Unhappy vibes - I

"It is charity, Adrian!" Daphne raised her voice slightly. "You do not say not to accompany me to a charity event. I gave birth to you."

Adrian winced. "How long are you planning to hold that against me?"

"As long as you were alive." Daphne shrugged. "Your tux has been dry, cleaned and laid out on your bed. Hurry up, please."

He watched his mother sashay out of the office and the woman did not even bother to close the door behind her.

Adrian glanced at the clock. He only had 15 minutes to get ready, which was more than enough.

Within minutes, he had shower, groomed himself slightly and was in his tux in front of the mirror closing the clasp of his watch.

Fuck, he huffed. For today, he had hoped that he would get a full night's sleep.

Adrian opened the door for his mother before going over to the other side and the driver shut the door after him before slipping into the driver's seat and they were off.

"It is important to me you know," Daphne whispered quietly. "I wish to give back to the community."

"I know."

"Charity is one way to do it. People come with large funds to evade taxes. The money goes directly to them."

"Mother," Adrian took her hand in his, "I understand that and support it but Charles is also pulling his act straight. You have to include him."

Daphne pulled a face at that. "I know. It's hard but I will try."

The rest of the ride was quiet but Adrian kept on thinking about Charles. His brother had cleaned up his act and he wondered why?

Playboy, womanizer and what not was he called at some point but now he barely got any updates.

Something had been missed. It was important enough for him to clean up his act.

His door was opened by the driver and he opened the door for his mother. The manners had been drilled into him at an early age.

"Look at that," Daphne whispered, leaned towards him, "the daughters are here."

Adrian chuckled, unable to control it. "You RSVPed me as well, did you not?"

"Mm hm."

He held in the smile. Daphne Murphy could be very scheming when she wanted to be.

With drinks in their hands, they made rounds by talking to people around the room. Most of them knew him and he remembered their names and faces. Even if he had forgotten what business they participated in, they were quick to introduce that on their own.

Adrian never understood why people bothered with that. If he wanted to do business with them, he would gather everything needed. They did not need to provide him with anything.

"No!" Daphne laughed loudly, and it turned towards him only for her glass to bump against his shoulder. The drinks slashed out of the glass and landed on his jacket.

"Ohh my god!" She whispered, her eyes widened. "Adrian, child! I'm—"

"It's fine," He waved it off with a smile to her. "Excuse me. I will be back in a few."

Damn it, he huffed under his breath. This was the last of what I wanted to happen this evening. Walking towards the washrooms, he was about to enter the door when he heard a whimper.

What the fuck?

Turning to look at the very corner of the corridor, he found a man towering a woman. A very familiar woman who at the moment was crying, her eyes out.

Joyce O'Sullivan.