Waiting on the Stars - Chapter Eleven

The rain fell in a rhythmic pattern against the windowpane as Adele gently sighed and reflected on the events of the day. Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar automated voice—both soothing and a reminder of tasks yet to be done.

“Would you like some tea?” Vera asked through the sound system of her communicator bracelet. The device had been preprogrammed to monitor heart rate, rhythm changes, blood pressure, and any subtle physical shifts that might affect mood. The remedy for these mood changes was recorded and adjusted for future use. Tea was known to have a calming effect on Adele.

“Yes, some chai tea sounds quite nice…” Adele murmured, her voice trailing off as she drifted back into thought. Somehow, the rain mirrored the feelings in her heart. It had been a long day—one that had not gone as expected.

Earlier that morning, as she walked into Marks Enterprises for another day of work, Elle Daring had met her at the sliding doors of her department.

“Oh,” Ellie exclaimed, scrutinizing Adele from the flyaways in her hair to the rumpled shirt around her waist, down to her scuffed shoe from tripping on the ramp while exiting the glider twenty minutes earlier. “I see you finally made it—if not entirely in one piece.”

Adele smiled politely, trying to make light of the critique. “Yes, I had a bit of a fall this morning, but as you can see, all my parts are still attached.” She laughed awkwardly, shifting her weight and nodding in agreement.

Ellie stood still, raised her chin, and paused before replying. “Well, it’s going to be a full day of meetings, and perhaps you should take a moment to pull yourself together.”

“You’re right—that would be a good idea,” Adele replied, hoping the interaction would end quickly as she headed down the hallway toward the women’s restroom.

Upon entering, a scanner assessed signs of illness, exhaustion, or other minor medical concerns. Her bracelet lit up, displaying real-time health data in case of emergency.

Rolling her eyes, Adele whispered under her breath, “My blood pressure always goes up twenty points when Ellie is around. I wish she didn’t upset me.”

From the adjoining stall, a familiar voice responded, “What did you say? Were you talking to me? I didn’t quite catch that.”

Embarrassed, Adele quickly explained, “I was just murmuring to myself. Sometimes I do that when I’m thinking about something unrelated to work.”

“Oh, I thought you might be annoyed with me,” Isla joked as she stepped out of the stall. “I just love how you can listen to your favorite music without disturbing anyone else. I’m such a fan of Jayden. Do you ever listen to him?”

“Sometimes,” Adele replied, not entirely truthfully. “It depends on the day.” In truth, Jayden’s music wasn’t what she would consider truly musical. He used the same three chords and rhythm in nearly every song, repeating the same lyrical lines over and over.

“He’s amazing! A complete genius! There’s no one like him!” Isla gushed, flashing Adele a knowing look as she recalled his affectionate hug the night before.

Adele nodded politely, continuing to wash her hands with the aromatic soap, unsure how else to respond.

“Have you seen Raiden today?” Isla asked. “You know he hates being away from me for long. He’s always texting, asking when we can see each other again. I’ve been so busy—it’s made him miss me even more. I don’t know how he manages without me.” She sighed dramatically, despite knowing the opposite was likely true.

“I haven’t seen him yet. I spoke with Ellie a few minutes ago—there are quite a few meetings later today,” Adele replied, steering away from the subject.

“I’m thinking of hosting a dinner party,” Isla continued. “I’d love for you to come. Declan Benwick needs a plus-one—he never brings anyone, and it leaves the numbers uneven. You two seem to get along well.” She paused, then added, “Not many people understand him, but you do.”

“When is it?” Adele asked, not particularly enthusiastic but aware that Declan was a friend.

“This Friday at 6:30 p.m., at my house on Shepherd Drive,” Isla said. “It’s only twelve minutes from Raiden’s—I’ve timed it. He’s very dedicated to me.”

“Wow, that’s close,” Adele said carefully. “It’s nice to have someone nearby.”

“Yes,” Isla replied firmly. “No matter where I am, I can call him, and he’ll be there immediately.”

“Sounds nice,” Adele responded. “I’m glad he’s there for you.”

Admiring her reflection, Isla adjusted her hair and lipstick before turning sharply, confidence radiating from her movements.

“I’ll see you Friday—please don’t be late,” she said briskly. “Declan arrives ridiculously early and monopolizes Raiden with technical conversations all evening. You’ll understand him, so you can keep him occupied.”

“I’ll see you then,” Adele said, though uncertainty lingered.

A few minutes later, Adele arrived at her desk. Placing her palm on the glass surface, her imprint unlocked a holographic display. Real-time charts of transfers and transactions appeared. It had been a productive morning—if not a typical one.

“How’s everything going?” a voice asked from behind her.

Adele turned to see Raiden settling comfortably into a chair across from her, legs crossed in his usual thoughtful pose.

“I walked by earlier and wasn’t sure if you were coming in today,” he added with a smile.

“I ran into Isla and ended up chatting for a bit,” Adele explained, watching his reaction.

“Oh, yeah. She’s gone home to do whatever her thing is today,” Raiden said dismissively, his expression tightening slightly.

He shook his head, staring absently upward. “Sometimes I don’t know why I’ve even bothered.”

Adele sensed the comment wasn’t meant for discussion and continued scrolling through her notifications in silence.

“Are you coming Friday?” he asked, more eagerly.

“Yes. Isla mentioned Declan needed someone to keep him company,” Adele said.

“So she’s set you up as his date?” Raiden asked, surprised.

“I wouldn’t call it a date—just company for the evening,” Adele clarified.

“I’m glad you’re coming,” he said. “You’re easy to talk to. I don’t have much in common with Isla’s friends. I always feel out of place at her parties.”

“Maybe it helps with networking,” Adele offered.

Raiden shrugged. “Maybe. But I don’t consider any of them friends.”

Adele nodded quietly.

“I really need to do something about that,” he murmured.

Uncertain what he meant, Adele pretended not to hear.

“Will you be at the 2 p.m. meeting?” he asked, tapping his smart lenses to display the agenda. “I’d like you to present the project update.”

“I can do that,” Adele replied confidently.

“Great. I’ll see you then,” he said before heading off.

The rest of the morning, Adele finalized a visually engaging report, combining creative design with practical detail.

Just before reaching the conference room, Ellie stepped in front of her.

“I see Raiden has you on the agenda,” Ellie said. “Interesting choice. He usually prefers someone more experienced. Are you sure you don’t want someone else to present?”

Adele took a steadying breath. “I think it’s important to try. That’s how I’ll learn.”

“Are you sure?” Ellie pressed. “These are important clients.”

“I’ve prepared thoroughly and consulted with the team,” Adele replied. “I believe I’m ready.”

“You’ve got more faith than I do,” Ellie smirked. “Good luck.”

As another colleague approached, Ellie suddenly shifted tone.

“Hi, Sam! We were just talking about you—the Emerson Retreat you presented last week was fantastic!”

With a confident sway, Ellie moved on, leaving Adele standing in the quiet aftermath.