DANIELLE'S P.O.V.There are moments when time just stops. In those moments, it halts abruptly, and then, it lulls and slows down. It becomes a void in which one's emotions and senses are heightened while things and activities are diminished.For a short moment, as Doris Covington, the Dean of Students, invited him up to the podium in front of the hall in which I was sited with roughly two hundred other intending MBA students, time stilled. At least for me, it did.As I watched him walk into the room, my breath caught in my throat and my stomach started to clench painfully. I had no idea why my body was reacting the way it did, and I was terrified that I would forget how to breathe and die a sad death caused by the anxiety at seeing my husband.Even my wandering mind had stilled on my seeing Adrian step on to the podium, his strides proud and sure.Soon, the wheels in my brain started to unclog and roll.How was he here, in that hall?How was it possible that Adrian fucking Valentino w
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.The reception was held on a yacht named Illusion. It was a 290 footed ship with impressive exterior areas that included two Jacuzzi pools, a touch and go helipad, and incredible social areas. From the main deck, the stunning double height atrium gave off the feeling of space on board. This feeling was further enhanced by the fifteen metre long plaque of its name 'Illusion' written in bold letters that beamed brightly.Azra and I, upon our arrival on the deck, collected flutes of champagne from neatly dressed waiters who carried trays in their hands and moved about the yacht's deck in search of empty handed guests. The aim of the reception, according to the Dean of Students, was to socialize with the various notable guests and impress them in hopes of getting connections with them for future purposes, however, impressing socialites was the last thing on my mind. So, when Azra excitedly requested I followed her on a tour of the luxurious boat, I followed without hesita
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.One, Two, Three minutes. The seconds of the black metal clock ticked into minutes, stretching the silence until it was long, uncomfortable, and stifling. My breath hitched in my throat, my hands trembled lightly, and my heart beat irregularly and fastly- so fast, that I thought it would go into overdrive and make me go into a cardiac arrest, or maybe that it would jump out of my chest.I had no idea why I was so scared, so terrified of Azra finding out about my relationship with Adrian Valentino. After all, I had committed no crime by being married to Adrian. The only crime I could agree that I was guilty of committing was keeping the truth about my identity a secret from my one and only friend in school. The fact that I had kept it a secret could be justified because I had not meant to keep it from her, it had just happened the way it did and I hadn't exactly had any chance to tell her about it.Although my brain had justified my keeping my identity a secret from Az
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.Adrian's blue eyes sparkled as a mischievous glint flashed across them. His lips were, once more, pulled at the corners into a smirk, causing a wave of anxiety to wash over me."Whatever would I do with you?" he asked, shaking his head slowly."What is that supposed to mean?" I asked in confusion."Is that why you've been so angry with me? Because you listened in on my conversation?" he asked."Do not get me wrong. I didn't listen in, I only just happened to over hear. It is not my fault you were loud enough for me to hear from outside the office." I scoffed."If you really didn't want to hear my conversation, you would have just pressed the bell or let me know you were outside through the intercom." he argued."How in the world would I have even known you were having such a conversation about me? You think anyone would knowingly want to hear their husbands demean them and place a price tag on their worth?""You think I demeaned you and placed a price tag on your wor
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.Waking up with an hangover was probably the worst thing to happen to anyone in the world.What kind of spirits exactly do they use in the production of alcohol?Why in the world could something so sweet and bubbly be just as deadly?I let out a sharp breath and groaned loudly as I woke up. My head felt like someone was playing on it- like it was a conga drum, my forehead felt just about ready to split open, and my tongue tasted like I had washed and rinsed it with soapy water.What if I actually did wash my mouth with soapy water?I pried my eyes open but I regretted doing so, closing my eyes almost immediately as the bright rays of sun light, that escaped the curtain's shield in torrents, pierced my already hurting eyes, causing my eyes to burn further, blurring my vision.As I lay in my bed, my eyes still closed, I tried to rack my brain to recall last night's activities, but nothing was coming forth.I say in my bed with my eyes closed for a few more minutes befor
DANIELLE'S P.O.V."If I am getting what you said correctly, you're saying that you can not recall anything else about the party after you called for a waiter?" Janelle asked."Yes. My brain is as blank as a wall right now." I sighed, picking up a French fry and putting it into my mouth."I still can't believe that Chase fucking Sinclair was at your school's reception. What in the world was he doing there? You don't think he is following you, do you?" Sofia asked."He probably was there with Madelyn as her plus one. She is his sister after all- it wouldn't be odd for him to follow his only sibling to a party dedicated to welcoming her and her colleagues to a new school." I shrugged."Aren't you creeped out by the recurrent coincidences?" Layla asked."What do you mean?" I asked in confusion."Don't you think it's odd that you both keep running into each other every where. First he came to the Bachelorette party, then he gate crashed your wedding reception, then he showed up at your dad
DANIELLE'S P.O.V."That about wraps it up." Sofia said, looking around the kitchen."You guys did a good job." I complimented as I looked around the kitchen too, taking in the hard work my friends had put in to clean the Penthouse's kitchen. The marble counter and island glinted and shone under the stream of light created by the light bulbs as if it was agreeing with my compliment."We did do a good job." Layla said smugly, drying her hands off on the cream colored kitchen towel."I'm glad that is done and over with." Janelle sighed, checking her fingers for any damage to her nails which she had just installed a few days ago.After having our lunch, the girls had joined me in cleaning up the living room and kitchen. Sofia had wiped off the kitchen's counter and island because she was the queen of wiping down dirty or greasy surfaces and making them shine; Janelle was in charge of loading the dish washer, an effortless chore because she was trying to avoid any damage to her newly fixed
DANIELLE'S P.O.V.The room was suffocating, hot, and airless, even with the air conditioner humming gently in one corner of the big space. My back hurt from crouching under the table for too long, and my throat was parched from the tension that coursed through my body and caused my muscles to be knitted tightly.You must be wondering why I was in such a position in the first place. What I would tell you is that I had made the biggest mistake that day, by listening to the voice inside of my head. No wonder psychopaths got taken to psychiatrist hospitals- because the voices in our heads were not to be trusted. But like the soft and kind hearted person that I was, I, Danielle Dawson, had stupidly listened to and trusted the voices inside of my own head that had encouraged me to go into Adrian's room.At first, entering Adrian's room had been a breeze- facile and undramatic. After turning the door knob, I had let the door fly open, the door hitting the wall with a soft thud. I had walked