Time Fractured Under Weightless Truths by Kael Drift 1

The mop moved in steady arcs across the marble floor, each stroke leaving behind a gleaming trail that caught the late afternoon sun. Adrian Cole had perfected this rhythm over three years…he was efficient enough to satisfy his mother-in-law’s standards.

 

His phone vibrated against his chest.

 

He glanced toward the corridor when he was sure it was empty he leaned the mop against the wall and pulled out the phone, wiping his damp hands on his worn cotton shirt.

 

“Sir.” Marcus ’s voice crackled through, barely containing his excitement. “It’s done. Mrs.Cole’s IPO…final approval came through twenty minutes ago. She’s ringing the Nasdaq bell tomorrow morning, 9 a.m. Prime time coverage on every financial network.”

 

Adrian Cole felt his breath catch. For three seconds, the world narrowed to just those words. “And the press conference?”

 

“It is live right now on channel Seven.”

 

A smile tugged at Adrian Cole’s lips…it was the first genuine one in weeks. “You did well, Marcus . Very well.”

 

“Thank you, sir.”

 

He ended the call and stood there, with his phone warm in his palm, staring at the ornate mirror across the hall.

 

Victoria did it. She really did it.

 

From downstairs, he heard the sound of laughter…it seems like his mother-in-law was holding court again.

 

……-

 

The living room was a picture of elegance. Mrs Stone   sat centered on the cream leather sofa, with her spine straight,and one hand draped across the armrest like an empress receiving tribute. Her three friends perched around her…Mrs Aderson in head-to-toe Chanel, Mrs. Parker dripping with Cartier, and Mrs.Bennett whose handbag cost more than most people’s monthly salary.

 

Jasmine tea steamed from delicate porcelain cups. The air smelled expensiv .

 

“…of course, my son’s promotion wasn’t entirely unexpected,” Mrs Aderson was saying, examining her manicured nails. “Senior partner at thirty-four. The firm’s youngest in its ninety-year history. They’re already discussing his name on the letterhead.”

 

“How wonderful,” Mrs. Parker replied, her smile was razor-sharp. “My daughter just closed her acquisition deal…that boutique chain everyone’s been talking about. It has a total of fifteen locations across three cities. The press called it ‘the merger of the season.’”

 

Both women turned to Mrs Stone   with expectation.

 

She lifted her teacup, buying time. Her daughter was successful…extraordinarily so…but these vultures had a talent for making every achievement feel insufficient. The question hung in the air, although it was unspoken : if your daughter is so remarkable, why is she married to a man who mops your floors?

 

Before she could formulate a response, there was a knock on the door.

 

Adrian Cole entered carrying a tray…containing fresh tea, and chocolate cookies arranged in perfect circles, and napkins folded into lotus blossoms.

 

The conversation died.

 

Three pairs of eyes tracked his movement across the room.

 

“Oh, Mrs Stone  .” Mrs Aderson’s voice dripped with false sweetness. “That’s your son-in-law? Wow. I really thought he was the help. He moves like he’s done this his whole life.”

 

Mrs. Parker’s laugh was light and cruel. “Hey, don’t sell him short. He’s full-time. Cooking, cleaning, waiting on people—he does it all.”

 

Heat crawled up Mrs Stone  ’s neck. She set her cup down with a sharp clink. “Adrian Cole. No one asked for anything. What are you doing here?”

 

“I apologize, Mother. But I had to interrupt. I just received news…Victoria’s company IPO was approved. She’s ringing the Nasdaq bell tomorrow morning.”

 

The room went silent.

 

Mrs Stone  ’s eyes widened. “What?”

 

“Her company is going public.” Now he was smiling, and the transformation was startling…for just a moment,his aura was almost overwhelming . “The press conference is happening right now. It’s live on Channel Seven.”

 

Nobody breathed.

 

Then Mrs Aderson practically lunged for the remote.

 

The massive screen flickered to life, and there she was.

 

Victoria Cole  stood behind a podium,with the company logo gleaming behind her like a rising phoenix. Her hair was swept into an immaculate chignon. With a navy Armani blazer. Her diamond earrings caught every camera flash. She looked like she’d been born for this moment…born to command that stage and every eye watching her.

 

“…grateful to everyone who believed in this vision,” Victoria was saying, her voice clear and absolutely certain. “But today isn’t our destination. It’s our launchpad.”

 

Mrs Stone  ’s hand flew to her chest. Pride exploded inside her…it was hot and overwhelming.

 

She just knew it. Her daughter had turned the tables for her—perfect. Absolutely perfect!

 

“Oh my god,” Mrs. Parker breathed. “Mrs Stone, she’s absolutely stunning. Look at her presence.”

 

“Wow, look at her,” Mrs. Anderson said, her tone dripping with bitterness. “Shows up once and suddenly everyone else doesn’t matter. But honestly? Young people should stay grounded. Don’t get too full of themselves.”

 

“Right?” Mrs. Bennett jumped in, clearly jealous. “She’s a girl—her focus should be on family. Careers? That’s a man’s concern.”

 

Even so, her eyes stayed glued to the screen, greedy and unwilling to look away, as if she were picturing that woman in the spotlight as her own son instead.

 

Mrs. Stone laughed it off, sounding relaxed and tolerant. She knew exactly what her old friends were like—the more jealous they got, the more casually dismissive they acted.

 

“Tell me about it,” she said with a smile that looked generous but was really a quiet flex. “I’ve told her more than once not to work herself so hard. But she’s always had good luck. Ever since she was a kid, everything just worked out for her. Now the company says it’s going public, and boom—there you have it.”

 

The smile on her lips was almost reaching her ears—until the man at the doorway wiped it clean in an instant.

 

Adrian Cole still stood by the door, hands clasped, that hopeful smile lingering on his face. Like he thought he’d earned something.

 

A surge of nameless fury shot straight to her chest. How dare he still stand there?!

 

“Adrian Cole.” Her voice cut through the congratulations like a blade. “You can leave now.”

 

His smile faltered. “Pardon?”

 

“I said leave.” She didn’t shout but the coldness in her voice was worse. “Do your job. Don’t stand there looking useless in front of my guests.”

 

In that split second, countless thoughts flashed through Adrian’s mind—an urge to tell the arrogant woman in front of him that all of this was because of him.

 

But reason won out. He took a deep breath and forced the bitterness back down.

 

“Of course, Mother. Forgive the interruption.”

 

The door clicked shut behind him.