22 22. Mother Dearest

"Shit! Sorry Drew, this is not about me. I'm good, I can do this. I'm going to be there for him. I love him." I told him as I get myself up.

Then my phone buzzed. It was Kami, she texted me that five of our biggest client backed down because they saw me on the news regarding Alex's incident. Then she asked about him, I just couldn't deal with work right now.

So I put the phone away and follow Drew to what looked like a recovery unit. There was an older couple with him. I'm guessing they're his parents, I tugged Drew's hand back, shaking my head. "No Drew, I don't want to ruin the family moment."

"Adriana baby, he's been asking for you. He's worried about you finding out about him from the news." He kissed the top of my head and lead me inside his room. Chris stayed on-guard at the doorway.

I was hesitant, but then I heard his voice calling out my name. "Addie baby you're here. Thank you, Drew. Hey, don't cry I'm good, well...I'm better." I came to his other side as I took his hand in mine. He took it and kissed it making me wiped my tears that flow even more seeing his gestures towards me.

His mother was looking down at me, I knew she despised me already. If I hadn't come between Liza and him this would not happen. His father's expression was quiet, I couldn't read him.

"Mom, dad this is Adriana, my girlfriend. Addie this is Frank and Hillary Davis, my parents." He was trying to sit straighter but winced at the pain. I tried to help him out but his mom got to him first.

"I got him, why don't you just stayed back hmm? He wouldn't be in this mess if you...." She was about to say more but Alex glared at her.

"Mother, I'm not going to repeat myself. This is not her fault. I was never in a relationship with Liza, ever, never love her, not once, she's the crazy bitch that stabbed me. If her mom wasn't your dearest friend I would put her in jail by now." He kept on holding my hand caressing my knuckles.

"Alex, you don't have to...please, she's your mother. Look, why don't I give all of you some privacy okay. I'll come back, just call me okay?"

"Addie, don't do this. This is not your fault." He was looking at me, his eyes were fixed on my teary ones. His mother looked satisfied with me backing down to her words. It was not her, from early on I had learned to choose my battle. And this one, I was willing to sit out. This one I was willing to give it to her.

"Alex, I'm good knowing you're okay and getting better. I gotta get back to work, Kami needs me. I'll be back later okay?" I didn't give him the chance to reply, I kissed his cheek and whispered my loving words for him as he wiped my tears away. He just nodded and let me go.

I quickly stepped away from his room and walked out followed by Chris, while Drew was trying to catch up with me. "Fucking hell, Adriana stop, just stop! You're not running away from me." I finally stop as he pulled me to his chest, and cried sobbing in his arms.

"I can't do this Drew, this is why I don't do relationship. You're better without me, you're happily married. I should do the same to him and let him be like you. I'm good. I'm better alone. It's just fucking hurt so much when you really love someone." I relaxed under his touches as he gently stroked my hair. He always had this calming effect on me.

"Adriana, why don't we took you back to your apartment okay?"

"No, I'm going to work, I need to get my mind on something else. I need to stop thinking about him." I looked at him pleading.

"God! Adriana, you always have been very persistent. Okay, Chris will take you there, he will wait for you." He said as he kissed my temple saying goodbye to me.

"Chris, I'm going to send one other guard with you, just in case the paparazzi came after her. I'll text you his details later." He quickly told Chris, then they escort me back to Alex's car where Drew stayed back at the hospital and Chris drive me back to my office.

We arrived thirty minutes later.

"Oh my god Adriana, how is he?" Kami greeted me right away.

"He's alert, we talked. He looked better. So, where is Gary? I need both of you to fill me in on the clients that backed down and see what we can do about them." I quickly went back to my working mode. I just need to forget about him.

But it only lasted for two hours. The issues were resolved, we couldn't salvage the accounts. So we decided to focus on maintaining the rest, and just obtained new accounts as we move forward. 

Francois stepped into my office late in the afternoon. "Hey, I just heard, are you okay? I've never seen you so distraught before. You really care about him don't you?" He leaned his body to my desk like he always used to.

"Don't ever fall in love Francois. It's not for people like us. I shouldn't be with him in the first place." My eyes were teary instantly as I reminded my self, that he was still in the hospital bed being treated for his wound.

"Hey baby, Adriana...you're a good person. He's lucky to have your love. You know that I've been wanting it since we started our thing right? I will regret myself for saying this later. But look, just be with him. Let the rest take care of itself." He pulled me up, and give me his warm hug that I really like.

"I love you Adriana, and if being away from him made you this miserable, then you must really love him. Cause that's exactly what you do to me. It hurts baby, it's supposed to hurt. But I'm not doing this one way. So, be with him, and be happy with him. You deserved so much more. And if I couldn't give it to you then I want him to make you happy. Cause that is love, it's all about sacrifice." He cupped my face and kissed my temple lovingly as I basked in his warmth.

"Oh, Francois. You're always such a romantic. Maybe...maybe I'll go to him, I'll think about it." I rest my head to his chest and sighed.

"Adriana baby, I must go. I can't spend too much time with you. It's not good for me, I still love you. I'll see you tomorrow if decided to go to work okay?" He kissed my temple one more time then he leaves my office.