CHAPTER 22

I hesitated before picking up Adrian's call wondering why he was calling me. Funnily, this is the first time Adrian has called me since we got married.

“Hello”. I muttered holding the phone close to my ear.

“Jenny, get ready you are joining me here in California. There is an important event I need to attend and you must be present. As a matter of fact, you have the next one hour to be here and your flight is in twenty minutes”.

And just like that, he ended the call. I sat there dumbfounded for a few seconds trying to digest what Adrian told me. Then suddenly, the statement “your flight is in 20 minutes” rang in my head, making me snap back to reality.

I flew to my room and jumped under the shower; of course, I had to take a quick bath to smell fresh. Afterward, I brought out my traveling bag from the wardrobe; it was pink in color with the perfect girly vibe. I threw a few official clothes in it and added a dinner dress, hoping I would wear it to the event. I packed up other necessary items and soon was out of the house, astonished to see the convoy ready; Adrian must have informed his bouncers.

When we set out for the airport, I had seven minutes to catch my flight. I was cursing Adrian under my breath because I knew he intentionally informed me late about the trip, maybe to get back at me for what I did the previous day. My subconscious mind suggested that I ask Adrian if I could board one of his private jets, but I quickly dismissed it because I knew Adrian would never agree to it; how then would he see me suffer if he lessened the stress by allowing me to take his jet?

But now my heart was beginning to race because of the high speed at which we were driving. Adrian's cars were the best in the world with every trending technological feature in it. However, the driver's initiatives worked as I landed at the airport two minutes before the deadline; since I was a VIP, I was attended to instantly.

I dozed off immediately after the plane took off. Yes, that's because I have a phobia of height, and if I remained conscious when I was high in the sky, I might pass out. I swallowed some sedation pills to help me sleep off effortlessly, and the drug was supposed to expire after 30 minutes, the exact time the plane was going to land in California.

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Adrian was seated comfortably on the executive chair when I hurried into the hotel room. We stared at each other mouth agape with confusion written on our faces.

“What is going on?” Adrian asked, finally breaking the silence.

I think I was the one supposed to ask that question because I was lost. The person who gave me one hour to fly from America to California was dressed in pajamas, comfortably sitting on an executive chair in one of the most luxurious hotels in the country, scrolling and tapping away on his laptop.

“Why did you run in like that, is anyone chasing you?”

He asked again this time with a wave of fear in his voice.

“I thought you told me over the phone that we have to be at an event in 1 hour?” I asked.

I was just so indescribable at that point. My body language and mental state were delusional.

Adrian only scoffed and sat back on the chair, picked up his laptop, and continued with what he was doing before I went in.

“Maybe you didn't hear me well. The event will take place in the evening, you can check into your hotel room till then.

What! Could he be serious with what he was saying? He made me risk my life just to meet up with the time he gave me. I fell from the stairs on my way out of the airplane and bruised my knee; I bumped into people countless times on my way to his room, and as if that was not enough, I slipped and fell in the elevator. I went through all this just to be here on time and this is what I got after everything I suffered.

No appreciation, no acknowledgment, and no apology. I wished I could pour out my mind, but I couldn't. It was as if my tongue was tied or something. Hot tears gathered in my eyes but I didn't want him to see me cry. I stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind me but the stupid door was well-padded and didn't even make the sound I was expecting. With each step I took, the ordeals I suffered to get there replayed in my head, intensifying my pain more.

“Hello, ma'am are you okay?” A small voice came with a soft hand tapping my left shoulder gently. “We spotted you from our camera room in an odd condition, and I came to find out what the problem is.”

I raised my face to see the person. Her uniform told me she was a worker in the Hotel. I wanted to lie, to tell her I was fine but my voice failed. Tears just began to stream down my face with reckless abandon.

“Ma'am, you are crying. Is anything the matter?” She asked, radiating concern in her eyes.

As much as I wanted to share my pain with her, I couldn't. I quickly lifted my dress to show her my bruised knee.

“Oh, I am so sorry, ma'am. Please come with me so your injury can be treated”.

I finally found my voice.

“No, please, I'm fine. I will take care of myself thank you for your concern”. I muttered and stood walking away.

“Very well then please take care of yourself”. She mumbled from behind and I nodded in reply.

I trudged to my room after confirming the room number and walked in. It was when I collapsed on my bed that I realized how tired I was because I was snoring just after a few seconds.

I woke later to a nagging headache and bangs on the door and my phone was beeping at the same time.