THE STUD MAN

Rain tapped against the windows of Adrian Cole’s small South London flat, turning the city lights outside into blurred streaks of gold. Adrian sat at his dining table with his laptop open and a mug of forgotten coffee beside him. Lines of code filled the screen. He had been staring at the same problem for nearly an hour. Usually, solving difficult problems relaxed him. Tonight, nothing could stop him from thinking about Vanessa. His phone buzzed. Adrian grabbed it before he could stop himself. It was Ollie. You alive? Adrian smiled faintly. Barely. The reply came almost immediately. She still ignoring you? Adrian frowned. Vanessa wasn’t ignoring him. She was busy. At least, that was what she kept saying. Busy at work. Busy with friends. Busy with family. For almost two weeks, she had apparently been too busy for him. She’s had a difficult week, Adrian replied. Ollie’s response appeared seconds later. Stop making excuses for people who wouldn’t make them for you. Adrian placed the phone face down. He wasn’t in the mood. Ollie had never particularly liked Vanessa. According to him, something about her didn’t feel right. Adrian disagreed. Or at least he always had. His eyes drifted toward the bookshelf. A small velvet box sat behind several books. He shouldn’t have kept it there. Inside was the engagement ring he had purchased two months earlier. It had cost more than Adrian could comfortably afford, but he hadn’t cared. Vanessa deserved something beautiful. He loved her. And Adrian had always believed love meant giving someone your best, even when doing so required sacrifice. His phone rang. Vanessa. His heart lifted instantly. “Hey.” “Hi.” Something about her voice bothered him. “You okay?” “I’m fine.” “I’ve been trying to reach you.” “I’ve been busy, Adrian.” “I know. I just wanted to hear your voice.” Silence. Adrian stood and walked toward the window. “I thought maybe we could spend tomorrow together.” “I’ve got plans.” “Oh. With who?” Vanessa sighed. “Why does it matter?” “It doesn’t. I’m just asking.” “You’re always asking questions lately.” Adrian frowned. “Because you’ve barely spoken to me.” “I have a life outside our relationship.” “I know that.” “Then stop making me feel guilty for having one.” Adrian closed his eyes. How had they arrived here? Every conversation seemed to become an argument, and somehow Adrian always ended up apologising. “I’m not trying to control you.” “Well, sometimes it feels like you are.” “I’m sorry.” The apology escaped automatically. Another silence. “I just miss you, Vanessa.” “I know.” Her response was so cold that Adrian’s stomach tightened. “Is something wrong between us?” “Can we not do this tonight?” “Do what?” “This emotional interrogation.” “I’m asking whether my girlfriend still wants to spend time with me.” “And I’m tired.” “Vanessa—” “I’ll call you tomorrow.” The line disconnected. Adrian slowly lowered the phone. The rain continued outside. He stared through the glass, feeling ridiculous. Twenty-seven years old. Software engineer. Hardworking. Loyal. Generous. And apparently still incapable of understanding women. His previous relationships hadn’t ended much better. One girlfriend had left because she wanted someone “more exciting.” Another told him she wasn’t ready for commitment, then entered another relationship weeks later. But Vanessa was supposed to be different. He had met her eighteen months earlier at a friend’s birthday dinner. She was beautiful, outspoken, and ambitious. They spent half the evening arguing playfully about technology before she gave Adrian her number. He remembered going home smiling like an i***t. For months, everything had been wonderful. Vanessa told him she admired his intelligence and ambition. Back then, Adrian had just landed a software engineering role with a growing Shoreditch company. He wasn’t wealthy. Not even close. But he had plans. He wanted to become one of the best developers in his field. Perhaps build his own software company someday. Vanessa initially seemed excited by those dreams. Then the comments began. Her friend’s boyfriend had bought her a designer handbag. Another friend’s birthday had been celebrated in Paris. Someone else was dating an investment banker who drove a Porsche. Adrian never complained. He simply worked harder. When Vanessa admired an expensive handbag, he saved and bought it. When she complained they didn’t go anywhere exciting, he stretched his budget for restaurants and weekend trips. When she said coding consumed too much of his time, he started closing his laptop earlier. Adrian kept adjusting because he thought that was what love required. But lately, nothing seemed enough. His phone buzzed again. Ollie. Pub tomorrow. No excuses. Adrian replied: Fine. Don’t bring Vanessa. You’re an i***t. An i***t with excellent instincts. Despite himself, Adrian laughed. The following evening, Ollie Bennett was waiting inside a crowded Clapham pub. He raised his pint when Adrian approached. “There he is. London’s most miserable software engineer.” “Good to see you too.” Adrian sat opposite him. Ollie studied his face. “You look terrible.” “Thank you.” “I mean that with love.” “That doesn’t improve it.” Ollie grinned. After Adrian ordered a drink, his friend’s expression became serious. “So?” “So what?” “Vanessa.” Adrian sighed. “She’s busy.” “She’s been busy for two weeks.” “People have lives, Ollie.” “And you’re doing it again.” “Doing what?” “Defending someone who’s making you miserable.” Adrian’s expression hardened. “You don’t understand our relationship.” “Maybe. But I understand you.” His drink arrived. Adrian took a long sip. Ollie leaned forward. “You’re always trying to love people hard enough to convince them to treat you properly.” The words landed painfully. Adrian looked away. “I love her.” “I didn’t say you didn’t.” “I’m building a future with her.” “Are you happy?” Adrian said nothing. Ollie nodded. “Exactly.” “You make relationships sound simple.” “They’re not. But you shouldn’t constantly feel like you’re applying for a position you already have.” Adrian chuckled despite himself. “That was almost intelligent.” “Write it down.” Silence settled between them. Then Adrian said quietly, “I bought a ring.” Ollie froze. “A what?” “Engagement ring.” “Please tell me you’re joking.” “I bought it two months ago.” “And you’re planning to propose?” “I was.” Ollie rubbed his face. “Adrian, the woman barely answers your calls.” “It wasn’t like this when I bought it.” “How long has she been acting differently?” Adrian thought about it. “Maybe six weeks.” Something changed in Ollie’s expression. Adrian noticed immediately. “What?” “Nothing.” “Ollie.” His friend looked uncomfortable. “I saw Vanessa last Saturday.” Adrian’s fingers stopped around his glass. “Where?” “Mayfair.” “With her friends?” Ollie hesitated. Adrian felt something tighten inside him. “With who?” “A man.” The pub suddenly seemed louder. Adrian forced himself to remain calm. “She has male friends.” “I know.” “So?” “They were leaving a restaurant.” “That doesn’t mean anything.” “I know.” “Then why are you looking at me like that?” Ollie exhaled slowly. “Because his hand was around her waist.” Adrian stared at him. “And I saw him kiss her.” For several seconds, Adrian didn’t move. His mind immediately searched for explanations. Perhaps Ollie had misunderstood. Perhaps it was a friend. A relative. A greeting. Something. Anything. “Where did he kiss her?” Ollie didn’t answer immediately. That hesitation told Adrian everything. “Not on the cheek,” Adrian whispered. “No.” Adrian looked down at his drink. His hand had begun trembling. “Are you sure it was Vanessa?” “I’m sorry, mate.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Adrian pulled out his phone. “Don’t call her here.” “I’m not.” He opened Vanessa’s social media. He found her Saturday post. A photograph of tea, a blanket, and a television. The caption read: Quiet weekend at home. Exactly what I needed. Adrian stared at it. She hadn’t merely hidden where she was. She had deliberately created an alibi. Something cold moved through him. “How long were you watching them?” “Adrian—” “How long?” “Maybe thirty seconds. I saw them leaving. They got into a car together.” “His car?” “I assume so.” “What kind?” “A Bentley.” Adrian almost laughed. Of course. A Bentley. Suddenly, the restaurants, handbags, Paris trips, and comparisons made sense. Maybe Adrian hadn’t been competing with Vanessa’s expectations. Maybe he had been competing with another man. And hadn’t known there was a competition. He locked his phone. “Don’t do anything stupid,” Ollie said. Adrian looked at him. “I’m not going to.” “What are you going to do?” “I don’t know yet.” But Adrian knew one thing. For years, whenever a woman hurt him, he had searched for reasons to blame himself. Maybe he hadn’t been attentive enough. Successful enough. Romantic enough. Interesting enough. Maybe if he gave more, tried harder, earned more, loved better— No. Not tonight. He finished his drink and stood. “Where are you going?” “Home.” “Adrian.” He paused. Ollie looked genuinely worried. “Whatever happens, don’t let her convince you that you’re worthless.” Adrian gave him a tired smile. “I won’t.” But walking through the cold London rain twenty minutes later, Adrian wasn’t sure he believed himself. When he reached his flat, he removed his wet coat and stood silently in the living room. His eyes went to the bookshelf. The velvet box. Adrian walked over and picked it up. He opened it. The diamond caught the light. He imagined Vanessa wearing it. Then he imagined another man’s hand around her waist. Adrian closed the box. His phone buzzed. A message from Vanessa. Can we meet tomorrow? We need to talk. Adrian stared at those words. Once, they would have terrified him. Tonight, something was different. For the first time, he didn’t reply immediately. He placed the engagement ring on the table beside his phone, walked to his laptop and opened it. The unfinished code remained exactly where he’d left it. Adrian sat down. He looked at Vanessa’s message one final time. Then he turned the phone face down. His fingers returned to the keyboard. He didn’t know it yet, but the man who had spent years begging love to choose him was approaching the end of his life. And another Adrian Cole was waiting to take his place.