Velvet Regret

Episode 4: Late Realization

The silence followed Adrian everywhere and for the first time in years or his marriage he noticed,the fact that Sophia was no longer reaching for him.

No texts.No calls.

The strange part was that this was exactly what he used to want.

No interruptions and distractions

No one checking on him every few hours.

So why did it feel wrong?

Adrian sat behind his desk and stared at the large documents in front of him.

His phone, simply placed beside his laptop.

The screen remained dark.

He glanced at it.

Then looked away.

A few minutes later, he looked again, as if waiting for an important message, but no sound came from the phone to indicate that any message had arrived.

A knock sounded on his office door.

His assistant stepped inside."Good morning, Mr. Blackwood."

Adrian nodded."Morning."

"The board members have arrived."

"I'll be there in five minutes." He said

She placed several files on his desk.

Then paused.

"Is everything alright?"

Adrian looked up."Why wouldn't it be?"

"You seem distracted." His assistant added

His expression hardened"I'm fine."

The assistant quickly left.

Once the door closed, Adrian leaned back in his chair.

Distracted?

That was ridiculous.

"I am Adrian Blackwood".he thought to himself

I refuse to dget distracted.

Especially not by something as small as silence

Yet his thoughts drifted back to Sophia.

Back to her words.

He pushed the memory away, Anyways there was work to do.

Hours later, the board meeting was still ongoing.

Several executives discussed expansion plans

Graphs filled the screen.Strategies were presented

Normally Adrian would be fully engaged.Today he found it harder than usual.

His attention slipped more than once

A senior executive cleared his throat."Mr. Blackwood?.Adrian looked up.

The room had gone quiet

Everyone was staring at him."What?"

"We asked which proposal you preferred."

Adrian glanced at the presentation

Then answered immediately.

The meeting continued.

Still, the brief moment bothered him,he never lost focus

Never.

When the meeting finally ended, he returned to his office.

His friend and business partner, Daniel Brooks, was waiting for him.Daniel had known Adrian for nearly ten years.

He was one of the few people willing to speak honestly

"You look terrible."Daniel talked first

Adrian frowned.

"Good afternoon to you too."

Daniel laughed."I'm serious."

"I'm working."

"You always work."

Adrian sat down.

"And?"

"And something is bothering you."Daniel asked out of concern

Not trying to force out an answer

Adrian opened a file."Nothing is bothering me."

Daniel snorted."Sure."

For several moments, neither spoke.

Then Daniel leaned forward.

"Is it Sophia?"

Adrian stopped reading.

Only for a second.But Daniel noticed.

"There it is."

Adrian closed the file.

"Did you two argue?"

"No." Adrian answered silently

"Then what happened?"

Adrian hesitated

The answer sounded foolish.

So foolish that he almost refused to say it.

Finally, he spoke.

"She's acting differently."

Daniel blinked.

"That's it?"

Adrian's jaw tightened.

"Forget it."

"No, tell me."

Adrian looked away.

"She barely talks to me."

Daniel stared at him.

Then he started laughing.

Actually laughing.

Adrian gave him a cold look.

"Are you done?"

Daniel wiped his eyes.

"You've got to be kidding"

"And What is so funny?"Adrian snapped

"You're upset because your wife stopped doing the exact things you've spent years ignoring...of course it's funny"

Adrian remained silent.

Daniel's smile faded slightly.

"You know what I think?"

"I didn't ask."Adrian said without looking at him

"I think she's tired."

The words landed harder than Adrian expected.

Daniel stood up.

As he reached the door, he spoke again.

"Take care of that woman."

Then he left.

Adrian stared at the closed door.Annoyance settled inside him....

Daniel was overreacting cause Sophia wasn't going anywhere.

She was simply upset.

Things would return to normal soon.

By evening, Adrian was exhausted.

The day had been packed with meetings, calls, and negotiations.

Usually work helped clear his mind but today it didn't help in any way

When he arrived home, the mansion was quiet.

A housekeeper greeted him."Good evening, sir."

"Where's Sophia?"

The woman looked surprised.

"In her office, sir."

Adrian nodded then he walked upstairs

As he passed the living room, he noticed something.

The fresh flowers were gone.

Sophia always placed flowers there.

Now the table stood empty.

A small detail

Yet it caught his attention

He continued walking

Her office door was slightly open.

Inside, Sophia sat behind her desk

Her eyes remained fixed on her laptop

She didn't notice him at first

Adrian stood there for a moment

Watching

She looked focused,very confident and calm

It was strange

He couldn't remember seeing her like this before

Eventually she looked up.

Their eyes met.

"Oh."

Her voice was polite.

"You're home."

Not I've been waiting for you or questions like how was your day

Just you're home.

Something about it irritated him.

"Yes." Adrian said

Sophia nodded and returned to her screen.

Adrian frowned.

That was it?

No conversation,no interest whatsoever

He suddenly understood why the house felt different lately

The effort was gone

The effort Sophia always made

For years she had carried every conversation

Now she wasn't trying anymore.

"Are you busy?" he asked.

"A little."

"What are you working on?"

"Business."

Adrian almost laughed.

Business?

Since when?

He considered asking more questions.

Instead, he said, "Don't stay up too late."

Sophia looked surprised.

Then she gave a small nod

"I won't."

The conversation ended there.

Adrian left the room.

The strange feeling returned.

Later that night, he sat alone in the study starring at the glass of whiskey that's resting on the table

His laptop remained open.

Several reports waited for review

Yet he wasn't reading.

His thoughts kept returning to Sophia

To both her distance and calm replies

The way she no longer looked disappointed.

His phone buzzed

A message from Vanessa regarding a marketing project

Adrian replied quickly and placed the phone aside

After some seconds,a memory suddenly surfaced

A much younger Sophia sitting beside him in a tiny apartment.

Before the wealth and recognition

Before Blackwood Technologies became an empire

Back then she used to smile over the smallest things

Be it a movie night or a cheap dinner

A walk through the neighbourhood

Back then she looked at him like he was her whole world.

Adrian frowned.

Why was he thinking about that now?

The past was the past.

People changed.

He stood up and headed toward the bedroom

When he entered, Sophia was already asleep

The lamp beside her was turned off.

For a moment he stood there quietly

Looking at her.

She looked peaceful than she had looked in months

Yet somehow she also seemed farther away

And this somehow breaks his heart.

As if a wall had appeared between them.

A wall he never noticed being built

Adrian climbed into bed

He told himself everything was fine but as he lay awake in the darkness, one uncomfortable thought refused to leave.

What if Daniel was right?

What if Sophia was tired?

And what if this time she stopped waiting for him to notice?

Questions ran through his mind as he slept off.