The Elusive Prince

Portland

It was noon when he landed at the Portland airport. It was a busy port. Adrian alighted from the plane and took his phone out to book an Uber. He could've had Sandy arrange the jet and car service, but this was personal so he paid with cash and booked a commercial flight. Adrian preferred the anonymity. He knew the time would soon come when the secrets would spill, but for now, as long as he could, he wanted to keep it on the down low. He always kept his personal life locked in. He had found a family in Bri and Syvio but even to them he had not divulged about his past.

Many times he was tempted to but he never found the guts to do so. He wanted them, especially Bri to be untainted by his burden. She had called him 13 times before resorting to angry, concerned and then angry messages. He also had several calls from Sylvio and sandy. He booked the car and before he could give into the temptation of telling Bri everything, He pocketed his phone, gripped his bag and began navigating through the throng to get the door. He had packed only a carry-on as he had no patience to go through the baggage claiming ordeal. He strode, purposefully. His mind in a maelstrom of emotions. This was home, he had spent his life here, but he could never ruminate or he wouldn't be able to leave it again. Past was past and he could never go back to it. He was a lone wolf. He preferred it that way.

He saw his Uber approaching and hailed it. A freckled, pimply kid just barely in his 20s stopped and squeaked out his name. Adrian almost smiled, nodded and opened the door. "Take me to mercy." He also prayed for some. 

The hospital was an organized chaos. He checked in the lobby for the room number, but the blonde receptionist was chatting away on the phone. Adrian drew himself to his full height and cleared his throat. The blonde glanced at him and then quickly disconnected the call. "How may I help you today?" Her voice now practically dripping with honey. Adrian groaned internally. "Would you please let me know what room, Mrs Bloom is in?" he ground out. "Sure!" the blonde gave him another full watt smile. "Let me check!" she chirped. While she flipped through the records, Adrian used all his energy to not tap his foot. 'Use body language to exude power and control, never give away what you think or feel except confidence'- his mentor's voice boomed through his mind. He held together, but something inside him was gnawing at him. He wanted to run through the hospital.

How could she be dying? How could she leave him? The woman who centered his life, who gave him unconditional love, the woman who lied to him all his life. She was his savior and his destroyer. He held the same amount of love and hatred for her. Now she was dying and he in his anger had never asked her so much about his past. He feared he would never come to know, also feared what he would find. 

“She is in room 404”, the blonde told him, but he didn't seem to pay attention so she touched his hand and got scared out of her life when his piercing blue eyes pinned her with laser-like focus. Her confidence melted and she could only stutter. “Err room 404, f f f first one on left.” "Thanks", saying so, he pivoted on his heel and headed towards the lift. She drank the water from glass near her, her throat dry and heart beating wildly. The intern who stood near the desk filling some forms whistled low. What a fine specimen of a man! The two women looked at each other and grinned appreciatively.