Co. and there’s nothing prior to the shooting. No strange people conducting surveillance, no bikes on the road. I’ve even checked all the neighboring cameras but there’s nothing untoward. The staff also doesn’t recall anything out of the ordinary happening.”

  “Which means what exactly?” Damien asks.

  I step forward as that missing link finally clicks in my mind. “That the shooter knew that you were going to be there.”

  Mike nods. “She’s right, Sir.”

  Damien gives me a questioning look. “What are you thinking, Aaliya?”

  “You know, something about this entire situation has bugged me right from the beginning. You disappeared for five years, Damien, which means whoever is behind this wanted you back here. And what better way to get you back than a funeral?”

  Damien squints into the distance before pacing back and forth around my small office. Finally, he stands in front of me. “Then why kill them both? He didn’t need to kill both of them to get my attention. I’d have returned for either of their deaths.”

  I shrug. “I don’t know, Damien. I’m just speculating here. The way I understand it, your father and brother were quite hand in glove. So, either you were complacent in an act they had committed or you knew something they had done and chose to ignore it.”

  Damien shakes his head. “It doesn’t make sense. I’d never willingly participate…” He pauses and then his eyes widen. “Could that be the reason I chose to disappear? What had they done? Why would I ignore it and fuck, why can’t I remember it?”

  Mike speaks up. “Sir, this makes sense. The more I think about it, the more I’m certain the person behind it all is known to you or at least someone who has access to information about you. How else would they know to send the black rose and the note just the day you returned from Heaven’s Gate? How else would they know exactly when you were to leave from Annette & Co.? Someone is watching. I’m certain of that.”

  Damien looks at me and a smile curves his lips. “Let’s shake things up then, shall we?”

  “What do you mean?” I ask.

  “Aaliya, I’ve been wanting to take you out on a date. What better way to do that than now, when whoever is watching doesn’t expect it? What do you think, Mike?”

  “Sir, you’ve kept Ms. Aaliya out of the public eye for so long now, I’m sure no one’s expecting you to announce her to the world suddenly, whether they know about her or not.”

  “Good, let’s keep disrupting my routine now and then. Let’s see how that pans out.” He rubs his hands in delight. “I know exactly where I want to go tonight.”

  Damien takes the name of a restaurant in a popular club. I’ve never been there, but I have read about it. It gained popularity in India recently as some of our film stars were seen dining there. It is exclusive, members only, and is a fashionable spot for the rich and famous.

  Mike nods. “I’ll make the arrangements, Sir. And with your permission, I’d like to look into everyone you know. I’ll start with your family, friends and known associates, then Gamma Inc. and work my way to Annette & Co., your charities and finally your staff at your various homes.”

  “That’s a lot of people,” Damien exclaims. “You’re looking at a number close to five hundred, maybe more.”

  Mike lifts his chin. “I can do it; I have the resources to do so. It is worth investigating.”

  “Fine! Do it then.”

  Mike dips his head and leaves.

  “Are you sure about tonight?” I ask Damien.

  “I think it’s time we step out as a couple. I want to show you off.”

  My time is up now! Once we are seen out together, the media furor around him that has just about abated will begin once more.

  “Damien, I need to talk to you about something...”

  He pulls me close. “Later, sweetheart, tonight?” He kisses my cheek and hesitantly releases me. “Right now, I have a meeting with Peter at Annette & Co. Shall I fetch you at eight from home?”

  “I’ll be ready,” I say.

  My heart churns as he leaves my office. This guilt ends today. I’m going to tell him everything and hope and pray he believes me. And that he forgives me.

  Damien

  “Come on out, I’m waiting for you,” I tell Aaliya on the phone. She disconnects the line and within a few minutes she steps out of the lobby, looking around.

  I roll down the window of my black Ferrari 488 and her jaw drops as she takes in the car.

  “Are you going to keep staring or are you getting in?” I twitch my brows at her.

  She shakes her head and slides in next to me.

  “Like my beauty, huh?”

  “It’s a freaking Ferrari,” she screeches. “I’ve never been in close range of one, forget being seated inside. I didn’t even know you own it.”

  “Oh, it’s a new acquisition,” I state, launching the car forward smoothly.

  “Did you not recently have an accident with a fast moving car? And yet you bought another one?”

  “My weakness, Aaliya. I like fast cars.” I slow the car at a signal and turn to her.

  “And there’s the Devil Duke. He’s woken up again. God help us now!” she exclaims, crossing one knee above the other and giving me a sidelong stare.

  I chuckle and she gives me a dirty look in return.

  “Alright! I get that you’re concerned. I’ll be careful.”

  “Fine,” she relents. “Where are Mike and Leo?”

  I point my thumb backwards.

  She pivots to see the Range Rover following us with Mike at the wheel and Leo seated next to him.

  We reach the club and a valet opens my door. I step out and a camera flashes in my face. The frenzy starts as soon as the paparazzi see me. I reach the other side to help Aaliya out.

  “Don’t utter a word,” I whisper in Aaliya’s ear.

  I grip her waist and guide her up the stairs to the reception while questions flow all around us.

  Where’ve you been for so long Your Grace?

  Who’s the woman?

  Are you dating her?

  Is she the reason you’ve disappeared for so long?

  Aaliya releases a shaky breath as soon as we’re inside and away from the melee.

  “Don’t let it bother you, sweetheart. We were bound to draw attention the first time we stepped out and this place is a hot spot for the media. Trust me, the attention will die down at some point.”

  “I hope so,” she murmurs, worriedly chewing her bottom lip.

  I tug her lip out of her mouth with my fingers. “Are you okay?”

  She gives me a slight smile. “I’ll be fine.” She inhales and exhales and raises her
chin gallantly, ready to battle again.

  I smile and usher her further inside the club. It’s a four-storey town house at an exclusive place in Berkley Square. It has restaurants, a nightclub, a limited edition wine cellar and private dining areas. We drop our jackets in the coatroom and head towards the garden restaurant. Aaliya takes one step inside and pauses, her eyes widening as she takes in the grandeur of the restaurant.

  I never gave this place much thought in all the times I’ve dined here, but now I see it through her eyes and it is indeed incredible. The interiors are all burgundy and gold wallpaper, complete with huge pots overflowing with flowers, small trees, shrubs and soft lights.

  A small band is playing in the corner doling out jazz music. Various tables with cushioned chairs and stuffed sofas are scattered across the polished granite floors.

  She looks up at the retractable glass roof and then turns to me, her eyes glowing. “Fantastic, I love it. This whole place is…something else.”

  I tilt my head back to observe her. Her knee length, fitted, steel grey dress is short sleeved with a square neck and is teemed with black high heels. The dress sinfully accentuates every curve of her body. Her hair flows behind her as she twists her head this way and that, taking in every detail of this restaurant. My eyes latch onto her lips that are painted a deep red and I step forward and kiss her mouth.

  “You are so beautiful,” I tell her after I release her lips.

  “Well, you’re not doing too badly yourself, Your Grace.” She gives me a wink and adjusts the knot of my tie.

  I settle her at our table and take a seat next to her. A server appears and we order our drinks. Aaliya opts for a red wine while I order my regular malt whiskey.

  “So, I have a gift for you.” I grin, handing her a wrapped present.

  “Oh!” she gasps, her dark eyes rounding. “When did you get this? I didn’t see anything in your hands when we left the car?”

  “It was left here, at our table, as per my instructions.”

  “Wow!” she exclaims as she turns the present in her hand. “But why? My birthday is still a few weeks away.”