“It’s the sixth time you’ve checked on your phone!”
I glanced up at Noelle who put a cup of coffee on my desk.
“Why don’t you call him and stop wasting your time glancing and checking your phone, every goddamn minute?”
I sighed for I don’t know how many times. It’s been four days since I called Sandy and she told me that Gabriel has a business meeting in Australia. And until now, I’m still waiting for his call or even a text message.
“Hmm… maybe he’s busy. He’s now busy with someone else.”
My head snapped instantly at Noelle’s face. I narrowed my eyes at her.
“Why? You’re pushing him away, right? So, maybe he has now found someone ‘else’.”
“I’m not pushing him away! And can you please stop mentioning it?”
“Mentioning what, that he found someone else? Or someone new?”
“Noelle please?” I pleaded but she just laughed at me.
“Tsk. tsk. tsk. There years ago he already had you, but he let you go. He learned his lesson and searched for you. And then now that you have already met, now you’re the one who pushed him away. I don’t understand your heart, Madi.”
“I didn’t push him away!”
We heard a knock on the door.
“Ms. Madi, Ms. Noelle.” Tony came to our view.
“Yes, Tony?” Noelle asked him.
“There is a letter for Ms. Madi,” he answered with a smile. Noelle and I shared a confused look.
“A letter from whom?” we both asked in unison.
“Ahm… Atty. Robert Dioson?”
My eyes widened as my heart started to pound inside. I don’t know why I suddenly felt nervous after hearing the name of Gabriel’s lawyer.
“Thank you, Tony.” she took the letter from him and put it on my desk.
“You’re welcome, Ma’am,” he said and went back to work.
“Who is that Atty. Dioson? And what’s that for, subpoena?”
I glared at her. “Subpoena? What are you talking about? I didn’t commit a crime!”
“Oh, yes you do, dear. Isn’t it a crime, that you are driving your husband away?”
My mouth fell with her words. “Haha, funny.” but she just laughed at my reaction.
I opened the sealed envelope and when I saw the letter inside, my hands trembled as my world began to spin around me.
“Ohh…” was the only word I formed after reading the letter.
“Why? What is it about?” she took the paper from my hand and her eyes widened too. “Oh my God! Divorce papers?” she looked at me with shock written in her both eyes.
Streams of tears began to flow down my cheeks. I buried my face in my hands as convulsive sobs escaped my throat that almost choked me. I felt her arms wrapped around me as she also rubbed my back as I cry.
“He gave you what you wanted, Madi. This is what you want right, a divorce paper to start over? Then why are you crying right now? Does it hurt?”
I shut my eyes in anguish when I heard her words. I don’t know what she stands in my life right now.. my best friend or my conscience? Is she seriously asking me if it hurts?
“H-He said he doesn’t want us to file a divorce, but what is this? He didn’t talk to me for days, almost a week, and then he suddenly disappeared and flew to Australia without even informing me?”
“Because you said you want time, so he’s giving you all the time. If you sign it, then you will be free. You will be able to breathe again. Isn’t it what you want? You asked him for it— here it is now!”
I closed my eyes tightly for the second time and gripped the edge of the table as the long, agonizing sobs wracked my body to the core. I never knew this could be as painful as before. No, this is more painful. The thought of no longer being in his arms made my heart slowly die inside my chest.
“I love him so much, Noelle. And I don’t know how to go on again when he gives up completely on me.”
“Shh… it only shows how much he loves you, Madi. He’s willing to go out of his way to make you happy. Even if it could break his heart, he filed a divorce petition when you asked him..”
“Noelle, how would I fix this?” I asked between my sobs.
“Find him and talk to him.”
We were in that situation when my phone suddenly vibrates on top of my desk. We both shared a look and I wiped my tears with my hands before answering the call.
“Sandy?” I said in a hoarse voice.
“Madi, is Mr. Wilsons with you right now?”
I crunched my eyebrows as I straightened my seat.
“What? No, he’s not here! I thought you said he’s in Australia?”
“Yeah, that’s what he told me, but one of the secretaries of our Australian inventors called me today. They were asking for him?”
“W-What do you mean they’re asking for him? You said they used his private jet to go to Sydney?”
“Yes, but I don’t know what happened. They said he just let them use the jet but he didn’t go with them, as he has something important to do.”
-Something important to do?-‘
The divorce papers. That was the first thing that came to my mind.
“I have already called the police and reported his case.”
“What?”
“Madi, he’s been missing for four days!”
“Oh my God!” panic started to arise in my body. I don’t want to think about any negative thoughts but I can’t stop the subconscious layer of my mind.
“Have you already called his family?”
“No, and that’s why I called you. You are his wife, for sure they would ask you first before they take an action.”
“Y-Yeah, okay. I’ll call them but please when he shows up at the office, inform me immediately.”
“I will.”
“Thank you, Sandy.”
“Gabriel is missing?” Noelle asked as soon as I ended the call.
“Yeah, he didn’t go to Australia. God! What is going on?”
“Oh my goodness! Where is he?”
“I don’t know, Noelle,” I said as I dropped my head into my hands. “I feel like I’m on the edge of exploding at any minute. My heart is pounding faster because of the negative ideas that keep on dancing inside my head.”
“Ohh, Madi! Don’t you ever think about it! Maybe we should start to call any possible person that can lead us to him.”
I nodded, but an idea popped up in my head. I took my phone and my bag and got up quickly.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m going to find him.”
“Alone?”
“Yes, but can you please call Nancy for me?”
“Sure, don’t worry,”
“Thanks, Noelle.” I hugged her before running for the door. I put the envelope inside my bag and headed my way to the parking lot.
Before starting the engine, I plugged in my blue tooth headset and dialed Bryan’s number. I explained to him everything and asked for his men’s help to find Gabriel. I also tried to contact his number but just like the past four days, he’s still out of coverage.
After almost two hours of being stuck in traffic, I finally reached the hotel. I asked the receptionist if the name Gabriel Wilsons had already checked out, but they said he was still using the unit, so I just asked the hotel management if I can borrow a spare key to open his room. And they agreed after I explained the situation to them.
But what I saw inside only added to the nervousness inside me. His room was completely empty. The pillows and sheets were neatly folded on top of the bed, which meant he didn’t stay there in the last for days.
When I got out of his unit, I dialed his driver’s number.
“Good afternoon, Ma’am Madi.”
“Good afternoon, Jhon. Are you with Gabriel now?” I asked, silently praying that he was with him.
“I’m sorry Ma’am, but I’m on leave. He gave me two weeks of vacation.”
“What? You’re on leave, since when?”
“It’s actually the fourth day, ma’am—”
“Oh, God!” I suddenly tapped my forehead.
“Did something happen, Maam Madi?”
“Yes. He’s missing, Jhon. It’s been four days and he didn’t attend his meeting in Australia.”
“Don’t worry, Ms. Madi. We’re going to find him. Maybe he just has important things to do, and forget to inform you. I’ll help you to find him, Ma’am.
“Thank you, Jhon.”
After ending the call, I immediately rushed to the elevator. I returned the key to the receptionist and thought about places people or people he might have met these past few days.
I was about to open my car door when I received a call from Nancy. I immediately answered it with trembling hands.
“Hello, Nancy.”
“Madi, where are you?”
“A-At the hotel parking lot, why?” her voice sounded panicked.
“Gabriel is not missing! You need to come here immediately!”
“What? W-Where are you?” I sighed loudly as relief washed over me.
“In your mansion.”
I closed my eyes when I felt a new set of tears that welled up in my eyes.
“Thank you, Nancy. I’m on my way.”
“Madi, prepare yourself when you get here,” she said in a low voice.
“W-What do you mean?” I asked confused.
“He’s a total mess, Madi. I don’t know how to explain or describe his situation to you. You’ll see him when you get here. He doesn’t want to talk to anyone here. He even locked the door when I tried to talk to him. Just come fast, Madi. My brother needs you.”
Those were the last words that truly hit me hard to the core. Somehow, I regret my decision which led him to isolate himself again. But I am now ready. I’m ready to face everything that can happen. He hasn’t given up on me so, who am I to give up on him? Who am I to let go of this second chance that knocks on my door?
I love him. And that’s the thing I have to hold on to. We can’t go back and change the beginning, but we can start where we are and change the ending.