#Chapter 65- Respecting The Distance


    Adrian


    ra''s birthday partyes to an end and no matter how many times I check my phone to see if Ste has called or texted, my notification center remains empty besides a few calls from my secretary at work and the CFO of mypany.


    I pretend like her silence doesn''t hurt, that it doesn''t sting to know that she only called once and immediately gave up on me. Maybe I should have called her to see what she needed, if she still needs me. It''s only a gentle reminder that I am still open and an option she has in case she needs something.


    Wait...no. I shouldn''t. If Ste wants her space, then I will give her all of the space she needs. I shouldn''t push something that is bound to explode in my face, leading toplete and utter destruction in the already shell shocked city that is our rtionship with one another.


    Tracer was right. I need to loosen the reigns in this aspect of my life, as well as work, and I need to rx a bit. Life will y out as it will and there is not much I can do about.


    I can''t help it that I am anxious all of the time, wondering when the next bad thing is going to happen to me.


    First, ra takes a bullet for me and slips into a five year longa. Second, my mother''s cerebral hemorrhage is another scare that I went through and did not have her in my life due to aa she slipped into. And now my sudden divorce with Ste is the next catastrophe that is ready to explode at any moment.


    Although, a few mini explosions erupted here and there like at the cafe and resort when Ste and I butted heads.


    I step through the door of my home, a ce where Ste used to greet me with a smile on her face. Is it bad of me to admit that I miss her presence now that she''s gone? That I have be ustomed to seeing her before and after work, toe home to a home cooked meal ready for me to devour?


    Now she''s gone and I am alone in a ce that is way too big for just one person.


    I need to stop thinking about this. A distraction will help me get out of his mindset, a constant state of worrying about someone who has pushed me away more times than I can count on my hands. After all, I do have a lot of work to do andplete for the project before the IT team Wells at me for another dy.


    I change out of my clothes and get into my pajamas, sitting in my bed as I pull myptop onto myp. The sun has gone down and the only light in my roomes from theputer screen, illuminating my face and the nearby


    area.


    Tracer''s website has expanded since thest time I visited it. It looks more formal and it seems like she has expanded her ventures into other fields of focus, such as other corporations and media conglomerates.


    I shift to the messing board, seeing that her status isbeled as active. Just as I am about to type in a message, to ask for another update, my phone rings from the side table.


    My hand reaches to the side, aimlessly grabbing it, and bringing it in front of my face. Mypany''s CFO''s name, Michael Hutton, stares at me, his contact photo smiling at me. I slide the bar to ept the call and bring the phone to my ear.


    “Michael? This better be good," my voice is stoic and yet he still picks up on the humor of my very, very dry joke. "Adrian, it''s always a pleasure to speak with you," I can hear his eye roll from the other side of the phone. "The shareholders had a word with me about your project."


    "Did they?" I am less than surprised by this. I move to my emails, looking at all of the unanswered messages that I pushed off to respond to. "What are they saying?"


    *


    Chapter 65 Respecting that Detence


    *** 128 BONUS.


    Worried about the possibility of data leaks andwsuits that maye our way, the usual, I have a n for us tobat this and get them back into our good graces," Michael says.


    A flood of relief spreads throughout my body. Michael is always good with a n. Him and Ste always know what to do in a situation like this.


    "We have the annual shareholders meetinging up and it would be a great idea if yott came along," he says.


    I suck in a breath, not particrly enjoying being surrounded by people who are ready to depose me at any moment just in case a scandales out about me that can ruin our stock''s prices.


    "You can always bring a guest, you know you can. But instead of it being a meeting, it''ll be a g style party. Very rxed. You''ll only have to give one speech," Michaelughs.


    "Oh, well, just one speech makes it all the more appetizing I''ll think about it," I''m just about to hang up when he catches my attention.


    "You need to show up or they''re going to defund the project. I believe in you and what you want to do with the world and I would hate to see this pass you by because you don''t feel like leaving the house. Think about it, okay?"


    Michael hangs up the call. I sigh and set my phone down beside me.


    Events like this have always bored me. I do not like to answer the same question over and over again. Having to go about it alone will only make things worse, make me more irritable than I, or the others, will be able to handle.


    Ste used toe to events like this with me. She always stuck by my side and smiled, filling in the nks whenever I went silent. She was always great at keeping the conversation flowing despite being on the more quiet side.


    Should I call her? Onest favor to ask before we officially go our separate ways?


    No...no that would be a horrible idea. Ste has made it clear that she does not want to see me, especially after the phone call with ra where I said that I was appeasing Ste to be on her good side. It wasn''t even the truth which makes things worse for me.


    Maybe I should send her a gesture of good will. A white g in the air to surrender to the small skirmish in the war that is our divorce. Maybe then she''ll talk to me, see me, and help me with the shareholders g.


    I pick up my phone and text my secretary to order flowers and to send them to Ste tomorrow. White orchids, Ste''s favorite from what I can remember from our wedding, to be exact.


    Maybe then she will find it in her heart to break the silence between us and bring an end to the distance that separates us. A distance that is slowly making me spiral with each passing second, a distance that makes me stare at the empty space in bed next to me.