Craving Blue (18+ Only)

Morning

"Adrian Hardy is a prime example of the ruthless 30-year old successful man of the 21st century. The man whose name hangs if not on absolutely every billboard, then every third one in the state of Illinois. Thirty-five year old with no children or wife next to him, Adrian probably has never felt more alive. Before starting his reap success company "Hardy Brothers", in memory of his brother Anthony Hardy, who died in a plane crash in 2009, little Adrian used to live in his father's shadow- "

"Mitch, what kind of fúckery is this?"

Adrian Hardy reads the tabloids an average of three times a year. Once on January 1st, to read the summaries of the past year by paid journalists. The second time, to make sure that it's really not worth reading tabloids. And the third time was when he was using a newspaper to spit cherry pits from"The Annual Cherry Picking", which was being held by the company on every July 2nd in Washington.

Briefly in a few words, Adrian Hardy did not like tabloids. Yes, he watched the news. Yes, he was always informed. But when it came to "handful of shítty cunts" as he often said, and their assessment of his work, he preferred not to waste his beautiful sapphire blue eyes.

"I am telling you, keep reading. It's totally worth it," said the dark-haired boy, putting his hand over his mouth to stifle the laughter that wanted to come out of his mouth. Leaning on the polished mahogany desk which belonged to the man who had earned his title as "best friend" more than twenty years ago.

Adrian looked with unwillingness at the amused man and shifted his gaze back to the tablet that laid in his hands. He sighed heavily and cleared his throat.

"For better or worse, little Adrian separated from the family nest and decided to build his own business company without taking "a small loan of a million dollars" from his father Edmund Hardy. The award-winning millionaire with a Cincinnati and ANA award for Businessman of the year, eleven times in a row. In an attempt to surpass his father as alcohol wholesaler and distributor to the on-trade drinks sector, drunk on fame, and money, the young bachelor denies talking about settling down. After numerous times of falling under the flash of the paparazzi, young Adrian gives the impression that business with alcohol, and wild luxury go hand in hand. The status of Hardy as spoiled grown momma's boy becomes harder to deny as the young man could not stand to be in the company of someone other than his mother and his numerous one-night-stands. "

As he read the last sentence, Adrian choked on the words which were written about him. He growled, balling his hands into fists, throwing the electronic device in a random direction, almost succeeding into hitting his best friend.

"Daaaaaaamn, Ian," Mitch exclaimed bursting into laughter. "They burned you really good. I couldn't stop laughing when I first read it," he said, tears from laughter treating to fall from the corners of his eyes. He put a hand on his hurting stomach and tried to stop the urge.

"Are you fuckïng kidding me, Mitch? How can you find this funny." Adrian shouted angrily. Getting even more annoyed by his friend's reaction as he looked at his already red face from laughter.

Adrian Hardy grasped the device that was thrown seconds ago at the opposite end of his own office. He looked at it depreciatingly to check whether there was any damage. Unfortunately, he was not able to crack the screen, but when he crossed a finger through it and scrolled down the article, a smirk appeared on his handsome face.

"Oh look, Mitch. They put a picture of you in here."

Immediately, Mitch's laugh faded and turned into him stuttering.

"Wh-what?" He said, grabbing the tablet from Adrien's hands, his eyes widening.

It was Adrian's turn to let out a laugh as he grabbed a bottle of expensive whiskey and a glass to pour himself a drink.

"The rich confirmed bachelors let loose and chuck a 10,000$ dollar bottle down a half-naked girl's throat," Mitch muttered, obviously reading the tiny letters beneath the photo.

Adrian cut a sharp look at him, and Mitch shrugged innocently as he serenely said, "I keep reminding myself you're a thirty-five-year-old man, but dude," grabbing his best friend's shoulder and patting it sympathetically, "momma Hardy is going to be pissed off."

Mitch gave him a pitying look and sat on the leather couch next to the desk. This couldn't be happening again, Adrian thought to himself, glancing at the pathetic excuse of an article that laid in his hands.

A few months ago, he gave an interview to Jammie Igarik, an Estonian seventy-year-old journalist who was eager to make an article about him since the first time his surname came up on the stock market.

Adrian underestimated Jammie by giving him nothing but already scripted answers, which his PR took time to write the day before. He thought everything was going on fine until the article came up.

The critic didn't even bother to put the interview, instead, he simply said what a disgrace to the Hardy family's past is Adrian. Describing him as a "wannabe businessman who clearly has too much money and no experience at all". What was that supposed to mean? Adrian angrily said that day.

It wasn't fair at all. He had to compete with his family's history only because he choose to make his own company than being stuck in one. Being in "Edmund & Co." meant he was never going to have an opinion. It meant he was going to work under someone else's rules. And everyone who knew Adrian was perfectly aware that he couldn't work under anyone else's rules but his.

Adrian had an opinion about everything and every single topic. If you ever got to talk with him, you would get yourself in a situation where there is no such thing as what you wanted, but only what he wanted. The man was egocentric and selfish sometimes, but he kept convincing himself that was the key to success. Because who exactly would care about anyone else's opinion when talking about big money?

Having a trained business mind was something Adrian possessed since little. He used to give the kids in his kindergarten candy in exchange for them searching for hidden treasures in the sandpit. A true businessman, right there.

"Who wrote that shit, anyway?" Mitch asked, and brought his full lips down to the glass of bourbon in his hands.

Adrian scrolled down. "What the hell-" he began.

Mitch stood up and approached the desk, making his way around him, leaning on his chair so he could catch a glimpse of the devil's name.

"A woman." Adrian spat, more to himself.

"A damned woman wrote that." He furrowed his brows at the name written underneath the article, which ruined his morning.

Arya Jade Scott

***

Yes, I've started working on a new book without finishing my other one. Yes, I know it's reckless. Don't judge me, people. I got inspired and felt the need to write it. I hope this book somewhat succeeds and doesn't end up with me leaving it to rust and die in the bin. I hope you liked the first chapter. It's really important for me to see you guys wanting me to keep going with it.

So I encourage you to comment and vote the hell out of this story, because if you don't do that, I won't be making the same mistake again, writing a story that no one is interested in.