Chapter 109

Adrian

I haven't been able to get Stella off of my mind ever since it was revealed that she was the mafia princess. Her dark hair and hazel eyes have haunted me in my dreams, leaving me no time to be able to rest and get my mind off of her. It feels like this is her revenge on me, to haunt my every waking, second into infiltrate, my dreams, leaving me know, place to seek refuge.

Ever since I allowed Stella to slip through my fingers, she has been the phantom in the night who constantly reminds me of the life I fucked up. There is no other person to blame except for myself when it comes to her.

Maybe it is a good thing that we are no longer together. Her connections to the mafia is clearly a boundary that I'm not willing to go past, a line that I am unwilling to cross. It seems like she is happy with them though, happier than I ever could've made her.

So, the men she was with are her brothers. Does that mean that Sebastian is her brother too? They have always been affectionate with each other, pushing the boundaries of what a brother and sister should be like with one another.

I know that Sebastian has a job in finance. He is rich and wealthy, has the looks that I will never have, and will be everything that I can never be. Does this mean, though, that his job is connected to the mafia?

With one quick search on the internet, I have found out that Sebastian's job and finance is real, it's legal. All I can do now is assume that his ties to the mafia is one of an employee, someone that can make sure that their books are perfect, showing no signs of blood or criminal activity on its pages.

I get a call from Michael, my CFO, who informs me of a networking event that is taking place at the end of the week. It is a time for us to find new investors, ones that will not drop out at the last second, so we can expand the pharmaceutical company that I started all of those years ago. It is time for us to expand, to show the rest of the business world what we have to offer.

Sebastian's workplace, a finance Mogul that specializes in real estate and investments, is going to be at the event. I asked Michael about it and he confirmed. All I can do now is Hope, hold onto that tiny sliver that remains inside my heart, that Stella will be there at the event.

I wish to speak with her. Perhaps I was a little too harsh with her about her ties to the mafia.

Am I disappointed I her choice of family? Yes, of course I am, but I should hear her out instead of acting like her connection with them is the end of the world for me.

I quickly need to come to a sense of acceptance with Stella being the mafia princess. If I want to be able to see her hazel eyes again, to see them in person, and not in the hazy scenes of my dreams, then I need to show her that I am willing to put my prejudices to the side and except her for who she is, and not somebody who I have made her out to be.

I looked down at my phone. Michael's name popped up on the screen, his text message finally coming through after waiting for an hour.

Michael: Our invite has been secured, Adrian! I am glad to see that you are finally taking the initiative again for making our company great!

The week rolls by and I finally find myself standing inside of a banquet hall on the right side of Michael. We hold glasses of water in our hands, knowing that alcohol will only make things worse to make us look weak to other competitors, and we scan the room trying to find possible investors. People passes by, throwing weird, looks in our direction, but we pay them no mind.

I know that Michael is on the lookout for actual investors. I lied to him, telling him the sweet lie that I want our pharmaceutical company to be back on top again.

I could honestly care less about the status of my company anymore. The statistics and glory of being on top is no longer appealing to me. After I lost it all in the deal with the angel investor, I realize that there are bigger things to worry about in life rather than being on the cover of finance magazines and being in the spotlight.

Stella is nowhere to be seen. her presence lingers in the back of my mind, leaving me know, peace of mind. I wish to see her floating around the banquet hall's room, to see the smile on her face, a smile that I now miss every single day of my life after we divorced.

I want to see her be happy. Even if she does not want to see me, I wish her nothing but the best in the future that lies ahead of her. I know that there are big things meant for her outside of me and our depleted relationship, but I can't help but feel that I want to be there at her side every step of the way.

Just as I am about to give up, hope, I look towards the door one last time. My eyes linger on the doorway. People pass in and out, their laughter echoing across the room over the sound of quietly played music.

There is still no sign of her.

Should I give up? Was this all for nothing? Is my hope that I will be able to keep Stella in my life one made out of a pure delusion?

A sigh leaves my lips. I set my glass of water down on the table and turn around, the sliver of Hope inside my chest slowly withering away into the nothingness of defeat.

“You have been acting so weird tonight, Adrian,” Michael comments. I glance at him with a raised eyebrow, not particularly in the mood for people constantly pointing out how I am feeling.

I was never able to fully control the emotions on my face, could I?

“Just tired,” I quickly come up with the excuse, knowing that I can place the blame on a stack full of papers in my office, ready to be signed and approved.

“yeah? Maybe you should go home then,” Michael says. He pats my back. “I can handle it from here, buddy, don't worry about a thing.”

I nod, ready to give up and fall asleep in my bed at home when a familiar face catches my attention.

Stella walks through the door. Her arm is linked with Sebastian's, but he's quick to let go as soon as he notices somebody waving him over. This is my one and only shot. I have to take it.

without another word, I cross the banquet hall and find myself in front of Stella. She looks up at me with a look of discussed on her face, her arms crossing over her chest.

“Stella?” I ask, my voice shaking, “Can we talk?”