Climbing the ladder (1)

"Astrid woke up due to the piercing rays of the sun. She lay there for a while, trying to get her emotions intact. Andrew wasn't beside her. The room had been cleaned. She sat up, and her eyes went to the lamp stand. She saw a glass of water and contraceptive pills. She quickly took them to avoid any string that would draw her to Andrew Thompson.

She went to the dining. The maids were ogling about something.

'What is so juicy?' Astrid asked.

'It's nothing, ma'am' They all chorused. Astrid knew that they were talking about her. They were talking about last night because she spotted Claudia eavesdropping last night.

'Good morning, Miss' Claudia greeted.

'Morning' Astrid answered.

'Did you see the tablet I placed by...'

'I've taken them already,' Astrid cut her short.

'What time did Mr Thompson leave?' she asked.

''He left last night, ma'am,' she replied courteously."

Meanwhile, at the Walton's home, when Mira got home, she cried throughout the night, and her father kept consoling her till she slept off. When she woke up, she had an idea. She decided to go and visit Mrs Elena Thompson, that is, Andrew's mother.

'Mrs Elena initiated the engagement, so she must be on my side,' Mira said to her father.

'What if she isn't?' Mister Walton asked her. Mira glared at him.

'She is on my side, and there is nothing more than that.'

'Fine, what do you want to do there?' Mister Walton asked.

'I will help her clean, make tea for her, give her a massage, anything,' Mira replied.

'And what do you want to tell her?' Mister Walton asked.

'DAD!' Mira yelled,

' I told you everything that happened last night! How I was slapped by that fool called Astrid, humiliated in front of my friends and everybody that attended the Mills birthday party, and also abandoned by Mr Thompson because of Astrid! Can't you see that Astrid has seduced him I'm meant to be with Andrew, not her? She doesn't belong with Andrew; she belongs with George, not Andrew! He's spoiling her! Did you see her car? She lives in his mansion! That's meant to be me! That is my life! She's living my life while I'm living hers in this miserable place!' she yelled.

'What would she do for you?' Mr Walton asked calmly.

'Anything that will bring us closer,' Mira said. 'I want to be with him, him alone and only him.'

Mira said that as she sat on a couch. 'Have you told her that you're coming over?' Mister Walton asked.

'I did, and she said it's okay because I have every right to,' Mira replied.

'Okay,' Mister Walton said as he sipped his tea, while Mira went through her phone."

Mr. Thompson came in the afternoon to check on Astrid.

'Don't you have anything to do?' Astrid asked the minute she saw him enter the house. 'Can't you get yourself occupied with something? Why do I have to see you every day of my life?' she asked as Andrew sat on the couch beside her.

'Go and get me a glass of water,' he said.

'I won't,' Astrid said, crossing her legs.

Mr. Thompson took off his jacket. 'Then I'm sure you won't mind if I have you here,' he said, tracing his fingers on her lap.

Astrid stood up and went to the kitchen. She decided to serve him hot water for embarrassing her last night. She poured it out and went to him. 'Here,' she said, carrying the glass to his mouth. The moment the water touched his tongue, he spat it out.

'What is wrong with you?' he asked as Astrid placed the cup on the table.

'Nothing, that's payback,' she said, wanting to stand up, but Mr. Thompson pulled her back forcefully onto his lap. She felt something poking her beneath but she decided to behave herself and keep quiet.He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close for a kiss, but she dodged and smiled.

Mr. Thompson's phone rang. The caller was Mira Walton. She knew it was his sister. Mr. Thompson looked at it and then at Astrid with a little smile. He answered the call, and Astrid sat on him this time, with her legs on either side of him, putting her hands around him, dropping kisses. He didn't mind Mira hearing them, but his mother was there too.

'Andrew, Mrs. Thompson says she misses you,' Mira said over the phone.

'Did I disturb you?' Mira asked after hearing the moans and kisses.

"Is my mother doing well?" he asked.

"My daughter-in-law is taking good care of me. Both of you should try to get along and start living together"Mrs Thompson said but Astrid was buttoning his shirt, rubbing his abs, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Don't move," he said to Astrid, who was making Mrs Thompson anxious to know who was there.

"Who is there with you?" Mrs Thompson asked harshly but he moaned louder because Astrid was moving.

"I'll call you later," he said as he ended the call and kissed Astrid fiercely, carrying her out to the bedroom.

"Stop this, I'm not in the mood."

"You're a devil, you say this everytime"

"I'm not"

"You started the fire, so you have to quench it." Mr Thompson said as he kissed her

"See, this is exactly what I told you about, and Astrid is sleeping with Andrew," Mira said with fake tears in her eyes.

"Calm down, we'll find out. Call him again," Mira dialed his number, and it rang, but there was no answer. Mrs Thompson tried the same, and it was the same - no answer.

"This was what I was talking about." Mira said

"It's okay, I'll talk to him about it," Mrs Thompson consoled.

"When will I be able to move in with him?" Mira asked.

"We'll discuss that too, dear. Now go and make me more of this delicious tea," she said with a smile, and Mira agreed.