"Have you heard from her?"
"Heard from who?" Sebastian asked, without lifting his head from the file in front of him.
Nicholas strolled across the room and towards his desk. "Angelica, your wife. Have you heard from her?" Nick asked again.
Sighing loudly, Sebastian shook his head. "No," his head still buried in his work.
"And have you tried calling her? I have a feeling you haven't." Nicholas lowered himself on the seat across Sebastian desk.
Not wanting to be disturbed or interrogated by his best friend, who he believed had a plethora of work waiting in his office, Sebastian continued studying the document in front of him. He signed on it and flipped open the other.
"Sebastian," Nick snapped the file shut before Sebastian could open it.
Annoyed, Sebastian shot a glare at Nick, but the matching glower on Nick's face made him sigh in despair, dropping his pen on the desk.
Lolling back on his seat, he hissed and answered, "No."
"Why? Aren't you worried? You should be worried."
Sebastian blankly gazed across the huge window panes. He wasn't sure exactly what it was he felt. Worry or relief, he had no idea. But the moment he had realized Angelica's absence, he had felt a pang of regret, and that feeling was still gnawing deeply in him.
He had been shocked to realize that she had actually packed out of the house. He never thought she could.
Fully reclining into his seat, he looked at Nicholas. "I'm sure she's at the Pearson's house. There's no where else she'd be."
"And you know this because?"
"Because it's Angelica, and there's no where else she'd rather be." Or rather, there was no where else for her to go.
"Wouldn't Catherine have called you?" Nick thoughtfully asked.
Sebastian's brows furrowed together. "She would," he muttered, "but maybe she doesn't want to?"
Nick guaged the look on his face. His eyes weren't confident, and beneath his voice was a hint of desperation. He wasn't certain, but he was hoping he was.
"It seems like you are trying to convince yourself." When Sebastian gave him a questioning look, "You're trying to convince yourself that you're okay. But clearly you're not." Nick pointed calmly, peering closely at his friend.
"I'm very much okay!" He sharply refuted. This was the last thing he wanted to talk or think about now. "Look, if this is what–"
"All you have to do is call her." Nick cut in, tired of his stubborness. "Apologize and tell her the truth if you must, because I know you want to. The opportunity presented itself and you could have told her everything. Why did you even get angry? What did you want her to think?"
"You don't know what I want."
"I know you're barely pulling through with issues in the company, and this marriage was the last thing you wanted. But I also know you regret every bit of your reaction to her, and if you weren't trying to save this sinking company from capsizing, you'd be trying to make your marriage work. You're too responsible to treat a woman like this, Sebastian Croft."
"I wouldn't—" he trailed and hissed. "You know what? Just shut up and get the hell out of my office and company. And give me my file back." He snatched back the file from Nick, a mock glare gleaming in his eyes.
"Fine, I'll go. I also have some business to tend to, but pick up the phone and call her. Stop being a coward."
"You're the coward."
Nick nodded with a snort. "Yeah, whatever." Buttoning up his suit, he rose to his feet. "I'm going to see you later, man."
"Bye." Sebastian flipped open his file again to distract himself.
"I'll call you when we need to prepare for our first hearing in court. But for the meantime, continue to keep things away from reporters and the public. We don't want to mess things up."
"Sure." Sebastian's face was quick to tighten as he remembered the issues at hand.
"Alright then, I'll see you later."
Sebastian watched his friend leave, and after he closed the door his eyes drifted towards his phone. He silently stared at it, deliberations running through his mind.
He could still remember the look on her face —the desperation, hurt and look of betrayal. He could have acted differently, tried to be a better person even though he was angry with her for changing the rules, and burdening him with her feelings for him.
Despite the frustration and exhaustion, he could have done better. And there was something about those sad looks that really bothered him.
His hand subconsciously reached for the phone, and just as his finger hesitantly hovered above her number, the intercom buzzed.
"Sydney,"
"Mr Croft, the engineers are waiting in the conference room 2. And I also want to remind you, the rescheduled board meeting it's in an hour."
He pinched the bridge between his brows. "Thank you, Sydney."
"You're welcome, sir. And the list of construction companies you asked for has also been emailed to you."
He quickly opened his mail box and searched for it. "I've found it, thank you."
"You're welcome, sir. Should I order in your lunch?"
"No, I'll have that later. But you should get yourself something to eat."
"But—"
"Thanks, Sydney." He said and immediately disconnected the call, his eyes already fixed on the data displayed on his laptop.
He sighed when his eyes drifted back to the phone waiting in his hand. Without a doubt, he knew calling Angelica and knowing her whereabout was important, because as unprepared as he was about their marriage, she was his wife.
But despite knowing that, Crofton came first. And maybe a little time away from it was what Angelica needed. What he needed. He had been anything but kind to her, for that he'll be apologetic. And calling her now would also mean giving her the answers he couldn't give.
At least not now.
Away from there, Adele peered deeply at Angelica.
"Are you sure about this, Angie? Leaving isn't going to be—"
"Easy? I know, Adele. Being married to Sebastian these last two years has been anything but easy. I mean, it was the one thing I was groomed for, but..." She swallowed, her teeth taking a quick bite into her lips. "But I failed. So yes, I know it wouldn't be easy, but I think I have a shot alone with my child — a shot at love and peace. At purpose and direction. A shot at me."
"But—"
"I'm tired, Adele. I don't think I can do it anymore. I don't think I can wait on Sebastian than I already have. And I'm not sure if I can ever forgive him."
"But what if that baby you saw isn't his? What if you are making an impulsive decision because you are tired of everything?"
"Exactly, Adele. I. Am. Tired. I didn't realize how tired I was, but...I don't think I have it in me to hold any longer." Her eyes were quick to mist with tears, and holding back on the pressing flood of it, she swallowed the bile in her throat.
Tapping on her thigh, she wiped a droplet from her lid. "So what if the baby is not his? Why didn't he tell me anything then and there? Did he have to say all those hurtful things to me?"
"Maybe it was just emotions, a misunderstanding. Maybe—" Adele realized she was rambling. There wasn't really anything to say. "Oh, Angie..." Don't start crying now, she wanted to say, but she knew Angelica needed that outlet to help ease her pain. She comfortingly rubbed her knee.
"It's alright, I'm not crying." Angelica sniffed and quickly wiped away some stubborn tears. "I've made up my mind. I want to leave. I want to have this baby, and I'm not sure if Sebastian would even want me to keep it." She turned to Adele, her hand gripping tightly to Adele's hand on her knee. "I want to protect my baby. I have to, Adele."
Lost in a short for words, Adele assessed the emotions in her eyes. She saw the determination, the desperation and the strength she had never quite seen before. Angelica was serious, and there was nothing she was going to do about it.
Silent for a few more seconds, she sighed and broke the silence. "I was just promoted to marketing director, and with it comes a transfer and an apartment in Lansbury. I'm not sure if that's a place you want to go, but if you want to come—"
"Yes." Angelica rushed in. "Yes, I'll come with you. Lansbury is fine." As a matter of fact, anywhere was fine. Anywhere but here— here where she stood the risk of losing her child and forever living in hurt for a love she might never have.
Not to mention the constant reminder of the betrayal, the pressure she'll face from her mother, who probably wouldn't listen to her, and would expect to take everything in strides like a Pearson would.
Adele regarded her cousin. It was surprising how someone who had never lived a day away from her family could so easily agree to moving thousands of miles away. Not once could she have seen this coming.
"Angelica, are you really sure?" Adele asked worriely, grabbing both hands and looking directly into her brown eyes. "Lansbury is a bit too far. You have never lived apart from your family."
"And I can't if I never move. Well, I moved in with Sebastian for two years!" Angelica pointed, in case she had forgotten. "And you and this baby are family. And I'm sure I'll get by. I just have to protect her." She touched a hand to her stomach.
Adele looked at her hand on her stomach and smiled. "You think it'll be a girl?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure. It's still to early to—"
"I'd love a princess too, Angie. And I'd love to raise her with you, but what about your mother? What reason will you give her for leaving? She wouldn't let you leave, not when she finally has what she's been looking for. A heir."
"I'm not a heir producing machine. Not for the Pearsons or Crofts. I'm a person, Adele. And I think it's about time, I put me first. My life and child's."
Adele couldn't agree more. It was about time Angelica started to live for herself and do what she wanted for herself for once in her life— Live, dream and make her own decisions.
"I'll explain everything once we settle in Lansbury. Let's not worry about that now. When are we supposed to leave?"
Adele looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "You're joking, right? You're not going to leave without telling her, are you? Look, Angelica–"
"Adele, please trust me and let me go with you. I will figure out what to do once I've had a good rest from all this chaos."
Or maybe things would figure themselves out. She didn't know, she didn't even have a plan and right now she didn't care. All she wanted to do now was leave. Go somewhere very far away. And Lansbury seemed to be the best option now.