Silas Harrison's Ex-Wife.

Maria

Maria Wayne

THEN

"The number you have dialed is not responding at the moment. Please try later." I clicked my tongue and ended the call yet again.

I tossed the phone on the bed and leaned back. I heaved a sigh and stared at the coffered ceiling. I have been trying to reach Silas for more than two hours now but, he isn't responding. I pressed my lips together and got on my feet. Something has been off with him lately. Silas has changed – he doesn't act like the same man I married a year ago. He doesn't talk much either – all he does is work. He comes late from the office and then locks himself in the study room for hours.

In the beginning, he was just a few hours late but, now – he hardly stays at home. It was two past thirty in the morning and he wasn't home yet. I am determined to talk to him tonight. For the past few weeks, Silas and I haven't communicated much in the past few months. I have to talk to him before the fog between us gets thicker. This is unacceptable. I am his wife. If something is bothering him, he had better tell me about it.

I stepped out of my room and silently walked down the stairs. The only light source was the big chandelier hanging up on the ceiling. Since it was late – no one was in the house except me. I shivered as my bare feet touched the cold marbled floor. I grabbed my gown and clutched it tightly around my body. The days were getting colder in New York. I switched on the lamp that was vacantly on the side table beside the couch. I sat on the couch and let it sink me within itself. I folded my arms around my legs and brought my knees to my chest. I tugged my cold feet underneath the long gown. I sighed and rested my head on the head of the couch. I closed my eyes and went down the memory lane.

I remember it was the month of February when I got married. I chuckled as I remember how badly I was shivering in my white strapless wedding gown. I also remember how Silas offered me his coat when we were riding to our house. Our new house. Our marriage will complete its first year in a couple of days. It feels like tomorrow when Silas and I got married. When I fell in love with Silas – I didn't think that we would ever get married. I always used to think about whether a successful businessperson would ever marry a girl who is invisible to the world. But, our love was too strong to care about social class differences. A small smile curled on my face as I recalled the time when I met Silas for the first time.

It was when I used to work at a café in Midtown Manhattan. I used to work as a server. It was honestly the best job that I had. It paid me well. It covered the expenses of all the household necessities. It was where all the rich people used to come from. The environment at the café was pleasant. I first saw Silas in the second week of working there. He ordered something and I served him. He was the first person who smiled and thanked me. Almost all the diners there wouldn't even spare a glance at their servers but, Silas was different.

I won't lie – I had a little crush on him when I first saw him. With his sea-rover – blue eyes that sparkled with mirth over a friendly smile, manful gritty stubble, a hawkish nose, half-domed cheekbones that sat above an oaken jaw, dashing personality, and dishy physique – who wouldn't drool a little over a man like that. But, the crush soon converted into love when I came to know the perfect-looking man. His respectful and delightful nature made me fall for him.

We first communicated through words. After a week, I noticed him. He would come almost every day, sit at the same table by the glassed wall and order the same spicy salmon with caramelized onions. That day, when he came – I acted a little over-efficient and brought him his usual order without asking him. He chuckled as he looked at the dish resting on his table. "I was in the mood for a burger." His words made my cheeks burn from embarrassment.