6 S.O.S.

The scorching heat of the noon had completely drained Adam’s resolve. The entire day was spent under the sun at the site of Simon’s soon to be warehouse. Adam could feel his brain vaporize out of his head. Simon seemed unfazed. The land was perfect for what the client asked for. There were no high rise buildings in close proximity so it would add to the scenery. Adam was fine with the request and Simon Cole was amused with the plans Adam had shared with him. After a while of running around in the boiling heat, they took a minute in the limo. Daylight was depleting quickly and Adam was starving. Simon decided to pay a visit to a restaurant. He barked some orders and the limo arrived at a food street. 

“Any favorites?” Simon asked in a friendly manner. 

“Anything that’ll fill the belly and can reach me in the car,” Adam responded without attempting to mince his words. Simon smiled.

“You read my mind,” the client said and called his driver. They both ordered Chinese takeaway. Simon was expecting Adam to go for the most expensive thing around. The billionaire longed for a humble meal himself and hanging around with Adam had allowed him to have one. The meals arrived in a matter of minutes. They started immediately. 

“Where’re you from?” Simon Cole asked with his mouth full. 

“Nebraska,” Adam responded without looking up from his plate. 

“I mean your folks. Where’s your family from?” Simon specified. Adam thought for a moment. 

“Santa Rosa. My dad would kill for the LA Dodgers. I’m the only one to ever leave California,” Adam responded, trying to be as casual as possible. Simon nodded. There was no point for Adam to ask the same question about Simon Cole. The billionaire’s family had definitely been in the same mansion for several generations. 

“If you don't mind me asking, where did all your wealth come from?” Adam casually inquired, ignoring the possibility of the question offending the recipient. Simon didn't seem to care. 

“Slaves,” the billionaire answered like a news announcer. He expected an astonished reaction from Adam and got one. 

“They shifted their wealth in different businesses once slavery was abolished. Today our money is in airlines, several different industries and Wall Street,” he added. He didn't seem proud of his family’s history but didn't care to keep it hidden. The air inside the limo had turned awkward all the same. 

“Family?” Adam asked, trying to change the subject. 

“I am the sole child of my parents. Dad is long gone and Mom looks to be on her way. She always needs a nurse,” Simon spoke without a hint of sorrow in his voice. It seemed as if he had come to terms with it. 

“As for marriage, it only lasted a year and ended in a hostile divorce. She tried to get half of my everything and I paid my lawyers a fortune to pull her back to the ground,” he added. Adam sat there blankly, not sure how to respond to that. 

“We had been together since highschool. You know, senior proms and all that crap. Now that I look back at it, it had always been about money. Every sideways glance she and her friends gave me, every strained grin I received from her started to make sense the moment I saw that goddamned piece of paper,” he added. 

“You?” Simon turned the question back at Adam. The family matters of Adam’s weren't as gory. 

“Parents and siblings are still in California. Wife’s waiting at home back in Nebraska.”

“Go on. How did you two meet?” Simon pushed. Adam was a bit uneasy with the conversation but since the client had already been so frank about his side, it would be awkward to leave him hanging.

“It was a business trip to a foreign territory. We were introduced by the client. Long story short…I went there as a single man and returned with the ring,” Adam said. Simon was intrigued and wanted to hear more. It was a way more colorful story than Simon's. 

Adam’s phone buzzed. He had put his phone in silent mode for the evening. There weren’t many people who would call him on his phone. He checked it. It was Jessica. He chuckled. 

“Speak of the devil,” he said and Simon chuckled back. 

Adam received the call and expected a routine bombardment of protective questions. But instead, he found Jessica in a familiar broken state. It shook him. Simon caught the change in his face. Jessica was sobbing. 

“Hey! What happened?” Adam worriedly inquired. There was a long silence on the other end. Nothing but strained breathes.

“I’m scared. Can you come home?”

“But can you … what’s going on?” Adam tried to make sense of it. “Did you take your pills?” he added. Jessica’s condition made her brain overwork, causing her to go paranoid. She had pills to help with that. 

“I’m being stalked. A creep snapped a photo of me without my permission. The police arrived on the scene but …Please come home!” Jessica screamed. She was losing it. 

Adam was speechless. The panic on his face was obvious. He feared the worst. Jessica couldn't afford being under this much stress. He was needed there. He weighed his options. There was work on one hand and his wife on the other. He chose the latter in a blink of an eye. There was no way in hell Adam was letting her fend for herself alone. 

“Alright, Jess. I’m coming. Sit tight!” Adam said and hung up. He was contemplating his way out. The meeting with the client was going better than he had expected. There was no telling how the rich guy would take it. 

“Mr Cole, I…” Adam started. 

“The warehouse can wait. Come back whenever you can. I’ll have you escorted to the airport. Or better yet, you can take my jet,” Simon Cole spoke, clearing all the doubts in Adam’s mind. Simon had really left a mark in Adam’s heart. 

“What? Are you sure? I…couldn’t,” Adam said. 

“Don't be a stranger now. I’ll call my pilot. He’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” Simon said with serious expressions on his face. 

Adam couldn't begin to imagine what she was going through. He always tried to stay at home to give her company. She needed help. Her injury needed her to be free from all stress. She couldn't afford being in a situation like that. And that too, alone. He prayed that she pulls herself through this until he reaches her. They drove to the airstrip. The driver was under instructions to be quick. There wasn't much traffic to keep them waiting. They reached the airstrip in a few minutes. 

“Mac!” Simon called out as soon as he stepped out of the vehicle. Mac came running toward him with his shirt unbuttoned. He had been sleeping when he had received Simon’s call. There wasn't anything marked for tonight on the calendar. Adam could see the state of the art private jet. It wasn't the latest model but it was the most expensive the year it was released. 

“Take Mr Peterson to Nebraska. He’ll be going back on our jet,” Simon instructed him and Mac nodded.