She didn't know whether or not she was supposed to feel relieved or upset when she woke up to find herself alone in the bed that she so graciously shared the night before with Conrad. He hadn't expected it to happen and to be honest, she hadn't either. It was an impulse that she acted on immediately, finding that she actually felt bad that he discovered the pictures laid out on the bed, especially the one that showcased a happier version of herself and David Clarke. Their marriage was never a normal one even in the beginning, but she knew he loved her, at least at one point. It couldn't have been easy to see that she was happy with someone else. He knew about it at the time since Victoria wound up confessing her affair, but he never actually saw them together. He never saw how perfectly they looked next to one another. At the same time, she knew that he believed that he and Victoria looked perfect together as well. And they did. That wasn't something Victoria could take away from their image. But that was simply on the exterior. Moving deeper into their connection would be ugly. Their relationship, to the best of her imagination, would appear as blackened blood.

So while it occurred to her that Conrad could still be upset to this day, she couldn't help but selfishly feel upset that he couldn't even wake her up and thank her for her kindhearted actions. A normal person wouldn't expect a pat on the shoulder for allowing their husband to share a bed with them, but she wasn't normal, nor was their relationship. When she grabbed her phone from the nightstand to check the time, she felt like she was further being proved that he fled. It was only a quarter to seven and considering how he didn't even have to go to Manhattan since he lost his position at Grayson Global to their son, there was no excuse for him to already be out of bed. Yet, he was.

The brunette considered falling back asleep but knew deep down that her body wouldn't go back to rest, so she finally forced herself to throw the blankets off of her and stand. Caffeine was a necessity, but she put it off about thirty minutes so that she can shower and dry her hair. After dressing in a tight red long sleeved dress that was cut above the knee and finding matching heels, she put in the effort of applying mascara and blood colored lipstick. Then heading downstairs, she told herself silently a dozen times that she would keep her mouth shut if she saw Conrad. It seemed like a good enough plan to avoid conflict since it was hardly seven thirty in the morning. It was probably a matter of time before a real and serious problem would arise anyway, seeing how this was Grayson Manor and around it was a moat of other's blood and tears.

Hearing the sound of her husband's voice as she neared the dining room, she half considered turning around and going back upstairs. What she'd done the night prior was so unlike her and she didn't want it to somehow blow up in her face. Most of the things she did with good intentions did just that at some point. But Victoria Grayson was never the type to run away from a problem, plus he probably already heard the sound of her heels clicking on the ground to signal that she was coming. If he suddenly heard them growing quieter, perhaps that would be the cause of an argument anyway. And so she entered the room to find that neither of their children were there. Conrad had a plate of fresh fruit and a cup of coffee, but he ignored it as he spoke on the phone from the head of the table.

Silently, she went to take the pot but before she could, he grabbed a second cup of coffee that was still steaming, and held it out to her. So he was making her cups of coffee now? Was that his form of a 'thank you'? Because she preferred something more verbal, actually. She accepted it anyway and didn't say anything since he was speaking to whomever he had on the line. She simply nodded before walking around to sit opposite of him. Even when it was just the two of them, they had a way of sitting as far away as possible. It was as though they felt too awkward to be close and maybe that was the truth of the matter. Did it really have to be more complicated than that? Their marriage was a very difficult matter. The second one had been forced, although she couldn't pretend that she hadn't told him the night before that if they were to get divorced, that they'd end up marrying again.

"Alright then, I'll see you at noon then," she heard him say, which meant that he was concluding his conversation... which meant that there was a possibility that they would have to speak. Would it be too obvious if she got up and rushed out of the room. "Bye." The answer would be 'yes', and so she stayed seated but managed the world's slowest sip after he put his phone down, just to keep herself busy. "Good morning, Victoria."

Knowing she would have to answer eventually, she pulled the cup from her red-stained lips and placed it down. "Good morning, Conrad. Is there a reason you're up so early? Last I checked, you were unemployed," it was a cruel joke, but that was simply the way they operated.

Picking up his cup without showing an ounce of hurt, he gestured it in her direction as she spoke. "I can say the same for you," neither showed in their expressions that they were amused, but they were. Sometimes they would make comments that went too far, but even then, they never rushed off to cry about it. Their complicated lives left them smirking at things that should never be smirked at. "My little ex low class con artist."

It was a valid argument, although she shrugged and rolled her eyes as though to show that what he said held little to no value. "Oh please. I could have easily talked you into buying the gum stuck at the bottom of your shoe."

"I never said you couldn't," he was smart not to deny it, seeing how she'd sold him a counterfeit painting when they first met. And as though he read her mind, he continued. "Although I must admit that when you sold me that painting, I was far too interested in you to notice anything else."

Together at the same time, a smile pulled from their lips at the compliment that brought on a rather fond memory, when times were easier. It was a sweet moment that she didn't know exactly how to react to. "Even if I was an ugly little thing, I could have gotten by just fine."

"You could have," he admitted, a smile still evident. "But it didn't hurt that you walked into my life, looking as beautiful as you did..." after pausing for a moment, the both of them sipping their coffee as they searched for something to say, Conrad knew he would have to be the one to keep the conversation going or else it would simply die. "Do you remember what you said to me when you found out that I was married?"

A smirk evident despite her best efforts to hide it, she shook her head a single time. "I may need a refresher," she didn't at all, but she did find herself falling comfortably into this conversation. Or more comfortably than usual, rather. When they were able to connect like this, it was fine and feisty. In many ways it was their form of foreplay, though it hardly ever resulted in sex. Their second marriage and the last several months of their first were without.

A knowing smile found his features, although he decided to play along. "I believe it went something like 'Oh?'" he reacted at the instant grin on his wife's face as he tried to imitate her. "'Well it sounds like you need me to take out the trash.'"

They both laughed and Victoria nodded. That was exactly what she said and to this day, she didn't regret it one bit. She left a much bigger impression in Conrad's life. Even if they hurt one another much more, she felt more deserving than his first wife. "I did say that. And evidently, I was right."

Unable to deny it, he nodded. "You were. And then you decided to earn my trust by admitting that the painting was about as useless as-"

"My outfit," she laughed.

"Your outfit," he agreed. "At least you're admitting that I'm not shallow."

She shrugged. "Not then, anyway."

"Touche," he took another sip of his coffee and sat back. "So we're both unemployed," he concluded. "Sort of, anyway. But when I win my seat, you'll be a lone-wolf once again."

"Don't you dare pretend that I haven't done any work for you, Conrad. I've gotten some people on board with you that you ordinary wouldn't have been able to reel in, in a million years," she raised a brow as she spoke. "Or have you forgotten?"

The blue eyed man shook his head. "No, of course not. In fact, I have a meeting today. Just a couple of people I'm collaborating with for my campaign. It would be nice to have my wife by my side."

His form of an invite was not typical, but she knew that it was an extension of kindness from the night prior. Apparently she made a good impression. Not for nothing, he would never forget all of the good she's done for his career. "I may as well," she sighed as though to portray boredom. "My unemployed ass has nothing better to do anyway."

Rising from his chair, Conrad walked over to her and leaned down to kiss the top of her head. "Great. It's in Manhattan, so we'll leave soon. You're dressed for the occasion," he smiled.

"You're not," she smirked as the man in a suit pulled back to look at her with confusion. She reached out and ran a hand over his blue tie. "You need red so we can match."

A sigh escaped him as he walked around her. "I suppose you're right," he called out as he exited the room. She couldn't help but realize that was the first time in a while they had an entire conversation in which neither threatened to take down the other. And by the smile in his voice that she detected, she knew he was thinking the same thing.