(Dmitri’s Thoughts)I keep on driving going nowhere until Greta gives me the exact location of Avery. It took her almost an hour but fortunately, she was able to give the specific name of the hotel. “Diamond Rough Hotel at Eastern Boulevard, unit unknown,” Greta informs us. I immediately relay her location to Nik and Kendra, and luckily they are close to that hotel. A ray of hope is still at hand. I look for a U-turn slot and drive the car at its top speed to the hotel. While on my way, I call the CEO of that hotel who happens to be my friend. “Call Leo,” I command Greta. “Calling Leo…” she states. The call finally connects after some trials, “Sullivan, the man of the hour, I am thrilled seeing your name on my phone screen. What do you need?”“Leo, I’ll cut the chase, I need a unit number of one of your guests,” I told him without beating around the bush. “Wow, you are cold, man. I am fine by the way. You’re looking for your girl right? I am watching her live stream, too, let
It’s been two years since I left the States and move here to Europe, specifically France. It wasn’t easy but after the scandal, I decided to flee from that place. All’s well, except for the fact that K, my bestfriend, blocked me from all her social media account. So, however absurd it may sound, my ex-boyfriend Seid keeps me posted on K’s life. Stating the obvious, she’s still mad at me for leaving her just like that without any word. I had no choice, her boyfriend is Dmitri’s brother-in-law, I know, somehow, Nikolai, will get the word out of her. It is best she knows nothing. So, here I am, still building a new life. I’ve been studying again some short courses about Art History. Well, I’ve ditched writing after the scandal, so at least, I have to find a new hobby, and here it is arts. Apart from writing and coordinating events, I enjoyed planning for Jodie’s exhibit the most, and since I realized I have eyes for precious potential talents, I’ve decided to apply as a curator in
Caen City, Northwestern region of Calvados, France My little happy reminiscing time with Jodie finally come to its end. She invited me over for dinner but since I already had plans with Jeff, I had to say no to her. “That isn’t the only reason, is it? You are afraid to mend the already loose ends, right?” my sarcastic mind teases me as I fix myself inside the locker room. I look at my phone to check the time and it’s already 6 in the evening. Given the walking time, I still have 30 minutes to freshen up before my date with Jeff. I tie my hair using a rubber band and hit the pedestrian street. The apartment where Jeff and I are living is just 15-minute away from here. This part of the city is my favorite place. By far, it is the liveliest corner in this city. Caen isn’t as big as France but you can enjoy a lot of things here. Well, I guarantee how I’ve been enjoying its nightlife for a year now. Unlike in the States, bars here are a little quieter, more modest, and more discr
He sighs and lifts his head. I can see his eyes almost filled with tears, trying to hold back his cry, “Tell me, Avery. Do you really love me? Or do you pity me? Am I even worth your love?” He leans back to the chair, I clench my fist, “What are you talking about babe? Of course, I do. You know that. I am not here just because of pity. I won’t ever do that. You know how I feel for you.” “Then say it, Ava. Say that you love me,” his voice raises enough to catch some of the customers’ and staffs’ attention. “Let’s not do this here, please? I am sorry if I did something wrong. Okay?” I apologize, trying to calm him down. He probably notices so he tones down a little, “No, you did nothing wrong, but you won’t let me do something for you, either. It’s frustrating. I am a man, too, Ava. I can also give you what you want. I want to give you what you want. But you keep on blocking me.” His words strike my heart. Why haven’t I noticed all this time that I made him feel that way? I wa
(Dmitri’s Thoughts)“So, what happened to your little detour, huh?” a little deep but feminine voice is heard from my phone. “What do you want to know? I’m not in the mood,” I hiss while chugging the beer in his hand. “Oh, goodness, Dee. You’ve come all the way there, don’t tell me you didn’t get your girl back? That’s not like you,” the voice teases me in an annoying way.“Shut up! What do you need, huh? Mocking me?” I angrily say. “I am worried about you, idiot! Now tell me, what happened?” the voice gets a little louder. “I lost her. It’s over. I can’t bring her back,” I feel something dripping from my nose and my eyes. I sniff trying to hold it in. But eventually, I cry as I progress with my story. “What the-! Didn’t you tell her? Did you even try to win her over? Apologize, perhaps? Or maybe tell her what you did about the scandal, huh?” the voice continues to interrogate me. But those questions are just as irrelevant as my feelings right now. I let my true feelings out. Th
(Dmitri’s Thoughts)“H-how d-did you?”“W-what… w-why are y-you h-here?” “D-do you n-need a-anything?”These were her spoken questions. I glared at her making my intentions clear. “Ms. Jen Storm, you seemed surprised. Or should I say perplexed? Tensed? Baffled? Scared?” I straightened my before-crossed arms and stepped forward. “Why? Did you do something awful to make you feel like that?” I cornered her. “N-no, of course not, sir. I j-just didn’t expect you to v-visit here, I m-mean, you didn’t know my place, and you didn’t know me,” she stuttered, still going along with her act. I scoffed, “Oh, believe me, Jen Storm, I know you very well. And in fact, I am here to give you a payback,” I took another step that made her step back, bumping on the door behind her.“A p-payback, sir?” she began sweating. “Oh, wait, did I say payback? No, what I meant was back pay. Yes, back pay. That’s because you didn’t get it when you left the company in a rush. Why Jen? Was my benefit not befitti
(Dmitri’s Thoughts)I found myself drinking again in this bar early in the morning. In fact, it’s been months now since I experienced having sleepovers in this very VVIP room where Avery and I once went. The staff on this bar already called me a regular. A few months ago, I couldn’t recall myself visiting any bars, but after Avery left, I always felt like drowning myself in beer and alcohol will somehow alleviate the pain. A few weeks ago, I finally got hold of Jen Storm and was able to get my revenge for what she did to Avery. Did I feel good about it? Well, yes and no.Now, I could feel my phone vibrating over and over on top of this glass table near me. But I couldn’t bring myself to answer my sister’s bickering because my hand and body were so numb to do it. After some time, a familiar figure appeared before my half-awakened eyes. “Dmitri!” and here we go again. I could hear my sister’s high-pitch, annoying voice. “Goodness, Heather, why are you even haunting me in my dreams?
(Avery’s Thoughts) “Nous ne vous laisserons jamais tomber, madame,” I heard Madame Claudia talking to one of our VVIPs. I am currently at the reception area right now, still fantasizing and reminiscing about the wonderful night I had with my boyfriend, I mean, my fiancé. I look at the engagement ring on my left hand. Yes, Jeff, finally popped the question yesterday night. Everything went magical, and for some reason, we got really lucky because the restaurant didn’t let us pay in celebration of our engagement. To be honest, I never imagined myself being married after Seid and I broke up. Well, he was my first and long-time boyfriend, and experiencing such pain at that time made me lose faith in love. I exclaim, “Well, look at me now, I am definitely getting married,” I unconsciously blurt it out. I didn’t even notice my colleague beside me, so she bumps my shoulder and poke me on my side, “Congratulations, Avery dearest,” her French accent is really strong, but I am glad she