Listen to Modern Loneliness  by Lauv.

I decided to hang out at the bar downstairs after Chloe and Belvina locked me out. I was tired of looking around and smiling at every person that walked past me in the hallway, probably thinking I was a creep. I didn't know if it would be okay to knock on the door and check if everything was okay, maybe they forgot I was outside. I was glad she was okay, that was enough. I nursed a glass of bourbon as I went through some work emails.

"Adrian?" I heard my name from behind. I turn around quickly, wondering who would be talking to me.

The last person I ever expected to run into was staring at me with a flirtatious smile planted across her lips. It was a popular hotel so I shouldn't be that surprised. She still looked the same, just taller and full-figured. Her straight and glossy platinum-blonde hair fell to her waist, and the blue satin evening dress looked good on her, hugging her tall frame in all the right places.

"Addison?" I said as she cat-walked to where I stood.

It'd been years since I last saw her, the last time I saw her I was being rolled on a stretcher to the E.R. I knew what happened wasn't her fault but I still couldn't help but blame her. I wasn't sure what to say to her as she stopped in front of me. Words refused to form in my mouth, never less to leave my mouth.

"Wow, you look good," I said and she giggled, shaking her head at my compliment.

I noticed the wedding ring on her finger, I was happy for her. I got an invitation to the wedding but didn't go. How could she breathe around him after everything that happened? She even got married to him, I thought it was a joke when I got the news.

"You've not aged since I last saw you. Are you staying here? It's a lovely place." Her British accent made me smile, it felt like forever since I heard her voice.

"I'm here to see a friend. What about you?" I asked.

"We are here for a fundraiser event, it will be starting in a few minutes."

"Nice," I said, glancing around the spacious bar.

"How have you been? I haven't heard much about you since the incident."

I plastered a small smile on my face, "I'm good."

"I would have come to the engagement party if you had invited me but I never got an invitation. When is the wedding? Maybe I will get an invite this time." She asked.

I maintained the fake smile on my face as I thought of an honest reply. Not many people knew about what happened between Karen and me. I was getting tired of explaining it to everyone without really telling them.

"I called it off, it didn't feel right."

"Ohh, I get it, after two failed engagements you're bound to feel that way." Her smile was full of pity. I couldn't help but feel insulted, I smiled back anyway.

"We are still friends right?" She questions, looking me in the eyes as if begging me to say yes. Maybe it would appease any guilt she felt for what happened.

To be honest, the last thing I wanted was to be revisiting the past or running into someone involved in what happened. Maybe we were young and I shouldn't hold it against them but they still stole an important part of my life from me, it bothers me that they just got away with it.

"Of course," I lied. She smiled at me softly.

"I'm really sorry, Adrian, for what happened. I never expected it to turn out that way, you have every right to hate me."

"I don't hate you, Addison. It wasn't your fault anyway," I said blocking the memories.

"Babe?" A deep voice called catching our attention.

I held back a glare when I saw him. I don't think I would ever forget that face, the face of the man that snatched what I loved the most. He gave me a firm nod and a small smile.

"I will be returning to London tomorrow. It was nice seeing you again, Adrian Parker."

"You too." She moved closer and hugged me, her scent engulfed me.

"Bye, take care of yourself." She smiled at me once again before she joined her husband. I watched them as they walked away, they looked perfect together. Two traitors made for each other.

I decided to go back upstairs and check on the girls. I knocked on the door and waited patiently. The door opened moving my gaze away from the lady pushing a food cart down the hall to Belvina, who looked stressed as she leaned on the door frame. She left her hair curly today, the last time I saw her, it was straightened. Her curls were perfect, I loved how full it looked and the way it suits her small face.

"You can leave, she is fine," Belvina told me in a bored tone. Before I could say anything she starts to close the door, I reach my hand out to stop it.

"Can I see her? I just wanna be sure she is okay."

"So, you're calling me a liar?" She fumed, crossing her arms.

"No, I..." I train off, not knowing what to say, around her I was always fighting for words. Maybe it was how she intimidates me with those fierce eyes and bitter look.

"Come in." Belvina sighed, and moved away, making way for me to enter.

I gave her a firm smile as I entered, I looked around the room but couldn't find Chloe.

"This way." She pointed towards what I believe to be the bathroom. I could faintly hear the sound of water pounding as if someone were in the shower. I sighed in relief, glad she was okay.

"You know, it doesn't kill to be nice for one second." I scolded walking to the door to leave, I heard her scoff. She had every right to hate me but sometimes I couldn't stand how annoying she could be.

I left the room and rushed to my car, desperate to get home or to an exclusive club where I don't have to think about the shit going on in my life.

I leaned back in my seat and groaned as I ran both hands through my hair. I wish I could go through a whole day with no issues, that would be lovely. My phone rang, I reached for it and read the name on my screen, it was Mrs. Sanchester. Speaking of issues.

"Hello," I said sitting up.

"Adrian, sorry if you were busy."

"No, it's fine."

"Tristan kicked me out of his house, he got angry when I tried to change the bedsheets in Chloe's old room. I'm worried, can you please check on him?" I ran my hand through my hair once again.

"Sure, I was just on my way to his place."

"Okay, thank you."

I toss my phone onto the passenger seat beside me with a loud sigh. I reached for the glove box and opened it with a soft click. I rummaged through the twenty-dollar bills and old receipts until I found what I was looking for. Bless this bottle of Aspirin. I looked around the car for a bottle of water but didn't find one. I grimaced a bit before tossing the pills into my mouth. I swallow them dry, hoping they will kick in soon.

Morris was not in the house when I arrived. I knew because I waited five minutes at the door after knocking, before typing in the password myself.

"Tristan?" I called as I climbed the stairs. I opened the door to his room but didn't find him. Next, I checked Chloe's old room but he wasn't in there either. I kept looking around until I found him in the gym.

He was using the smith machine when I walked in, a rap song played in the background. Beads of sweat dripped down his face as he moved and his muscle shirt was drenched with sweat around his neckline.

"Let me guess my mom called." He muttered breathlessly as he sat up.

I threw a face towel at him and looked around the gym, I couldn't remember the last time I came down here. When Tristan first got the house we used to come down here all the time.

"She is worried about you, man, just like any mother would."

"She has been like a second skin lately, prying in every single thing I do."

"Are you done? I'm hungry." I changed the topic, not ready for that conversation, he was right about his mom though. I didn't have a mother, so I was always careful about what I said to other people about their own.

"Yes," he said standing up.

"Should I order food?" I asked.

"No need, my mom filled my fridge with different food like I'm throwing a party or something." He rolled his eyes and dried his wet hair.

"Good, I'm starving."

"Go ahead, I'm going for a quick bath." He muttered, heading to the staircase.

I stretched my hands as I entered the kitchen. I heated some chicken Provençal, my favorite. I waited for Tristan to join me but he never came. I finished eating quickly and climbed the stairs. I went straight to Chloe's old room, where I suspected he was.

I found him standing in front of the glass wall and staring at the pool like he was watching a movie. He looked as if he were deep in thought, he seemed to do that a lot recently. Stare into space as if nothing mattered.

"You're missing out on the chicken Provençal."

"You can take it home if you want." He said, not looking away.

I sighed and stepped into the room. "You need to move on, Tristan. Starting with this room," I said, stopping beside him.

"Is that what she is doing? Moving on?" He asked, facing me.

"Yes." He has to let her go if he ever wants to get her back.

I doubt he was expecting me to answer honestly, but I couldn't shelter him. He has to accept what he did.

"There are too many memories here, it's like she is everywhere. I can't let her go even if I try." Tristan rubs his temples as if it would remove the memories from his head.

"What about Fiona? It's been years and you are still holding on to that day. If you wanna get better for Chloe, forgive yourself first and make peace with what happened six years ago. Once you let go of that memory, I believe things will get better."

"I wish it was that easy," He hissed, walking out of the room.

I took a look around the room and quickly found that I too could feel the memories threatening my emotions. It felt like only yesterday when she was throwing a tantrum and threatening to kill Tristan for ruining her life. I laughed at the memory. I have never met someone like her, bold, full of drama, crazy, and sweet. I missed her presence around here, it was back to being cold and quiet in the house like before. She impacted our lives in ways we never expected. She was everything good and more.

Something about her just drew me in when I first saw her, I admired how she was ready to scare the shit out of anyone who refused to give her what she wanted. When she confessed how she felt about me that day I had to act clueless and pretend I felt nothing for her. I knew it was never going to happen, it couldn't; she was here for Tristan and I didn't want to get in the way of the whole plan, so I had to let go.

I shook the memories from my head as I left the room. I met Tristan downstairs at the fireplace. He tossed wood into the flame, causing sparks to explode around him. It was pouring outside and getting cold inside the house.

"Where is Morris?" I asked, falling wistfully on the couch.

"I gave him some days off to spend with his family, my mom was using him as a spy on me anyway." Tristan's face twisted into a frown.

"He is still loyal to you," I informed him, but he just scoffed.

He quickly changed the subject, "How is the company? I heard we lost some shares and a few business allies."

"Yeah but I'm working on it. I have a meeting with William Guiliano tomorrow. I think he can help with the stocks."

"Sorry I have been no help, and that I got us into this mess."

"I have it under control, don't worry about it. Take your time and just get better."

"How is she? Is she eating? Is she still drinking?"

I tried to recall what happened at the hotel but her best friend's annoying face appeared in my head, that girl was just plain rude. I turn to Tristan.

"She is fine, she promised me she won't touch alcohol again." I can see his face relax slightly at the information.

"You don't mind me crashing here right?" I asked, stretching my back. I didn't want to return to my place, it just felt cold and lonely there. Part of me wished Chloe was still there to keep me company, it felt like a home when she was around.

"Seriously?" He looked annoyed at the question.

I shrugged and headed for the stairs, I needed enough sleep tonight since I have five meetings tomorrow at the office, it'd been busy there.

"Goodnight bro, don't stay up all night."

"I will kick you out if you try acting like my mom."

I chuckled and climbed the stairs, I entered the guest room, ready to fall into a good sleep. I took a quick shower after borrowing sweatpants and a shirt from Tristan's closet.

For some reason, I couldn't find sleep. I tossed and turned for what felt like an eternity. No matter how heavy my eyelids felt they refused to fall shut. I forgot my sedatives at home, without them I have to stay up for hours before going to sleep. I lay wide awake staring at the white ceiling for a while before finally going to sleep.

My alarm clock woke me up at 5:30 am. I groaned in frustration, reaching over to shut the sound off. I sighed in relief when I pressed the button and the noise stopped. I lay there for a moment before checking the time on my phone. With another tired groan, I slowly slid out of bed and walked to the bathroom for a cold shower, hoping it would wipe the sleep from my eyes.

Now that I think of what happened between Karen and me, I realized it was all planned from the beginning. I met her at a café close to the company, she forgot her purse in her car so I offered to pay for her coffee and bagel. After that day I kept running into her, we would talk for a while and laugh like we'd known each other for years. We exchanged contacts and started flirting with each other but still stayed in the friend zone even if we had fucked multiple times.

I asked her out. Everything was going perfectly and felt so good that I just jumped into getting married. It seemed so right. I thought she loved me, I really did. Not a single bone in my body doubted her feelings.

I brushed the memories away as I washed my hair. Tristan was still asleep when I entered his room to borrow a suit. I dressed up and drove to the company, I was almost late for the meeting.

My secretary filled me in on my schedule, giving me a few reminders as I walked to the board room. Mr. Giuliano and a few associates were already waiting, I quickly apologized as I took a seat. I caught the eyes of his beautiful daughter, Alisa, staring at me with a seductive smile. I remember meeting her once at an Auction, we only exchanged pleasantries.

It took a lot of convincing, and his daughter whispering a few things to him before we came to an agreement. We stiffly shook hands before they walked out of the boardroom, I stayed behind going through the contract.

The door clicked open, getting my attention. Alisa walked in, I smiled and closed the file in front of me exploring her body with my eyes. Her lace top did little to hide her black bra, the small pencil skirt showed off her small hips. She locked the door and sashayed toward me. I spread my thighs as she went on her knees, her rosy lips smirking at me.

"This means nothing," Alisa whispered. I nodded my head in agreement as she unzipped my pants and pulled my dick out. She ran her palm up and down my shaft. I threw my head back, staring at the ceiling and feeling numb. I only cared about the high, sex made me forget.

I sighed softly at the contact of her tongue with the tip of my cock. I gripped her hair as she slurped on my cock, trying to take me all down her throat. I pulled her head away and watched her as she tried to catch her breath with spit dripping down her chin and her eyes teary.

"Take off your panties and come here," I ordered. She was quick to pull down the pink lace thong and throwing it on my face, I gripped her hips as she straddled me. I brushed my rough palm up her thigh and through her skirt.

"I told my father I'm going to the restroom, make this fast." She whispered in my ear, rocking her hips against my cock.

"You'll be surprised at what I can accomplish in five minutes," I whispered against her neck before drawing her soft skin between my teeth. I held her hips as I stood up and laid her on the wide table. She tried to kiss me but I pulled away and thrust roughly into her instead while she moaned so loud.