#Chapter 24 – Wife vs Stock
Adrian
Last night’s news report stuck with me. Are stock prices nowadays truly dependent on how a company’s leader’s life looks like? Will I soon be under the microscope when people turn to invest in my pharmaceutical company?
The thought sends chills down my spine. I can see the news articles and headlines already.
Pharmaceutical CEO in hot water amid messy divorce with estranged wife!
Adrian’s pharmaceutical company’s stock plummets, forcing the company to declare bankruptcy!
Adrian’s wife takes everything he has, leaving him with nothing!
Stella’s face flashes across my mind, striking my heart with an aching pain due to the looming threat of divorce she hands over my head.
Will she take me for everything I have? Will she go after every nickel and dime, even the left over change in my jacket pockets?
No…she’s not that cruel. In the five years of our marriage, she has always been kind and has helped me throughout the years.
Stella has changed for the worse, though. I guess that is what the end of a long relationship does to people.
I should go see her, convince her to not go through with the divorce, if she is still thinking about it, that is. She would listen to me, right? Listen to reason and see that we can go about this whole messy situation like the adults
we are.
I simply do not have time to be immature and petty. I run a successful, billion dollar business and I develop new medical technologies and medicine that saves millions of lives. Acting like a child and throwing temper tantrums, like how Stella does, is not going to get me anywhere.
“Adrian?” My assistant’s voice snaps me back to reality. I look at him and raise an eyebrow, setting down the informational packet in front of me. “What do you think about the deal?”
“Go through with it,” 1 push away from my desk and stand up, looking at my assistant who sits in the chair in front of me. “I’m going to take the rest of the day off. I have personal matters to attend to.”
“But, sir! You have scheduled meetings all day!” My assistant follows me as I walk to my door, running my fingers through my hair.
“Cancel or reschedule them,” I wave them away, pressing the elevator’s button. “This is urgent.”
I step inside the elevator door and slip my phone out from my pocket. Swiping through my apps, I press the text messages and then press Stella’s name.
“What if there’s an emergency?” My assistant asks while the elevator doors slowly close.
“Then figure it out,” I narrow my eyes at them. Once the doors are closed, I turn my attention back down to my phone screen, staring at Stella’s name and our text messages.
Our messages have always been one sided. In the past, Stella was the one always texting me but now? I have been the one who has been texting her to meet or to give her the chance to explain herself.
My fingers hover over the keyboard. I am unsure of what to say or do. I feel like no matter what, something will be miscommunicated or be misconstrued where tensious will run high between us again.
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#Chapter 24 Wil
Is she still
mad at me? We’ve both slept on last night’s fight. I’ve calmed down so she has to be as well.
I need things to go well between us. My career and company are on the line. Stella will understand this, she always
has
I get inside my car and speed out of the parking garage, heading towards downtown. Stella’s new apartment is not that far from my office and is just about a ten minute drive. The closer and closer I get to her building, though, my heartbeat slowly speeds up.
The car engine roars to life every time I press on the gas pedal, speeding down the almost empty streets now that The morning traffic has died down.
Stella’s apartment comes into view and I park my car across the street. I slip out of the car, fixing my suit jacket. Just as I’m about to walk across the street, a black car pulls up in front of her building and it stops me in my tracks.
The paint is dark and sleek. I can barely make out who is inside the car through the heavily tinted windows. The car door swings open and my eyes immediately train themselves on the figure that emerges from the darkness.
Sebastian steps out of the car, his suit neatly pressed and he’s quick around the front of the car. The side opens and Stella steps out. My heart skips a beat, tension already straining my body.
passenger
The man reeks of wealth. His suit is perfectly tailored and his car is from the most expensive sports car brand. His hair is perfect, too, and makes him look even more handsome.
Is this what Stella truly wants? I know that I have suspected it in the past, but seeing him flash his wealth in front of the humble apartment building only reiterates that fact
If it’s wealth she wants, I can give it to her! I’ve provided for her in the past, so what’s changed?
Their shared smiles make my nostrils flare, my breathing now becoming slow and ragged. Stella’s hip bumps into Sebastian’s as they walk to the door. She laughs and he turns to look down at her, her hazel eyes as vibrant as ever from across the street.
A sharp pain stabs my heart. I took looking into her eyes for granted, those hazel hues always made me feel safe and comfortable.
That should be me dropping her off at her apartment, not him. I can pick her up in a fancy sports car that is worth millions of dollars and give her flowers whenever she wants
What does he have that I don’t?
Wait…what am I even thinking? She’s made it clear that she does not want me. That she does not want to do with anything that involves me.
I jog across the street, making sure to stay out of sight. When Sebastian holds his arms open, all I can see is red.
My mind goes silent. My fists immediately ball at my sides, knuckles white. My skin tingles and it feels as if I’m being poked by a million tiny little needles.
How can she act so casual with him? Stella must have been seeing him before Clara woke up because there is no way in hell that the two of them could already be acting so cozy with one another within such a short time.
I take a step towards them. Sebastian pulls away and heads back to his car. Stella stays by the door, waving to him as he gets inside his car.
The window rolls down and he says something that I can’t hear. She rolls her eyes and waves him away, her laugh carrying down the sidewalk.
He revs his engine and she turns to face the door. His car speeds away, seamlessly shifting into the afternoon
traffic.
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Stella My voice booms across the sidewalk. Stella turns to look at me and her smile immediately drops from her face. “You have some explaining to do!”
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125 Let MeExplan
