Chapter Five

Astra grabbed the cup of coffee the waiter had just placed beside her on the table and sipped it gently after stirring it with the spoon beside. "You still don't like sugar? " Stephanie asked her while placing some cubes into her own cup. Astra smiled and said nothing to Stephanie.  "Uhmm! this apple pie always tastes like heaven. " Stephanie declared while devouring the apple pie.  "The delicacies here are meant for our taste buds, my dear friend.  " Astra replied. Stephanie nodded in approval. "I needed this breakfast more than I needed anything. I missed it," said Stephanie. "It was always cheese, fish, and some dumb veggies for breakfast throughout our honeymoon. I couldn't complain but kept eating the whole damn thing. " Stephanie confessed with disgust while shaking her head. 

Astra smiled at her and said, "You didn't tell me how it went." Steph chuckled and replied. "You sure don't need every detail of my honeymoon. "Girl I need all the detail I can get. " Astra retorted with a twinkle. "Well.. . " began Stephanie while stirring her coffee and licking her lips. "We wined, dined, and moaned," she said in a mischievous tone. "That's it? " asked Astra. "Yea. What else do people do on honeymoons? " Stephanie replied. Astra giggled and nodded. She quickly drifted her mind to the thought of her honeymoon with Nicholas. Those moments sure formed one of the best days of her life. Such unforgettable moments. Those morning strolls at the beach, Nicholas's ritual of serving her breakfast in bed. The warm bathtub moments, the entertaining movie sessions, and the heavenly orgasms. 

"Are You okay? " Stephanie asked Astra whose gaze was fixed on the other corner of the road. She was stretching her neck. "Yea I'm fine," she replied. Meanwhile, she could swear she saw Nicholas just walk into the Baby clothing store across the street. Was her mind playing games with her? She also saw a lady with blonde hair walking behind him and she could swear they went into the store together. She shove off the thought and concluded it was a mere illusion.

 "I have to go now," she told Stephanie while swiping her phone screen hurriedly. "Chill girl. It's 8:32 am. You still got some minutes before 9:am. Do you report by 9 am right? " Stephanie said while cleaning her lips with a napkin. "Unfortunately," said Astra who was standing up already. "My boss just texted me. He wants me in his office right now. Like right now. " added Astra. She quickly emptied her coffee into her mouth and pulled a napkin to clean her mouth. "You are always busy. Come on girl. " Stephanie lamented while looking at Astra. Astra adjusted her grey jacket, grabbed her purse, and left the restaurant in a hurry after whispering 'Bye girl. We'll talk later. ' to Stephanie who muttered 'Astra. Bloody career woman. ' She smiled and licked her fingers who were soiled by crumbs of apple pie. 

Astra immediately turned around the moment she came into her office. "Are You okay? " asked Suzanne her secretary whom she collided with at the door. " Suzanne must have noticed how restless Astra was. "Yeah Good morning," said Astra who quickly left the spot and hurried to her Boss's office. "Come in. " said her boss from the inside after she must have given what seemed like a silent knock on his door. "Good morning Sir," she said then cleared her throat loudly. "Have a seat," he said. 

 Trevor Abby owns the firm Astra works for. A man in his early fifties whose height could pass for the NBA stars.  The man is known for his eloquence, sensitivity and evident neatness which is reflected in his snowy shirts and well-ironed plain trousers. He always glows from the tip of his head to the sole of his feet. There is a narrative that Trevor Abby is a strict man and hard work is his theme in life. He is a man with standards. He doesn't joke with business too.  Astra sat on the chair opposite him. He was signing some documents. He cleared his throat indicating he was done and now ready for Astra. She immediately lifted her head which was bowed a little while ago. Mr. Trevor is not known for exchanging pleasantries. He always hits the nail on the head.

 "Astra. " he began adjusting his well-ironed brown tie. "You are working on Nicholas Michealson's case right? " he asked staring directly into Astra's eyes. Astra was expecting him to find out why Nicholas withdrew the case from their firm which she guessed he must have done especially after their drama yesterday. "I want you to work on this case with all you've got and no matter what happens, you can't let this case slip through your hands. Mr. Trevor declared. Nicholas didn't call off the case? ' she wondered as she stared at her boss in a shocking way. 

"What? " blurted Astra. "Astra you are one of the best lawyers this firm has and I guess your previous works have been speaking for you lately. " Mr. Trevor said. " She lowered her head while he continued speaking. "Mr. Nicholas called me and personally requested that he wants you on this case. You and no one else." added her boss.  "Son of a bitch" Astra said in her mind while biting her lower lip. "So henceforth. " continued Mr. Trevor. "You have been relieved of any work around this place. I want your full attention on this case," he said hitting the table like a high school principal addressing a student who just faltered. "Excuse me sir. " interrupted Astra. He nodded in approval signaling she could go ahead and speak. "What if I find the case kind of complex or maybe it doesn't suit my interest or let's say am not into the case. Can we have a switchover? " she asked. Her boss smiled halfway and said. "Look, Astra. Nicholas Michaelson is who we are talking about here. Go check him out on the Forbes billionaire rating list. This man can buy this firm over and over again and he personally requested that he wants you on this case and no one else. " said Mr. Trevor. "So Astra. " he continued. "You will make it work. I don't care. You gotta find your way and don't you dare let this man take this case away from this firm." Her boss said with his hands still taping the table and his voice emotionless. She knew he meant business. " You decide to abandon the case. You get fired. " her boss revealed. Astra's mouth was wide open. She began to stammer.

"Sir... I.. But.. What if?" "Listen, Astra," said Mr. Trevor. His voice was now stern and authoritative. "This firm runs on money and I need all the money I can put my hands on to pay any damn staff here. Mr. Michaelson has invested a lot into this firm for the sake of this case and my firm needs all the money it can get so believe me, Astra I am going to fire you if you don't deliver," he concluded. 

Astra knew what was at stake. She either loses her hard-earned job or she works with Nicholas on his case. Astra wanted to yell at her boss. She wanted to scream at his face or leave his office after slamming the door but instead, she nodded and slowly said "Noted sir. I will do my best. " He gave his evil smile and showed her the way out with his right arm signaling they were done. She stood up, heaved a deep sigh of frustration rather than relief, and went for the door. "Hey Astra! " he called out to her as she was reaching for the doorknob. "You can do this. Good luck," he said. She smiled faintly and left his office with her heart racing uncontrollably. 

Astra quickly got into her office and sank into her chair. She was infuriated over the depth of revenge Nicholas will dive into to see her suffer. She placed her hand on her chest as if she was reducing the rate at which her heart was beating.  She wanted to see him from a different perspective. Nicholas Michaelson who loved and adored her. He wouldn't lift a finger at her and whenever she felt sick, she could see him shiver with fear. Nicholas would look restless when she had a cold and would be mad if she fails to take her drugs.  What happened? She wondered. Then that night he threw her out like garbage, hurled insults at her, and made her feel less. 'This is a new Astra. 'she told herself. He must have splashed millions over the case. She thought. Her palms were spread across her face and her heart was beginning to ache. She knew how hard it was for her to pick up herself from the ashes Nicholas left her. She has had enough and wouldn't go back to the hell she came from. 

Suzanne just walked into her office. "Not now Suzanne," she said with her face in her palms. "Mr. Nicholas is here," announced Suzanne. Astra immediately stood up while Suzanne left her office. She quickly sat back on her chair and adjusted her jacket while breathing heavily but softly. Nicholas walked into her office wearing a dashing black suit with a brown tie matching his designer shoes. 'Such a devilishly handsome man. Handsome as ever.' she thought. Nicholas stared at Astra's office and was overwhelmed by the spread of pink. The Astra he knows hated bright colors and found beauty in odd and dull colors. This sudden spread of pink around her confirmed his suspicions that she had totally changed.

"Won't you offer me a seat miss? " he asked in a sarcastic tone. "Is a seat so hard to find around here? " she retorted staring into his eyes. He hated it. Her audacity. The way she looked at him in the face and let words fly from her mouth without remorse. Nicholas sat on the huge black Sofa opposite her and requested tea. "Tea? " he asked. "What? " she screamed in disbelief. "Listen Astra. " he began. "I don't know whether your boss told you anything but henceforth I own every damn working second of your life." he boasted while Astra stared at him without uttering a word.  She wasn't going to g

"You will do as I please till your working hours are over. You will serve me, madam. So shall it be till the case is over?  Do you understand? " he said with a harsh tone. She chuckled before she replied to him. She knew her chuckles would drive him off the edge but she was living for that, she was living to rile him up. 

"Yes. Mr. Michaelson. " He was immediately irritated by her chuckles. She did it to taunt him and it was working. 'Why does everything he does to get at her or ridicule her seem to be failing? ' he thought. She prepared the tea for him and handed it over to him gracefully with a smile. The mug is on a pink saucer. He took it from her and immediately Nicholas sipped the tea, he emptied the whole content from his mouth to the floor in disgust. "Too much sugar. I don't take sugar Astra and you know it," he screamed in anger.

"Oops! I forgot, plus I don't keep irrelevant information in my head anymore," she replied rubbing her palms against each another. She went back to her seat. She didn't forget. In fact, it was Nicholas who made her reduce her sugar intake. He doesn't like it so she got infected with this act. Nicholas was wiping his mouth with a brown handkerchief and staring at Astra with scorn when his phone rang. "Hello. " he said  "What? " he thundered and ran out of the room leaving Astra in total shock. She knows Nicholas only reacts like that whenever there is an emergency. 'What happened? ' she thought.