Divorcing The Billionaire On Valentine's Day

13. Adeline

ADELINE

“What in the actual hell, A.” Kris barged into my room, as always tossing all manners to the wind. “I thought you were supposed to be on a date with your hunky prince charming, what’s all this about Grayson Archer?”

If she noticed me trying to grab on to more sleep, she was very good at hiding it. I groaned and rubbed my eyes. Sun streaked in from the open curtains, worsening the ache in my head. “Why are you so hyper so early?” I whined and pulled the sheets over my head. I sighed in momentary bliss, momentary meaning two seconds because the sheets were yanked from my body before I could get too comfortable.

“Wake up! It’s like thirty minutes to noon.” Wait what?! There was no way I actually slept that long. I blame it all on Grayson and his recent obsession with disrupting every aspect of my life.

“Still it’s not like I have anything important to get to.” I scoffed. “Just let me sleep.” I turned in the bed, away from her.

“What happened to school?”

“Not in session yet.”

She groaned before jumping on the bed and on me, “Stop avoiding.” She pulled me back to face her. “Why are the blogs going off about shy little Adeline?” She shoved her phone in my face, “Explain this.” She shrieked, waving the phone in my face.

“Oh for heaven’s sake, what?!” I snapped. The train of complains I had lined up died in my throat the moment my eyes landed on the image she basically shoved in my face. In it was me shoved over Grayson’s shoulder and Aaron in the corner, even before I read the headline, I knew the preamble of it, it was the perfect picture.

Mystery wife of Grayson Archer caught on a date with another man, Aaron Dickson. CEO or C-HIS-HOE?

“No, no, no.” I repeated over and over like it would magically make it disappear. I was wide awake now, whatever five minutes extra sleep I thought I needed didn’t seem so important anymore. “This is so not what it looks like.” I turned to Kris desperate to make her believe me.

She burst out in laughter, “Of coruse, it isn’t!” she pulled me to her, chuckling, “You’re much too innocent to be a ‘hoe’, that’s why I’m here asking you.” She explained like I was a child.

“Sure you don’t believe it even a little?” I tilted my head back to look at her.

“Hundred percent.”

“Okay.” I sighed.

“So, what really happened?”

“Alot to be honest.” I leaned into her embrace, “Short form? I went on the date with Aaron, it was fun, he was sweet, but then Gr-Mr Archer had to ruin everything!” I grunted just remembering how much he lack the common sense to speak with half a brain and not his grouchy side.

She chuckled and pulled us back to rest on the headboard, “What did he do this time?”

I sighed, already stressed out just thinking about it. “He showed up at the date, started speaking out of his ass to me and my date, kissed me and then said trash again so I slapped him.”

“Wait what?! Back up, he what?! Adeline!”

My cheeks heated up, “It’s not even like that.”

“Hm hm, I’m sure.” She drawled in that voice she always used just before she called bullshit. “Now, spill.”

“There’s nothing to spill! I didn’t even notice we were being watched, much less recorded.” I grunted and snuck free of her death hug. “Now, if you will, I need to sort this out so I can find something that involves getting my dignity back in the public eye.”

“Of course you didn’t notice, how would you when you were busy smooching it up with Mr Archer.” She teased, making kissy faces. “Bet you can’t stop thinking about it. I mean I hate the guy because he’s such an asshole, but those lips do look like they’d taste…”

“No. Just no.” I waved my hand to make sure she got the point. “I would rather kiss a toad, or heck die first before I let that happen again.”

“So you admit that you did let it happen.” She wiggled her brows suggestively.

“I hate you.” I tried to glare, but I couldn’t even control myself as giggles slipped through.

“You said that about Mr Archer too.” She dragged in a singsong voice and skipped out of the room before I could strangle her.

The room fell silent after she left, but I couldn’t say I cared for it much. This is bad. It bad enough my thigh had been exposed to the entirety of the restaurant and now, I also had to deal with people labeling me a slut.

Worse, the semester starts soon and I didn’t need the attention the blogs were going to bring. At all. I didn’t even want to let myself think about applying for jobs anymore, I would definitely have to put that on hold, because there was no way I could apply for jobs now because they would either see the branded slut on my forehead or would be doing a favour to the ‘Archer’ name. Either way, it would be because of me and that wasn’t going to happen. The whole situation needed fixing and who better than the one responsible for it in the first place. I needed to have a word with him.

I took my time in the shower, bidding time till Kris leaves to join Jay at work. I had enough on my plate as it was, I didn’t need to have to start explaining what I’d rather not to Kris and Jay.

I made sure they both weren't home before I stepped out into the living room. Grayson lived on the other side of town, the wealthier side of course. The ones with white picket fences, well trimmed front porch grasses, vintage houses and all that jazz.

I entered in the address on the taxi app before stepping out. It took two minutes before we’re on a drive to the Archer mansion.

“Thank you.” I told the driver before shutting the door behind me. The black corrugated gate towered over me, casting a shadow despite the merciless sun beating down on my back. As always no one is by the gate, just a keypad. I entered the pin and the gate slid open revealing the mansion I had grown to despise as the years passed.

Coming back didn’t feel nostalgic, rather it made me nauseous. I fought memories filled with despair, boredom, neglect, but thankfully in all of that, there was Johnny. He had been that little ray of sunshine in a bleak world, a foggy world, that clouded your mind till you began to forget what drove that excitement through you.

The front door is no different from the gate. No added security, just a keypad attached to a security system.

I entered the second code and let myself in. I took in a deep inhale as the door slid open. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to say to him, but I knew something had to be said, he had to clear up his mess and fast.

I wasn’t exactly sure what I was expecting. Johnny? Yes. The blonde next to him? Definitely not. A strange feeling settled in my chest as Johnny reached for her fingers, like he’d know her for a good period of time. Didn’t take Grayson that long to replace me I see.

“Em…hello?” I waved awkwardly. Where was he?

Johnny lifted his head from the paper he was doodling on, his lips stretched into a wide smile as they met me. “Addie!” He screamed cheerfully, his little arms flailed wildly as he ran to me. I met him halfway and brought him in for a hug.

“Hey big boy, I’ve missed you.” I ruffled his hair and earned myself a giggle.

“But you di-” Someone cleared their throat, cutting him off.

“Oh hey.” I looked between her and Johnny, not sure what exactly I was expected to say. She did looj familiar, like I could have sworn I had seen her somewhere else before, but I couldn’t place my finger on where.

“Addie!” Johnny yelled and pulled on my arm, toward where his materials were, towards her. Her eyes were icy cold like she already though of a million and one ways to kill me. “Aunt Lila’s friend was teaching me how to draw.” Johnny said with so much excitement I almost forgot we weren’t alone. Almost.

“Aunt Lila’s friend, huh?” I tried my best not to sound curious or even look her way.

“Yes, Aunt Lila says she would be my new mommy.”