When Adriana entered the car, she was in a terrible mood. She hated herself at this moment. She felt like the worst mother.
The worst parent in existence.
She covered her face with her palms and took a few deep breaths before she spoke.
"Drive." She ordered, her voice cracking up.
Ralf pursed his lips and started driving.
"Ma'am, I know this is not good timing, but Mr. Sanders is calling right now."
Adriana lifted her head and wiped away her tears. She pulled her hair up and took another set of deep breaths to calm down. Yes, she too was shocked by her current situation. She felt like she would break apart with a single touch.
She hated this feeling. But she was afraid, the fear of putting her children at risk. She almost lost them once, how could she be daring enough to lose them again?
She promised herself that she would protect them and make sure they wouldn't ever be harmed or separated from her again. She had no intention of breaking any more promises, especially not that one.
A few seconds of silence passed after that. When she felt calmer she looked out of the window and tried to compose herself. She was on the way to work and she needed to be on her right set of mind. She hated unprofessionalism.
The annoying constant ringing of her 'work' phone, which was usually held by Ralf started and she could tell it would continue for a long while.
Just like she predicted the ringing stopped and then continued, stopped, and then continued. She was in no mood to deal with anybody's bullsh*t. As annoying as it was she had to pull herself together and answer it.
She then took the phone from Ralf and crossed one leg over the other.
"What do you need?" Where her first words when she looked at the name of the person calling her.
"Well, I was just wondering if you accepted my offer and its terms."
"I have. I did- will do what you asked." She replied.
"Hah…? Really? I'm shocked. I never expected you to agree."
'Then why the frick are you even bothering to call?'
"Get to the point."
"Well, I'm sorry. I just didn't think you would get close to your ex-husband again. But anyway, I want you to stop a possible political marriage between Preston's and the Brooklyn's. It would disrupt my plans and I would hate that very much."
"I don't really give a sh*t just give me the details."
Adriana impatiently waited for him to respond, but all she got was a chuckle.
"50th avenue there's a shop there, wait I'm going to text you the address. My men will give you the details. The job is simple, right? It's part of the little game of yours, so it shouldn't be too hard. When I confirm that there will be no exchange between families, I will make you the poison."
"And...please tone it down. I have a lot of patience for you but it's starting to run out..." He warned after that.
She knew better than to think it was an empty threat.
"I need it in 5 weeks and much earlier if possible. Can you do that?" She diverted that subject.
"That's a bit…."
"I have other ways to achieve my goals. So it's five weeks or nothing. Choose."
"Fine. 5 weeks. Like I said, try to fix the way you speak to me."
She wasted no time and hung up after that.
Adriana tossed the phone aside and pulled her hair in frustration.
She took another set of deep breaths and turned to Ralf.
"Ralf…. after you drop me off, go to the shop and retrieve the information." She ordered.
She closed her eyes, still trying to calm down.
This simple frustrating feeling was rare for her. The one thing that didn't change was her rage and....she was full of rage at this moment. Not only did she feel horrible about herself, but she wanted to hang every person who made her this way.
"Yes, ma'am." Ralf swallowed, knowing the situation. He had never seen Adriana like this before. Usually, she's calm and confident because everything is in her control. Sometimes it would thrill her to know people pose a challenge, but this was different.
"Ralf…." She whispered.
"Do you think I would give up 7 years of perfect planning and fighting?" She asked, she would do this when she needed 'pep' talk. Ralf's admiration served as something like that.
He understood her thirst for revenge pretty well and he supported her too. Not only because of the duty, his last name gave him but because he truly does care for her. It warmed her heart knowing this.
She felt like she treats him way too coldly sometimes. After all, he was a great help when she was at the lowest of the lowest.
"Never. I believe in you and if you ever gave up on what you worked so hard to build up I would be truly disappointed. You once offered me a free pass off my duty to serve members of your family. I declined that day but if you give up like this I will take it. I don't wish to have a master that gives up just because of a little step back." He declared quite boldly.
"You answered, perfectly Ralf. Like always." She laid back on the seat and closed her eyes. Still trying to calm herself down.
"That man pisses me off." She mumbled, referring to the man she had spoken to over the phone.
"Anyway, did you get me the details of the woman Caroline wanted to look into?" She asked, finally feeling like herself.
She needed a drink... a strong one. She would kill for the strongest drink right now.
"Yes. Georgia Robin is the woman he went with after his wedding with Ms. Caroline. I found out he's been with two women. Georgia Robins is the one she has been looking into, but the woman from yesterday is someone else." Ralf smiled.
"Her name is Tonia Carmen. She's actually married and has a daughter. She's been seeing Ms. Caroline's husband since he was 16, or maybe even earlier than that. I'm unsure."
"Woah, you did some digging there, Ralf. Child grooming, cheating on her husband, gambling, debts, scamming... hmm this should be enough to destroy a few lives. There's a lot to unpack here, but try digging some more. I want every detail."
Adriana then went through the last page of the file and she looked back at Ralf to confirm what her eyes had just seen.
He only nodded his head. "Her maiden name is Carmen, but yes she married into that family."
Adriana broke into a fit of laughter.
"You're kidding. Hah, this is her husband? I can't believe it. This remains me of something a few years ago, an interesting discovery really. Afterward, I got manipulated into keeping it a secret. Ah, I can't believe the world is so small." She covered her mouth with her palm and tried to stop laughing, but she couldn't.
It was just too amusing for her. She shouldn't be surprised anymore, that family is full of dirty people.
"The debts I have with Brian Brooklyn just keep piling up".
Adriana shook her head, still laughing.
Her mood was not the best, but she felt a lot better after gaining such interesting information.
When she arrived at LABELS, she walked inside and entered her office after greeting everyone.
What a crazy day and it was about to get crazier.
....
Adriana looked out the window in surprise. The rain was pouring even harder than last night.
She looked at the computer in front of her and sighed. She would continue to refresh her email once in a while, but it disappointed her.
"How long will she hold on?" She wondered out loud.
She expected to get an email from any of Briana's superiors. An email confirming that she no longer wishes to train under her.
It would be fun if that actually happens.
Anyway, the rumors going around the company today confirmed that her plan was a complete success.
She walked out of her office, and since she had sent Natalie to handle something, Adriana poured herself a coffee.
While she prepared her coffee, she heard two girls gossiping near to her.
"Did you hear about Briana and our president?"
"No, but everyone keeps talking about them more than usual. I'm curious what happened?"
"Well, guess what? Apparently, he didn't even stop to greet her this morning, and he's been ignoring her the entire day. At first, we all thought it was a lover's quarrel. I mean, it's normal since they are engaged. BUT Mrs. Preston came by earlier, and she also didn't visit her. Someone leaked some news that they might not even have an engagement anymore!" The girl excitedly told the story to the other.
'Yes, I did call her his fiance before but I'm 200% sure they aren't actually engaged. When did this get out? Unless...never mind. I just answered my own question of course.' She thought gripping onto her cup.
Gosh, it still annoys her seeing other women around him.
'Like come on, if you want him just make a move already. Fantasies are for children.'
Never mind, that sounded worse.
She smiled through the annoyance of that thought.
Jealousy was something she always kept to herself, but she was sure that this wasn't jealousy. It was just pure annoyance. She just couldn't handle how they kept making fantasies about her EX-husband.
EX
But still...
"What, really? Pfft haha, it's funny because of how arrogant she was acting just a few days ago. Honestly, I think this is for the best."
"I agree, I heard the marketing department had some sort of beef with her. They received a direct order from the president to remove many rumors between them. Apparently, they are nothing but 'friends'. "
The other girl gasped. "No way- "When she realized that she had spoken too loudly, she froze in her spot.
"I get that people are easily influenced by rumors, but my private relationship is none of your business and if you wish to comment on it, try not to do it at work. I will file a complaint soon, be ready to receive a warning from the company." Briana smiled at them 'kindly'.
The plan was acting pitiful, because of how the girls were making up 'false' rumors. Well, that was until she say, Adriana. She refused to look inferior to her.
The girls swallowed and apologized quickly, they ran off like lighting.
'Are they the flash? That's some amazing speed.' Adriana thought.
She continued humming a tune while she poured the milk into her cup.
"Good morning, Briana. How's your day going?"
Wow, she felt like a b*tch asking that. After all, she was the cause of Briana's terrible morning.