28

He paced back and forth in his office, time to time glancing at Oliver who was sitting in his little play area, destroying his new toys. He apparently didn't find a blue teddy bear interesting. His pair of elephants were sitting close by and they were being used to smash his other cutesy toys.

This little bubble around his son, was the only thing that was keeping him sane. Erica insisted to babysit Oliver, so he could attend his meeting but he refused to back away from the responsibility. And for the first time took the initiative to bring him to his office. Although she helped him to pack his essentials for the trip.

It was past afternoon but Hope hadn't called. He wondered if it was genuinely work, or she was disturbed over something else. That something else could only be his answer. To some extent he was sure, because his answer was something a wife would never want to hear. But Hope was his friend. He justified his actions but failed to do so. He knew she was no more in the flight. Her phone was on. But she still had not replied to his texts or returned his calls.

He sighed to himself and went to sit beside Oliver who looked at him, and smiled. That put him at ease, and he picked up his baby, and made him sit on his lap.

"Did I make your mumma upset?"

He only pouted and then began talking animatedly in his own language.

"You know I can't understand a single shit of what you are saying?", he chuckled and pinched his nose.

In reply, Oliver stood up in his lap, his little feet tucked between his father's thighs and held his collars to bring his face down to his mouth. David amusedly drew his face back, increasing difficulty for the little adventurer.

That made him whine and he made a face showing he was upset. Scared about him crying, David brought his face nearer. He just wants to give him a kiss.

Oliver, with a genetic mischievous makeup, held him firmly, and pulled at him, finally reaching his nose. And as soon as his mouth got hold of his father's nose, he bit on it with all his strength, making David shreik.

"You little piece of shit!!"

The supposed 'piece of shit' laughed loudly at his achievement, and clapped his hands for himself. David pulled out his phone and opened the front camera to look at his now red nose with little teeth marks.

He looked at Oliver who was still basking in the pride of such an honourable moment.

"Are you taking revenge on me for hurting your asshole 'Papa' and your mumma?"

He didn't get an answer but he squinted his eyes and pouted at him.

Just as he was examining his nose in the camera, the caller ID flashed with Hope's name. He immediately picked up the call and held the phone to his ear, "Hope!"

"David? You called?", her voice was stoic and monotonous.

"Yeah...I did. You left just like that. You should have atleast woke me up. I would dropped you to the airport you know."

He heard him sigh, "I didn't want to bother. How is Oliver though?"

With his experience of women, if she doesn't want to 'bother' you, there is definitely something to be bothered about.

"He..he's fine.", he briefly glanced at Oliver, who was keenly hearing him talk. His attention is so directed because he heard him mention 'Hope'.

"Hoeee! Mumma!", he called out, standing on his lap for the second time.

He put the phone on speaker, before Hope spoke up, "Yes my baby! Are you okay?"

"Yayaya!", he babbled animatedly moving his hands.

"Be a good boy...okay? Mumma will be back with a lots of toys for you. Do you want a train?"

He nodded his head vigorously hearing 'train'.

"He wants it.", David said on his behalf.

"Okay! If I hear that Oliver is eating all his food, I'll come back with a big train. Okay??"

"Okaaaa!"

He was dropped among his toys so David could focus on his phone and the person on the phone.

"I've asked Erica to help you. I'd be back so.."

"When?", he asked, "You left so abruptly, I am completely distraught."

He heard only silence in reply, and so filled it himself, "Are you okay Hope? I know I may have hurt you, but I didn't..."

"Why'd you hurt me? It's not like I love you and have been dying for a little reciprocation. Relationship means nothing to me. We are coparenting Oliver and that is it. I don't want anything more. And I know you too don't have anything to do with me. We are friends and that is a plus point. I have no expectations."

With that, the phone was hanged up, making him stare at the blank screen.

A few things concerned him. She didn't ask him about his medicines, the ones whose morning dose was still waiting to be gulped. Secondly, she has never sounded so...so unfeeling towards their relationship. And lastly, his mind was moving in a completely different direction. This reaction from Hope had his mind wandering around the last time she left school, with no strings attached to him. Was he missing a very important link here? He decided not to think much or assume rubbish. But he knew, there was some chance, that the rubbish after all, was not rubbish. What he was sure about, was she did not like his answer. And he will have to repair this.

*

The moment she closed herself in the confines of her hotel room, she broke down. Her phone remained switched off for obvious reasons. In the very travel clothes, she remained sprawled on the bed for hours. Drifting in and out of sleep. Questioning her choices and reprimanding herself over her expectations.

Hours later, she had a clearer mind, and that was when she took a shower. When she was done, she picked up her phone to check on Oliver. She saw a surge of messages and missed calls, from him, from Erica, even Rebecca, and ofcourse her mother.

She sighed to herself and relaxed on the bed. It was past afternoon and she had missed her breakfast and lunch. That made her wonder if he had it all, and the medicines? As soon as the thought came, she rebuked herself over how vulnerable she was being. She'd have to stop involving so much in him. Because it is going to harm her for good. One sided love is a curse, and she has only ever felt the brunts of it.

She had a lot to say but after she talked to him, she felt even more distraught. But she convinced herself it was not her mistake. He was the one who even put forward the idea to give a chance to this marriage, making her hopes high in the relationship, and he was the one to break them. Ideally, she should hate him. And that she will.

She resolved to hate her husband, hate the guy who she has loved for many years, and hate the guy, who was calling her that very moment.

She left an irritated sigh and picked up the call, "What now?"

"This is not fair. You can't hang up on me."

Her eyes narrowed, "Okay! I am waiting. Now you hang up on me."

"Cool. I'll hang up on you now. But first ask me, if I ate my breakfast, lunch and medicines."

She rolled her eyes and put him on speaker. She decided to get some work done and get ready to meet Louis.

"I can't hear you Hopeless!"

"Get your ears checked."

"You're angry. And upset. And you lef..."

"If you complete that sentence, I am going to block your phone number. I left because I had work."

She heard him shuffle a bit before he spoke up, "You know there's nothing wrong to say that you are angry at me. It is your right as my wife. Also, it is not wrong to get angry on your husband when he admits he is stuck over someone else. I understand that."

Her hands halted in the middle of extracting her clothes. If only he was not such a sweet talker. But her goal was to protect her vulnerable heart.

"Believe me David. I can swear on my life that when I married you, I expected nothing out of it. Not even the life of a married woman. So you are overthinking."

And for the second time that day, she hanged up.

He didn't call again after that, and she was thankful. She needed to breathe and he took it all away.

*

Louis sat across her, "You know you are visibly upset today. Is everything okay?"

She nodded, "All good. Why don't you focus on work?"

He pouted, knowing his manager was not in a good mood, like she always is. Or like she was the last time they met. Having worked with Hope for the most part of his career, he knew her in and out. And he also knew she's really calm almost always. So if something has unnerved her, this must be serious for sure.

So he turned to the rest of the staff sprawled in the manager's hotel room, "Guys! The dinner's on me tonight!"

At dinner time, he finally managed to find Hope alone.

"Is it about Mr.Wellington? Because I see no man around. Other than him."

She looked at him, "You orchestrated this dinner, spent a plenty of euros, only so you could get me off the work mode and ask this?"

He laughed throwing his head back, "You know I am just returning your favour. You asked me my dirtiest details only because you were my manager and you 'had to fix my mess'. So, I think I can do that too. Because if my manager is messed up, I am bound to be in a mess."

She rolled her eyes. The men in her life had no qualms about the peace in her life.

She sat quietly as he probed further. But then something snapped in her. Louis was a stranger to everyone around here, but her. She has known him since he first split for an established band and invited a lot backlash for himself because he chose himself. At that time, no one was ready to be his manager. Another reason was because he had a Casanova image, something that took a lot of effort from her to mitigate. However, now, he was the most loved singer in the world. His tickets got sold in a mere twenty minutes. He respected and cherished her alot, because she accepted him at his worst. Now, many management houses invite him, offering him a bigger share of profit, but he has made it clear he wouldn't leave Hope Ricci's company for the world.

It wouldn't be a problem if she told him anything. He's a secret keeper. And she knows more secrets of him. Even the dirty ones.

"Okay...I'll tell my thing, but if anyone gets to know about it, I'll myself write a thesis on your good deeds and have it published on all social media platform, with pictures might I add."

He narrowed his eyes at her.

"This isn't fair. I am here to have a heart to heart. Not to get threatened by you."

She shrugged, "I work like that. With a leverage on my side."

He sighed, "Okay...go on.."

And just like that, she told him all. Everything that mattered. And everything she felt. Before her was not a client, but her friend in need and deed. He heard her with rapt attention, his gaze not diverting but understanding clouded him as the moments passed.

When she was done, she waited for him to respond. To say something. And he did.

"You need a drink babe!"

With that, he took her hand and pulled her with him, "There's a bar down the street. C'mon!"

"Louis! No! I have not taken a drink in a while!"

"Even better reason to drink."

A few of our team members, who were too eager to drink followed her. She sighed and decided to get loose a little. An image of David nagging about alcohol clouded her mind, but she pushed the thought at the back of her mind. One glass wouldn't harm her too much.

As they gathered around the table, Louis turned to her and responded to her confession.

"You know, as your husband, the more you keep David away from the truth of you loving him, the more cheated he will feel when he finally comes to know."

A gulp of her drink, and she looked at him, "What about me? I have this single sense of safety with the truth concealed. Once he gets to know, it will be me, all vulnerable, and him getting the choice."

"What are you scared of? Being vulnerable or giving him a choice?"

She had nothing to say. She was scared. That was true. What scared her more. She didn't know.

Louis gulped the liquid in his glass in one go, "I know nothing of relationships because I haven't been in one. But I am well aware that when in love, people feel real peace. Like it doesn't bring with it the drama, chaos and confusion. You've been that to David, I am sure, the peace. So he is bound to fall in love with you."

She groaned, "Don't give me false hopes."

"Your 'hopes' may seem false for now, but you are his one and only Hope, both literally and figuratively. Give him time."

*

DAVID WELLINGTON

I was restless, and my sister was having fun about it.

"It's okay David. She will be back before you know it. There was no need to send men to 'protect' her. She'll be okay."

I shook my head and took a seat on the couch across her, "You don't know Erica. She left because she was upset!"

"She talked to you? Didn't she?"

I nodded, "She did. And that made me more restless."

That made her laugh, "I guess you are in love!"

I rolled my eyes and took out my phone, scrolling through the latest news. My mind was elsewhere, but eyes were on the phone.

However, my scrolling halted when he came across an article, "Louis Hathworne seen having fun with friends."

The article had a picture attached which was of him and Hope, laughing together at something. He clicked on the article and saw more pictures. Those pictures included a few more staff members, but what irked me was that Hathworne guy being always beside Hope..

Seeing my face morphing into displeasure, Erica stood up from her couch and peeped in my phone.

"Oh Louis and Hope! They look like they are enjoying!"

I closed my phone and looked at her, "Are they close?"

Erica innocently nodded, "They are. Hope helped him at his worst. There were even many rumours about them being together for a long time. But I know they are just friends."

A permanent scowl took place on my face. This wasn't good.

That amused Erica for some reason and she asked me, "Are you not happy Hope is enjoying?"

"I am not happy she's enjoying with that Hathworne.", i admitted. It wasn't fair she was laughing at something that I didn't joke about. Unfortunate to be honest.

"You can't stop her, you know. They know each other for years."

I looked at her, and then called Hope. Her phone rang quite a many times but she didn't pick up. I can't stop her, but I can talk to her.

Agitated, I called Costa, her bodyguard, who i sent just this morning after i got to know she left without security..

"Costa! Where's Hope?"

I could hear silence, that means they are no more in the club.

"Sir! Ma'am is fast asleep. I guess she has low alcohol tolerance. She had just one glass, and couldn't take anymore, so we dropped her back to her room."

"Okay...get her to call me, as soon as she wakes up."

"Okay sir."

*

After making me loose my sleep and appetite, her majesty finally decided it was time to call me, the next morning.

I was agitated, for sure, but as soon as I heard her, my anger vanished in thin air.

"Yes David. You called. I was sleeping by then.", her voice looked pained.

"Are you having a hangover?"

"I guess. Wait? How did you know? Costa?"

I sighed and sat back, "I saw pictures when you were enjoying. They are all over the social media."

"What? Wait a minute.", she said and then i heard her pick her another phone and calling what seemed like Rebecca, "Rebecca...check the recent posts. Get them managed. I told Louis let's not go outside the hotel but this guy!"

When her call was done, I heard her sigh, "How's Oliver?"

"Good! Enjoying with his 'Papa'."

"I'll call Eric."

"No!", i snapped, "You are going to talk to me."

She fell silent after that.

"Come back Hope. Please.", I pleaded, "You said Rebecca is not well, but she's there with you. Isn't she?! She'll manage your work. But I miss you here."

She stayed silent for a while, "Don't whine. You may have a memory loss but you've been avoiding me since I came back from Corsica. That's unacceptable."

I could help but feel the guilt overtaking every fibre of my body, "Okay! I will apologize properly when you come back. I just... Aurelio said all that.. and it impacted me bad..."

"What did he say?"

I shut my mouth the moment I realised what I was about to utter. But there's really no point hiding. The least I can do for her is to share with her all my insecurities. She's my wife after all.

And so I said it. I told her how he told me that I was moving on as I married her, and that Venus would be sad about it.

I heard her sigh loudly when I was done. I thought she would curse me, or perhaps talk to me about how stupid I was. I was ready. I wasn't exactly avoiding her, but I know what she means to say. I realised the moment I saw that empty bed space beside me. I can go through all the turmoil now, but I can't deal with the loneliness that her absence brings.

"I'll be back by midnight. I'll leave after the first concert. Ask Costa to arrange your private jet. Mine will be here for the staff, if they need to get back home for some emergency."

And that finally made me sigh in relief.

"I'll pick you up from the airport."

"Oh? Past midnight? What about Oliver?"

"I'll request Eric and Erica to have him for the night."

"Are you sure?"

"Damn sure."

*

Oliver was sprawled on the bed among his toys, and I went forward and laid beside him, "You know what? Mumma is coming back."

He gave me a grin and then left his toys and climbed on me.
I was afraid he'd bite my nose again so I pulled my head back, but he only held my face and kissed my cheeks.

"Oh oh! Too much love for dad?"

He scrunched his face, and then hid his face in my neck, "Oli sweep!"

"Oh my little naughty sperm wants to sleep?"

He nodded his head, and held my tshirt tightly in his fist.

"Once you sleep, I'm going to drop you at Evie's place and then I'm going to bring mumma? Okay?"

He nodded again, and I realised he's really sleepy, otherwise I would have recieved a cheeky grin from him.

Some patting on his bum, and talking to him in baby voice finally put him to sleep. I slowly picked him up, and then came out of my penthouse.

A few bodyguards were stationed at the entrance, "Lock the doors please. And then follow me to the airport."

I went upstairs and rang the bell to Erica's penthouse. To my surprise, Eric opened the door. He glanced at me with a stoic face, but then his eyes moved to sleeping Oliver, and softened considerably.

"I am going to pick Hope from airport. I came here to drop him."

He came forward and wordlessly, but real gently took him from my arms.

Oliver stirred a bit, opened his eyes, looked at Eric, mumbled a small 'Papa' and then dozed off on his shoulder.

"I'll be back soon."

"Take him back in the morning. If his sleep gets disturbed again and again, he'll be cranky in the morning."

I nodded and then he went inside and shut the door on my face. Leave it on him to insult people. Especially me.

I only rolled my eyes and then left to receive my lady luck.

*

As expected, I had to wait for five hours before she came. I came too early at the airport. My bodyguards were looking at me warily but I only shrugged and asked them to sit in the lounge as I wait for her. They all complied after an hour.

Now when the coming of a jet was signalled, I moved back to the waiting area. But as soon as she came down, I moved towards her and then stopped just before her.

She looked at me and smiled, a little uneasy, probably still filled with doubts.

"You are not leaving again, so abruptly."

She scoffed, "I left because I had work."

I rolled my eyes, "You came directly from the concert. No food, I am sure. And you wouldn't have had the dinner in flight."

She shook her head sheepishly, "I don't like it."

I nod, "Okay then...my arrangements wouldn't go in drain. C'mon I have a booking in a restaurant."

"At this hour??"

I looked at her pointedly, and so before I could say something, "Oh! You are the architect so they were bound to open the restaurant at an ungodly hour because you are hungry. Wait? Your medicines?"

"I had a bowl of soup and then the medicine. I also took my share of sleep in the evening. Now I want to eat some real food. With you."

I saw a red hue covering her cheeks, that made me smile triumphantly. And to be honest, this was the first time I felt true peace in the last week.

*