CHAPTER 29

The meeting finally came to a wrap. I almost jumped out of my chair in excitement. When I stood up, my limbs went numb for a few seconds and I had to hold on to the table and Adrian's left hand for support. He glared at me, confused, and yanked my hand off. I gulped hard and picked up my bag waiting for him to finish exchanging pleasantries with the board members so we could go home.

Out of the blue, the ladies who snubbed me from the commencement of the meeting gathered around me and raised their phone cameras in the air. Selfies were shuttering here and there and I was just trying to make sense of what was going on. Soon, they were making short videos. Some were going live on I*******m, TikTok, and X, saying things like, “Guys, guess who showed up today? Billionaire Adrian's queen and you all know I don't have time for dull moments; we are connecting with her right away.”

Maybe I would have had any problem with the whole thing if they were doing it decently and coded but we're just making a hell of noise everywhere and making a big deal out of nothing. This was one of the numerous reasons why I hated the spotlight, so much inconvenience. I kept smiling sheepishly at all the cameras put in front of me, I couldn't help but curse those ladies under my breath.

Before I could finish making my wish of the ground opening to swallow me up, a firm hand grabbed me tightly and pulled me out of the mini crowd. It was no other person than Adrian. When we got to the car, I wanted to reach for the door handle and pull it open, but he held my hand midway and shoved it aside, brushing my belly in the process and sending cold shivers down my spine. He opened the door and held my hand to help me climb in. I tried hard not to blush, but the crowd would not let me be.

The moment the driver turned on the ignition, everything went back to normal. The usual silence and spontaneous side eyes. I leaned back into the car seat, heaving a deep sigh. I felt used like some tool who was only remembered when the need arose. A series of thoughts crossed my mind, one of which was “Was there any lady in that meeting room doing what I was doing? I mean someone who signed a contract marriage with their man and is being treated like some piece of trash. I doubted if they were because all of them wore this satisfied look; they did not look like people who had emotional issues or people who were going through life's struggles. Most of them were even playing and acting so romantic with their spouses after the meeting. I sighed and looked out of the window.

The car soon came to a halt and Adrian quickly alighted and went inside the building we parked behind.

“I almost forgot that everything is back to normal”. I muttered and opened the door.

I looked around and noticed that this wasn't the hotel we had lodged and checked out from. If we were staying back in California, then why were we checking into a different hotel? But the only way to find out was to ask him. I followed him quickly and soon met up with him at the receptionist's table.

“What are you doing?” I asked panting from the little race.

He glanced at me and returned to attend to the receptionist. Later on, he replied.

“What does it look like I'm doing?” He asked rudely.

“I'm just confused. We checked out of the other hotel, and you said we were going back to America, but here we are trying to lodge into another hotel.” I stuttered.

“Do you have a problem with it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, I don't”. I replied slowly. “But where is my luggage?

He got the keys to the rooms and turned around swiftly heading to the elevator. I followed him behind hoping to get an answer to the question I asked. He tapped on the elevator buttons and it slid open. Adrian went in, hoping that I would do the same.

“Are you going to sleep there?” He asked, looking pissed off.

“No,” I replied abruptly.

“Then come inside the fucking elevator”. He ordered, his voice close to anger.

I fidgeted and stepped inside the elevator. The door slid close behind me. We began ascending progressively, but the lights suddenly went out, and the elevator stopped at once. It was a bit dark inside there. Adrian was freaking out; he rained curses on the management of the hotel.

“What the hell just happened, we are stuck in an elevator. No this can't be happening after a very tiring and stressful day. I am going to sue this god-damned hotel and see to it that it gets closed down…….

He kept ranting non-stop. I just curled up in a corner and folded my arms across my chest. I did not say anything, maybe because I did not have anything to say. Adrian tried to dial a couple of numbers, including “911,” but none was going through. I wondered if the power failure affected the entire California.

When he was tired, he sat on the floor with his coat folded on his thighs. I could tell that he was foaming from within.

“If only we didn't check out of the previous hotel, we would not be here by now”. I murmured with a sigh.

“What did you say?” He asked with slightly furrowed brows.

“I did not say anything,” I replied with pursed lips. It was dark so he didn't see me doing that.

“I heard you.” He insisted.

I remained mute, biting my lower lips and praying he would just come off it, but no, he did not.

“Do you think I am a fool?” He asked and I scoffed silently.

“Why would I? I asked, throwing my hands up in the air.

“I had my reason for checking out of that hotel earlier today.” He said matter of factly.

“I know,” I mumbled in reply.

“What's the reason?” He asked almost immediately.

“I don't know the exact reason, but I just know that only an insane person does things without reason.” I shuttered and heaved a sigh at the perfect answer I gave him.

“That hotel worker was the reason.” He muttered.

“What!” I exclaimed sitting up.

“Yeah,” He groaned.

A series of thoughts flashed through my mind. Why would Adrian go to the extent of checking us out of a hotel because of a common harmless-looking worker? Isn't it suspicious?