by Jerilee Kaye
When he was gone, all the girls in front of her were open-mouthed and wide-eyed, except for Jill.
“What the hell…” Cynthia started.
“Okay, so you’re the mystery girl?” Anna, the receptionist asked.
“Mystery girl?” Adrienne echoed.
“Well, when Ivan, Garry’s new assistant, asked Justin to go clubbing with him where he’d introduce him to some girls, he told him he can’t because he has a girlfriend.”
Girlfriend.
That word made her heart skip a beat. She’s Justin Adams’s girlfriend when he was known to dodge commitments any chance he got. And now…he’s hers. Somehow, she still couldn’t believe that all this was happening to her.
“That’s why you are in full bloom! You’re shagging a god!”
“Cynthia!” Adrienne knew she was red as an apple.
“This is very interesting,” Anna said. “I never thought that guy could settle down.”
“We’re seeing each other. We’re not getting married,” Adrienne stated.
“So, the IENNE on his car plate is actually short for Adrienne?” Cynthia asked with a shocked expression on her face.
“Yes!” Jill replied. “Trust me girls. They only have eyes for each other. You should see them together. It’s like you are a painting on the wall. They just look at you, but you are inanimate and you don’t really exist.” Jill smiled.
“And you didn’t tell us about this, Jill. I can’t believe you!”
“I didn’t know until last week, to be honest,” Jill responded. “Apparently, they’ve been seeing each other for more than four months now.” Adrienne glared at her.
“What kind of gossip columnist are you?” Anna asked Jill.
“It made me feel bad about my abilities. Both as a gossip columnist and as her best friend.”
“Come on, Jill. You already forgave me for it. You already know about it now.” Adrienne giggled.
“Yes. Along with the rest of the world. You never let me savor the moment for myself.”
Adrienne put an arm around Jill. “Don’t forget, I am treating you and Yuan big time for this,” she whispered.
“Oh right. I have a right to shut up after all.” Jill smiled.
They talked about going to Boston. Adrienne wanted a break and try to see her father on a weekend. Yuan and Jill would go with her—on Adrienne’s treat.
“This is big!” Cynthia said. “There will be at least two guys in this office who will be heartbroken with this information. How could they compete against Justin Adams? And it’s not just a flirting kind of thing, it seems. It looks serious.”
“Come on, ladies. We’re just taking one day at a time,” Adrienne said and then she went back to her office.
She got an email from Jill after a few minutes.
To: [email protected]
Fr: [email protected]
Subject: You!
You have to wake up already! You’re not dreaming this thing you have with Justin. It’s real! And you deserve it.
All of us can see that both of you are head over heels for each other!!!
Even Mike thought so. He actually told me that Justin suddenly stopped being interested in women months ago. They could only conclude two things. Either he’s turned gay or he’s got it bad for one girl. And that girl turned out to be you! You’re so lucky, dear!
And to kiss you in front of a crowd like that?
Wow! Knowing that Justin Adams had been slippery and evasive with women…and now he’s suddenly mushy and romantic.
Mike says you are all he talks about! And that plate in his car is like advertising to the whole city that he’s not single anymore.
He’s in love with you! He hasn’t said it straight out. But I bet you, you should be prepared to be Mrs. Justin Adams in the future!
Jill
Adrienne smiled and replied:
To: [email protected]"
Fr: [email protected]
Subject: Re: You!
Jill,
Thanks!
I AM head over heels with him and I know he’s crazy about me. I don’t know if he wants to marry me, but I don’t care about that yet.
What’s important is that we are with each other and I’m happy. I’m not thinking about how this will end. Because that’s how we started anyway. Not thinking how it will end and how long it will last.
I am just happy and thankful for him. And yes, I do feel lucky! I feel blessed every minute I am with him.
Happy?
Yen
Justin’s Porsche was parked in front of her building when she went out of the office.
She gave him a kiss on the lips when she went in.
“How’s work?” he asked.
“Great. How about you?”
He shrugged. “Met with some of Dad’s accountants. Made some money on stocks. I’m thinking of just keeping the blue chips now. I don’t want to do risky playing anymore. I won’t be able to focus on it when I start with Dad’s companies.”
She nodded. “I think that’s a very sound choice.”
He smiled. “My priorities have changed. I’m done goofing around.”
“You don’t look like you’re goofing around, hon. You actually made so much for yourself, just goofing around.”
He chuckled. “Actually, thanks to you.”
“Me?”
He nodded. “Remember we were talking at the balcony that night we got back together?”
She nodded.
“You told me that Jeffrey was looking over me. That he made sure I had a blessed life. I figured, I wouldn’t want to let him down. I thought that if he were me, he wouldn’t want to waste our legacy. He would feel duty-bound and honor-bound to help Dad run the business. And since I was the one who lived, I am the one who will carry that out…for both of us.”
Tears threatened to pool in Adrienne’s eyes.
“That’s why, I thank you, hon. For making me realize how lucky I am. And that in return, I shouldn’t be avoiding my obligations to my family. I owe it to my father for giving me the life I have now. I owe it to Jeffrey. I’m living both our lives. And I want to make it worth it. I want to make him proud.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m happy for you, Justin.”
“I am happy, too. And I’m lucky to have you, honey.”
“Really? As far as I know, you were doing just fine before we met”
He shook his head. “I thought I was fine. But when I met you, I realized that some people have to work to be appreciated. I never did. I never felt that my family’s trust in me wavered. I couldn’t believe that someone like you, who’s beautiful, smart and successful would think so little of herself. That you couldn’t see all the wonderful things that make you—you. Make you perfect. You made me see the things that I have been taking for granted. And it’s time to make things right. While it’s not yet too late.”
She squeezed his hand again. “Thank you, Justin. For making me love myself the way I do now.”
He took her hand and kissed it. “And thank you. For making me love the things I have the way I do now.”
“So where are we going?” she asked.
It took him a moment to reply. “I’ll just drop you off. I…actually need to go back to Chicago tonight.”
“Everything all right?” she asked.
He looked at her for a while. Then he said, “Yeah. Peachy.”
She traced a hint of worry in his voice. But she didn’t want to pressure him. And besides, he’s Justin Adams. She’s sure that whatever worried him, he’d find a solution for it.
She thought about Justin’s parents. The man who looked so much like his son, and the beautiful heiress he married made this wonderful man she found herself now head over heels in love with.
“You look a lot like your Dad.” She wondered out loud.
“And he looks exactly like my grandfather,” Justin said. “People say it’s because they married women who were head over heels in love with them, and n
ot with their money. Thus, their heirs had inherited exactly their physical features. But it’s all just very dominant genes, to be honest.”
Adrienne laughed. “Maybe my Mom wasn’t very in love with my Dad then.”
Justin laughed. “Yeah. Like I said, it’s just genes.”
“Kimberly and my mother look the same. They both have blond hair. My father’s hair is dark brown. So I guess, I look like my dad.”
“Where did the red highlights come from?” he asked.
She shrugged. “Genes skipping generations and landing on me, I guess.”
“They look great on you. Added a foxier effect.” He winked at her.
She laughed. “I wish my mother looked at it that way. She believes it makes me look like a harlot.”
Justin shook his head. “It’s pretty. And it’s you. It’s part of what makes you…you.”
“Glad you liked it. Otherwise, I would dye it back to plain brown again.”
Justin laughed. “No, honey. You’re perfect just as you are.”
“Your parents are still so in love with each other. I couldn’t say that my parents act like they were crazily in love with each other.”
“I envy my parents for what they have. My Dad grew up with business instilled in him by my Grandpa. He didn’t have much fun in his life. He was always so responsible, strong and focused. But when he met my Mom, he went out of his skull.”
“Who wouldn’t? Your mother is absolutely stunning.”
“And she’s smart too. When they met, she was twenty-three years old, and my Dad was twenty-five. They were married within the same year.”
“Really? That young?”
Justin nodded. “Makes sense to me. I don’t believe in marrying at an older age. Two people in love can get married as early as they want. If they feel they are right for each other, what’s the point in waiting? I don’t believe that you find your soul mate when you reach a certain age. She comes, she comes. And it’s up to you if you will hold on to her or let her go. And as far as I know, you will always regret it if you let her go.”
She stared at Justin, quite unable to believe what she’s hearing.
“I admire you, Justin. Not all guys think the way you do. Actually, I never thought that would be your point of view. I mean, before I met you, I thought, you were just playing around. But I know now, Justin Adams really is just a name. The guy underneath is ten times the man who wears the name tag.”
He smiled. “I’ve had my share of fun. I told you, I’m done goofing around. You taught me how to look at things in a different light.”
Justin dropped her off their building. He gave her a thorough kiss when he walked with her towards the elevators.
“I’ll see you in two days,” he told her. Then he sighed. “This is gonna be so difficult!”
“Why?”
“I didn’t want to leave you this early. I mean… we’ve just been officially together for about week.”
“Officially, huh,” she repeated.
“I’m not going back to the sidelines again, honey. I patiently waited there. Somebody should actually build me a monument!” He chuckled.
“Yes,” she said. “And thank you, Justin. For waiting for me to come around,” She kissed his lips gently.
He leaned his forehead against hers. “Maybe… next time… you could come to Chicago with me.”
She stared back at me. “What?”
He shrugged. “Let me… let me prep my family first,” he said. “They’re not really used to me having a girlfriend. Never introduced a girl to them before. But I’m thinking… it’s time I introduce you.”
She smiled. She felt really happy. But at the same time, she felt nervous. She really hoped his parents would like her. She knew she wasn’t an heiress like his mother was, but she hoped that his parents would accept her. Because she sincerely loved their son.
When she got back to her apartment, her phone was ringing. She ran to get it.
“What did you do to Kimberly, Adrienne?” her mother asked angrily. “And you were cheating on Troy? What a disgrace! I did not raise you to be a slut! How could you embarrass us like this?!”
Before she could say something, she heard a click on the other line and her father spoke. She realized that her father picked up the extension line to join in their conversation.
“Adrienne, I’m sure you would have a good explanation for this,” her father said.
“Dad…” Tears rolled down her cheeks. She could strangle Kim for turning this against her.
“If you didn’t love Troy anymore, then you should have been honest with him about it. Kimberly told us that your other boyfriend was at the resort, too. And he beat the hell out of Troy.”
“His parents are quite mad! They’re thinking of filing a lawsuit but they couldn’t understand why Troy refused to do it!” She heard her mother say.
“Troy was going to propose to you, sweetheart. That’s why the whole family was going there.”
Propose? Is Troy crazy? He must be delusional to think that I would say yes.
“But he cancelled everything. Said he changed his mind,” her father said. “And then, they came back to Boston and he’s got a broken nose and a shiner.”
“Dad, this isn’t all my fault…”
“Who’s the guy, Adrienne?” her mother asked. “You, ungrateful girl! I was trying to look out for you! Troy is your best chance at life. You wouldn’t make it on your own! Your only chance is to marry somebody who could give you a good life!”
“Wait a minute, Marina,” her father said. “Let’s give her a chance to explain.”
“Dad, I’m not in love with Troy. It would be wrong to continue being with him. I wasn’t happy!” she said in between tears.
“When you get married to a good for nothing bastard like your boyfriend now, then you would really be miserable! He’ll just get you pregnant and then leave you because he has no means to support you!”
“Mom!” Adrienne raised her voice. “Justin is not good for nothing! He’s ten times the man that Troy was and will ever be!”
“And how can you say that? How well do you know him?!”
“Almost everybody knows him!” Adrienne replied. She was getting frustrated. “You want to know why Troy didn’t want to file a lawsuit, Mom? Because he knows he couldn’t go against Justin Adams and win! Justin could afford the best lawyers in the country and the fact that I will testify against him will make it a sure loss!”
“Justin Adams?” her father echoed. “That’s your boyfriend’s name?”
Adrienne sighed. “Yes, Daddy.”
“Justin Adams as in Jac Adams’s son?”
Pride swelled in Adrienne’s heart. “Yes.”
“What? You know this guy?” Her mother seemed surprised.
“If you read business news and Forbes’ magazines, Marina, you would know who he is. They own Adams Industries. Adrienne, your boyfriend is… a billionaire. A third-generation billionaire.”
“It’s a common name! Maybe we’re not even talking about the same person!” her mother hissed.
“We’re talking about the same person, Mom. My boyfriend is the heir of Adams Industries. I’m sure of it. He’s quite famous here in Manhattan. And I’ve been on his private jet, so there’s no doubt he is what Dad says he is.”
“Oh! So that was your plan all along?! Troy wasn’t good enough, then?”
“Mom, why are you doing this to me?” she asked, unable to stop the tears now. “I wasn’t happy with Troy. I was miserable! We don’t match! Can’t you just please be happy for me for once? I’m going for the guy I love, the guy who made me complete! That’s what marriages are all about. Even if I didn’t have an… affair with Justin, I still wouldn’t have said yes to Troy. Because he’s not the guy for me! He’s the guy you want for me!”
Her mother fell silent for a while. Then her father said, “Adrienne…come to Boston when you have time. Let’s talk about this as a family. There are matters that we canno
t discuss over the phone.”
Adrienne suppressed a whimper. “Okay, Dad. I love you.”
Then she hung up. She sat on the floor of her living room, leaning her body against the counter. How could her mother act like this towards her? How could she love one daughter so much and despise the other? What did she ever do to her?
She wiped the tears from her face. And then she grabbed her purse and keys. She couldn’t be alone at a time like this. She needed to see her friends. Justin must be onboard the plane by now, and she couldn’t burden him with something this petty.
When she got to the elevators, a couple was standing there, waiting for the lift. The man was dressed in an expensive suit and the woman was wrapped in a Burberry coat. They looked rich and classy. They had their backs on her and didn’t even notice her presence behind them.
“I cannot believe he would go off like that!” the woman said. “I know he was always rebellious. But I didn’t know he would go to extreme lengths like this!” Adrienne only listened half-heartedly.
The man put his arms around the woman and Adrienne thought that was sweet. “Honey… come on. We can fix this. It’s not too late. It’s not like he’s married already.”
“But I feel different about this. I know he’s been with some girls before. But something tells me it’s different this time. I think he’s serious about this one. Where is he, by the way? How come he’s not in his apartment?”
“He is probably at the airport now.”
The elevator stopped on their floor. The couple stepped inside and Adrienne stepped in after them. She got a glimpse of the handsome man and the elegant woman. They both looked like they were in their fifties. Somehow, Adrienne thought they looked familiar.
“This is embarrassing, honey!” the woman spoke in a low voice. But Adrienne still heard her. “Ana has been my longest friend. Our parents were the best of friends. You know this arrangement had been finalized when Justin was just a baby!”
“I know,” the man admitted.
Adrienne’s heart skipped a beat. She realized now why the couple looked familiar. These were Justin’s parents. Her knees shook and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe.
“And he grew up knowing that. He didn’t complain about it. We constantly reminded him of this. It’s his duty. He even promised my father on his death bed that he will fulfill his wish.”
