Carl looked uncomfortable.

"Yeah, that's what happened yesterday night." He mumbled.

Adrien frowned hard, wondering whom she met in his building.

"What time? Did she tell whom she met?"

He asked.

Carl frowned at his boss's sudden interest in an employee. But he answered nonetheless.

"Nearly 9 pm. But no, she didn't tell whom she met;" He paused but then his eyes lit up remembering something "yeah, and she had a tiffin in her hand. She was carring some dinner probably." He told Adrien.

"Yeah, that's all." He told, nodding to himself.

Adrien pursued his lips.

He had gone to her cabin at 7:30 but she wasn't there, not wanting to seem desperate, he went to his penthouse, and he was definitely annoyed. He remembered snapping Carl when he called. But could it be possible she came to give him his dinner. But then why would she be in hysterics and leave without telling him or giving him the dinner. There were chances she could be meeting someone else.

He sighed and decided to ask her himself.

~~~~~~~~~~

Well his plan to talk with Em was failing because she avoided him like plague.

Emerson wasn't giving him a single look. Whenever he tried to talk, she would excuse herself telling she has work or she is doing something more important , and his annoyance was growing wondering what happened last night in his building that she was so hell bent on avoiding him.

But now he was sick of this game of hide and seek, and he went to her office, determined.

He entered without knocking and Emerson looked at him with her lips pursued.

"Enough is enough, you have avoided me too much, but not now. Now tell me what the hell happened and why are avoiding me. I can literally feel the coldness radiating from you." He said harshly.

Emerson clenched her jaw and averted her gaze.

"Nothing happened." Her tone was blank.

"God dammit Emerson tell me what happened! Carl said you were below my building yesterday in hysterics! And you expect me to let it go! " He almost yelled at her.

She looked at him dead in the eye and coldly spoke.

"Nothing happened because you told me the first day we met I shouldn't feel anything if I see you with another woman. Then please tell me why should I tell you what happened, even if you said you wanted to give us a chance? " He said harshly.

Adrien frowned. The first thought came in his mind was she saw the pic outside the restaurant, but it was taken down.

"Tell me what happened I'm straight words because your words aren't making sense to me. I said that on our first day but it was true when I said I wanted to give this marriage a chance. But it was you who left for here and said you wanted space, then what the hell is this about? " He whispered harshly.

Emerson let out a humourless chuckle.

"Oh, you are right, it's my fault then. I called you, you snapped at me and hung up, it was my fault I called you.

It was my fault I felt guilty, and cooked dinner for you and brought it for you. It was my fault I came knocking on your door to see a half naked women, her lipstick smeared and hickies spread on her neck and breasts opened it. It was my fault that I wanted to be civil, it's my fault I hoped my husband, even if it was an arranged marriage won't cheat on me! " She whisper yelled at him, her breaths heavy.

Adrien was stunned, but he was more shocked wondering who the hell did he see.

"What? " He spluttered in disbelief.

Emerson sighed.

"I know it was wrong of me to think you won't be with any woman when you cleared me so. I overreacted, I am sorry. I think we should keep our distance. " She said calmly.

Adrien raked a hand through his hair.

"Look Emerson, I don't what you are talking about. You never called me yesterday, and I was alone in my penthouse. Not a single sould except me was there." He said sternly.

Emerson closed her eyes and sat back on her chair, leaning back.

"I don't care, I think it's best if we keep our distance." She said.

"See Emerson, I don't know what is this all about, I accept I snapped on the phone yesterday, I didn't check the caller iD and thought it was Mr Carl. And I live on 10 floor since the ground floor is numbered one. So you definitely mistook something. I think it's better if I cleared this to you. And if you think keeping our distance is better, and let it be so." He spoke.

Emerson nodded.

"I can bring you lunch, but I don't think I can make dinner for you, sorry I didn't stick to my words, but I only had one free week, and it's almost over. We are better off at distance." She stated.

Adrien clenched his jaw but nodded stoicly. He was irritated that she always loved to make decisions on her own, but he didn't comment.

If she thinks we should keep distance, then I will definitely show her what distance is.

With that thought, he stormed off the office.

Emerson closed her eyes and rested her head on the table.

The day took a toll on her.

Adrien didn't cheat on her, it was a big misunderstanding. But her heart was still clenching. She was now sure, love life wasn't for her. It never ended well.

She would try to be in marriage for a longer time, but once she graduates, she was going to leave the marriage, because she was sure her relationship was something which would never last. If, by any single chance if something different happened, she would see then what to do. For now, she was going with just a fixed aim.

Complete this job, semester at Oxford, Graduate from NYU and then woosh... Fly in the air.

So, now, she concentrated on her work.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Adrien wasn't in a good mood now .

He was snapping at every employee, but the reason of his annoyance was sitting without any problem in her office.

Wasn't sitting but working with all her power, and aslo studying.

When the office hours were done, she gathered her things and left without telling him.

The next few days went same, but apparently Adrien took the distance thing a little too seriously. If he saw Emerson he would change his path, turn away from her.

He doesn't turn away eating food cooked by me.

Was what Emerson thought. His behavior was childish.

It was Thursday and Adrien was signing some documents which were needed urgently when his phone rang with an unknown number.

He frowned but piked up the call.

"Stone." He said coldly.

A gruff voice spoke from the other end.

"And it will be broken into pieces if you don't improve your behavior." The man's tone was cold.

Adrien scowled.

"Who the hell do you think you are? " He hissed.

The man laughed a humourless laugh.

"Oh, remember Liam Carlos."

Adrien frowned hard, trying to remember him. Then a sudden bulb clicked in his mind. It was Liam Carlos, the same person who was tamed by Emerson and who threatened Adrien to destroy him if Emerson shed a single tear.

"Oh, what do you want? " He asked coldly, wondering was Emerson really that spoiled that she told Liam about their fight.

Liam chuckled.

"Don't act so hostile Stone, I promised you the consequences won't be good if you hurt Emerson, then why in the name of hell did I see your pic with a model on the tabloids? You removed it but I have my ways to know what happened. " He said in a venomous tone.

Adrien gulped, knowing he had ties with the Mafia, and it wasn't good.

"Look Carlos, I don't know why you are making such a big deal of a small thing, I went to a restaurant and after coming out the model who was coincidently there approached me, and paps couldn't get a better chance to snap photos. I did nothing with her, not that I need to explain it to you because I and Emerson have nothing between us, and it was her decision to keep distance between us, we are just married, but not in a relationship." He told him coldly.

He heard Liam sigh.

"Good, and I don't care about your affairs and all, I just don't want Emerson to be hurt, remember this, remember my promise, hope I don't need to call you again." With that he hung up.

Adrien sighed. The people who cared for Emerson were overprotective of her. First Grandma Rose, now Carlos. It seemed like they would kill for Emerson if she asks. He wondered what made them so protective of her. Emerson looks like she was sheltered by her parents her whole life, like a princess in her castle. Sure she and her parents had some tension between them, but what could be more than a small argument about what field she chose.

He sighed and resumed his work.

Only if he knew...

******

Sorry for the late update