CHAPTER 19

I resolved that I wasn't capable of telling Adrian about Julian yet, so I went ahead to narrate the incident with the crowd, skillfully excluding Julian's ordeal. When I was done, I remained mute, hoping he would just take my word for it and not bombard me with questions.

However, he heaved a loud sigh and muttered.

“Julian”.

I wasn't sure I heard him well and I couldn't help but ask.

“What did you say?”

He stood up and mumbled, “Never mind”.

He walked past me and headed to his room. I wasn't expecting any reply initially so I shoved it aside and went to my room. I tried so much to take my mind off Adrian's issue with Julian, but the more I tried, the more I became interested. Maybe I would have successfully shoved it aside if Julian didn't drag me into the picture.

I curled up on my bed as usual hoping sleep would come knocking because it was just a few hours to midnight. I slept off a few minutes later but jumped off my bed and landed on the floor suddenly. I had a dream about Mom and it was so real.

In the dream, I saw Mom lying lifeless on her sick bed as usual, then suddenly she tried waking up but she kept struggling with something. It was as if something was choking her or squeezing life out of her but I couldn't help because she was inside a metal cage. I kept crying and beckoning her to wake up but to no avail.

When I woke up to reality, I was sweating profusely from my head down to my toes, although the air conditioners were still working efficiently. My heart was pounding against my chest and I kept screaming “Mom” uncontrollably.

That does it; I am going to see Mom tomorrow, come what may. There was no way Adrian was going to stop me because my mind was made up.

I climbed back on my bed and pulled up my duvet to cover my body. I picked up the teddy bear I got from the mall earlier and hugged it tight. My subconscious mind whispered to me, “I thought you were married; you should be hugging your husband, not squeezing an innocent teddy bear terribly.” I scoffed in frustration and replied in my head “Do you still call this shit a marriage?”

Sleep was far from my eyes for the rest of the night; the feeling was mutual. I wasn't ready to encounter another scary nightmare, so sleep had better stay away. I craved for the next morning to arrive so badly, but you know how it is, nature had to have its way.

When the long-awaited morning came, I quickly freshened up, slipped into a pair of blue jeans and trousers, and wore a lemon-colored jacket to compliment it. I glared at the mirror for some seconds, and I couldn't help but admire how smart I looked; Adrian's idea of changing my wardrobe wasn't that bad, though. Well, that doesn't mean anything.

I ran out of my room and hurried down the stairs, but on my way to the main exit door, I collided with someone. We both fell to the floor, and I landed on top of him; our eyes met for a second, but he quickly pushed me off his body.

“Are you blind? Why the fuck can't you watch where you are going?” He shouted.

“I'm sorry”. I muttered, trying to arrange my outfit and my hair especially.

Of course, I had to take the blame, even if the fault was from both of us. Over Adrian's dead body would he admit his mistake; it's something that I came to realize.

“Where the hell do you think you are going by the way?” Adrian asked, glancing at me with a side-eye.

I hesitated before replying.

“I am going to see my…. I mean I'm visiting home”. I replied in stammers.

He turned around and gave me a cold stare, which sent shivers down my spine.

“pew, that was a close one,” I murmured.

“You are very persistent, aren't you?” He mumbled.

He wasn't expecting me to reply, right?

“Anyway, be sure to join me in the office afterward.”

I shrugged as he made his way out of the house. I followed suit while he entered the flashy black Benz car with a five-vehicle convoy accompanying him; I used the grey-colored Prado accompany; Ied by the bouncers allocated to me. Funny enough, my house was situated along the road leading to hi; I ‘mice. I would have been simpler if we used the same car, but Adrian's pride wouldn't let him, and I couldn't stand his domineering presence, so it was much better that way.

My car was leading the way while Adrian's convoy followed behind; I hated it. Suddenly my call pulled up in ask middle of the highway.

“What's that?” I asked the driver with furrowed brows.

“I think the car just broke down”. He replied, still struggling with the ignition.

“Hell no, this can't be happening right now. This is the worst time and place for this”. I screamed in frustration.

The driver's phone beeped and he picked it up.

“Hello boss”. He shouted into the phone.

The caller replied and he continued, I tried to strain my ears to hear what was said but in vain.

“Boss, the car just broke down abruptly, I'm sorry”. He replied.

Suddenly, the call volume increased.

“What the fuck are you vomiting from that gutter you call a month? How will it sound over the news that billionaire Adrian's car broke down on a highway? How more incompetent can you idiots be?”

“I'm sorry, boss”. The driver muttered.

“Save your sorry fool, bring Jenny safely to my car because I'm leaving this scene immediately, I can't be identified in this scenario and my wife either. Do well to get those plate numbers off so that the car won't be recognized as mine and ensure to fix this mess as soon as possible”.

“What did he just ask me to switch t?”