Chapter 9

The 'Amalgamate Phoenix Corp. and M®tier Group' will be held today. It's been a week since I've gone to the office. I didn't question Randall about his quarrel with Archer, because I assumed he'd be willing to tell me. But it's been a week, and I still haven't heard his reason. It was just 6 a.m., and the lobby was already rather boisterous. There were a few make-up artists and suit designers present. I've just gotten out of the tub. Randall awoke early because he was the major attraction at the next event. I came out wearing a bathrobe and noticed the make-up artists shake off his gray formal suit. It comes with a tiepin and pocket square to round up his look. He now has the executive haircut comb over taper fade with a tapered cut on the sides and longer hair on top that is combed over, and he hasn't removed his short groomed beard since we got married. The woman in black with wavy hair called me. They wrapped something around their waist, and it was full of brush makeup. "Mrs. Adams, good morning." She smiled as she greeted me. The others with her did the same, but Randall stayed standing and did not look at me. I went straight downstairs and saw the mannequin wearing a gray glitter tube while wearing white mother of the bride pants and a white blazer. That is stunning! If you're seen, people will assume you're powerful. A woman approached me; I believe she was a designer, since she wore nothing around her waist. "If you don't like it, Mrs. Adams, we have a red blazer suit with a V neck and double-breasted reserved." She opened a black bag, and I discovered the attire she was referring to. When comparing the two outfits, the one on the mannequin has a far more attractive and elegant appearance. I'd want to go with the first option because I want to mirror Randall's confidence. Perhaps his mother will like me as well. I know I shouldn't think that, but it bothers me that his mother dislikes me. I'm not sure whether his father feels the same. "It's okay. Thank y- " "No. I like the first- " We didn't complete what we were going to say since we spoke at the same time. He didn't give me a chance to glimpse him as he continued speaking to the person he was actually talking to. "It's OK now. Thank you." He turned away from me and called the driver. When I shouted his name, he was ready to walk out. "Randall." He returned his gaze with perplexed eyes. He's been distant to me ever since Archer and he argued. I thought it was because it still upset him, but in the days that followed, I saw he didn't treat me the same way. He also slept in a different room, not next to me. He didn't answer me, so I smiled bitterly. "Nothing... Good luck." I don't think he heard what I said, considering he marched out immediately. I had to wait another two hours after getting ready before the driver arrived. I had informed Randall that I needed to employ another driver, but he said that since I rarely leave or come out of the house very often, one was enough. I got in the car and we drove to Randall's place of business, where the event would be hosted. There were many people when we came. I had a look at Randall's building. It's not just double, but maybe triple the size of ours. When Randall permitted me to study my parents' corporation, I discovered they sell building materials. However, Randall's family business is the construction industry itself. I don't know if it's just a coincidence that what our company supplies is just right for Randall's business. As I walked into the building, four guards encircled me to protect me from anything that could happen. Many paparazzi take photographs. I fastened my pace to catch up with my husband. That jerk ignored my high heels and walked so quickly. I put on an elegant smile and pretended nothing happened. No one noticed that how hard I cursed him in my heart. When I strode into the hall, I noticed a woman who was several steps ahead of me. She stood in the crowd of paparazzi but obviously, she was not one of them. I didn't see her face but her back figure looked familiar as if I saw her before. For some unspeakable instinct, I couldn't take my eyes off her. She looked just like the one I was wearing. That was precisely the same, and there was no distinction. Even my layered brown hair was identical. Well, I was not on the red carpet, but I didn't want my outfit to clash with another woman who was standing next to me. I was trying to ignore the woman, and headed up to the elevator when Randall appeared. Great, he finally succumbed to his conscience after ignoring me a whole morning. As I waited for him to hold my hand and support me to walk into the elevator, Randall held that woman's waist and drew her inside the elevator, then shut the door. W-wait! I'm his wife. Why he held that woman? I was stunned for a few seconds before everything became clear to me. The elevator has begun its ascent before I pressed the button to open it again. Hey, didn't he notice that he mistook a stranger as his wife? Upset and furious, I had to take the next one. When it came, I dashed inside the elevator and pressed the button to close it. The guards raced after me, but the door slammed shut. I pressed the button for the correct floor. When I exited, the first thing I saw was the corridor with staff carrying coffee. In my rush, I bumped into a woman who unintentionally poured coffee all over my body. The coffee soaked my hair and dripped down from my cheeks. Instantly, a brown stain was spreading across my dress. I don't need a mirror and I could feel my delicate make-up was in a mess now. Thank god, the coffee was not boiling hot. Could things be even worse? I didn't know what to do, so I sat in the hallway's corner as tears slowly trickled down my face. I bent down because my chest was so tight. Many questions were forming in my mind, but something was dominating me that, 'Perhaps he thought it was me because of the same dress we wear.' When I heard the elevator, the guards appeared. They noticed me straight away. When a guard saw how I looked, his eyes widened. He talked while pressing something into his ear. Beatrice, please come to the office. Mrs. Adams's clothing is stained. The guard who called carried my bag and helped me into a cubicle. As we walked, the staff gave me a look. I remembered the woman who had bumped into me and then abruptly vanished without even apologizing. I don't want her to apologize since it was my fault, but I hope she helped me. We were in front of the cubicle when the guard talked to me. "Mrs. Adams, just wait 20 minutes inside and Beatrice, the designer, is on her way. " I nodded hesitantly and entered as if my body was floating. Tears formed up in my eyes again and I asked myself. 'Does my husband have any idea what happened to me?' Unbeknownst to me, I had been staring in the mirror for a long time when Beatrice entered; the man mentioned. She was with someone I remember being at home earlier, too. "Mrs. Adams!" she exclaimed. "Oh, my goodness! What exactly happened?" I was not sure what happened. When she asked, the emotions I'd been keeping back sprang. I hugged her, and she patted me on the back. I let go of the hug after I had calmed down. She handed me the Red Blazer that they had presented me earlier. I thanked Beatrice and Wela. The two people that helped me. Outside, the guards were waiting for me. They directed and escorted me to the hall where the people and Randall were, but before I walked straight there, I told them I needed to go to Randall's office first. They quickly showed me where it was. I instructed them to meet me at the hall door. They followed me and left. What I didn't know was that it would be far worse than what I had seen earlier. If my knees were merely weakened before. Now, it appears like my soul has left my body. Randall, sitting in the swivel chair while the woman wearing a dress like mine, leaned over him.