Adrian

Ten years later

After I came out of hospital Augustus adopted me and financed my studies. With determination and hard work I finished my education completing masters in my favorite subject business analytics.

Mom had almost gone insane finding no information about me but when she came to know about my whereabouts, her happiness had no boundaries. She thanked the Martins whole heartedly and now the Martin's house is like my second home. Augustus handed over all his businesses in New York and overseas to me after introducing me as his legal heir.

I walk through the foyer to the entrance of the Martin's house holding a bouquet of yellow roses. "Happy birthday mom" bending down. I kiss the cheeks of Angelica, truly an Angel like her name says who gave rebirth to me in this world by her selfless care, humanity, patience and became a second mother to me. "The roses are beautiful. Thank you." She speaks with love and hugs me.

In the midst of laughter and giggles the lunch was served. I eyed the fish fingers in haste. Mom arrested my eyes with hers in a warning tilting her index finger. "Those are not for you." She tells me in a voice only I can hear and serves me fresh green salad she prepared specially for me. She is always worried about my health and keeps an eye on what I eat because I still have to avoid certain foodstuffs concerning my health. Dad had a taunting snicker adorned on his rims. I was thankful his vision wasn't directed to me though nothing goes unnoticed from his experienced eyes.

Abigail came home for mom's birthday two days ago, canceling her teacher's seminar. Abigail is a teacher. She loves kids and has chosen the profession matching her tastes. Her husband Devon is a professional guitarist. He will be joining us in the evening for dinner as he had a performance in the afternoon. I learnt playing guitar from him for the love I uphold for music.

Alessandro was present for the lunch along with his wife Edith, the daughter of Allen and Arianna Rodriguez. They had been childhood sweethearts since primary school and are married three years from now. Edith is seven months pregnant with their first baby.

"Hey man, how is life going?" Alessandro asked once we were out of the dining area after lunch. "Sweet and hot" I reply to him with a wink but in a whisper that only he can hear. His ears turn red looking for any women around us. "You need to get settled, man, you are already twenty six." I shook my head idly changing the channels of the TV with the remote. "No way man, I'm happy with my present life free of any responsibilities."

A maid comes with the desert in a tray and each of us picks a bowl of fruit pudding. "You never know when you fall in love. Once the right girl approaches, you will have no control on your emotions and all your previous theories will go down the drain." He professes gazing at Edith with so much love. "Whatever man..." I evade the heart wrecking subject I had enough experience of.

As Allesandro gets up to help Edith sit placing a pillow on her back, dad walks to me. "Son, how is the business going?" He hands me a glass of wine and both of us walk to the study. "The business is good dad...." I tell him with a half smile. There is always this disquietude in my heart that keeps haunting my dreams for the near death that I suffered. Dad pats my shoulder. "I can understand." A knowing smile played on his brims.

He goes to the large bookshelf and picks a voluminous book in a red binding. "Read this book and it will give you peace." I looked at him quizzically. Oh no, was he handing me a Bible? He gives me an understanding smile. "Like you think it is not the Bible. How does he read me so well? "Yet it is a book which would bring serenity in your mind. It holds the key to satisfy your incense against the Witmores." I went pale in seconds and looked at my father in a daze. Am I so easy for him to understand?

He refills my glass, a warm smile adorning his brims. "I am your father, though not the one who gave you a birth but I have seen you grow from your bleakest moments. I know how your mind functions and I'm proud of what you are today." He takes a sip of wine from the glass and continues. "I was once upon a time in your shoes and had the same kind of grudge against my father-in-law." He lights a cigarette and studies me through his guarding orbs. "Though your feelings for Amaira aren't exactly the same as I held for Angelica, this book will still help you with the solutions for attaining tranquility and rid you of the chagrin you are experiencing right now." I thank him and take the red binding book to walk to the exit but he calls me back. "Crush those Witmores. I want an answer for every suffering my family suffered because of them." I was stunned by his confession but did not take a second to answer him. "Squashing the Witmores will be the only aim in my life from now, dad."

One month later...

I idly walked the upscale Covington Art House. Yes I own this art gallery. It is special to me because it is my first investment after taking over my father's business.

Since my initial years of adulthood I had been a diehard fan of exquisite paintings. The walls of my house are decorated with graceful masterpieces of famous painters but for this time I flicked a bored gaze over the current pieces gracing the exhibit walls. Unusually, nothing among the displays seemed to excite me.

I rounded the corner and nearly ran into a short, slim, plainly agitated blonde who dropped her art portfolio at the unexpected contact. She pushed her glasses deeper on the bridge of her nose and then bent to collect her spilled artwork, her small hands fluttering with anxiety as she attempted to quickly grab her art and bail.

Long blonde hair trailed down her back in gentle curls and waves and I was struck with the image of twisting that gorgeous mane in my palm. She had the most beautiful chocolate browns and her slender fingers were soft and long that brushed mine tenderly while collecting her art works.

"I'm sorry" I mutter and help her with the scattered stationary. She shoved the artwork deeper in her bag about to hustle but I stopped her. "I'm Adrian Martin, the CEO of Sunrise Industries and the owner of this art house." I tell her hypnotized by her chocolate browns. Why are these novel feelings erupting in me, the feelings I buried long back in my heart, the feelings I did not assume still exist in my nub.

She looks at my lips when I speak to her and my libido involuntarily raises. Was she attracted to me like I was to her? She doesn't reply but let's put on a smile, a smile any man would swoon for but unfortunately with no fruitful result. "Hey pretty woman I want to know your name." I call her going cocky and stop her on her way as she tries to walk away." Her vision again directs to my lips and she tells me in a sign language. I narrow my eyes and give a light shrug unable to understand her when the manager of the art house runs to me.

"Sir she is Christina Casablanca, a final year student of our art college and a painter. She is deaf and dumb, lost her speech and hearing due to an accident ten years ago. If you could talk slowly, by the moment of your rims she would understand what you speak and reply using the movements of your hands." So that is why she was looking at my lips. She was trying to read me and I thought....I shook my head embarrassed by my stupidity.

Such a beautiful girl yet with no speaking and hearing skills! God must have gone crazy and stone hearted when he made this pretty girl but I'm not a man going to fold his hands and accept fate. I am the one who is going to turn the tide and question destiny.

"Send Christina to my cabin." I tell the manager and walk to my room. Within a couple of minutes I hear a knock and she walks inside. This time I was slow in my words so that she could read my lips. "Take a seat Christina." I tell her softly. When she was comfortable, I walked around the table to stand beside her with my hands folded and legs crossed leaning to the desk. She gets anxious with the proximity and pulls her chair back to create a safe distance between us.

I guard her anxious movements carefully without saying a word and speak softly to her. "I am not going to harm you Christina. I like your art, your innocence and everything about you. Give me some time to learn your language because you can't understand mine. I do not want any hurdles in our communication." I tell her unswervingly and point to the sketch she shifted into her bag. "How much are you planning to sell it for?" She takes a slip from her bag and writes the amount. "1000 dollars is a very small amount for such an amazing masterpiece." I add three more zeroes to her amount and hand her the check. Her eyes go wide learning the amount and she begins to shake her head. I smile and answer her.

"Mention not."

Adrian

Two months later

Dressed in a sky blue suit and a red tie at exactly ten minutes to nine, I marched through the lobby of my New York office building. People moved out of my way to create space and wished me. I punched the 26th floor on the elevator which led me to my office. With the sound of the ding, the elevator doors slid open to reveal the reception desk and waiting area.

A deep burgundy carpet with gray edging set the tone for the company as luxurious, professional, and successful. The plush leather chairs and polished petrified wood end tables told anyone entering the space that Sunrise Industries was no petty interface but a multi-national, mega corporation with a chain of industries in its subway, just the way dad wanted.

Jennie looked up with a curt nod when I stopped in front of her desk before entering my office. I nodded to the receptionist politely as I moved past her towards my corner office. She was a temp who'd taken over when my own secretary had to leave suddenly for a family crisis, but she'd been more than competent so far. She always seemed to know when I needed something and she was a whiz at organizing large quantities of data and pulling together what I needed to see quickly. I would like to tell HR they could go ahead and hire her permanently as my receptionist if there was no room for her anywhere in the company.

My business rivals feared me and my investors respected me, at least insofar as I knew I could make hell a lot of money through them. I never felt weak or anxious when I stepped up to the negotiating table and I normally thrived on other people's stress and pressure. Now my sole motto is to crush the Witmores by hook or by crook. "Jennie, Andrew will be here in a few minutes. Show him right in when he arrives."

"Yes, Mr. Martin," Jennie said with a polite nod. Andrew Walker is the head of Sunrise Industries legal department, but I had also been friends with him because he is forever honest with me. Sincere and candid people are the ones upon whom I have respect and employ with the best pay scales. Thus, Andrew is one of the few people who knew me as the man, beyond Adrian Martin CEO of Sunrise Industries.

Through Andrew's help, I hired Jack, a tech expert. He apprised me of the ways the Witmore accounts could be hacked. The pilferage will be sophisticated, planned and a clean sweep of company accounts without even a hint of a third eye knowing about it until it is well accomplished.

Three months later.....

"Congratulations Adrian, the deal is done." Andrew tells me enriched. A proud smile enveloped my features. The circumstances made me proud. I had maneuvered and negotiated the deal in the best possible way. I moved to my mahogany desk and stared down at my reflection in a hubristic smile. I had been certain in my strategy, confident in my work for a long time and the result of my plans clicked the best way.

"Thank you Andrew. It was so kind of you to help me." I dismissed him and leaned back on the leather chair with my legs crossed on the desk in front of me. A satisfied smile on my countenance, I crushed the Witmores but this will be a realization they would assimilate too late. It is a slow poison administered in their system. They will never know from where the flame started, their shares will drop down gradually and the investments would mangle. Steadily they will turn from barons to beggars.

Wow

Lighting a cigarette I pulled out my phone from my pants pocket. "Hey beautiful, let's rock today in celebration of my biggest victory." I wasn't like this at all. I was the studious, mild and silent guy next door but Amaira Witmore and her father changed me from a sage to a beast.

Half an hour later Clara walked inside swaying her lips. I met Clara in one of my dad's parties. She is a gorgeous brunette with perfect hourglass shape and creamy long legs. I bedded her the same night. She had the best ways in attracting men with her figure and moves, a stunning slut in ravishing curves. She settled in my lap, her hands wafted around my neck as she moves her upper body sliding over mine and rubbed her breasts to my chest. I kissed her hungry and deep.

"Bye, Jennie, I will be back to the office by tomorrow. Hold my calls till then unless there is an emergency." I directed her. "Yes sir." Jennie closed the door behind her, leaving the two of us in the privacy of the elevator. I ran my hands desirous on Clara's perfect physique and squeezed her breasts. She giggled like a Cheshire cat, her hands reaching my member, fondling me there. "Oh no baby, wait till we reach my bed."

The next day was a weekend, Sherlock called me and my face became like a glowing sun. "Hey man it's been more than six months and no see?" He taunts me. "Are you ready to join me for lunch today at the Radiance?"

"Of course sweetheart...." I could imagine him scowling at me as I landed on a guffaw. "Don't call me that." He growls. "Store those cheesy lines for your girlfriend." Instantly Christina's face flashes in my mind bringing goose bumps in me. I avoid the subject and tell him. "I will be there by twelve."

Since the last couple of months I had been dying to see my beauty but meetings lined up, work commitments and taking care of the Witmores blew my mind. As a result the cravings of my heart had to be locked, forced to wait.

I was having lunch with Sherlock. "How is your business going on James?" He settled the fork on his plate and gave me his undivided attention. "Amazing, I just completed taking care of the Witmores, my long cherished plan finally starts its execution." I wink displaying a conceited smile. "You did?" He asks me to be surprised. I nod cocksure. "I'm now excited to see the bitch's face." He tells me in real happiness forking the noodles on his plate.

Both of us cackle to a belly laugh. After we calm down he invites me to his home. "Next weekend I and Darcy are celebrating our first wedding anniversary. I hope you will join us in the celebration." I raise both my brows at him. "Is it already a year after you got married?" He bites his lip like a teenage girl. "And I am going to be a dad in another six months."

I faced him astonished. "I can't believe this man. You are too fast." He scorns baleful and I have fun enjoying his puppy face. "Well congratulations to you and Darcy." I speak between my laughter.

"So when would we have the privilege of seeing you with a girlfriend?" He changes the subject diplomatically. All my jokes die down with the question and I reply to him damn seriously "very soon". He looks at me taken aback. "Did I hear it right?" He murmured, peering at me like a halfwit idiot. "Yes you heard it right." I confirm in smiles and look around for the server to order another bottle of wine when my eyes locate someone familiar.

I walk to the table in excitement excusing myself from Sherlock. "I am sorry to interrupt but do you know each other?" I ask Edith, going completely thrilled. "Hi, what a pleasant surprise...." Her eyes went wide, elated. She directs her hand to Christina and introduces her to me. "She is Christ..."

"I know" I reply to Edith before she completes her sentence. "We met in my art gallery.” I tell her swilling thoroughly in Christina's arresting features. "Oh wow!" Edith studies me in her scrutinizing gaze about to pull my leg but I was smart to avert the danger. "I'm here with my friend Sherlock." I wave to Sherry to join me as I take a seat. Sherlock introduced himself to both the ladies and invited them to his anniversary celebration.

All of us finish our lunch and Sherlock leaves for his office. Ten minutes later Allen Rodriguez walks inside the restaurant in his everlasting charismatic persona, a white coat hanging on his right arm and a stethoscope around his neck. We exchange greetings and I opt to drop Christina home. He helps Edith from her seat to take her home. She will be staying with her parents for a few days.

"How are you?" I ask Christina once we are alone in the car. My hands were itching to touch her, hug her but I was to control my feelings until she was comfortable with me. I noticed her fiddling with her fingers and my concerns about her grew interminable in a fraction. Whatever her agitation was, I wanted to rip it out of its flesh.

She puts her first two fingers forward of both the hands and waves them. Since the day I met this beautiful young girl I couldn't leap an eye but to think about her. I did my preliminary study of sign language so that I could communicate to her without any hurdles. "Name?" I ask her, surprised in smiles relieved from the disquiet I was suffering till then. "I told you but I think you couldn't make out. I'm Adrian, Adrian James Martin." I turn to her side giving her my complete attention and spell out my name slowly, clearly facilitating her to read my words.

"Adrian" she enunciated to herself enthralled by the name but with no voice from her lips. "Do you like it?" I ask her tenderly, lifting her chin and getting captured in the sudden brightness of her eyes. She nodded and smiled and I felt my name was more beautiful than ever.

She places the tips of her fingers to her chin and brings them out forward. "Thank you, for what?" I ask her to divert my vision back to the road. She types something on her phone and shows it to me. "It was a huge amount and I'm not a professional. You shouldn't have paid me so much for the painting."

I peep into her capturing browns. "We can adjust the amount with a deal. Teach me to paint and I would think I had a fair bargain."

Adrian

We passed through New York's high rise buildings and busy roads to reach the suburban areas which had fresh green pastures and tall trees. In The midst of nature we come across beautiful medium sized cottages. After driving further a few of such chalets Christina asks me to stop in front of a brick structure.

It was a cottage, typically a small house that could carry the connotation of an old-fashioned construction at the same time a modest and cozy dwelling abode. The croft was surrounded by green pastures, different colors and varieties of flowers. Behind us was a beautiful lake.

After spending almost three decades in the city of busy speed up, whoosh and whizz I felt the cabin as a welcome to paradise in the billets of nature. An obscure feeling of heavenliness inhabited its way in my heart. I park my Buggati at a distance, take Chistina's hand and walk to the cabana. The door was opened by a red haired woman in her late forties who had the same chocolate browns like Christina.

Chris shared something to the lady in sign language and the woman's eyes twinkled in glee as though she had known me for ages. "Please come inside and take a seat." She directed me to a small sitting room that felt cozy and comfortable. "I am Adrian James Martin, Christina's friend." I introduced myself to her.

"We know, our daughter had so much to say about you." She gushed enthusiastically. "I am Jade Casablanca, Christina's mother and he is my husband, Christina's dad Caleb." A blond haired man with thick rimmed glasses comes forward and holds out his hand. "It is nice to meet you." Now I know where Christina got her beautiful blonde hair.

There were some hand signals that went between Christina and her mother. Though I couldn't understand much about reading their hand gestures, I could decipher Christina was speaking about me. Instantaneously I decide - I am soon going to learn sign language and be proficient in it very soon. There is no way I could fail myself in reading my girlfriend.

"Christina says you are a very generous and caring person. One of your employees, Tina, from the purchasing department, is her friend." Jade enthused. "I'm just a normal man who takes care of his employees and pays them well when they work hard." I speak balanced and pragmatic, accepting the steaming cup of coffee from her tray.

Christina lost her speech and hearing due to a tragic accident which happened ten years ago when she was only twelve. Since then Caleb and Jade had tried several remedies but with no effectual result. She thus lives under the protection and care of her parents along with her younger sister Jasmine.

Jasmine is a sixteen year old bold and brazen, fun loving girl doing her final year in school. She is the complete opposite in nature of her sister Christina. "Hi Adrian" she cheers and sits beside me. "I heard you are a business magnate and a big shot. I love designing dresses and want to do my graduation in fashion technology. Do you think you could help me with employment in your area of interest?"

Christina quickly comes, sits beside Jasmine with a scowl and directs her to her room pointing to the door with her hand. I chuckle at the sisters. "Sure, study well and I will help you with the best job." I assure Jasmine and pick the coffee cup to my lips that Jade gave me a while ago.

Caleb Casablanca and his wife Jade were exceptionally convivial people basically of Spanish origin but born and brought up in Hudson. They fell in love and got married at a young age, blessed with two daughters. Caleb is a professor in a local college and Jade is a professional dancer. Art is digested in Casablanca's blood since their birth. Probably that's how Christina is extremely talented in painting though she is too innocent to take the credit.

"So tell me about your business Mr Martin." Caleb asks while sharing a drink with me in the evening. "Please call me Adrian." I say politely and tell him about our businesses, Sunrise industries future projects. With the look on his face I believe he was awed by my description. I planned to drop Christina and reach back to my office in relation to the seminar my staff was supposed to organize but stayed at Casablanca's house till dinner as they were too warm and loving to reject their reception.

By the evening the dining table was decorated with scented candles and mouth watering Spanish dishes which I couldn't taste in the best of the restaurants.

The dinner started with Gazpacho - a tomato based Andalusian soup served during very cold times. As the temperature in New York is freezing right now I relished the soup much. Followed by the soup were starters Patata Bravas (potatoes cubed and shallow fried) and in the main course were Tortillas, Albondigas, Migas and Jamon. "You haven't had a second serving. Don't you like the preparations, Adrian?"

"The food is very tasty." I complement Jade. She smiles and refills my plate with the affection a mother holds to her child. The dinner culminated with Spanish sweet dish Leche Frita and homemade Churos. By the time I finished the dinner my stomach was about to burst. Because I loved the Churros, Jade had packed some more for me to snack at home.

I felt relaxed with the Casablancas and never thought I would have such a warm welcome at my first meeting itself. I felt like I was already a part of the family. I wish they were known to me earlier but no regrets. It was now not only for Christina but her family too that I wanted to make mine.

Christina came out to wish me goodnight and the family left us with the privacy I desiderated. The portico was dimly lit with just a forty watt bulb at the center. I walked towards my car taking the hand of Christina and looked around making sure we were encapsulated in the darkness.

I ran my hands tenderly from her shoulder to forearms and looked into her eyes in a yearning concupiscence. She rubs her forearms with the palms of her hand. "Feeling cold?" My voice was a rugged whisper as I bent my head slightly to read her eyes. I remove my jacket and lay it on her shoulders. Circling my hands around her I pull her to my chest. Her lips slightly part at the sudden contact and I place a kiss on her forehead. "You okay?" My voice goes more hoarsely.

She nods, dipping her head down in shyness. I pull the sides of the jacket closer, zipping it up. "Drink ginger tea before going to bed. It will keep you warm during the night." I wiped the sauce on her cheek with the pad of my thumb that she caught while eating churros a few minutes back. "Good night, now go inside the house. It is too cold here. I will see you soon."

I turn back and open the door of the car. She continues to wait, taps on my shoulder and holds up her phone. "Yes I will message you when I reach home." I told her with a smile but this time I couldn't hold back. I pull her face to mine and peck her lips. "Now go inside my love. Otherwise you will freeze here." I request her and wait till she reaches her entrance. After making sure she was inside the house I started the car.