Disappointment

DISAPPOINTMENT

Adrian sat alone in his home office, the signed divorce papers still on the desk in front of him. The house was too quiet. Evelyn’s absence had turned the Harrison Estate into a hollow shell. He poured himself another drink, the amber liquid catching the light from the city skyline outside the tall windows.

The door to his study opened softly. Sophia stepped inside, wearing a fitted black dress that accentuated her figure. She closed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, smiling.

“Adrian,” she said, her voice low and intimate. “I came as soon as I heard the papers were signed. How are you holding up?”

He didn’t look up. “I’m fine.”

Sophia walked closer, her heels clicking on the hardwood floor. She stopped beside his chair and placed a hand gently on his shoulder.

“Now that you’re finally divorced,” she murmured, “we don’t have to pretend anymore. Let’s have some fun. I’ve missed being touched… missed feeling wanted.” Adrian stiffened. He slowly turned his head to look at her, his expression darkening.

“What did you just say?”

Sophia leaned in closer, her fingers trailing lightly down his arm. “You heard me. We’ve been dancing around this for months. Daniel is gone. Evelyn is gone. It’s just us now. I want you, Adrian. I’ve always wanted you.”

Adrian stood up abruptly, pushing his chair back. His voice was cold and sharp. “Are you serious right now?”

Sophia blinked, surprised by the anger in his tone. “Adrian You’re pregnant,” he cut in, voice rising. “You’re carrying another man’s child, and you think this is the moment to offer yourself to me? To suggest we ‘have fun’? I’m so disappointed in you, Sophia.”

She took a step back, her confident mask cracking slightly. “I thought… now that the divorce is final “You thought wrong,” Adrian said, his tone laced with disgust. “You are in my life for one reason only because I made a promise to Daniel. He asked me to protect you before he left on that assignment. That’s it. That’s the only reason I’ve tolerated any of this. Not because I want you. Not because I desire you. And certainly not because I want to make out with a pregnant woman who is carrying my best friend’s child.”

Sophia’s face flushed. “Adrian, I didn’t mean.You did,” he interrupted. “You meant exactly what you said. You’ve been pushing this narrative for months. The rumors, the hospital visits, the way you made Evelyn believe I was the father. All of it. And now that she’s gone, you think you can just step into her place? Unbelievable.”

He walked around the desk, putting distance between them. “I honored my promise to Daniel. I protected you. I gave you a position at the company. But this? This crosses every line. I’m disappointed in you, Sophia. Deeply disappointed.”

Sophia’s eyes glistened with tears, but Adrian couldn’t tell if they were real or calculated. “I only wanted to comfort you. You’ve been so alone since Evelyn left.”

“Comfort?” Adrian laughed bitterly. “This isn’t comfortable. This is opportunism. Go home. We’ll talk about work tomorrow, but nothing more. And if you ever try something like this again, our arrangement ends. Promise to Daniel or not.”

Sophia stood there for a moment, lips pressed together. Then she nodded slowly. “I understand. I’m sorry. I misread the situation.”

She turned and left the study, closing the door quietly behind her.

Adrian sank back into his chair, running a hand through his hair. The silence of the house pressed in on him again. He had signed the papers. Evelyn was gone. And now even Sophia had shown her true colors.

He picked up the divorce papers again, staring at his own signature. Part of him still hoped Evelyn would come back. That one day he would open the front door and find her there, ready to talk. But the longer she stayed away, the more that hope felt like a fool’s dream.

He poured another drink and stared out the window at the glittering city below.

Wherever Evelyn was, she had chosen to stay hidden. And he was left here, alone with his regrets and the growing mess around him.