#Chapter 31 – Is That You?


    Adrian


    "Thank you for visiting our restaurant, sir, pleasee again soon," the hostess who stands at the front door of the restaurant beams at me as I pass them by. A bag hangs from my hands with two to go boxes inside. ra''s untouched meal and my leftovers sit inside.


    Walking out to my car, I can''t help but feel like something is off. The unsettling feeling nestles into my chest, making it feel hollow and empty.


    Am I being used? Surely, ra could have stayed for the meal we nned to share together instead of instantly running away. She did order the most expensive item on the menu, something that even I would second guess ordering due to its high price.


    I ce the bag in the passenger seat. The scent fills my nose and acts as a reminder of what transpired inside the restaurant. Annoyance fills my body, slowly bubbling up and overtaking my thoughts.


    I start the car and rev the engine to life, taking out some my annoyance through the loud roars. The car lurches forward and out of its spot, quickly spilling onto the road.


    Today at lunch, ra acted exactly how I imagined Ste to be. She only whined about her problems, which were quite superficial and surface level since her friends only care about money and wealth, and then proceeded to leave me high and dry before we could even see each other.


    My marriage with Ste has not looked like this.


    Ste has been kind to me throughout our contracted rtionship. She made sure to make all of my favorite meals whenever I had a bad day at work, always texted me whenever I stayedte at the office, and even gave up her body and blood so my research could flourish. Well, she knew that was a part of the contract, but still, anyone who is willing to give up their body is one of a kind, someone who deserves all of the recognition they could get.


    And Ste has received nothing but arguments and being framed for stealing extravagant nes from ra. My heart twists inside my chest. I yank the steering wheel to the right and switchnes, crossing between cars without a car in the world. Other cars honk at me, they roll down their windows and yell obscenities at me through their windows, but I do not care.


    My body and mind are disconnected from each other. While I lull over my past with my soon to be ex-wife.


    I think I have made a grave mistake. I think that my judgment has been clouded due to my love for ra. Have I been missing what has been making me feel so full and secure in order to pursue a woman who has only expressed interest in me after I became sessful?


    I park the car and stare at my hands on the steering wheel. My expensive watch slowly ticks away the time as the inside of the car dies, my keys now sitting in my hand. I look out of the window and notice Ste''s apartment building.


    A sigh leaves my lips and I rx into the seat of my car. My body and heart scream at me to go inside, to go find Ste and to make up for all of the hurt and anger we have put ourselves through.


    The entrance door opens. I suck in a breath and watch as Ste exits the building, a small smile other face while she stares at her phone. I sit up and watch her. She''s so beautiful...effortlessly so.


    I should go apologize to her. I should make up for all of my wrongdoings and hope that she will forgive me.


    #Chapter 31-Is That You?


    I step out of the car, fixing my appearance, and take a single step in her direction when my phone rings. Sighing, I pluck it from my pocket and look down at the message.


    ra: Thank you for the pick me up. It means the world to me, Adrian. I love you! My breath gets caught in my throat. I look back up at Ste whoughs to herself, and brings the phone to her ear. A lump forms in my throat.


    Ste...never did this. She never thanked me for the money have given her throughout the years. She has never once told me the two words I never thought I knew I needed to hear the most.


    I get back inside my car and shake my head, mming the door behind me. The car roars to life and I m my foot against the gas pedal, the car lurching down the street.


    Ste


    The sudden sound of a car engine snaps me out of my thoughts. I look to the side and notice a silver sports car peel out of a parking spot. My heart skips a beat.


    Adrian? Was that you? Were you here to see me?


    No! I can''t think about him. I need to get away, remember? Focus, Ste!


    A ck SUV pulls in front of my building. I smile at the familiar figure in the front seat, who immediately jumps out of the car and walks around to my side.


    "Good afternoon, Sebastian," I smile.


    "Ste, you look beautiful today," hepliments.


    I push hair behind my ear and watch as he opens up the car door. My mother sits inside, a small smile of her own on her face. I get inside and buckle my seatbelt, turning to her.


    "Hi, mom," I warmly greet.


    "What surprise do you have nned for us, Ste?" her smile grows before returning back to its small state. I shrug, chuckling as Sebastian gets back inside the car.


    "I guess you''ll have to wait and see!" I respond in a cheery tone,ughing as


    Sebastian makes a quiet joke about being our chauffeur.


    I talk with my mother about some jobs I have recently picked up. She


    is quick to tell her that I am one of the best hackers he has ever met.


    I stare out the window as they talk and watch as other cars pass ours. A piece of me hopes to see Adrian''s car, to know that he is still here with me and in my life.


    As soon as Sebastian puts the car in park, I hop out and run around the side, beating him to our mother''s door, bumping my hip into his. The car door opens and we help our mother out. She raises an eyebrow at the sign of the building.


    "A mall?” her voice is filled with surprise. She turns to me. An expensive one too!"


    "I thought that a little retail therapy could help us feel better," I smile and link my arm with hers. "We have had a long past couple of days...why not treat ourselves?"


    "I like how you think," my mother nods at me, slyly winking.


    "Call me if you two need anything, okay?" Sebastian calls from inside the car. We turn to him and smile, nodding.


    #Chapter 31 - Is That You?


    He nods back and drives away.


    My mother and I enter the mall. Various high end luxury stores are lined up next to each other. Only a few people move in and out of the stores, the mall being exclusive and for high paying customers only.


    "Where should we start?" I ask, looking up at my mother. She hums to herself, looking around before her eyesnd on a nearby store.


    "What about that one? They have the cutest dresses that you would look amazing in," she says. Before I can respond, she begins to pull me in the direction of the store.


    Iugh and try my best to keep up. Out of the corner of my eye, though, I spot a familiar head of blonde hair, her blue eyes immediatelytching onto mine.


    ra...


    This is going to be bad, isn''t it?