Desire

CHAPTER THIRTY - SEVEN

ADELAIDE

Carter gave me an ultimatum and then we fought. Fighting is inevitable with us. No matter what we end up there. Maybe, this is the universe intervening and telling us we don't belong together.

I sit in our room alone with my legs hiked up to my chest and my face in my knees crying. Carter went to work without me after our fight. I have been sitting here crying for the past hour. Do I go to work? I know if I don't it will be the end of everything. Carter will leave again.

Do I fight for the love that I'm not supposed to have?

A knock on my bedroom door causes me to look up. I knew the door was open already. So I didn't have to get up and open it. Shit. I didn't have time to fix myself before Jack came back in here.

"Adelaide," he calls softly. I can't bring myself to hide away from him. So I stand there with my face covered with wet tears. He immediately stalks towards me and brings me into his warm arms. Why do I feel guilty that I feel a little comfort in his arms?

He kissed the top of my head. "Everything is going to be okay, Adelaide. I promise you."

"Carter...is...never.... Going.... To...speak...To... me... again," I said through my sobs. It was do this or lose Carter forever.

He rubbed my back trying to comfort me. "Carter loves you. He's just trying to give you some tough love because he cares. Trust me I have never seen him as in love as he is with you,"

Is this worth losing the love of my life for? Probably not. I have to fight for us. Just like Carter fought tirelessly for me. I pull away from his arms and stand up. He looks up at me immediately. A concerned look on his face.

I wiped my tears off my face. Why am I crying about losing Carter like I have lost him already? I have a choice at this moment and I'm going to choose the right one.

I smiled.

"Adelaide are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. I haven't felt better in days.  I never used to care about what people thought about me, so why am I going to do it now? I love Carter and I will continue fighting for him until my last breath.

"Better than I felt in days" I replied. Still, the concern never left his face.

"You know it's okay not to be okay. Especially with everything you went through. I think Carter is just scared you're pushing him away,"

"And he's right I have been pushing him away. I won't do it anymore because then everything would have been for nothing. I love Carter and I'm not willing to lose him. He fights for me, so I'll fight for him,"

"Adelaide-"

"Stop," I interrupt him. "I won't be a sad girl who got kidnapped anymore. I have to do better. Not just for me, but for Carter and our child. I have to want to be better,"

This is my starting point for the rest of my life. I won't risk a future without Carter. I can tell he's not convinced, but I also hint at another thing in his eyes. Is he sad? Jealous? No, I'm just imagining it. Jack doesn't care about anyone, but himself.

"I have to do this, Jack. He's the love of my life. Please understand," I begged, hoping he would understand. I can tell by the look of indecision on his face. He doesn't want to. I have to do this even if it means running my friendship with Jack. As a friend, he should understand why I'm doing this and he should want me to be happy.

"Okay," he finally spoke after a long pause. He doesn't look me in the eye.

"Hey," I said trying to make him look at me. He hesitantly looks me in the eye. "Nothing is going to change between us. We're friends."

He winches. I pretend not to see it. I walk away from Jack into the bathroom. I stand in front of the mirror and take a deep breath. This might mean the end of my friendship with Jack.

I squeeze my eyes closed trying to force myself not to cry. You got this! You can do this! I heard footsteps and I beg to god for him not to come in here. I think I'll lose the fight I have left. Then, I heard the door slam shut and I thank god he left. A feeling of guilt washed over me at the fact that I felt that way.

The tears fall from my eyes without warning. I tried to stop them by wiping but, they fell fast and hard. I have to get up and be strong. Jack will come around. I know he will. I just have to believe. I get dressed quickly, dabbing makeup on my face, and drive towards his office.

I park my car in front of his building. The security guard smiles at me while I walk past him. I can tell he's shocked. He probably heard about our falling out. At this point, everyone has heard about what happened. I have become the girl who everyone feels bad for because she was kidnapped while pregnant by the richest man in the world.

I walk into the building getting stares of pity, sadness, anger, and jealousy from the people in the lobby. Take a deep breath, Adelaide. It will all be okay. I promise. I finally get to the elevator rising to his floor.

As I walk in, his interim assistant looks at me with something in her eyes I can't place. I think it's probably anger from me coming back to take her job. So I let it roll off my back. I continued walking when I heard yelling from behind me.

"Ms Adelaide. You can't go in there."

She stands in front of me with a look of worry on her face. Did Carter tell her to not let me in? he wouldn't do that after asking me to come in today. right?

"I'm Carter's girlfriend. Also, an assistant. I'm supposed to come back to work today," I replied.

"I'm sorry, I can't let you pass. Adelaide, if you know what's good for you, you wouldn't go in there!" Her face is full of worry. Is there something going on she doesn't want me to know about?

"I don't care. Let. Me. Pass."

She moves to the side and I open the door. My mouth goes wide.