Chapter 8; Adrian’s Chaos

Adrian's

The view from my office was impressive, but today, it did nothing to calm my nerves. Meridian City stretched out below me, its towering skyscrapers and bustling streets usually a source of pride. Today, it just felt like a reminder of everything I had to manage. The board meetings, the investor calls, the constant pressure to stay ahead of the competition—it was enough to make anyone crack. But I couldn’t. Cracking wasn’t an option.

My desk was a mess of papers and reports, the clutter reflecting the chaos I kept hidden from the world. I’d been up late reviewing the latest financials, trying to find a way to keep the shareholders happy while navigating the ever-shifting landscape of the tech industry. It was exhausting, but I didn't have a choice. This was my life, and I'd made my bed. Now I had to lie in it.

The phone rang, jolting me out of my thoughts. It was Diana Kingsley, my executive assistant. She was one of the few people I trusted to keep things running smoothly. If she called, it usually meant I had to deal with something important.

"Mr. Langston," she said, her voice calm but firm, "your mother is on line one. She says it's urgent."

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. My mom, Evelyn "Evie" Langston, had a talent for picking the worst times to call. It wasn't that I didn't love her—I did—but she had a way of reminding me of everything I was trying to avoid. Like my family, for instance, and the mess that was my relationship with my brother, Oliver.

"Thanks, Diana," I said, picking up the phone. I had to force a smile into my voice. "Hi, Mom. What's up?"

"Adrian, darling," she said, her voice filled with warmth and worry. "I haven't heard from you in ages. Are you taking care of yourself? Eating properly? Sleeping enough?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm fine, Mom. Just been busy. You know how it is."

"I do," she replied, and I could almost hear her frown through the phone. "But you need to take care of yourself. You can't work all the time. And it's been too long since you've come home. I miss you."

Guilt hit me like a punch to the gut. I knew she was right, but I couldn't afford to take time off. "I'll try to visit soon," I said, hoping to pacify her. "I just have a lot on my plate right now."

She sighed, and it sounded heavy. "I know. I just worry about you. And about Oliver. He's coming to town, you know."

That caught my attention. "Oliver? Why?" My tone was sharper than I intended, but my brother's name always had that effect on me.

"He wants to talk to you," she said, her voice gentle. "Please, Adrian, don't shut him out. You two are brothers. You need to find a way to mend things."

I felt my jaw tighten. Oliver and I hadn't spoken in years, not since he walked away from the family business and left me to deal with everything. He'd always been the rebellious one, the one who wanted nothing to do with the corporate world. I, on the other hand, had embraced it, taken the reins, and made it my own. Our father had left a mess behind when he died, and I had to clean it up. Oliver had bailed, and I hadn't forgiven him for that.

"I don't know, Mom," I said, trying to keep my anger in check. "He's the one who left. What does he expect from me now?"

"Just hear him out," she said, her voice pleading. "For me, Adrian. I can't stand this rift between you two. You're family. You need each other."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I knew she was right, but it didn't make it any easier. "I'll think about it," I said, not wanting to commit to anything. "But I can't promise anything."

"That's all I ask," she said, sounding relieved. "Thank you, Adrian. And please, try to take some time for yourself. You need it."

"Yeah, I will," I lied. "Talk soon, Mom."

After I hung up, I felt a mix of anger and guilt. My mother always knew how to push my buttons, and mentioning Oliver was a sure way to get under my skin. The idea of meeting him, of having to pretend like everything was okay, made me want to punch something.

I walked over to the window, looking out at the city. It used to give me a sense of control, but today, it just felt overwhelming. The chaos was closing in, and I didn't know how much longer I could keep it at bay. My father's picture sat on my desk, his stern gaze a constant reminder of the expectations I'd inherited. I'd spent my whole life trying to prove myself, trying to show him that I could do it. But the more I succeeded, the more it felt like I was losing myself.

I picked up the picture and set it face-down. I didn't need his judgment right now. I had enough on my plate without dealing with the ghosts of the past. But Oliver's return was going to complicate things, and I couldn't afford complications. Not with the launch of our new tech product coming up and the shareholders breathing down my neck.

I needed to focus, to keep my head in the game. The company was everything to me, and I couldn't let anything—or anyone—distract me from my goals. But the chaos was getting louder, and I didn't know how much longer I could pretend it wasn't there.