Chapter 286
It glints softly and as I run my thumb over it, it grounds me. Tethers me to the present and reminds me that I am not alone.
The panic doesn’t disappear, but it eases just enough for me to breathe again. Just because they’re suing me doesn’t mean my life or my career is over. It feels catastrophic, yes, but it isn’t final.
My phone rings, loudly in the silent room, startling me in the process.
My breath catches because it’s Adrian calling. It’s like I summoned him with my thoughts.
I answer quickly.
“Hey, Princess,” he says warmly when I answer.
“You always have a new nickname for me,” I reply, smiling despite everything.
“I just wanted to hear your voice p>
My smile widens. “Aaw, that so sweet Adrian and I’m glad you called. You have no idea but just hearing you has helped p>
“Are you okay?” concern bleeds into his voice.
I open my mouth to lie. I’m ready to, but I decide not to. He’s my man now, so what’s the point of hiding when things are hard for me? What’s the point of lying when I know very well I’m not okay?
“No,” I say quietly.
He immediately asks, “What happened p>
I stare at the legal papers spread across my coffee table.
“I’ve been served,” I whisper.
There’s a pause.
“Served?” His voice hardens. “By who p>
“The company p>
Another pause and when he speaks again, his tone is careful and controlled.
“Tell me everything p>
So I do. I tell him everything I’ve been keeping from him. By the time I’m done, there’s silence on the other end, but my chest feels lighter, like I’ve just put down this heavy load that was burdening me.
“Do you have a lawyer?” he asks, after a while.
Honestly, I expected him to be angry at me for keeping such a huge thing from him, but he doesn’t sound angry. He sounds concerned
“No p>
His voice softens, “Why not p>
“Because they hadn’t officially served me yet, so I was waiting p>
He exhales sharply. Not angry. Just thinking.
“Okay. That’s fine. We’ll fix it p>
We.
My throat tightens at the word, and my fingers tighten around the bracelet.
“Adrian p>
“You are not facing this alone, Sierra,” he says firmly. “Do you hear me p>
I close my eyes. “Yes p>
“I won’t let you go through this alone,” he says, his voice soft but determined. “I got you… Always p>
There goes my damn heart, falling and tripping over him
“But- what if doubt starts creeping in. “I’m scared p>
This is the first time I’ve admitted the truth to myself and to someone else.
“I know, Baby and it’s perfectly okay to be scared.” He tells me gently.
“What if this goes wrong? What if I end up in prison p>
“Nothing will go wrong,” he says.
“You don’t know that,” my voice catches.
“I do,” he says gently. “Because one, I know you’re innocent, and two, I won’t let anything go wrong even if it means I have to turn this goddamn world upside down to prove your innocence p>
I breathe, letting his words sink in.
My eyes sting as I fight back tears. “Thank you, Adrian… you have no idea what this means to me p>
“You don’t have to thank me. You’re mine, and I protect what’s mine p>
I’m just about to say something when there’s a loud bang and then
“SIERRAAAAA p>
Adrian pauses. “Is that p>
Another bang as the door is closed.
“YOUR ONE AND ONLY LOVE IS HERE p>
I can’t help it. I laughs.
“That,” I simply say, “is my crazy best friend p>
Adrian chuckles on the other end. The sound grounding me in ways nothing has been able to for days.
“I can hear her from here p>
“Yeah. She has no volume control p>
He laughs, “I never imagined she’d be this lloud.
This time laughter bubbles fully out of me.
“You have no idea… It’s worse when she’s drunk p>
“SIERRA, WHERE ARE YOU? HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN IS HERE p>
Adrian laughs fully now.
“Okay, since there’s now someone with you,” he says gently. “I’m going to let you go before she screams your house down… I’ll call you later p>
“Thank you, again”
“Always p>