THE PAST

5 years ago

I waited for him. He has never gone this long. It's three a.m. in the morning, and he still hasn't come home.

I dialed his number again, but it was still the same; it went straight to voice mail. No one knows where he is; John, his bodyguard and driver, said that he took his car and drove away. Not even his drinking buddy and best friend Ronald knows where he is. If not me, he tells Ron where he is going. But not this time, Adam Simply took his car and vanished.

But Adam doesn't like driving, so why did he drive the car if John was there? But the thing that worries me more is that John said he was angry when he came out of his office.

Please, Christ, let him be safe. I thought.

All kinds of possibilities were going around my head. Even his bitchy secretary didn't know where he went. He just asked her to cancel all his meetings and went out angry.

"Mrs. Knight," John said in a firm voice, startling me out of my thoughts, "You should go to bed now. I have put my best men at work to search for Mr. Knight. Don't worry we will find him.”

"Oh God, John I won't be able to sleep tonight. At least not until he gets home." I replied in a weak voice.

How could I sleep when my husband was out there and nowhere to be found? Being the most rich and successful man in New York, Adam had a lot of enemies. In business he was ruthless. Not thinking of the consequences, he just goes after what he wants, and during the process, he won't care what or who crosses his path; he just smashes everyone and races toward his objective, therefore making a lot of enemies. And on top of that, he is missing now. My head started to ache from all the possibilities running wild in my head.

"Madam," my Spanish maid Sophia called me out, running toward me and saying, "Madam, he has come." She said while panting. "Sir is home."

In a second I was up and running towards the door. When I reached the door, it burst open and entered a very drunk Adam, who was supported by John.

Seeing the scenario in front of me, I didn't know either to be happy that he was home or to be worried because he was drunk, because Adam never gets drunk on weekdays, especially this drunk that he can't even walk straight.

I quickly rushed towards him, supporting him and frantically checking him as if I could find out what was wrong with him.

Adam was mumbling something and stumbled. Then he looked at me and he was suddenly angry and pushed me aside so hard that I fell on the floor.

I whimpered in pain as my arm hit the corner of the coffee table, and blood started to pour out of the cut. I looked up at Adam with tears in my eyes, hoping to see regret in his eyes, but I found anger instead.

He looked at me with disgust. I stood up and tried to walk towards him. But instead, he wobbled towards me and grabbed my arm in a tight grip.

I whimpered in pain. "Please let go of me, Adam; you're hurting me."

But instead of listening to my plea he pulled me towards the front door and pushed me at the closed door.

"You... you worthless piece of shit. Get out of my house." Adam said in anger pointing his finger towards the door.

"I don't want you in front of my eyes; you disgust me," Adam said.

"Please tell me Adam, what's wrong? Why are you behaving like this? Please Adam, please." I started to cry.

"I don't want to hear a word you say." He lunged forward and grabbed my arms in a tight grip, "Tell me, Claire, what I did wrong? Huh, I loved you, I cared for you, I picked a fight with my mother FOR YOU, I loved YOU, I gave you everything, and I poured my heart out for you. And you... you whore, you cheated on me, you lied to me; you gave MY MONEY to your boyfriend. Why Claire?! Was I not enough for you?"

He pushed me aside again and turned his back to me while running a hand through his hair.

"Mom was right, you know," he whispered and turned to me with tears in his eyes and continued, “You are a gold-digging whore who just wants money and has no love in her heart."

He started sobbing.

"Please believe me, Adam. I didn't cheat on you. Please." I moved forward to touch him but he pushed me aside again.

"I fought with my mother when she said you were after my money because I believed when you said you weren't. I am such a fool. People whispered behind my back, saying how marrying a waitress was a disgrace to my family and my name, but I still ignored everyone and picked a fight with whoever would suggest such an idea because I loved you. But you didn't give a damn, did you? You just wanted my money."

"No! Adam, please listen to me I..."

He raised his hand indicating me to stop speaking "No I don't want to hear a word. Get out. JUST FUCKING GET OUT OF MY HOUSE"

"Adam, no, please," I begged him.

"Please, Adam, I love you," I whispered.

Something snapped inside him when I said those words. He walked towards me and slapped me right across my face.

End of flashback

__________________

I shot up in a sitting position with a hand on my cheek. My dog Bruce was barking near my bed. He stopped at once when he saw I was up.

I ran a hand through my messy brown hair. My body was completely drenched in sweat. I huffed.

Just a dream I thought.

But even after five years, the slap was still graved in my mind like it was yesterday. It was the first time he hit me. He threw me out of the house after that. I went to my friend Aden's house. And cried all night. Aden wanted me to file a report against Adam, but I refused, saying that I knew he didn't mean it and everything would be fine in no time.

But I should have known better.

Nothing was fine after that, he asked me for a divorce and intimidated me into signing the papers. He even had proof about me cheating on him so he didn't have to pay me a thing.

And I was just left on the streets with no money on me and a suitcase that John was kind enough to pack for me.

"Mommy mommy, wake up." I was brought back from my trance by my five-year-old daughter, who came into our room running.

"Oh, good mommy, you are awake now. Hurry up; I don't want to be late for school. Come on, Mommy." She jumped on our bed and started pulling my arm with all she had in her.

"Ok ok, fine. I will be out of bed, just give me a minute. Go." I told her while taking her hand off me. She jumped out of the bed and ran into the living room.

Forget the past, Claire. I thought he was your past, and she is your future, and you have to work hard for her. So just forget him, forget about everything related to him. I thought to myself.

I gave myself a pep talk and got out of my bed to start a new day with a new spirit.

Aden, my best friend, barged into my room, looking all excited.

“You're in a good mood?” I mocked him

“Yes, I am. Someone asked me to keep a secret for her, from you.” he gave me a pouty face mocking me back for Emily choosing to keep a with him than me.

“I hope she isn't keeping something I should be worried about?” I inquired.

“No. Of course not.” He replied. 

“Good. Now get out I need to shower!” 

“Yes, madam.” He says in the nickname I hate. 

My day seems to be going nicely. 

I just need to push whatever it is about Adam and my past with him to the back of my mind.