A Successful Career After Divorce

“Ranita… I have a splitting headache… why aren’t you coming to pick me up?” The man’s voice came through in fragments, his words slurred from excessive drinking.

“You’ve had too much to drink…” Ranita knew that the sober Brendon would never utter such nonsense. “If there’s anything, find Caleb!”

Ranita ended the call, but sleep eluded her completely.

Restlessly, she tossed and turned in bed, finally succumbing to drowsiness when her phone buzzed once again.

It was Caleb calling, and his first question was urgent, “Miss Bowman, have you seen Mr. Stuart?”

“What happened? Is Brendon okay?” Ranita sat up abruptly, worry flooding her heart.

Caleb must be truly desperate to call her at this hour.

“After tonight’s video conference, Mr. Stuart attended a private party. I went out for a drive, and when I returned, he was gone. I can’t reach him on his phone either. I’ve searched several places but haven’t found him yet.”

Caleb’s anxiety was palpable, which explained why he reached out to Ranita.

“… He called me a while ago but abruptly hung up after a few words.”

“Miss Bowman, do you know where he is?” Caleb’s question left Ranita feeling frustrated. She didn’t want to engage with someone who was intoxicated, so she simply hung up.

Now, reflecting on her actions, regret washed over her. If something happened to Brendon, she would carry the burden of guilt for the rest of her life.

“I… am not sure either. At that time, I assumed you were with him.”

Caleb sounded disappointed, “I apologize for bothering you, Miss Bowman. We will continue searching here!”

“If you hear anything, please inform me immediately!” Ranita persisted in calling Brendon, but he didn’t answer. Just when she thought she couldn’t get through, he unexpectedly picked up.

“Brendon! Where are you?”

All she could hear on the other end was heavy breathing.

“Brendon…”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Uh… I’m here…” The man’s voice was hoarse and low, layered with tenderness and dependence that stirred Ranita’s already unsettled heart.

“Where are you? Is someone with you? Let someone else answer the phone.” Ranita repeated herself, and Brendon responded with a grunt before saying two words, “No one.”

“Then where are you?”

“I don’t know…” As soon as he said this, Ranita felt suffocated. How intoxicated was he to not even know his whereabouts?

“Look around for any buildings or street signs,” she suggested, but then realized something was amiss – it was too quiet on Brendon’s end to be near a road.

Could it be that he drank too much and got picked up by someone? But no, he claimed there was no one around him…

Where on earth was this guy?! No matter how much she pondered, Ranita couldn’t fathom Brendon’s location, growing increasingly agitated.

“I can’t see any buildings…” The man’s voice softened with each sip of alcohol. His nasal tone took on a whining quality, “There aren’t any street signs either… Ranita… why don’t you come pick me up?”

“My head is spinning.”

“I want to sleep with you.”

Ranita was left speechless.

Let’s skip the last sentence.

Brendon led a busy life, often attending unavoidable social gatherings where he occasionally indulged in excessive drinking, leading to moments of intimacy at most. Under the influence of alcohol, he might become a bit uninhibited, but he had always been a silent and reserved man, not prone to rambling as he was now.