Unrequited Hate - Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen.

Adrienne padded around the baby room for as long as she could, pretending she had to tidy it up. Meanwhile, Evan patiently stood by the crib and watched as Knox's chest rose and fell so peacefully.

Inching quietly towards the door, she sneaked out toward the kitchen to make dinner. While she got their dinner ready, Adrienne gave more thought to her future. Popping a walnut into her mouth after garnishing the salads, she came to her final decision.

Stepping away from the dining table, she admired her handy work and set off to check on the boys.

Peeping her head into the room, she found baby Knox squirming in his uncle's arms. Evan was seated in the rocking chair, gently rocking back and forth trying to calm the baby. The patience he wore on his face made her want to frame this scene forever in her mind.

Evan caught her eye.
She flinched guiltily and stammered, "I was just checking to see if you were ready to eat."
He smiled and thanked her.
Instead of passing Knox off to her, he carried the baby out in one arm and kept a hand at the small of her back.

Adrienne removed his hand from her back and firmly held on to it until they were seated.
Once they were seated at the table, she tugged on his hand a little to get his attention.

"I have something to ask of you,"
she began.
"Well, not just you. But your father, really."

Evan tensed. He didn't want to mention the business tonight but it seemed he'd have no choice.

He braced himself before nodding for her to continue.

"Well... I've been thinking..."
He nodded, trying to encourage her to speak freely. However, Knox squirmed restlessly in his uncle's arms.

"It's crossed my mind..."

Evan's focus went towards the baby. When he finally settled the boy in his arms, Evan looked up and nodded for her to speak again.

She sighed and started again. This time blurting, "Would your father be interested in buying my company?"

Evan sat there unblinking. Even Knox sat unmoving.
Maybe, Evan thought to himself, I heard what I wanted to hear.
"Sorry, can you say that again?" He requested.

"I'm sure you heard me well the first time," she replied, looking away. Maybe it wasn't right of her to ask such a thing. They had given her so much help as it was.

Gently taking the baby out of Evan's arms, she got up and walked over to the kitchen to get his milk. Tears of humiliation threatened to spill, and so she wiped them away with a free hand.

Evan was still there when she returned holding a bottle to Knox's mouth.

"Aren't you going to eat, too?" Evan asked quietly.
"You go ahead. I'll just put Knox to sleep."
"Wait..." Evan held out a hand to stop her.
"Let's just talk when the baby's asleep, ok?"
Releasing her, he ducked his head and nodded.

Questions raced through his mind.
Why is she willing to give it up after putting up such a fight?
Would she be happy selling her company?
What would she do once it's sold?
Would she try to hate him again?
Would there still be space for him in her heart?

The sound of a door shutting shook him out of his reverie.

Taking his last bite, he chewed and finally swallowed when she stepped into the room.
"Knox is asleep?"
"Yup," she sighed and took a seat across from him.

Setting down his fork, he looked her deeply in the eyes.
"Are you sure about this? After the energy you put into the company, you're willing to just sell it?"
"It's not like I didn't give it much consideration," she grew annoyed. "It's not something I thought up in five minutes. I've given this a lot of thought. It's the only way to keep moving forward. I realized I want more."
"I see..."
"Do you? I don't think you do."
"Then enlighten me."
"I'm going to sell the company to your father on the condition that I can stay on as a freelancer."

He didn't budge or say anything.

She continued, "I want a future. A husband, a home and a family of our own. I know I'm a good business woman and I could probably do both. However, I'd rather just focus on one than the other. I gave it thought and retiring, wouldn't be so bad."

"I see..." Evan replied, his face expressionless.

"No," she got up and walked over to him. "It doesn't look like you see the whole picture."

He took a deep breath and still without expression he replied, "No, I get it. You're bored with it. It's OK. I'll let my father know. Anyway, he decided he wanted to continue stewarding the company. Buying it out would probably be a step up from what he wanted. And here I was worried you'd be upset at me for not being able to fulfill my promise of getting your company back."

Evan scraped his chair back as quietly as he could. "I'll just go make that call now. Excuse me."

Without a backward glance, he walked to his room, leaving Adrienne feeling weary.

That wasn't how it was supposed to go, she sighed sadly and plopped into the newly unoccupied chair.