A Love Like This

Chapter XXII

One Month Later

My plan for today was to stay in bed for the rest of the day after my therapy session but Adrian had other plans. It's been a month now since I found out that Isaiah was dead. Knowing he wasn't alive didn't bring me a sense of peace. In fact I almost felt angered by it, it was the easy way out I guess. I wanted him to be brought to justice for the crimes he committed against myself and the other women and their families. But I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Chante said this was to be expected and that I still had a long road ahead of me. I knew it wasn't going to be an easy one.

But I was ready for it. I couldn't allow this darkness take over my life. Since the rape I lost a total of twenty pounds. I wasn't eating, and if I did I vomited it right up. I could tell seeing me like this was taking a toll on Adrian as well. Although I tried my hardest not to I began to push him away. He would try to cuddle me and I would move away. He would compliment me, remind me that I was still beautiful but I would just scream at him. I didn't want to be like this anymore. I'm exhausted.

Adrian and I pulled up in front of a building. Turning off the car Adrian shifted in the driver seat to look at me. Reaching over to me he stroked my cheek lightly before taking my hand into his. Giving him a faint smile I looked out the window trying to figure out where we were.

"Where are we ?" I asked while still looking out the window

"Let's go find out" He said getting out the car

Following his lead I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. Adjusting my fur jacket over my body I stepped closer to the building. It was a two story building that had large glass windows. It looked like it might have been a boutique that went out of business from the layout of the first floor. Adrian walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Holding me close to him he placed a kiss on my neck.

"I know you've been going through a lot and I don't want you to lose sight of everything you wanted before the rape. I brought this building for you, welcome to your new law firm Ms. Parker" Adrian said holding a set of keys in front of me

My mouth fell open as I saw the keys presented to me. Turning around in his arms I hugged him tightly. Tears began to fall from my eyes as I cried happily into his chest. With everything going on, me becoming distant with him he still managed to love me and keep my best interest at heart. I knew this wasn't easy on him. I might have been the one who was attacked but I wasn't the only person affected by it.

"I-Adrian. I don't know what to say. Thank you for this baby. Just thank you" I said pulling away from his chest to look up at him

"You're welcome Vix. It's been a stressful time for you and I just wanted to bring that spark back into your life. You're a survivor, a fighter baby. Don't forget that" Adrian replied lifting my chin up with his index finger

"I'm so sorry for the way I've been towards you. I'm not the only person affected by this. You are too—"

"Vixen, don't worry about it. You can make it up to me by makin' yo dream come true" He said kissing my forehead

Smiling up at him I took the keys from him. Walking to the building I unlocked the doors. Pushing them open I smiled brightly. The building was spacious, it was a working progress but I knew designing it would a healthy outlet for me. As I stood in the middle of the empty building visions of how I would lay out the reception area and offices flooded my mind.

"I can't believe you did this for me Adrian. I love you so much" I said hugging him once more

"I told you I was going to give you everything you deserved. This is just the start" He smiled down at me "you know what you're going to name it ?"