Breaking the engagement with George.

He decided to call and ask about the project he submitted last week. He was expecting to hear Andrew's voice, but instead, it was his secretary.

"Good afternoon. I'm sorry, but Mr Thompson is not available at the moment. Please leave a message if possible," she said courteously.

"It's George Smith. I'm calling to ask about my project," Mr Thompson's secretary caught him short. "Oh yeah, ehm, it was rejected because the land you picked was already polluted by chemicals. Please make proper background and proper background check before,...." George ended the call feeling annoyed.

His phone beeped with the message: "I'd like to talk to you by 5 PM tomorrow at Sun Glows Hotel." This was a great chance for him to start his company, his career as an architect.

There was a knock on his door. When he opened it, it was Mira.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I thought you said we should stop seeing each other," or "do you miss m....?" he said as he tried to put his hand around her waist.

"Stop it," she said, sternly as she pushed his hand away, turning George's smile into a frown.

"I'm here to talk to you about something very important," Mira said.

"I know already. It's about Astrid."

" Good, did you agree to cancel the engagement?" Mira asked.

"Not yet,why?" George asked.

"Because if you do, you will lose everything. You will lose Astrid, lose the connection to our family, and you will lose the connection to the Thompson's. You must behave like you are so serious about Astrid, like you want her so bad, like she is your oxygen or something, because ... because of that child, Miss Thompson wants to get Astrid married to Andrew and then throw me out of the picture."

"Yeah, I saw your banners everywhere. Congratulations, though," George said, trying to dismiss the topic.

"That's not why I'm here," Mira said.

"You have been behaving weird since you came. I'm no longer interested in talking to you." George said, as he sat down, making Mira shocked. Back then, George would always want to appease her one way or the other, but now he's different.

"I came here to talk to you about Astrid," she said.

"And I'm sure you have said all there is to say, or do you have more?" George asked, making Mira annoyed.

Mira didn't say anything; rather, she picked her bag and left.

Mes Thompson went home and was a little bit surprised to find him home alone at such an hour.

"Why are you back? Who got you discharged?" Andrew asked.

"Listen, George got me discharged because I had to see the Smith. What did they say?" he asked anxiously.

"He didn't give me an actual answer yet, but I've... but I'll give them today to think about it. I've already scheduled a meeting with George Smith tomorrow, and from there, we will know the next step to take," Mrs Thompson replied.

Andrew didn't say anything; he just nodded because already he knows that the Smiths, especially George, will not agree to the cancellation of their engagement. But deep down, he was hoping for a miracle or maybe if Astrid tells them that she wants her in their engagement, they would agree. Maybe he just doesn't know what to do.

****************

"What do we do now?" Astrid asked after listening to Andrew.

"George is going to suck you dry. He's like a party animal who is willing to spend, and he will threaten you using me to get money from you. Whatever he does or says, don't give in," Astrid replied, looking unbothered.

Andrew wasn't expecting that as her answer. He wanted her to think of ideas to go round the whole thing. He wanted her to find ways in which they would be together, overcome all obstacles, but it seems like he was the only one trying. He was the only one trying to bring them together.

Why exactly was he bothered about it? while she looks carefree and happy. He can't be the one to force things to work out between them, not when she is not even trying.

Astrid, on the other hand, had made up her mind. She was going to confront George Smith and tell him to stop playing whatever games he was playing and cancel the engagement. She had told her father to cancel her engagement on the day he cheated on her, but it seemed like her father didn't take her words seriously. So, she was going to say it to his face.

Andrew looked worried about everything, so she decided to reassure him. "Look, everything is going to be okay. Don't think about it too much."

" Why are you taking it so freely? Do you even understand the depth of the situation you're in?"

"There is no problem with me," Andrew said, trying to talk some sense into her, "but have you thought of yourself? What do you think people will say about you abandoning your fiancée, getting pregnant for your sister's fiancé, and still being in your sister's marriage?"

"Why are you so bothered about all those things?" Astrid replied. "I don't listen to what they say. They're going to call me names, but I don't care, because I have everything I ever wanted." She said this as she kissed Andrew's forehead and left his side.

Andrew wanted to ask her what she meant by "having all she ever wanted." Had she been admiring him since they were young? Did she plan the whole thing? Did he misread some signs? What was going on with her?

Astrid got up early, got dressed, and left without breakfast. She drove to the Smith's mansion. She already had authority; she already had access to come and go whenever she wanted. Back then, when she and George were close. Everywhere was quiet because they were probably asleep and hadn't resumed their duties yet.

She got inside and went straight to George's room. Luckily, the door was open. She found him asleep. She walked over and pulled his hair hard. George screamed in pain as he woke up. Astrid released her grip when he opened his eyes.

"Look at me," Astrid said. "I don't know what games you're trying to play with the Thompsons, but it must end." George wanted to laugh, but Astrid tightened her grip once more, and George screamed.

"I'm not engaged to you, so don't spoil things for me," she said. She released him and walked away.

Deep down, she walked as fast as she could, because if George came after her, she wouldn't win. She wouldn't win that battle. Surprisingly, George didn't leave his room. She hoped he had gotten the message.