Nicholas felt utterly and completely dejected and, most importantly, a fool, a very big one at that. How could he let his guard so easily go and let the pure lust he felt towards Astra control his actions? That was the thing he never liked when it came to Astra, how she was in total control of his feelings without even trying. He could do the stupidest and shittiest things when it came to her. What the fuck was he thinking, trying to coax her into his bed?
"God, I am such a fool," he muttered to himself, hands folded behind his neck as he looked at the plain wall as though it was supposed to miraculously reply to his question.
The cold wind blew as the trees swung from left to right. Everywhere was calm, and the lights were off. The creepy darkness haunted the streets and not a soul could be seen hovering around. Perhaps some living souls that meant business could be seen. In his large black coat with a muffler around his neck, he stood by the end of the road as he adjusted his big hat, which hid his face. He rested his back against the wall of the bakery by the corner, and the light emanating from the screen of his phone was the only bright thing at that hour. He placed his phone inside his coat pocket and walked straight to the figure at the other end of the road. The person he had been waiting for had just arrived. He hurried and looked from side to side even though no one was around. It was an ungodly hour. He approached his visitor, shook hands with him, and they pulled each other into a darker corner and were overshadowed by the darkness.
"One more shot please," Astra told the bar attendant right after gulping some whiskey. Her eyes were weary, restless, and gloomy. "Take it easy, girl." Stephanie said to her. "I know you need to cool off, but babe, you've had way more shots than usual." Stephanie cautioned her. Astra smiled halfway and pulled down her dress, which was barely long enough to cover her thighs. "You need to chill sometimes . You need to cool off. " "Astra," Stephanie said to Astra while lifting up the shot she just received from the bar attendant. "You, of all the people in the world, telling me to chill today?" marveled Stephanie. Astra smiled and said, "So tell me. How is your new manager at the agency? " "He's a bit rogue, but I'm still watching him since he just got employed. Either he'll shape up or I'll fire him. I don't want anyone messing up my model agency. I put a lot of hard work and money into that shit. " Stephanie said. "I trust you." Astra retorted.
"You know, when my husband returns to town, we won't have the opportunity to do this, right?"Stephanie spoke to Astra. "I know, my darling friend. That's why I need to have fun with you before your husband comes to town and snatches you away from me. " Astra replied. They both laughed."You do realize I'll always be there for you, don't you?"Stephanie said to Astra, in a solemn tone. "Whether my husband is here or not." Stephanie added Astra nodded in approval. She knows Stephanie will always be there for her. They've been friends for almost two decades now, and when Nicholas threw her out, Stephanie never left her side. Stephanie helped her survive. Sometimes, she wonders what life would be like without Stephanie. "Let's go dance." Stephanie said, while pulling Astra up from her chair. "Fine." Astra said, then got up. They danced for some minutes and were still dancing when Astra looked towards the stools where they had sat earlier and was stunned by what she saw. He smiled at her and lifted his glass towards her direction. She immediately began hurrying towards him.
"Thompson," she called him after taking a seat right next to him. Stephanie was so completely engrossed in the music and dance that she didn't notice Astra leave her side. "You've changed quite a lot," Thompson said to her. and stared intently at her. "We all need to change once in a while," she replied, with scorn in her eyes. You never contacted me. Not even once, " he said in a sarcastic tone while staring into her eyes. Astra said nothing. Thompson is Nicholas's best friend. When Nicholas introduced her to him, he referred to him as her brother. She came to know that Thompson and Nicholas toiled and rose to stardom together, but fell apart before Nicholas threw her out. Thompson and Nicholas knew each other like the palm of their hands, and one could swear they were brothers until now. "What do you want?" she blurted out. "This is a public place. Anyone can show up here. You think your husband, I mean ex-husband, owns every damn place in this town? " Thompson said to him with a grin. "I'll be right back," Astra told him after getting up. She went to the dance floor, pulled Stephanie by the corner, and whispered in her right ear while Stephanie nodded.
"I have no business with Nicholas," she said while sipping her coffee. She and Thompson had just left the club and were in the coffee shop nearby. "Astra." Thompson began. "I know a divorce is not enough to quench those feelings you both have for one another," he said. "What feelings?" yelled Astra. "That son of a bitch threw me out like some garbage. He wouldn't let me speak but shut me out like some stranger. "Do you expect me to love him till date?" she screamed. "I don't care about Nicholas, nor do I care about you. "You both should please leave me alone," she declared while wrapping her jacket around her. She was lying to Thompson. When Thompson revealed to her after they left the club that Nicholas was having an affair, her heart stopped beating for a moment. A wave of jealousy suddenly enveloped her and she felt angry and couldn't stop thinking about the fact that Nicholas had replaced her. If Thompson said Nicholas was having an affair, then he is. Could Thompson be lying to her? They weren't on speaking terms with Nicholas and are ex-best friends now. "Your mental health is paramount to me, Astra." Thompson lied while cleaning his mouth with his handkerchief. He had finished taking his coffee. "When I discovered that you were working with Nicholas on the case, I knew I had to speak with you soon." he said. "Don't get your hands dirty," he said in a voice that seemed threatening. "I don't even know what the case is all about," Astra revealed to Thompson. "What?" screamed Thompson. He looked the other way and smiled mischievously. "Nicholas and I had never sat down to work on the case. Probably soonest. I have yet to even receive the case file, but trust me, it will be purely business." said Astra. "Astra, my dear. Nicholas is suing me. " Thompson announced. "What?" screamed Astra. "You both can go to hell for all I care. I don't want to get entangled in your messy friendship drama. "I have no business with you two," she said to Thompson and stormed out of the coffee shop.
Astra tried not to think about the revelation Thompson made to her about Nicholas having an affair. According to Thompson, Nicholas had moved on and was ready to shatter the remains of the broken life she was picking up from. Thompson even mentioned that Nicholas must have been having that affair while they were still together. She didn't get the chance to know from Nicholas the reason for his fallout with his best buddy, Thompson. Thompson just stopped coming to their home, and when she asked Nicholas about him, he told her not to mention Thompson ever again. A few weeks later, she was kicked out by Nicholas. She thought: 'Who was he having an affair with?' She was getting more and more irritated the more she thought about it. She then got up from her bed and was sitting on the couch in her living room drinking vodka. Tears were welling in her eyes. Why does the fact that Nicholas's affair bother her so much? They were done right? He was an enemy to her, right? She thought.
It was 11:45 am. Nicholas had summoned Astra to his mansion. He had texted her to meet him at his home so she could take the case file and start work immediately. As she sat on the large sofa in the living room, she realized how much she missed the house and all the comfort it gave. Nicholas had cleared the wall, and the portraits of her that once hung on the walls were gone. Not even their wedding pictures were there. The rails were changed, and so was the furniture. She looked around the house and assured herself that the reshuffling meant nothing to her. Suddenly, Nicholas showed up in the living room with a towel across his waist. "So you are suing Thompson?" she began before Nicholas could speak. I guess you found out. "That's good though," he replied. "After all you guys have been through? I thought he was your bro. " she said to Nicholas, who was getting mad now. "Damn Nicholas, you are unbelievable. You are a coward. "Only God knows why Thompson despises you lately," she declared in disgust. He immediately got up and went to her on the sofa. He held her hands and was shaking her violently. "Am I a bad person, huh? Tell me. "What lies did Thompson feed you with? " he yelled. She began to sob.
"I am so sorry, Astra," he said, letting go of her hands after he realized he was hurting her. He hated to see her cry. His tears always made him restless, and right now he can't control this restlessness. "I didn't mean to scare you, Astra," he said, starring into her eyes with passion. Her eyes suddenly lit up and she felt a tingling in her eyeballs. Why was she feeling this way? She thought. This is the man bent on making her life a living hell. "Listen," he whispered, with her face in his hands. I need you to trust me. I need you to believe me in this case." and he suddenly reached for her upper lip and caressed it with his left finger. Astra suddenly went cold and couldn't control the burning desire to kiss him. She missed the way he ran his fingers through her body, how he bit her ears and told her how she turned him on, how he pinned her to the wall and licked her all over. Nicholas always touched her in the right places, and he knew her weakest spots. She wanted him to do crazy things to her right now. She reached for his neck and kissed it while he unbuttoned her dress and caressed her bosom. Nicholas was having an erection. She was wet now and whispered into his ears, saying "Kiss me.