CH 83

The unforeseen appearance of an uninvited guest hastened the conclusion of Bastian’s conversation with Duke Laviere.

“Ultimately, Bastian, this is all due to your hard work. I have faith that we can nurture a strong relationship moving forward.” Duke Laviere said as he stood up from his seat. He didn’t want to leave his daughter, who was evidently smitten with Bastian, in a state of uncertainty any longer.

Bastian bade the Duke farewell, a smile gracing his lips. He had merely sought a formal gathering to commemorate his business achievements and engage in cordial exchanges with his associates. With no desire to prolong the wait, he had already addressed all crucial matters via phone calls and letters.

“Upon our next encounter, you shall be Mayor Klauswitz.” Sandrine abruptly turned at the door, prompting Bastian to instinctively step back.

“Indeed, Countess Lenart.”

“Congratulations, I am immensely proud of you.” Sandrine took off her right glove and held out her hand for a handshake.

Duke Laviere allowed his daughter the chance to pursue her wishes. As usual, Bastian shook Sandrine’s hand with politeness. His attitude was amiable, but nothing beyond that. When Sandrine tenderly interlaced her fingers, Bastian quickly withdrew from the handshake.

“What gentleman you are. We shall reconvene in Lausanne.” Sandrine nodded, her mischievous grin betraying a momentary forgetfulness of her father’s existence.

Once he had said his goodbyes to the Duke, Bastian took a seat at the table and reached for the readied cigar. As the secretary exited the room after straightening the table, a hush fell over the space.

Lost in thought, Bastian found himself grappling with a question that had never before crossed his mind.  Had he made the right choice in pursuing a relationship with Sandrine?

As he puffed on his cigar, the sound of rain lashing against the window filled his ears. Though he still had documents to examine before the meeting, his focus had faltered in a way he had never previously experienced.

Odette.

Bastian found himself teetering on the edge of bewilderment when a soft knock echoed through the room.

“Do come in,” he responded, a dusty cigar perched between his fingers. As the door swung open, his secretary’s startled expression caught his eye.

“Sir, you have a visitor.”

“A visitor? But wasn’t Duke Laviere the only one scheduled for today?” Bastian’s brow furrowed as he studied his secretary’s face.

“Well, the person who arrived is…”

A shadow materialized from behind the secretary. As Bastian reignited his cigar, the unanticipated guest came into view.

“Bastian.”

The crystalline voice cut through the din of the rain cascading beyond the window. Bastian released a plume of smoke and rose from his seat with haste. His annoyance evaporated in a heartbeat, supplanted by a wry chuckle that slipped past his lips.

The familiar woman, Odette, lingered in the open doorway, her body drenched and trembling from the cold’s icy touch. A fatigued grin graced her lovely face.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

“My apologies, Bastian, for arriving unannounced and without any prior notice,” Odette said, feeling a mix of guilt and unease as the silence around them grew more pronounced.

Bastian merely gazed at her, his face betraying no emotion, neither delight nor astonishment. Nonetheless, realizing he wasn’t angered or annoyed, Odette experienced a slight sense of relief.

Setting her teacup down, Odette tried to neaten her disordered rain-kissed attire with hands numbed by the cold. Her raincoat was drenched, yet, by fortune’s grace, her blouse and skirt had escaped the worst of the dampness.

“I missed you, and that’s why I’m here,” Odette confessed with a smile, sharing the explanation she had readied. She gripped the drying firmly. Bastian, meanwhile, leaned against the chair’s armrest, his eyes fixed on her but his lips remaining sealed. His reaction caught Odette somewhat off guard, but there was no turning back now.

“I’m sorry if I’ve caused any inconvenience. It’s just that…”

“Where’s your car? And why are you soaked like this?” Bastian finally spoke, his sharp gaze causing Odette to shiver.

“I sent Hans back to Ardenne first.”

“And why would you do that?”

“I thought we could ride home together…in your car.”

A wave of anxiety washed over Odette. She endeavored to maintain a calm facade, smiling and laughing as if it were all a lighthearted joke. Yet Bastian’s intense stare persisted.

Desperate to ease her own nerves and avoid arousing Bastian’s suspicion, Odette acknowledged the peculiarity of her actions but couldn’t conceive of an alternative approach.

This weekend, Bastian was set to travel to Lausanne for the Naval Festival. Today marked Odette’s first and last opportunity to infiltrate Bastian’s office. Having already ventured too far to retreat, she had no choice but to take a daring leap.

Once more, Odette fortified her determination. The moment she hide in a shadowy alleyway, watching Duke Laviere and Sandrine, she resolved to cast aside her shame.

With an air of boldness, she executed her devious strategy, deliberately exposing herself to the rain in hopes of winning Bastian’s sympathy. Theodora Klauswitz’s words rang true: -Don’t be a hypocrite-. If one must commit a wrongdoing, it should be done wholeheartedly and to the best of one’s ability.

“Sir, the meeting is about to commence,” announced the secretary from behind the door, dissipating the tension that hung in the air between them. For Odette, this news felt like a godsend.

“Understood, I’ll be there shortly,” Bastian responded. He quickly returned to his desk, organizing the disarray of papers before placing them on the shelf behind him. At the same time, he stowed the yellow folder in the bottom drawer.

With feigned nonchalance, Odette observed his every move while pretending to dry her damp hair. The bottom drawer… she committed it to memory just as the distinct sound of a metallic click reached her ears. A wave of despair washed over her as she realized Bastian had locked the drawer, slipping the tiny golden key into his jacket pocket before rising to his feet.

“The meeting should take about an hour, so please make yourself comfortable here,” Bastian suggested, stealing a glance at his watch.

“Very well,” acquiesced Odette, her smile accompanied by a nod.

“Should you require anything, don’t hesitate to call my secretary.”

“There’s no need, Bastian. I’m more than content.”

As Odette’s laughter filled the room, a faint smile graced Bastian’s lips. The fire’s dance of light and shadow played upon his face, flickering the subtle shifts in his expression.

“I’ll be back for you. Once the meeting concludes, we’ll head home together.”

After saying that, Bastian exited his office. Holding her damp towel tightly, Odette listened intently to the voices outside the door, biding her time. As the footsteps in the hallway faded away, she sprang into action.

Though her initial instinct was to head straight for the locked bottom drawer, the absence of a spare key prompted her to save that task for last and search for documents elsewhere first.

Odette sifted through the shelves where document boxes were stored in the cabinet. Her heart raced. Despite her anxiety, she tried to search meticulously, careful not to leave any incriminating evidence behind.

Mine. The diamond mine.

These words haunted her mind, redoubling the pressure she felt. She glanced at the wall clock… in 30 minutes, the meeting would finish, and Bastian would return to his office.

After finding several papers listing the names of new investors, Odette continued to scour the desk drawers. Despite her thorough search, she found no documents pertaining to the mine. In a desperate attempt, she tried to force open the locked bottom drawer, but to no avail. Glancing at the clock once more, she realized she had a mere 5 minutes left. The once-silent hallway now buzzed with chatter as the meeting drew to a close.

Seizing the papers she’d recovered, Odette dashed to the coat hanging near the fireplace. She hastily folded the papers and stashed them in her pocket, as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder.

“Come on, think!” Odette sighed, gazing at the fireplace. As soon as Bastian returned, they’d have to make a swift exit. This meant that her mission to steal the documents would ultimately fail.

The key in that man’s pocket. How could she possibly get it?

After pondering for a moment,  Odette lay down on the sofa and hunched over. She closed her eyes, almost in sync with Bastian opening the door to his office.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

As Bastian opened the door, he was amazed to find Odette peacefully sleeping on the sofa, basking in the tender warmth of the fireplace’s amber embrace.  He gazed upon his  wife, his heart veiled in a delicate haze of uncertainty.

He had never been a fan of bright lights. A lone lamp on his desk served as the sole source of illumination in his workspace. Yet, the tender dance of the fireplace’s flames cast a soft light upon the slumbering Odette, crafting a heartwarming and tranquil tableau that stirred his soul.

With great care, Bastian approached Odette, taking measured, silent steps so as not to disturb her rest. Her dark tresses, waves of midnight silk, cascaded gracefully, veiling half of her tender, ethereal face. Bastian took a seat on the floor, leaning against the sofa’s armrest. Tenderly, he brushed aside the hair masking Odette’s lovely countenance, unveiling her peaceful expression.

He had long been one to embrace the night’s whispers and greet the dawn before her. This routine had naturally evolved since first they shared a bed.  Bastian began to fathom the depths of his actions. He treasured the moments he could steal a glimpse of her serene face beside him.

It was a tranquility, a haven, that he had discovered and welcomed into his heart for the first time. Even as he had resolved to journey to Trosa, unaccompanied, his thoughts were ever tethered to her. Now, everything became clear…… for he could not bear the thought of losing her.

Bastian tenderly traced the contours of Odette’s silken cheek, as the fire’s gentle glow cast a blush upon her delicate, fair complexion.

“Odette…”

Odette’s eyes fluttered open as Bastian whispered her name. To his surprise, the woman who should have been vigilant instead gifted him with an innocent smile.

Bastian sighed and retracted his hand from Odette’s cheek, his gaze falling. However, as he tried to rise, Odette quickly seized his hand. Her lips quivered, yet she couldn’t articulate a single syllable. She merely blinked her large eyes while clutching the hem of Bastian’s sleeve.

Even as Bastian settled back down, Odette refused to relinquish her grip on the sleeve.

“Bastian…” Odette murmured, sitting up and making space for Bastian to join her on the sofa. “Just for a mome….”

Suddenly Odette’s world turned upside down. As soon as she regained consciousness, she found herself lying on a sofa, staring at the ceiling of the room.

What happened?

With trepidation swirling in her heart, her gaze was unexpectedly veiled by a face she familiar with. The cry that sprang forth from her soul was swiftly hushed as their lips entwined in a fervent dance of passion.

The man with the key climbed on top of her. As she found herself powerless to resist, their fervent and ardent kiss blossomed like a fiery rose.

The key is in the right pocket…

In the waning moments of her lucidity, as the tendrils of desire entwined her consciousness, that fleeting thought was the final whisper her mind could conjure.