Chapter 15 Astrid Shayne
Disappointed due to the failed meeting and exhausted, I required a nap before joining work again but at the airport, a soft, velvet resonance called me.
“You can’t hide from me, My Dear~”
Astrid Shayne, CEO of the Shayne Enterprises. Our partner and my fiancée.
Her blonde hair was flowing in the air, held high in pride with a cheeriness around her. Her eyes were green, glimmering like gems as usual.
“Astrid?”
She smirked, folding her arms at her chest, “You didn’t come to the dinner, at least offer me lunch at your place,”
“Okay…”
Not thinking deeply about it, I shrugged my shoulders and motioned to come after me as we left.
“So, where did you disappear, Mister?”
“I… had some personal errands,”
“Am I anywhere in that errand list?” She mocked me with a smile.
“Astrid-”
“I am kidding, Vince, I know your work is above all. I understand.”
“Thank you,”
“So…” She took a pause, trying to study my reactions but I showed none.
“Are you going to address the rumors or not? You and Alyssa are the new hot topic.”
“Are we?”
“Yes.” She nodded and took a chance in the unwanted situation to her advantage.
“Do you know what you should do to end the talks? Publicly announce our engagement so everyone will know you are mine,”
But it was no longer possible. I didn’t intend to announce it sooner either and now, this won’t happen ever.
“I thought we were supposed to announce the wedding at New Year. Doing so will ruin your plan, Astrid,”
“Hmm… True. Ah, let them talk. Not that she is actually living with you, right?”
“No, she is with Uncle. She is close to them after all and I visit them often… so you can get where it comes from,” I replied casually.
Not letting her get a single hint nor did I have energy to handle drama at the moment, I was sleepy, my head was bursting.
“Ah, I see. No worries. Hah, she must be facing the consequences of loving a loser. Good thing his reality fell hard on her face like a slap how she slapped you,”
“Can we… not talk about it?”
“Okay, okay, I get it, that was embarrassing,”
“It was. Extremely.”
“You were just trying to help her and she… Huff. Good thing this happened to her. She deserved it,”
But those words got my attention, I did not like how it sounded. She did NOT deserve it.
“You think?”
“Yes. Of course.”
Barely controlling myself from not overreacting, I stopped outside my place as we went inside.
“Ah, leave her, let’s talk about us. Do you know-”
But, to my astonishment, Alyssa was standing in the middle of my hall, the eyes of helpers judging her as her head low with embarrassment.
“Alyssa…? What are you doing here?” Astrid asked, giving me a suspicious glance and back to her.
When she saw me with Astrid, comprehending the situation, Alyssa faked a smile and covered the situation up.
“I am sorry for interrupting. Actually, I am staying with Uncle Andrew. But, he had some work so he left me here.”
I DID NOT ask her to do that. She didn’t have to. I didn’t like it.
“Vince. Uncle must have left a text. He called too but you were obviously busy. He told me to stay here for the time being. Sorry,”
My features hardened, almost to give her a look ‘there is no need to hide’ but her smile widened, having zero energy for facing a scandal at the moment.
Subsequently, averting her gaze from us, she scratched the back of her neck and retreated her steps.
“Uh, I will be in the guest room. I don’t want to ruin your time. Enjoy yourselves and sorry for my unannounced presence,”
Alyssa was about to leave quietly but I didn’t know from where an evil string in Astrid’s heart was pulled and she commented.
Astrid did this to make her regret slapping me.
“Oh, look. Where this love threw her, she has to live under the roof of the man she slapped for her asshole husband,”
Alyssa stopped in her tracks, she blatantly heard it but soon a hollow smile adorned her lips, glancing over her shoulder.
“I know. Pathetic, isn’t it, Astrid?”
“Very,”
“Well, what can I say when love isn’t my destiny but…”
“But?”
Taking a pause, she averted her gaze, curling her hand in a fist, “But I pray no evil eye casts on your relationship,”
Astrid smirked proudly, “I won’t let it,”
“Hmm,” Unable to spend a moment further, Alyssa left.
My body reacted to speak but not wanting to increase her distress and make the rumors true, I remained silent.
When Alyssa was gone, I hissed at Astrid for being so heartless towards someone who just fell from grace.
“You didn’t have to use such a harsh statement, Astrid. The woman just lost it all,”
“So? This is the result of her love,”
Her words brought an instant wrath in me.
This very statement made me dejected with the world and I stopped being talkative and charming- They didn’t deserve it.
The same words were once used for my sister too.
‘This is the result of her love,’
They didn’t help, they didn’t support, they let her suffer miserably and I was too young to help her.
I watched her life slip away all because her love failed.
People never change. Nothing had changed. Years passed but they were still how they used to be. Insensitive.
Today, Alyssa stood where Lucia did.
But, this time I was strong. I had the power to help her from receiving the same outcome and I won’t sit back quietly.
“This is-”
“Enough, Astrid, leave the woman be,”
“Okay, okay, you don’t have to get riled up.” She sighed, putting her hands up.
“Let’s have lunch, I am starving,”
“Jess, send Alyssa’s food to her room,”
“Yes, Sir,”
After lunch, Astrid was seemingly in a lifted mood but I was anything but delighted.
A flame was ignited in my chest, people’s talks had begun to disgust me as I prayed her words wouldn’t pierce her heart.
“So… Where were we?”
Before she could proceed, I placed my hand in between.
“Astrid. I am tired due to jet lag. I would like to rest,”
“Okay, okay,” She chuckled nervously, shrugging her shoulders.
“But, at least tell me, when can I see you again?”
Not once she minded my demeanor or took them to her heart as everyone engraved ‘Vince is cold,’ in her mind.
She just thought it was my natural reaction.
“I don’t know. When I will have time I guess,” I sighed, rubbing my temples to show my exhaustion.
“Okay, I will talk to you later, okay?”
“Yeah-”
Before I could wave my hand and leave, she clasped my face in her hands possessively and pressed her lips upon mine in an unexpected kiss.
I forgot she kissed me upon goodbyes.
Before, I used to kiss back coldly because I didn’t think much about them and used to play along to avoid fights.
But today, this was wrong.
It was highly unwanted as I ended up holding her shoulder to push her back but before I could break it, she pulled away with a smirk to display her satisfaction.
My gaze lifted and it fell on Alyssa who was standing on the stair with wide eyes and an empty glass on her hand.
My chest constricted, disliking the situation.
“Bye~”
Cooing, Astrid winked at me and left as I stood stunned on how to react.