HIS TURN

He was unremarkable in every way. Average height, average build, average face. He wore a simple suit and an apologetic expression. The kind of man you'd pass on the street without ever noticing.

But Adrian noticed him now…he couldn't help it.

"Mr. Vale," Marcus said, his voice calm and professional. "I apologize for the interruption. I just had a few questions about the quarterly projections."

Vanessa stared at Marcus like she'd seen a ghost and Adrian's eyes narrowed. 

"We're in the middle of something."

"Of course." Marcus nodded pleasantly, his gaze sliding to Vanessa. "I can wait."

For a long moment, nobody moved. Then Vanessa laughed again…a hollow, broken sound. She looked at Adrian, then at Marcus, something unreadable flickering across her face.

"You think you're so clever," she said, her voice hoarse. "Both of you! But you have no idea what's coming." She turned and walked toward the door, pausing beside Marcus in the doorway.

"He'll destroy you too," she whispered, just loud enough for Adrian to hear. "Just like he did to me."

Then she was gone. Adrian watched her leave, his jaw tight. When he looked back at Marcus, the man was still standing there, smiling that pleasant, forgettable smile.

"Shall we reschedule?" Marcus asked but Adrian didn't respond.

Adrian studied him for a moment, something prickling at the back of his mind. The man's face was familiar. How many times had he passed him in the hallway? How many meetings had they attended together?

Years…

He'd known Marcus Webb for years and he'd never noticed anything unusual about him.

"No," Adrian said slowly. "Let's talk now." Marcus stepped into the office, closing the door behind him and in the silence that followed, Adrian felt something cold settle in his stomach.

Adrian expected a threat, a discussion about Seraphina but instead…it was all work. Marcus dropped down the document and started explaining while Adrian stared at him in shock. He scratched his head.

“Mr. Vale, are you alright?”

“Yes. Why?” He laughed nervously.

“You're not listening to me…”

“Oh I am…I am…our investors?”

“They're unhappy about the turn over. A large amount of money has been moved out of the account and it's not traceable…”

“What?” Marcus turned the documents and opened a tablet. 

“On the 12th, it suddenly vanished.”

“That's crazy.”

“It most definitely is!” Adrian leaned back still staring at Marcus and his warm, easy smile.

“Marcus?”

“Yes sir?” Adrian closed his eyes and swallowed. He had to ask it, even if it made him look extremely stupid.

“Did you have feelings for my ex-wife?” Marcus paused, his eyes widened and his expression shifted from simple, to confused 

“... excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

“No, sir.” He answered flatly and he stood up. “Well if you'll excuse me sir…I'll leave now.”

Before he got to the exit, Adrian called again.

“Marcus!” Marcus paused and turned, still smiling.

“Yes, sir?”

“Are you sure you had no feelings for Seraphina…?”

“Sir, I didn't even see her enough to get attracted to her.” And he nodded and walked out. 

******

Damian sat for what seemed like hours until he checked his phone and it was–

“Fuck…past 8?!” He stood up to leave when he checked his phone. No unknown Number, no texts, no calls from Stephanie or Seraphina…or Vanessa. He didn't want to go back to the penthouse, she'd be there…complaining and ranting. He didn't want that, but he had to.

The drive was slow and peaceful, just like the old times before he met Vanessa and took Seraphina for granted.

“God, I miss my wife.” Something responded back in his head.

“Ex-wife.” and he exhaled and repeated.

“Wife.” 

When he got in the house, it was quiet and cold like Vanessa hadn't stepped foot since she left the office. But Adrian couldn't care less.

He sat alone in his penthouse, the memory of Vanessa's words still ringing in his ears as he poured himself a glass of whiskey.

BUZZ

BUZZ

BUZZ

He looked down to find– Unknown Number. He stared at the screen for a long moment, his heart hammering against his ribs. The day had been peaceful without all this, he had talked to Marcus and he was sure it wasn't him.

But when he stared down, the message was simple.

“She's right, you know."

"You have no idea what's coming." Adrian's grip on the phone tightened as he read the last line.

“But you will. Soon." He saw a photograph but didn't look at it yet. The conversation in the office was only witnessed by Vanessa, him and Marcus. No one else has this information. His mind raced, his head hurt but he looked beneath the message and a photo sat there.

“I don't want to open it…” he whispered, his voice shaky.

Attached beneath the message was a photograph and it had been taken minutes ago from inside Seraphina's apartment.

Inside.

She was asleep on the couch and in the background…barely visible through the window, someone was watching her from the fire escape.

“Fuck.”