Chapter 3 Calm down! Nerves

~Alfred~

The sound of the alarm clock jolted me up from sleep. Fully cautious of my environment, the event of last night kept playing on my head. How Ariela willingly signed the divorce papers without a fight left me stunned. The Ariela I know will plead with everything she has to remain married to me.

Deep within, I know she's still hanging around waiting for opportunities to beg for another chance, but the fire I saw in her eyes the minute she took the pen to sign on the paper scares me.

Believe me, I did love Ariela in the early days of our marriage, or perhaps it was just infatuation. But whatever it was, the feeling faded the moment my secretary returned from her long vacation. To be honest, Loela and I had shared a moment more than once, and I can't deny_I enjoyed it more than ever.

The fact that Daniel bonded with her so fast even attracted me the most. Maybe I should have waited for her return before hurrying to marry Ariela. One of the mistakes that burns me down.

I shoved the thought away, as I'm determined to rewrite my wrongs now.

After a quick shower, I strolled to the dining table to have breakfast before heading to work.

Loela and Daniel, already seated in the dining room devouring their breakfast. They'd connect so well that you mistook Loela to be his biological mother.

Watching them sometimes makes me regret why I didn't wait for her to return before settling down.

"Good morning, buddy," I ruffled Daniel's hair, making him giggle.

"Good morning, Daddy."

I took Loela's hands, gently placing a kiss on them, and she blushed, "Good morning, Alfred."

Loela is fully aware she is not just my secretary but a lover and more. She actually brought up the idea of the divorce.

As I sipped my coffee, Daniel dropped a question that almost made me choke.

"Where is mummy?"

Clearing my throat.

"She is probably inside or something."

"Okay," Daniel said and continued munching his pancakes for breakfast.

Then I realized I hadn't seen Ariela this morning, which is unlike her. Could it possibly be that she already left the house?

Ariela won't just give up like that. I became bothered and uneasy; the eagerness to go check her room dominated me. I hurriedly finished up my breakfast and lied to Loela that I forgot something in my room.

I took the chance and rushed to her room. The moment I swung the door open, after knocking with no response, the cold emptiness of her room slammed my face.

The room looked deserted, like she never slept in it last night, the bed properly and neatly laid. I strolled to her closet, her clothes were untouched.

I heaved a sigh of relief, believing she was still hanging around somewhere in the house. Perhaps, broken down due to the events of last night.

I hurriedly rushed out as I heard the voice of Loela reminding me that we were running late for work.

There was an awkward silence in the car as we headed to the office; my body was present, but my mind was practically intertwined with the event of last night.

Deep within, I felt uneasy, Ariela's image, her boldness, that fire in her eyes was hunting me down.

"Are you listening?" Loela's voice snapped me out of my deep thoughts.

Then I realized she was giving me updates on today's schedules.

"Did you grab all that?"

For a second, I try to recollect all she said, but none sticks in my brain.

I just nodded and murmured, "Let me know on time for each meeting."

"Alright," she took my hands and stroked them gently, "Are you sure you're okay, honey."

"Yeah, I'm fine," I exhaled calmly.

She did notice my gloomy countenance but never pushed further.

Inside the office, I couldn't concentrate, and the same with the meeting I had just attended. I was losing focus, my mind was going crazy. This is what I had wanted; to divorce her, I wanted her out of my space. Now that I've gotten what I have always wanted, what's with the strange feeling of emptiness?

What's wrong with me? I clenched my fist in frustration, rocking my seat left and right.

Loela suddenly barged in, like she owns the place, obviously I've given her that right when I felt helplessly attracted to her.

Her face etched with concern and suspicion, she gazed directly into my eyes, "Alfred, what is wrong with you?" " You are obviously not yourself today. You need to speak to me, please?"

"I said I'm fine, Loela," I growled, which made her flinch. That didn't come out like I intended to. Oh, goodness, what is happening to me? I massaged my temple trying to calm my nerves.

"You are not okay, Alfred!" "Because if you were, you won't put on that attitude in front of the investor, practically you ignore everyone. You were absent-minded, and now they are no longer interested," She snapped.

Her words landed like a punch to my chest. I have worked so hard for this investment, but lost focus on the day of finalization.

What is happening to me?

"Look, I'm sorry, Loela, I think I've a slight headache," I lied.

"I need to head back home and rest a bit."

"You should've told me earlier. Where doesn't it hurt?" she strolled closer and placed her hands on my palms, messaging them softly.

"You're going to be fine, okay," her voice tinged with tenderness.

I stood up abruptly, "Cancel all my meetings for today. I'll need no disturbance today." I said.

With that, I stood up and walked out of the office.

The moment I stepped my feet into the house, I rushed to Ariela's room. Everything was still the same as I had left it this morning.

A storm of emotions rages within me. I sprinted to the kitchen, the cook was fixing dinner.

"Where is Ariela?" I inquired.

"I haven't seen her today, sir."

My heart aches from the realization that she was gone.

For a brief second, I panic.

I reached for the phone in my pocket and dialed her number, but it did not connect.

'Ariela, where are you?' I muttered silently in my heart.