Beneath The Lies

by Sapna Bhog

  “You can still come and go when you want, Peter,” I say placating him. “I only request you to inform in advance when you’re visiting.”

  “Is there a danger here?” he asks.

  “I’m just taking more precautions around the estate, that’s all.”

  “Because of the accidents and the shooting?” He cleverly deduces.

  “Yes!” I accept and his expression relaxes. “It’s a huge estate, Peter, and you obviously know of some entrances to the property that no one is aware of. I request you to share all that information with Mike to help him secure the place better. I presume you still use the cabin down the lake when you visit.”

  “Yes and of course, I’m at your disposal in every way,” he says.

  I give him a brief nod. “Now, if you have the time and since we both are here, we can talk business. Mike will discuss more of the security measures on your way out,” I say turning on my laptop that Mike had placed here for me.

  Mike leaves the study and Peter and I discuss Annette & Co. business for the next few hours.

  When I check my watch next, it’s past seven and dark outside. Peter left a while back and I’ve completely lost track of time since I started working. I stretch my arms across my head when it hits me. Shit! Aaliya! I left her all alone.

  Aaliya

  The huge chair dwarves my frame, the words on the screen of my laptop swimming in front of my eyes. I suppress a yawn and look around the beautiful two-storied library. It’s been hours since I closeted myself here. There’s been no sign of Damien ever since he left me abruptly in the music room and now it’s dark outside.

  True to his request, Mrs. Wells took me around the rest of the house, explaining much of its history to me. I lost interest in the tour the moment Damien left us, but I didn’t want to be disrespectful to his old housekeeper and so I followed her as she proudly showed me the various rooms and salons. I listened with half an ear to everything she said, my mind too occupied with Damien’s sudden change of mood.

  Anxiety still grates across my nerves as I think of him and everything he’s gone through, most of which is still a mystery to me. But I do understand from the little I know that his childhood was unhappy. I hate that he’s shut me off again. Perhaps I should have hunted him down in this monstrous mansion and demanded an explanation for why he’s left me alone to my own devices for most of the day. But I didn’t because I wanted to give him space to come to terms with whatever has upset him regarding that music room and the violin.

  Exhaling a frustrated breath, I look up and my eyes meet Damien’s. He’s standing at the door, rubbing his nape, a wrinkle painted on his forehead. Tight grooves indent his cheeks and shadows surround his eyes. His hair is ruffled like he has run his hands a hundred times through it. He’s discarded his jacket somewhere and the top two buttons of his shirt are undone, the sleeves carelessly folded.

  He steps further inside the room and we stare at each other.

  “I heard that you haven’t stepped out of the library since afternoon,” he says.

  I give him a half shrug. “I was afraid to lose my way if I ventured out, not to mention I was vastly overwhelmed.”

  After Mrs. Wells informed me that this stately home had a hundred and thirty rooms and was set on more than ten thousand acres of prime forestland, I just wanted to curl up and cry at the enormity and absurdity of it all. And unknown to everyone, my son is the heir to all this fortune.

  Rising up, I walk towards him. “I spent the day catching up on work and talking to my family back home.”

  I needed to check on Rian. I had to hear his voice and see his sweet face. That was the only way I could calm down enough to think and accept the bizarreness of everything I’m experiencing.

  Damien comes closer to me, interrupting my thoughts.

  “I don’t want you to feel confined here,” he tells me. “Just ring for any of the staff and they will happily guide you to where you want to go.”

  “Perhaps I’ll do that henceforth.”

  Our conversation is stiff and formal and I hate it. I hate the distance between us caused by some unknown factor in his past that affects him till today. I take a step closer to him and wrap my arms around him, breathing him in. His arms go around me and he hugs me back.

  “I’m sorry for today, Aaliya,” he whispers into my hair. “It was never my intention to leave you alone for so long. It’s just that I got caught up with work and…”

  I raise my head to meet his eyes. “And?”

  “My mind is a jumbled mess. At times, I remember things, incidents I haven’t thought of in years perhaps, I remember them so vividly like I had experienced them only recently and then there is this huge blank gap.” He puffs out a breath. “It’s all so bloody confounding at times and it’s so hard to explain it to anyone.”

  My heart aches for him, to tell him the truth about me, about him. But each time, I think of Rian and the possible danger I could put him into if I do that, because what will happen if Damien refuses to acknowledge us. That is my biggest fear. I have to make him fall in love with me first and then tell him. That is the only way.

  I squeeze my arms around his back, clinging to him, letting him hold me for as long as he wants. “I understand, Damien. I honestly do.”

  He guides me to a leather couch. We sink into it facing each other. Damien tucks a loose strand of hair away from my face and gives me a soft smile.

  I ask him the one thing that has me extremely worried ever since I got here. “How safe are you here? This place is so huge. I’m…”

  He puts a hand on my arm, cutting me off. “It’s fine, Aaliya. You don’t need to worry. No one can come here now without Mike finding out. We’ve upped the security of the place. There are cameras everywhere and Mike is still surveying the property to ensure it is as secure as possible.”

  “Okay then! That’s a relief.”

  “So, what do you think of Heaven’s Gate?”

  “It’s beautiful,” I answer. “Imposing, but beautiful. Walking through your portrait gallery was like taking a walk through history. It was incredible to see your ancestors dressed in the various styles of their generation.”

  I spread my hands out. “And this library is magnificent. It’s a fantasy come to life. I can’t wait to explore the titles here. I’m sure it’s a treasure trove of books.”

  “Well, unfortunately you won’t find any fun titles there. It’s all history, culture, art and politics filled on the shelves.”

  “Damien, all this is yours, so do as you please. Fill the library with books you like to read. I’m sure you have ones you like above others. Let me guess…” I stare at him for a few minutes. “You seem like a Lee Child and Lord of the Rings type of person,” I say, knowing very well that these are the kind of books he likes.

  His brows shoot up. “Perfect guess, Miss Singh. You are intuitive as ever.”

  I smile in pleasure and then a thought crosses my mind and I bite my lower lip thinking on it.

  “What is it, Aaliya?” he asks putting his hand on mine.

  My eyes fly to his. “Can I be honest with you?”

  “Of course.”

  “You need to accept that you are the Duke now. Not just here,” I lean forward and touch his temple, “But here as well,” I place my palm on his heart.

  His breath hitches and his heart beats a little faster under my hand.

  “What makes you say that?” he asks.

  I cup his jaw. “Mrs. Wells told me how you refused to use the Ducal suite even though the staff has kept everything ready for you there. Not that I blame you because the décor there is awful.” I scrunch my nose remembering the awful furnishings in the Ducal suite. “Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that you’ve taken all the responsibility that comes with being a Duke, but you haven’t accepted the title, Damien. You need to accept it and make it a part of you. None of this belongs to your father or your brother anymore. If you truly consider that it’s all yours then do somet
hing about it. Add the books you like to your library, change the Ducal suites in all your houses. Redecorate! Put your own stamp where you want to and make it all yours. Own the damn title!”

  Damien

  Own the damn title!

  Aaliya’s words reverberate inside me. What she says is true. While I have accepted every responsibility thrown my way, I haven’t fully accepted the title that now belongs to me. Some part of me still finds the whole thing unbelievable as if David or my father will come and snatch it all back from me like it’s some kind of a game they’re playing with me.

  “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not,” Aaliya says, looking at her hands. Her words click something inside my mind. “Make it your strength. Then…”

  “...it can never be your weakness. Armor yourself in it, and it will never be used to hurt you,” I complete the saying and my eyes widen in shock. “How do I know this quote?”

  A small wrinkle mars her forehead. “It’s a famous quote by George R.R. Martin from the even more famous TV serial…”

  “Game of Thrones,” the name spills from my lips. I stand up suddenly as visions of dragons and a dwarf and winter and a throne fills my mind. “Fuck! I remember this. Please tell me this serial is not older than five years. Please tell me this is something that was released in the past five years only.”

  Her face falls. “Oh, Damien! I think the serial released more than five years back. At least some seasons.”

  And then she leaps up. “What is the last thing you remember watching in Game of Thrones?”

  I pinch the bridge of my nose as I think, my mind going back and forth of what I remember of this TV serial. I open my mouth to say something and then more images hit me. “I remember a dragon turning into a white walker.”

  Aaliya presses her palms to her forehead and then she lowers them and grins at me. “Damien that was the last thing that happened in Season 7, which released two years ago.”

  “No!” I rasp as hope surges inside me. “That’s not true!”

  She takes my hands and clutches them tight. “Damien, it’s true. Google it if you want.”

  “No, I believe you.” I can barely conceal my delight as I lift her up in the air and spin her in a circle. “I remembered something concrete. There is so much to hope for now!”

  She laughs happily, the sound like music to my ears. I come to a stop and pull her down my body into the circle of my arms.

  “Damien, what if you’ve forgotten people and places but you remember stuff like books and TV shows? Maybe even songs and movies. Oh! I’m so excited. Let’s start checking right now what all you remember. Let us…”

  I stop her chatter by kissing her. She clings to me like she always does. “God! You are bloody brilliant! Why didn’t I think of something like this before?”

  She rests her head on my shoulder and holds me close. “It’s all going to come back to you, Damien. Don’t ever lose faith.”

  I breathe in her scent. It is familiar and so comforting. Being in her arms makes me content, like I have found an anchor in the madness that is my life. I can’t control the huge grin on my face thinking I remembered something from the last five years. It gives me hope that one day, perhaps, I will remember everything I have forgotten. Maybe Gabe was right and Aaliya is the key to unlocking that frozen part of my brain.

  “Damien, there you are,” a shrill voice says from the door.

  Both Aaliya and me freeze and move apart. We turn to the door in surprise as Celia strides towards us.

  Damien

  Aaliya tries to take a step away from me, but I put a hand on her waist, gluing her to my side. She gives me a puzzled look and I kiss her forehead. Even though we’ve decided to keep ourselves away from the public eye, the one person who I definitely want to inform that I’m unavailable is Celia.

  And sure enough, Celia pauses in her stride and a scowl forms on her face as she registers there is something between Aaliya and me. Her expression hardens by several degrees as she keeps marching forward, her eyes locked on me. She approaches me with her arms open wide. I have no choice but to release Aaliya as Celia envelopes me with both her arms and plants a kiss on my cheek.

  “I was so excited when Gellar told me you were in residence,” she gushes. “What a lovely surprise! I didn’t expect to find you here.”

  I draw Aaliya to my side again. “And I didn’t expect you here.”

  Celia ignores my sarcasm and turns her attention to Aaliya. “Miss Singh, the Indian girl, right?”

  Aaliya bristles next to me, but she gives a slight nod.

  Celia tilts her head at her. “I hope our staff at Heaven’s Gate is looking after you, Miss Singh.”

  And before Aaliya or I can say a word, Celia turns to Gellar who is waiting at the library door and starts giving him instructions. “Please ask the servants to put my luggage in my usual room and inform Mrs. Wells I’ll be joining His Grace and our guest for dinner.”

  She turns to us and spreads her hands. “Why don’t we retire to the family room for some wine? We have some excellent vintage in the cellars. I know exactly what I’m in the mood for.”

  “Actually, Celia, we’re all set for dinner,” I tell her, linking my hand with Aaliya’s. “So, feel free to join us now or you can take dinner by yourself later. It’s your choice.”

  Aaliya squeezes my hand in understanding while Celia gives me a venomous look. I don’t care for her reaction. All my sympathy for her flew out the window after she tried to seduce me in her house.

  Her coming to Heaven’s Gate on the same day I decided to bring Aaliya here is quite suspicious and right now, my anger is spiking as Celia pretends to be the mistress of this house when she isn’t. She would have been once, but that ship sailed when my brother died. She will never be the mistress of Heaven’s Gate. Not while I’m alive. And she needs to learn that soon.

  I lead the way with Aaliya by my side without waiting to see if Celia follows, but she does anyway. I help Aaliya to the place by my right and take a seat at the head of the table while Celia sits to my left with a scowl. I signal for the food to be served while I pour the wine for all of us.

  “So, Miss Singh,” Celia addresses Aaliya after I fill her glass. “Did you have a chance to explore the lands around Heaven’s Gate? I highly recommend a picnic by the lake. It’s beautiful.”

  Aaliya takes a sip of her wine and smiles at me as she swallows. I acknowledge her with a tilt of my head. I know her love of reds and I had already chosen this wine to be served with dinner especially for her. I had wanted to spend time with Aaliya to make up for my absence earlier, but now we have no option but to share this awkward meal with Celia.

  Aaliya replies to Celia in an indifferent voice. “I’m sure Damien knows all the pretty places.”

  Aaliya turns to me, speaking in a softer tone, her eyes crinkling. “I can’t wait for you to show your favorite spots to me.”

  “Oh, Damien,” Celia gushes before I can respond. “You must take her to our spot.”

  When I give her a blank look, Celia she touches my arm to explain. “The one in the forest, near that rocky outcrop. The one with the waterfalls.”

  Several years ago, I foolishly and naively believed myself to be in love with Celia. We used to go to the spot she has described often. It was our own paradise. But that was until I found out she was playing me to make David jealous. She knew of our rivalry and what better way to ensnare him than to show interest in the spare son and not the heir. It riled David enough to want her for himself and the minute he did, she dumped me for him, as was her plan all along. She taught me a bitter lesson about love and never trusting another woman.

  I move my arm away from her and my eyes drift to Aaliya. She’s playing with her food, pushing it around her plate. Her lips curve into a pretty pout as she looks into her plate contemplating something. I smile at that adorable expression, which is all too common with her. My heart lurches painfully inside my chest as a crack forms in the i
ce walls I had erected and kept in place around my heart. Aaliya makes me believe in love again and I know it’s premature to assume this, but perhaps I could be happy with her.

  Celia addresses me again, bringing my attention back to her. “I’m certain you remember that place, Damien.” She turns to Aaliya to speak to her. “You know, Damien and I had this special place in the forest where we used to meet in private.” Celia smiles in the distance as if remembering something and my mind goes on red alert. She gives me a dreamy look and then she says, “Damien made love to me for the first time there amidst those beautiful rocks and that cascading waterfall.”

  I choke on my wine.

  What. The. Fuck!

  Aaliya

  The clattering of my fork as it drops from my hand is loud and deafening in the silence that follows Celia’s statement.

  Celia Parker is a bitch! I’ve disliked her from the day she manipulated her way into Damien’s room in the hospital pretending to be his wife and then I hated her some more when she tried to seduce him. And now, I absolutely despise her for shamelessly throwing her history with Damien in my face knowing he’s with me now.

  She has this misguided notion he will marry her and it’s evident that she’s willing to go to any lengths to get him. She’s declared war by saying what she has and I will fight with every breath I have to keep him with me because unlike her, I have a lot to lose here and I don’t intend to suffer defeat.

  Celia smiles at me victoriously like she has won a round of battle. She continues talking, pretending to be oblivious to the glare Damien is throwing her way.

  “Oh! Sorry! Hasn’t Damien told you about our history?”

  She takes a sip of her wine while Damien looks like he’s about to commit murder. I lay my hand on top of his and squeeze. He gives me an apologetic look. I give him a reassuring nod and hear his frustrated sigh as he continues to eat his lamb.

  I turn to Celia, my eyes burning with fury. She continues talking as if everything is normal.