Chapter 6 Her Exclusivity

• Ariana Sutton’s POV
• Figaro Capeham was my friend back in college. He wasn’t a suited man back then. The Figaro I knew was studious. I thought he came from a poor family. While everyone was searching for a college partner, he spent all his time studying, but he could have dated any girl he wanted. Figaro was a tall and handsome man, after all. Love letters would come to him almost every day, but none of the girls managed to make him fall for them.
• Everyone thought he didn’t like women, but I knew that was not the case. He tried to court me, after all. But I said no. I still loved Stefan back then, and we were in an intimate relationship, so to speak. I could never fall for someone else. It had been years since I saw Figaro. This reunion was a little awkward for me. I might have refused this job had I known I would be coming to his house.
• Figaro didn’t look awkward, however. It seemed like he had forgotten about our past. “Yeah. Surprised you, didn’t I? My friend introduced you to me. I thought it was a case of the same names, but I was surprised when you turned up. My sister’s a bit of a brat, though. Sorry if she causes any trouble.”
• Figaro looked confident, and I pushed my hair back stiffly. I wanted to quit, but I couldn’t say no. “It’s alright. This is my job.”
• I would teach his sister for six hours every weekend. Three hours each day, and he would pay me seventy-four dollars per hour. That was enough to entice me. Money was what I needed.
• Once the class was done, Figaro offered to take me home. Before I could even say no, he justified, “It’s going to rain. I don’t think you love getting drenched, do you?”
• He was always smiling. Talking to him was a comfortable thing to do.
• Once we got into the car, Figaro whipped his phone out. “Add me on Facebook. Makes it easier to Venmo you next time. My sister chased off a ton of piano instructors before you came, but now I know she won’t do the same thing to you.”
• That was a good reason to add him on Facebook, so I did. We did not talk about that time in college, however. Instead, we chatted about something else. A short while later, we were already at the Jablonsky Residence, and the rain finally started. The silence we had just a while earlier was replaced by the pelting of raindrops.
• Just when I was about to get out of the car, he asked quietly, “Ariana, can you tell me why we would never be a thing?”
• I almost missed that, but I heard everything. Still, I refused to answer. He deserved a better woman, but I wouldn’t say that. I looked at him, pretending I heard nothing. “What did you say?”
• He smiled. “Nothing. You should go inside. Don’t wanna get drenched, now.”
• I stood under the overhang, seeing Figaro off. It’s been years, and still, he couldn’t let it go. The rain was getting bigger, so I trotted my way into the house. Then my phone rang for a moment. Venmo from Figaro. It felt rude to not say anything after taking his money, so I texted, ‘Careful on your way home. It’s raining, so drive slowly.’
• Sounds of footsteps echoed through the air. I raised my head and was met with Stefan’s eyes. There was a dark look in them. He must have gotten home a while ago. I could smell the shampoo coming off him. And he had changed into casual attire. Looks a bit more easygoing now. I asked, “Had lunch?”
• He didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Who was that?”
• “A college friend,” I answered honestly. But I didn’t tell him I was working part-time. There was no need for that since he would probably insult me again.
• But then he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. With fury in his voice, he spoke. “What else did you do? What else besides a piano teacher? Do you need money that desperately? Or are you just trying to get closer to the rich? Why are you selling yourself like the sl*t of a mother you had? Did she infect you with her promiscuous personality? Or am I not enough for you, Ariana?”