CHAPTER 007 ADRIANSPOV Isteppedoutoftheshower,lettingthecoolairfromthebathroomventbrush againstmydampskin.Steamcurledinthe air,lingeringliketheweightonmychest.Ireachedforatowel,runningitovermyfacebeforewrappingitaround my waist.
Thesofthum ofmyphonevibrating againstthenightstandcaughtmy attention.Anothernotification.Anothermissedcall.
Ialready knewwhoitwas.Thehospital.
Theyhadbeen relentlesssinceyesterdaycalls,voicemails,texts.Itwasbeginningtogetonmy nerves.
Iknewwhattheywanted.Ijust didntcare.
Lastnight,myphone hadbuzzedagainstmydesk,interruptingthesilence ofmyoffice.Ihadbeenlostinwork,papersspreadoutinfrontofme,my mindoccupiedwithcontractsand figures.WhenIglancedatthescreen,IsawOlivias name flashing.
Iletitring.Thenagain.Andagain.
Apartof mehad been curious.Wouldshe beg?Apologize?Trytomanipulatemeinto feelingsorryforher.
Butwhen Ifinallyanswered,thevoice that greetedmewasnthers.

Hello,goodevening.AmIspeakingwith Mr.Adrian?Awomansvoicesounded,soft,professional,unfamiliar.
Mybrowsfurrowed.Whoisthis?WhyareyoucallingmefromOliviasphone? Imanurse from CureClinicRenewalHospital.Iusedyourwifesphonetocallyouandinformyou thatshehasbeeninaminoraccident.
Accident.
Mygriponthephone tightened.And? She lostherbaby.
Everythingfroze.
Baby?Oliviawas pregnant?Abitterlaughhad almostescapedmy lips.Soshehadbeen carryingmy childallthistime,andInever evenknew.Hadsheplannedto tell me? Orwas shewaitingfortheperfectmomenttouseitasleverage? Thenurses voicehadcutthroughmy thoughts.Sir,are youthere? Yes.MyvoicewascolderthanIintended.
Ill besendingyouthe hospitaladdress… Dontbother.
CHAPTER007 There wasabriefpause.Sir? Imnotcoming.
Therewasasharpintakeofbreathontheother end.But,sir… Ihadended the callbeforeshecouldfinish.Ididntneedtohearanythingelse.
Now,standinginmydimlylitroom,Ireachedfor myphone,ignoringyetanotherincomingcallfromthehospital.

Follow new episodes on the CrushnovelS.Com

DidshethinkIwouldrushtoherside? ThatIwoulddropeverything and bethe loving,doting husbandsheonceimaginedmetobe? Olivia,youunderestimateme.
Thisisntover.Istillhaveunfinishedbusinesswith yourfamily.
*** Themorning lightstreamedthroughthewindowasIfinished dressing.Acrispwhitebuttonup,tailoredslacks, polished shoes.Apictureofcontrol.Iadjusted mycufflinks, straighteningmycollarbeforegrabbingmywatchfromthe nightstand.
Myphonebuzzedagain.Anothercallfromthehospital.
Iignored it.
Beforeleaving,Iwalkedtowardthedarkdrawer besidemybed,pullingitopen.Myfingers brushed against thesurfaceofaframedphotoonethatIhadkeptcloseall theseyears.
Mymother.
Itracedtheedgeoftheframewithmythumb,mychesttighteningat thesightofhergentlesmile.Shehadalwaysbeen the reason.ThedrivingforcebehindeverythingIdid.Every moveImade,everystepItookitwasallforher.
Herdreamhadbeen for metofindsomeonestrong,someoneworthytostandby myside.Someonelike Isadora.
A bittersmileplayedonmy lips.Would sheapproveofthemanIhad become?Wouldsheunderstandthechoicesihadmade? Iexhaledsharply,settingtheframedownwithcare.

Itdidntmatter.
I hadwork todo.
Withonelastglance inthemirror,Igrabbedmykeys andwalkedout thedoor,readytofacethedayandwhatever wascoming next.
AsIapproachedmyoffice,thetoweringglassbuilding loomed ahead,itspolishedfaçadereflectingthe morning sunlight.Mydriversmoothlypulledoverattheentrance,andIstepped out,adjustingmytiebefore headinginside.
13 CHAPTER007 ThemomentIentered,allmystaffgreetedmewiththeirheadsbowed,theymurmuredGoodmorning,sirechoingthroughthesleek,modernlobby.Iofferedabriefnodinresponse,myfocusalreadyshiftingtothedayahead.
I strodetowardtheelevator,mymindrunningthroughtheschedule.Justasthe doorsslidopen,mysecretary,Helen,rusheduptome,herheelsclickingagainstthemarblefloor, Mr.Adrian,youhavebacktobackmeetingstoday,sheinformedme,holdingoutatabletwithmyitinerary.
Your9AM withtheinvestors,followedbyaboard meetingateleven.TheresalsoalunchmeetingwiththeRainesCorporationrepresentatives,andintheafternoon… Igotit,Iinterrupted,stepping intotheelevator.Cancelthelunchmeeting.Illreschedule.
Helenhesitatedbutnodded.Understood,sir.
Theelevator doorsclosed,andIleanedback,exhalingslowly.Thedayhadbeenpacked,leaving noroomfordistractions:Thatwasgood.ThebusierI was,theless timeIhad tothinkaboutOliviaand thefactthatIhadlostmy childbeforeIevenknewofhisexistence.
口