CHAPTER 5:THE DECISION.
1197 Words
The rain was still falling when I got home.
I stood in my tiny apartment, dripping, holding Adrian's piece of paper like it was a grenade. Personal number. Lawyer's name. An offer to publicly clear my name.
I should have thrown it away.
I didn't.
I sank to the floor in the hallway and stared at it for an hour.
`I never stopped being sorry.`
His words echoed in my head.
My phone buzzed. Again.
Unknown number: `He's lying. The lawyer works for him. Don't trust him.`
Another buzz.
Unknown number: `Check the news tomorrow. He's going to announce something.`
I blocked the number.
Then unblocked it.
Then blocked it again.
I didn't sleep.
At 6am, I made coffee and opened my laptop. My hands were still shaking.
I had two choices.
Option 1: Sue him. Take the lawyer's name. Burn his company to the ground.
Option 2: Let him clear my name. Give him a chance to fix what he broke.
Both felt like losing.
At 8am, my phone rang. Unknown number.
I answered.
"[Name]?"
My heart stopped. It was Adrian.
"How did you get this number?" I asked.
"I have ways," he said quietly. "Are you okay?"
"No," I said honestly. "I'm not okay."
"I know," he said. "Can we meet? Public place. Coffee shop. Your choice. I won't touch you. I won't come close. I just want to talk."
I closed my eyes. "Why?"
"Because I meant what I said last night," he said. "I want to fix this. And I want you to decide how."
I was silent for a long time.
"8am. The cafe on 5th and Main," I said finally. "30 minutes."
"I'll be there," he said.
I hung up.
---
The cafe was busy. Morning rush. People in suits, students with laptops, moms with strollers.
Adrian was already there. Sitting in the corner. No suit. Just a black sweater and jeans. He looked smaller without the CEO armor.
He stood when he saw me.
"Thank you for coming," he said.
I sat down across from him. Put two tables between us.
"Talk," I said.
Adrian exhaled. "First, I'm sorry. Again. I know it doesn't mean anything but—"
"Stop," I said. "I don't want apologies. I want actions."
"Okay," he nodded. "Here are your options. One: I issue a public statement today. I take full responsibility for the Meridian deal. I clear your name. I pay you damages. Whatever amount you want."
I stared at him. "What's option two?"
"Option two is you sue me," he said. "The lawyer I gave you is independent. Not mine. He'll represent you pro bono if you want. And I won't fight it. I'll settle."
"Why would you do that?"
"Because it's what I should have done 6 months ago," Adrian said. "And because I can't stand the thought of you hating me for the rest of your life."
I laughed bitterly. "You think money fixes this?"
"No," he said. "But it's a start."
My phone buzzed. I ignored it.
"Who's been texting you?" Adrian asked.
"I blocked them," I said. "But they said you were going to announce something today."
Adrian looked down at his coffee. "I was. At 10am. A press release. Taking responsibility."
"Why didn't you tell me last night?"
"Because I was scared you'd run," he admitted. "And I wanted to see you first. To explain. In person."
The honesty was infuriating.
"Do you love me?" The question came out before I could stop it.
Adrian's head snapped up. "What?"
"Do you love me?" I repeated. "Or was I just convenient? Easy to blame? Easy to forget?"
Adrian was quiet for a long time. The cafe noise faded around us.
"I don't know," he said finally. "I think... I think I loved working with you. I loved how smart you were. How you challenged me. How you made me better. And when I lost that, I realized how empty everything else was."
"That's not an answer," I said.
"I know," he said. "But it's the truth. I don't know if it's love. But I know I ruined the best thing in my life, and I want a chance to earn it back. If you'll let me."
Tears burned my eyes again. I was so tired of crying over him.
My phone buzzed again. I looked down.
Unknown number: `He's recording you. Check his watch.`
I looked up. Adrian's watch. It had a small red light.
My blood went cold.
"Are you recording me?" I asked quietly.
Adrian followed my gaze to his watch. His face went pale. "No. I swear—"
"Then why is there a red light?"
He looked down. Then he ripped the watch off and threw it on the table. "I don't know. I didn't—"
"Bullshit," I stood up. "You're lying again."
"[Name], wait," Adrian stood too. "Please. Let me explain."
"Explain what? That you can't even meet me without recording it?"
People were staring now.
Adrian lowered his voice. "I don't know how that got there. Someone must have—"
"Stop," I said. "I don't believe you anymore."
I turned to leave.
"[Name]!" Adrian called after me.
I didn't stop.
I made it outside before I started running.
---
I went home and threw up.
Then I called the lawyer.
"Mr. Bennett?" I said. "This is [Name]. Adrian Cole gave me your number. I want to sue him."
There was a pause. "Are you sure, Ms. [Name]? He said you might call."
"I'm sure," I said. "I want to file today."
"Okay," the lawyer said. "Come to my office at 2pm. We'll start the paperwork."
I hung up.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown number: `Good girl.`
I threw my phone across the room.
---
At 1:55pm, I was sitting in Mr. Bennett's office. He was older. Kind eyes. Nothing like Adrian's shark-like lawyers.
"Before we start," he said, "I need to ask. Are you doing this because you want to, or because someone is pressuring you?"
I blinked. "What?"
"I've been getting emails," he said. "Anonymous ones. Saying I should convince you to sue Adrian Cole. That there's money in it for me."
My stomach dropped. "What?"
"Someone is playing both sides," Mr. Bennett said. "And I don't like it."
I thought about the texts. The watch. The timing.
"Adrian said someone was manipulating me," I whispered.
"Do you believe him?" Mr. Bennett asked.
I didn't know.
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out.
Unknown number: `Don't sign anything. Meet me at the pier. 3pm. Come alone.`
Then another message, 2 seconds later.
Unknown number: `Or Adrian dies.`
My hands started shaking.
I looked at Mr. Bennett. "I need to go."
"Ms. [Name]—"
"I'll call you," I said, grabbing my bag.
I ran out of the office.
The pier was 10 minutes away.
I got there at 2:58pm.
The pier was empty. Except for one figure standing at the end. Hoodie up. Face hidden.
"Who are you?" I called out.
The figure turned.
And my heart stopped.
It was someone I knew.
Someone from 6 months ago.
Someone who hated me.
"Hello [Name]," they said. "I've been waiting for you."
- Writer
