THIRD PARTY DISRUPTOR

Chapter Three

MACMAHON ENTERPRISES…

Charlie: And this is the common area. This is where many of us sit down to have a quick cup of coffee or take a nap. Whatever is fine-as long as it doesn’t break company policy!!

Charlie was showing Bianca around the company, with Imani tagging along.

Charlie: Questions?

Bianca’s thought: “There was a rush of excitement running through my blood. This was more than I could have ever asked for. Something about this building-this atmosphere-felt right. The elegance adorning itself from wall to wall. The sleek architecture and sophisticated furniture that filled the rooms-it all felt like a dream.”

Bianca: Yeah, I have a question. Will I be getting an office?

Charlie: Good question, honey.

He paused.

Charlie: No, you will not. Sorry, not sorry.

Imani: Stop being a pain, Charlie. Just because you’re our operations manager doesn’t mean you can be petty.

Charlie: Oh, butternut squash and blueberries!! First of all, ma’am, I don’t know what you’re doing here.

He glanced at Imani with a harsh expression.

Charlie: This tour is for our new employee only.

Imani: It is called moral support.

Charlie: Whatever.

He hissed.

Charlie: Go back to your work, Imani.

Imani: Buzzkill.

She rolled her eyes at him before waving at Bianca.

Imani: See you at lunch, babe.

Bianca waved back.

Charlie: Okay, up next, we have Mr. Adrian’s office. Follow me.

He walked away, and Bianca followed behind him.

Charlie stopped outside Adrian’s office.

Charlie: Coming through, Mr. Adrian.

He walked inside with Bianca.

In a hushed tone, he turned toward her.

Charlie: Let me introduce you to Mr. Adrian.

He turned again.

Charlie: Mr. Adrian, I’d like you to me—

He stopped abruptly.

Charlie: OYSTER SOUP AND BISCUITS!!! He’s not here.

He looked disappointed.

Charlie: Sorry about the inconvenience. I’ma make some quick calls and figure out where he is. You can go to lunch in the meantime.

Bianca: No worries. Thanks for the introduction, Charlie.

Charlie: Welcome. See you in a few.

He brought out his phone to make a call as he walked out of the room.

Bianca’s thought: “I wonder where Mr. Adrian is. Hopefully, he’s cute, as Imani said he was. Or he’s probably an old white man with a postpartum beer belly and a receding hairline.”

She let out a loud laugh.

ADRIAN’S MANSION…

Adrian stood shirtless in the sitting room while Brie sat on the couch, dressed in a casual gown and wearing a pair of glasses.

Adrian: Have you seen my shirt?

Brie: No.

Adrian: Found it.

He put on his red, well-ironed long-sleeved shirt.

Adrian: I’m headed to the office. See you tonight?

He turned toward Brie, who was now absorbed in her phone.

Brie: Are you gonna leave or what?

She dropped her phone and gave him an angry look.

Adrian: CAN’T YOU ANSWER A SIMPLE QUESTION?!

Adrian’s frustration boiled over, and he stomped his foot against the floor.

Brie rose from the couch, her expression still hardened with anger.

Brie: I’m not doing this with you!!

She turned and walked away.

Adrian: And there you go again, ignoring me!

He rolled his eyes before following after her.

Adrian: Can you just f**king talk to me?!

Brie: LEAVE ME ALONE, ADRIAN!!! I DON’T WANT TO TALK TO YOU!!

She angrily stomped her foot before breaking down in tears.

Adrian: Damn it, Brie.

His expression softened with regret.

Adrian: Where the hell did we go wrong? This isn’t like us at all.

Brie stopped crying for a moment before turning toward him, her frustration erupting all over again.

Brie: Where did WE go wrong?!! WE?! OUR MARRIAGE HAS BEEN FALLING APART BECAUSE OF YOU!!!

She pointed directly at him.

Adrian: Please don’t start with this.

Brie: IT’S TRUE!! ALL YOU’VE DONE IS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE TRASH—for not wanting a baby!!

Brie burst into tears again.

Adrian: We don’t need to have a baby right now, Brie!!

His voice rose.

Adrian: But I f**king love you. And I want to have a family with you.

Brie: ALL YOU THINK ABOUT IS YOURSELF, ADRIAN!! WHAT ABOUT ME, HUH?!

Adrian: Babe, it’s not my intention to make you feel like this. I’m sorry.

Brie continued crying.

Brie: JUST LEAVE ME ALONE, ADRIAN!!

She turned and ran from the room.

Adrian: Babygirl…

Brie: LEAVEEEEE!!!!!

Adrian fought the urge to chase after her. Instead, he stood there for a moment, weighed down by frustration and worry, before finally leaving for work.

MACMAHON MANSION…

Mr. MacMahon: Can we leave already?

Mr. MacMahon asked his wife, who was pacing around the sitting room with a worried expression.

Mr. MacMahon: You’re really not making sense right now, Glory.

Glory: It just doesn’t feel right, honey!! I’m afraid they’re going to end up divorcing.

Mr. MacMahon: Oh, that’s silly talk. Adrian and Brie have loved each other since high school. I don’t know where you’re getting all these crazy ideas.

He shook his head.

Mr. MacMahon: They’re literally about to start their own family and have grown our business monumentally since he took over. Life is great for them, honey. Why are you worried?

Glory: How are you so oblivious, MacMahon? Brie and Adrian are not on speaking terms.

Her voice carried a mixture of frustration and concern.

Glory: And it’s all because of this baby thing.

Mr. MacMahon: Not on speaking terms?

He looked at his wife in surprise.

Mr. MacMahon: But they’re a married couple. They’re supposed to have a family soon. It’s what marriage is all about.

Glory’s frustration finally boiled over.

Glory: MacMahon, Brie doesn’t want to give our son a baby!! She’s not happy, and neither is Adrian!

Mr. MacMahon looked even more surprised.

Glory: We-we got to help them in some way!

She looked defeated.

Glory: I hate seeing them like this.

Mr. MacMahon: Honey-

He took a deep breath.

Mr. MacMahon: I’m sure it’s nothing they can’t fix. You oughta let them experience their marriage independently.

Glory: I-I just have this bad feeling, honey.

She sounded genuinely frightened.

Glory: There is something in me that tells me things are going to go south really soon. It’s like my motherly intuition is shouting at me to do something. But I don’t know what to do.

Mr. MacMahon took another deep breath.

Mr. MacMahon: My son is an amazing young man. I know he’d fight for his marriage with dignity and love. He’s a MacMahon for a reason.

He spoke with pride.

Mr. MacMahon: If they’re having problems, which I doubt, I know my son is not one to give up on his marriage easily.

Glory: I hope so.

She sounded exhausted by the entire situation.

Mr. MacMahon: Come on, honey. Let’s get going before we’re late.

They both walked away from the house.

MACMAHON ENTERPRISES…

Adrian walked inside the building.

Adrian’s thought: “The weight of this turmoil within my marriage has started caving in on me. I no longer understand why keeping love has to be so complex and painful. Brie means the world to me. Her delicacy, beauty, and fierce strength are all I’ve ever known for 10 years. It was during my sophomore year of high school when I met her. Very little could have prepared me for the fall I was going to take head first. I can clearly remember the feeling in the pit of my stomach when my eyes first gazed upon her. Her beauty- so mesmerising- reeee me like bait. She was compelling to the heart. And intoxicating to the kind! All I could think of at that moment was… Wow!! Obviously because of the raging hormones in me and the inflated ego I carried- I had no trouble being the heartthrob every girl dreamed of having. So in my mind, I thought Brie LeeAnn Steele would be an easy target. I thought she was the most beautiful girl on the entire planet. In fact- I don't think I've met anyone as gorgeous as Brie. Her deep brown eyes- Juicy lips- And majestic dark black hair- Goshhhh…. I'd be lying if I say I wasn't melting from within. A little intimidation ended up finding its way into my soul that day. She was perfection in my eyes. That was all it took for a potent yearning of her love to ignite in me. And that is what I did. My heart needed more of her. I took the little confidence I harboured within and went for it- Not knowing that earning her love was going to be the biggest challenge I ever desired. Because that little heart of gold that I so desperately wanted- Was taken. It was being occupied by someone else. Cared for by someone else. And just the sight of Brie in the arms of another guy stung. But it made me want her even more. I never quite believed in fate until I met Brie. Things for us began to fall perfectly into place. Brie became my best friend soon after. My emotions swelled with each day-longing for her heart to be mine. Even after learning that she and her longtime boyfriend had split, I wanted nothing more than to be the man she deserved. Every moment spent with her was filled with nothing but glee and fun. Her eyes were all I ever thought about. And it was with her that a scorching desire to live forever erupted. Our friendship was unique indeed. We both did things typical friends wouldn't do. Because our hearts begged us to become one. It begged us to surrender to the touch of love. So that is what we did. It took no longer that 1 month and a half for us to notice how madly in love we were with each other. Brie became my first true and intense love. Prior to her, it was only girls who temporarily occupied my time with meaningless moments. No one could ever compare to Brie. No one. Our love came at a price. A price that I was always willing to pay. For her. Brie and I became the couple everyone watched closely. For the remainder of high school, the love we had for each other grew. It grew immensely. “I got to experience firsthand the warmth of unconditional love and passion. With her by my side, life felt possible to dream forever. And I knew my forever was with her. That is why I made her my wife. I made her the woman that I would spend the rest of my life with. Because everything my heart and soul could ever need was embedded within Brie’s passionate love. I now fear for the future. I fear that all these years together might not be enough to sustain our promises. Happiness and prosperity was all I ever wanted alongside Brie. But I guess life doesn’t always work out that way.”

ADRIAN’S THROWBACK…

10 YEARS AGO

Young Adrian: MISSSSSSSS!!! Can I go to the restroom??

Teacher: Yes, get the pass.

Young Adrian came out of the classroom, looking relieved.

Young Adrian: Gosh, I hate that class.

Young Adrian walked outside the school building.

Young Adrian: Hey, what’chu doing?

Young Brie was facing the wall.

Young Brie: Uhhhh-

She answered awkwardly and shyly.

Young Brie: Putting up some posters for Hoco.

Young Adrian: You in student council or something?

Young Brie nodded.

Young Adrian: That’s cool.

Young Adrian’s thought: “F*ck, this is awkward!! AWHY AM I AWKWARD, CUH?!!!”

Young Adrian: I’m Adrian, by the way.

Young Brie: Brie.

Young Adrian: That’s a nice name.

He said while blushing.

Young Adrian: What grade are you in?

Young Brie: Sophomore.

Young Adrian’s expression immediately brightened.

Young Adrian: HEY, ME TOO!!

They both burst into laughter.

BACK AT YOUNG ADRIAN’S HOME…

Young Adrian: Bro, she’s so damn fine! Like, she actually smiles at me, dude!!! Do you think she likes me?

He asked while facing Young Murphy, who was sitting across from him on the couch.

Murphy burst out laughing without saying anything.

Young Adrian: Nah, she’s way outta my league, dawg.

He said before walking away.

Young Murphy: Bro, you literally said the same thing about Rachel two months ago. But go on.

Young Murphy burst into laughter again.

Young Adrian stopped.

Young Adrian: She’s different, man. I can feel it, you know? Something about her just makes me-I don’t know how to explain it.

Young Murphy: Sounds to me like you have a crush.

Young Adrian blushed.

Young Adrian: I mean…

Young Murphy: What’s her name? Maybe I have her in one of my classes.

Young Adrian blushed again.

Young Adrian: Brie.

Young Murphy: Nope. Never met her.

Young Adrian rolled his eyes.

Young Murphy: Just talk to her, dude. You’re good at that.

Young Adrian: But that’s too forward, man. What if she rejects me?!

Young Murphy: JUST DO IT!!!

Young Adrian: She has a damn boyfriend!!

He said, visibly frustrated, while speaking to Young Murphy.

Young Adrian: I should have known.

Young Murphy: Bro, it’s not the end of the world.

Young Adrian: Yes, it is. F***k, man. I can’t stop thinking about her. Like, this has the potential to give me nightmares.

Young Murphy: Just talk to her about it, dude. And let destiny take charge.

Young Adrian breathed in slowly.

Young Adrian: I don’t know, man. I’ma just chill for now, bro. Catch you later?

Young Murphy: For sure, man. Don’t beat yourself up about it. If it’s meant to be, it will happen.

Young Adrian: Thanks, man.

Young Adrian walked away.

Young Adrain thought: “If it's meant to be, it will happen. I kept repeating that to myself over and over. In desperate hopes to become someone in the life of Brie. It didn't matter at that point if she'd ever see me more than just a friend. All I wanted was to be able to have her charismatic presence in my life. And just like how life has it's mysterious ways to work- Before me she stood so effortlessly glorious. And I knew I had to take my chance”.

Young Adrian started walking toward Brie, who was standing and chatting with her friend.