CHAPTER 20: 20: PHONES OUT

Alexander walked into the bedroom, expecting to see Adrienne shamelessly lying on his bed after refusing his offer last night.

However, he was met with an empty room.

He frowned, his grip on the pillow tightening as anger set in.

"How dare you, Adrienne? You leave without my notice," he murmured and flung a pillow on the bed.

He paced the room and clutched the sides of his head in frustration.

’Where the fuck am I to tell mother that my wife went so early?’ He grimaced as he suddenly realised that he knew nothing about this said wife.

He didn’t know her home, if she had other jobs, or a relationship.

"Fuck," He clenched his jaw and glanced at the chaise lounge as if it were guilty for the situation.

He quickly got his phone and sent a message to someone. It was about time he dug into the life of his wife. He had been so desperate to marry that he overlooked the necessary details.

What if Adrienne were a spy from a rival, sent to gather information about his life and work? And he had so stupidly brought her into his home... his room!

Yes, they agreed to not dig into each other’s lives, but he never played by the rule; he only made the rule to keep the other person grounded. It never applied to him.

He was going to dig into the last detail about Adrienne. He couldn’t get an agreement where he knew nothing about his partner.

For now, he had to find a way to explain to his mother why he didn’t wake up with his wife by his side.

He had the quickest shower for the first time, and as he dressed up, he tried to call Adrienne’s number multiple times but it felt like the number never existed.

His morning has been ruined by none other than his own wife.

He schooled his expression and left his room. His mother was yet to sign over the shares to him, he didn’t need to give her a single reason not to. Not even Adrienne’s unprofessionally and stupidity could stop him from owning the 100% percent shares.

He slowed his pace in the middle of the stairs as he saw his mother sitting on the sofa and sipping her morning coffee while going through a magazine.

He frowned, his mother never made her own coffee. Whenever she came around to his home, he was always the one to prepare coffee because they shared the same taste. Not even the maids could get it as perfectly as they wanted it... Adrian has been the only one, who stuck the right recipe in his head. He never omitted or added anything while ordering his coffee at the office.

He frowned harder as he realised that his thoughts had somehow woven back to Adrian.

Now wasn’t the time to think about his clumsy, timid secretary, he already had Adrienne ticking off his nerves and didn’t need Adrian to ruin his whole mood.

He inhaled slowly and walked down the remaining steps.

"Good morning, Mother," Alexander greeted, leaning over to kiss his Mother’s cheek.

"Good morning, Alexander. I know you slept well," She giggled, flipping to the next page of her magazine.

Alexander paused, his brow raising as he saw what his mother was reading: a fashion magazine!

Since when did she turn into a fashionista?

Secondly, she seemed so happy, which was unusual, she should have been complaining about some stock prices or how much effort he needed to put in his business to get higher than he already was. But she was just happy... relaxed.

And, the third and most important one, she hasn’t asked for her daughter-in-law. She must believe that Adrienne was sleeping soundly up in the room and was patiently waiting for her daughter-in-law to wake and come downstairs so they could continue their discussion from last night.

It would be weird to ask your mother where your wife was at such an early morning, right?

He glanced around the house, magically hoping to see Adrienne sitting somewhere.

’Darn it,’ he sighed quietly.

He just had to play it cool. Since his mother wouldn’t ask, he wouldn’t speak of Adrienne.

He cleared his throat, "Mother, I’m leaving for work. I’ll have someone take you home." He leaned down and kissed his cheek again.

Mrs. Devereux only smiled, not taking her eyes away from the magazine.

Alexander frowned, "Then, I’ll be -"

"Oh, here, I almost forgot," she pouted at the cup on the table behind Alexander, "Your wife made you coffee, and she also commended my fashion sense and advised I venture into fashion since I’m retiring from designing cars. I could start designing clothes, you know?" She tapped the magazine with a wide smile, staring expectantly at her son.

Alexander froze, his brain suddenly too slow to understand a word his mother was saying.

So Adrienne was the one who made the coffee? And when did they have all the discussion without him hearing a thing?

How early had she woken up?

How could he ask his mother about his wife’s whereabouts without looking irresponsible or suspicious?

Slowly, he turned and picked up the cup of coffee, taking a sip. Perfect.

How did Adrienne know what coffee he liked?

He gulped and returned his eyes to his mother, "It’s good." He murmured.

"What is good, Alexander? The coffee, or the fashion idea?" She asked.

Alexander balled his fists, Adrienne was trying to set him off-guard in his own game.

"The coffee is good, Mother -"

"Yes, I told her how we liked it. Now, how about the fashion idea? Do you think it’s great? Adrienne has even offered to be my first model if I need one," She stood, holding her magazine to her chest.

"She did..." He said quietly, clenching his fist.

"I think you’ll do just great in whatever you set your mind to, mother. If fashion is what you want, then, do it. You’ll do great.." he nodded at her, giving her his full attention even though he was dying to leave and figure out what the fuck was going on with Adrienne.

Mrs. Devereux smiled happily, "Aww, I knew you’d support your wife’s idea. By the way, I will be going on a week’s trip. When I return, I expect to see two lines on the pregnancy strip. Also, make sure you visit Adrienne’s mother at the hospital. Poor woman." She tapped Alexander’s shoulder and walked away with her coffee and magazine.

Alexander stood there like a statue, watching his mother leave.

He was speechless, so many things were happening at once.

How was he supposed to visit Adrienne’s mother when he had no idea which hospital she was at?

How was he supposed to get Adrienne pregnant when it was never part of the deal?!

So many hows and what ifs. And, Adrienne wasn’t even helping matters; she moved like a ghost, vanishing the moment he needed her the most.

’She would never agree to bear my child,’ Alexander sighed in frustration.

He had an idea that his mother was going to use the pregnancy thing to hold back her shares from him. She wasn’t playing fair, she had only asked him to get married, and she never mentioned she wanted a grandchild

He clenched his hand around the coffee cup, gritting his teeth. He gulped the coffee in one go, set the cup down, and marched out of the house.

Lawrence already had the car steaming and waiting.

"Good morning, sir," Lawrence greeted as he opened the car door for his boss.

"Adrienne, did you see her leave?" He asked the driver.

Lawrence nodded, "Yes, sir."

Alexander frowned, "Did she say where?" He questioned.

Lawrence shook his head, "No, sir. She declined my offer to drive her, saying she’ll take a taxi." He explained, hanging his head in shame.

"You let my wife take the taxi? You let Mrs. Devereux out without proper security?" Alexander steps closer to the older man, his eyes cold.

He couldn’t stop the anger that was rising within him. He knew Larence was innocent, but if he had done his job and alerted him about Adrienne’s departure, then none of these would have happened.

"I’m sorry, boss, but she told me that you were aware of her choice of transportation. I am truly sorry for the -"

"Drive me to work," Alexander commanded, cutting off the poor man as he got in the car and slammed the door.

"Y-yes, sir," Lawrence replied, hurrying to get in the car.

In a few minutes, Alexander arrived at his workplace and headed right into the elevator.

He tried Adrienne’s number a couple more times and still got out blank.

His mood had never been so ruined before; he couldn’t wait to get a hold of Adrienne. He needed to set some rules straight.

The elevator hissed open, and the first thing he saw was his staff, surrounding Adrian’s desk with their phones out and recording.