The Sweet Fall Of A Billionaire {SFAB}

2. Is He For Real ?

The breakfast table is buzzing with chit chat and laughter but my mind is numb as I try to process how am I in this big fiasco.

Adrian returns after talking and settles back in, joining in the conversation like he never left. He doesn't look at me or rather doesn't even glance my way which should make me relieved but I just feel my skin itching.

Everybody's happy. Adrian's home. Everyone is home, having breakfast like we would have and I would have still felt nothing like the stab of pain and betrayal. For everybody everything is what it was before.
Except it's not.

"More Nutella Ari ?" Mom asks while chewing her food.
And I take it, throwing a fake smile her way. Adrian notices this, he's watching me, but doesn't say anything. My dimples emerge. Those were my favorite feature till one day Adrian Parker tainted that happiness like he did every one of mine.

I'm still lost in thoughts when I feel a nudge on my shoulder. Kylie's asking me something about going to some club downtown or something and I nod, still numb.

Everybody's still happy and smiling except for me and when I have enough of their cheeriness, I excuse myself politely except when I push the chair with such force than normally expected. That sound. That sound I want to make 'someone' hear and I know he does when he finches slightly.

I've got this recent rebellious streak and I will not back down. I stomp all the way to my room wanting to make as much sound as I can but these fuzzy slippers are freakin' silent.

I collapse on my bed.
Tears start rolling down either sides of my face.

I drag myself to the bathroom and stand under the shower. Peeling off my clothes slowly, I overthink freely. On a positive note, I can't feel my tears rolling on my cheeks but the hotness and the burning sensation in my eyes is a painful reminder of it. I wash myself thoroughly and try to enjoy the bath.

As I step out from the shower in a fluffy bathrobe the question as to what to wear scares me. And I contemplate life and it's musings.
I then decide on wearing a mauve crop sweatshirt with white ripped skinny ankle length jeans. It's snug and sexy. And today's the day all sexiness should come out.
Still thinking about Adrian, I put on my subtle makeup and a gold locket I adore . Then I slip my feet through my custom made mauve suede Adidas superstar originals shoes. My hair is still left, but I leave them open. The honey brown highlights were done just yesterday, so today'll be a good day to show my waist length hair and the natural waviness in them does wonders.
After twirling and shimmying a little in front of the mirror and deeming myself satisfactorily dressed, I head out.

Everybody's sprawled in our living room. Eating, laughing, texting, teasing and enjoying in general and this lifts my spirit a little but when my eyes land on the only seat left on the couch, my mood darkens and my expressions sour.
I never wanted nor expected these things. So why do these things jump at me randomly. I have no clue.
Adrian has now stopped being amused by me and is starting to really sense the elephant in the room. He doesn't say anything nor does he gesture. He just subtly scoots over to make space for me. Now that I know that my anger affects him, I go on in confident strides and sit down gracefully with poise joining in the conversation. Adrian's eyes gaze over me and I'm probably red as an heated iron rod but I don't show it. Which is a bloody good thing. Point 1 to team Ari.

I'm still lost in thoughts when Rich asks something and I divert my attention from my abusive and negative thoughts and listen to him.

"When's Alice coming ? She is coming right ?" He asks Adrian.

And I pipe in by saying "Who's Alice?"
My cheeks tinge in pink almost instantly in mortification. I know who's Alice. Or at least I can figure it out.
Adrian's looking down and smirking, shaking his head. I know that look. I know it. I've seen it. This is the look he uses when he doesn't need to argue, because of course the opponent just took the bait to lose. It's when Adrian feels superior because at that point of time he is.
Accepting my fate, I want to shrink into nothingness but I stay upright, eyes still pretending to be curious although the acting and pretention is eating me.

Adrian then composes himself and clears his throat, I've not yet noticed him so closely. His skin is flawless, eyes still bright, grey swirling to become something anew. A stubble is visible but barely, I'm sure not even he could point it out. That was my speciality, to know him when he couldn't figure himself out. My fingers instinctively reach for face, but I curl my hands into fists. Not now Ariana. You're stronger than this gorgeous boy.

He looks me dead in the eye. Everybody's staring at us, unable to erase the sexual tension in the air, Asher coughs and nudges the topic of some shares or shit, but nobody hears. Kylie's waiting for a nuclear bomb to go off, sitting at the edge of her seat.
My baby blue eyes are in an uproar and I know he can see, but doesn't flinch at the force. He used to love them, something about how he dreamt of them. Now they terrify him I'm sure.

"Alice is my girlfriend." He says, not even softening the blow, his English accent thicker than ever. I reel backwards because of the sheer force of the words. Of course he has a girlfriend, that too Alice. His eyes say a million words, all too much and all too late, I refuse to believe, my defence mechanism is really not coping .

Rejection gnaws at my inside, I want to scream and shout and probably cry too much but I don't. I will not. Not now, Not ever. And certainly not because of him.

I nod my head, and sit back in a relaxing position. The conversation flows freely, past tension forgotten but my mind can't accept the fact that this is happening to me.
I sit there numb, Nodding and laughing whenever required like a robot.
My emotions are still being controlled by him and I intend on changing that. Tonight.

"Where are we going tonight, eh, Ky ?" I chime unexpectedly.

"Hard Rock Café. You like the club, right ?" She asks concerned.

"Love it" I reply while smacking my lips and getting up from the couch simultaneously.

My mind's churning absurd ideas and I'm loving it.

'He's back." I text Chloé.

Fifth avenue, here I come.

I guess my mothership is calling me.