02 | Going Downhill

____ 𝐀𝐃𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐄

"Do you know why we're here? Hm, Adrianne?" He questioned me, clasping his hands together behind his back. 

"To be honest, no. Which is why you tell me already." I rested my chin on my palm.

"If the internet wasn't enough, the Adairs had to come here to address the issue." He pointed to the two men. 

Issue? What issue?

And as if he had read my mind, he threw several newspapers in front of me and turned his laptop to face me and he had a tab opened with an article titled: ADRIANNE CHANELLE CAUGHT KISSING SEBASTIAN ADAIR.

I gulped. When did this happen? 

I checked the other tabs and they had the same topic: ADRIANNE CHANELLE ALLEGEDLY DATING SEBASTIAN ADAIR. 

What a bunch of lies though, why the hell would Sebastian kiss me, let alone date me? 

I shook my head in disbelief as I glanced down at the newspapers sprawled on the table. All the headlines were about me and Sebastian. The guy I kissed. I don't remember much of him. 

"Care to explain what happened?" My father's voice ripped through my reverie.

The problem was I couldn't remember anything. Everything I could remember was hazy and elusive. 

"You see, the thing is." I scratched the back of my neck. "I don't remember much of what happened last night."

"So you don't remember falling on top of me and kissing me?" An upset voice spoke up, his eyes boring into mine. 

I instantly turned my head to its speaker and it was none other than Sebastian. I stayed silent. 

"Adrianne," a voice firmly called. 

I flinched as I glanced back and forth between Sebastian and my father. "No...no I don't remember falling on top of you and—" I gulped— "and kissing you."

He let out a sharp sigh as he leaned back on the chair. 

"Adrianne, why the hell were you out there drowning yourself in alcohol?" My father questioned, his foot tapping the marble floor. 

I started fidgeting with my fingers as my breaths started to go shallow. 

"Adrianne," he called again, this time harder.

My hands curled into fists, my heart pounded against my chest. I was afraid of what would happen. My emotions threatened to spill over like water overflowing in a cup.

"Adrianne Elise Chanelle!"

"I'm sorry if I can't get over mom's death! It's not exactly easy!" I rose from the chair, creating an audible screech on the floor. "I'm sorry if for the past few weeks I've been practically begging mom to take me with her!" I yelled once again, a wave of tears outlined my lower lid. 

Everybody in the meeting room turned silent. I expected him to be angry but his once choleric face had now morphed into a pitying one. He slowly approached me on the other end of the table and stopped in front of me, turning his head to look at the Adairs. 

"Can you— can you leave me and my daughter for a minute?" he asked, his voice soft. My father is unpredictable. Especially after my mother's death. The Adairs left the room without wasting a second. 

"Why did I find out about this now?"

"I didn't want to tell you," I answered. There was nothing more to explain, I didn't want to start opening up about how I felt. It would make me look weak and I am expected to be the strong one amongst me and my sisters as I am the oldest. 

He sighed, taking the hint I didn't want to elaborate on my statement. "So, I assume you haven't been taking care of yourself much lately, hm?"

He looked at me with an eyebrow raised and I quickly turned away once I caught his gaze. He knew I was guilty.  

A tear fell and I couldn't help it anymore as I fell to the floor, sobbing. From the corner of my eye, I could see my father kneeling beside me as I felt his arms envelop me. 

"Shhh, everything's going to be okay," he whispered. 

"Is it though?" I looked up, "From what I've seen, everything got worse. And now, I caused a ruckus."

I never experienced grief this bad before. It all started when I lost my mother, my world, my hero and number one confidant. The mother who taught me everything. The mother who I didn't appreciate as intensely as I should have. It sneaked up on me quietly and took me under its arms in an instant. I could write a million letters, each one the same as the last in sentiment and cadence. They stay the same, only the word arrangement changes. It boils down to one thing, I miss you. You should be here. You should be here. I miss you. Your pretty blue eyes, beautiful smile, wily heart, torn mind, and kind, tortured soul. My heart is missing an indispensable piece, a part which keeps it from working correctly. When will I let go? At first, I thought grief was something bad which takes you ten feet under but soon I learned it was the price we had to pay for loving someone.

"We'll handle it all if you want you can go back to your room and take a rest while the Adairs and I could decide on something to do about this." My father hoisted me up.

"Call me if you need anything," I replied, sniffling. 

He hoisted me up as he reassuringly nodded at me. He passed by me and opened the doors and told one of the maids passing by to call the Adairs back and I departed the room. 

__________❇__________

After a few minutes or hours of endless sobs and an unlimited supply of tissue, I was finally able to compose myself. Staring blankly at the ceiling, I heard a knock on my door and I weakly yelled out, "Come in."

June came in and looked at me and gave me a soft smile. "Your father wants me to call you."

"Is their meeting over?" I asked, getting up from the bed. 

"Yes and he told me they'd come up with a decision," she told me. 

"Okay, I'll be right out."

I went down the stairs and was lucky enough to see them all gathered up in the main foyer. I walked in and everybody's eyes are on me, 

"Are you okay now?" Mr Adair asked. 

I was taken aback by his question, he didn't look like the type of guy to care. 

I nodded and flashed them a fake smile. "I'm doing fine."

I turned my attention to my father who was glaring at Mr Adair with his arms crossed over his chest. 

"June said you all agreed on a decision," I planned out my next words carefully, aware of my father's displeasure. "What did you all agree on?"

Mr Adair rose from his seat and fixed his coat, flashing me a smile. "You're going to get married."