Play the Player

Chapter Five - Oh Stranger

The first thing Xavier did after driving out was call Adrian.

“Hey man, got a minute.” He asked.

“Woah, depends on what’s up bro. Currently about to head into a meeting.” Adrian responded.

“Oh… that’s fine then, I just had an episode with my old man and needed to let it out somehow. I would have beeped the other guys but they’re out of the city.”

“Hey Xav. Remember, brothers before anything else. Where are you now?”

“Just leaving and probably going for a drive just to clear my head.” Xavier responded. He had already reached the gleaming black Porsche parked outside and was just about to get in.

“Great, you know what… drive all the way down. I’ll share an address with you. Should be there in about ten minutes.” Adrian responded.

Xavier took a deep breath of relief as he turned on the ignition.

“Thanks man.” He spoke. “It means a lot.”

“Anytime brother. See you soon and please do hold up okay.” Adrian finished and hung up the phone.

-

He grunted at the sight of the traffic building up on the road in front of him as he drove to meet Adrian at the restaurant and leaned his head against the headrest as he got stuck in it.

He knew that this moment would come but he had been so unprepared for it. It was understandable that he was his parents’ only child and that the weight of responsibility had lived with him all his life. But he didn’t want to be married, especially not out of duty.

He also couldn’t afford to lose the company, and he would be a bigger fool to call Briggs’ bluff. That man was capable of anything!

The traffic light had turned green, and Xavier stepped on the gas in the moment and hit the road as soon as it was clear. For now, he just needed to drink and talk about it would Adrian.

Her thought crossed his mind again and Xavier just wished that she was seated by his side at that moment. He wanted so badly to park by the roadside, melt and cry out in her arms.

He imagined that she would hold him tightly, whisper some feel-good words, and rubbed his head gently, until he was okay. He imagined that he could find home in this stranger’s arms.

Reality kicked in again and he shook his head. He was Xavier Adams. He had never cried as an adult and would especially not cry in the arms of a woman.

A few seconds later, he was thinking again about his own thoughts. Why had this strange woman enveloped his thoughts so much?

Xavier had never had to think of a woman, this was not normal.

Shortly after conquering the traffic and detours, Xavier arrived at the address shared. It was a beautiful space and somehow, he wasn’t surprised.

Adrian had always been so good at finding and exploring beautiful spaces. Somehow, he was the human google maps of the group chat.

Xavier walked in to find Adrian already seated and smiling. Typical.

They both leaned in for a brief shake and Xavier settled in.

“Okay, humour me. What’s happening bro.” Adrian started immediately.

“Oh come on, at least allow me to settle in and admire the beauty in this place.” Xavier pressed while taking in his surroundings.

“Scratch that bro. You and I know that you don’t give a s**t about aesthetics.” Adrian teased and laughed.

It was an inside joke from their days in high school when Xavier would run into the most secluded places on campus, just to hide from everyone.

The three guys would tease him about how horrid his hide out location was, and Xavier would respond then that he didn’t care about aesthetics. The joke lived on years later.

“Fair enough… Anyone, my old man is at it again. You know… same old same old pressure to get married. But this time, he is threatening to step out and allow the board take control of appointing the next chairman.”

“Oh stop, we all know he won’t do that…” Adrian chipped in.

“I would have agreed a while back but well, this time around, they’ve even arranged a wife for me.” Xavier said and Adrian started laughing.

“No s**t man. I was so mad when I heard it.” Xavier said and signaled for a waiter.

“So what did you say? Are you going to marry her?” Adrian quizzed.

“Well, that’s definitely not happening. Even if I decide to marry which I won’t, there’s no way I’m allowing anyone to choose a wife for me.”

“Hello. What would you like to order?”

Xavier felt the chills as he raised his head to gaze into the eyes of the same woman, he had spent the past three months combing the entire city for.

“Red?” Was all he could mutter.