Rebuilding in the shadows

ADRIAN'S POV

I picked up the cigar stick and placed it between my teeth. The air-conditioning hummed softly as a cool breeze wafted into the room. I flicked the lighter, placed it at the tip, and took a slow puff as it caught fire. 

I stared at the television before me, reading the headlines sliding off the screen. My jaws clenching, I picked the tv remote and turned up the volume.

The news anchor’s voice cut through the silence, way too cheery for the headlines below it. “Alright, America, let's dive into the juiciest news of the day. The entire Internet is shocked as America's Socialite Queen, Sloane Harper files for divorce from Business Tycoon, Adrian Cross.” 

A photograph of Sloane and me standing together popped up on the screen–our wedding day, Sloane smiling at the camera with her arms wrapped around me. I scoffed, shaking my head. Grabbing the vodka bottle beside me, I poured myself a glass. 

“Social media has erupted, with different posts mocking her, calling her dramatic and some saying she’ll crawl back,” the anchor went as different posts from X and I*******m flashed across the screen. "Some people have even begun placing bets on how long before she does. We do not know much on the news but let's just say… the memes are quite brutal on this—”

The screen went black before she could finish talking. I turned to Mia, staring at the remote in her hand. She gave me a sly smile before throwing the device to the side and jumping on my lap. 

“Hey," I said with a chuckle as I tried to steady my drink. "You're going to get this all over me.”

Mia laughed before planting a soft kiss on my lips. I returned the kiss, dropping my glass on the side table before wrapping my arms around her waist. 

“Looks like my man woke up feisty,” she said in that drooly voice that made my heart beat faster. “And what do we have here…” she slipped a hand inside my boxers, "... seems like something else's woken too.”

I bit my lip, running a hand over her thigh as she laughed softly. But then, her voice faded into the background as I tilted my head, staring at the blank screen. For a second, I thought about Sloane–how she was probably also sitting and watching the news about our divorce. 

It had been three weeks since Sloane packed and left. I had woken up that night, expecting to find Sloane standing at the door, staring like she always did, but she wasn't there. When I walked to the guest room to check on her, I found everything of hers gone. She had left, leaving nothing behind–not even our daughter, Daisy. 

Days later, I received her signed part of a divorce letter through the mail and, at first, thought nothing of it. But Mia prompted me to sign, claiming that leaving it only meant she had some hold on me. I listened, signed, and the day after, news of our divorce flooded the internet. How it had leaked, I don't know. 

Mia caught the shift in my gaze instantly. She grabbed my chin and turned my face to meet hers. “No," she whispered, her soft voice sending chills down my spine. “Do not let your mind race, worrying about her. She's gone. You don't need her.”

I chuckled, leaning back on the couch as I took another slow drag of my cigar. “Worried?" I scoffed, smoke curling from my mouth. "Trust me, Mia. I’m not worried. If anything, I'm more curious as to what she's doing." 

“That shouldn't concern you either," Mia said with a soft sigh as she grabbed the cigar from me. "I

I'm here to make you happy." 

Mia leaned back, taking a long drag of the cigar before pouring the smoke at my face. I breathed it in, exhaling after it had filled my lungs. 

“She’ll come running,” I said, my voice low and steady. “She won't last three more days out there. With her gone, the finances, the press and even her public image are all under my control. She has nothing out there." 

Mia scoffed, amusement flashing across her features. "You sound so sure of that," she said as she tapped the cigar, its frayed end spewing embers and ash into the end. “But word out there is, her lawyer has been avoiding the press. They tried talking to her today but she refused any of their questions.”

"Yeah, I heard,” I muttered, tapping the side of my glass. “I tried reaching her but she doesn't want to speak to me. And Sloane's turned off her line so I can't even text her. Checked out the beach house she always went to whenever we fought but that place is cleared out too.” I ran a hand through my hair. "She… really disappeared." 

Maya shrugged. “She finally grew a spine, I guess," she said with a smirk. “Or maybe she's just too scared to admit her fault. Either way, it means more time for us." 

I looked at her, smiling faintly. "Yeah, I guess it does,” I replied, my smile faltering, my chest tightening. 

____________________________________

I stared at the door, waiting patiently. The clock above me ticked half past nine and there still wasn't any sign of him. 

“Where the hell are you?" I muttered under my breath as I turned on my phone, scrolling through my contacts. He was supposed to be here with the news. 

Just as I was about to dial the number waiting on my screen, the doorbell rang. I looked up to see a shadow move beneath the door. 

He was here. 

I quickly gulped down my drink, rushed to the door and pulled it wide open. Outside, a man in a grey suit stood, his hands shoved in his pockets. He shook his head as his eyes met mine.

“We’ve checked everywhere,” he said with a soft sigh. He dug his hands into the pocket of his suit coat and brought out a brown envelope. “She’s really gone. No traces. Not even her car.”

I collected the envelope from him, slapping it gently on my hands as different thoughts raced through my mind. “Thank you," I said finally before closing the door behind me.