Chapter VIII

Next three weeks were like an amazing dream. Something seemed to change. Salvatore would spend more time with me and come back home for dinner, take me out to restaurant or simple walk. Not to mention that he would bring me flowers every other day and hugs and kisses were dailiness. So was sleeping together. It wasn’t uncomfortable anymore – I loved the feeling of him being close. How quickly that changed.
As I was cleaning kitchen this Friday morning, only Alessandro around and a bit of sadness from a thought that today Salvatore had a lot of work and wouldn’t be back home this early – my phone rang. I smiled gently at the sight of Bianca’s name.
“Hello, sweetie! I hope I’m not interrupting. I wanted to ask if you’re free for lunch today?”
“Sure, that would be nice.” I smiled to myself. I haven’t seen Bianca since our little party and truth be told I already missed her.
“Perfect! There is this nice, little restaurant, I will send you address later. Anyway, I hope you won’t mind if Astrid joins us? She adores you and I thought it would be nice for three of us to hang out.”
Blood run cold in my veins at mention of her. She was the least person I wanted to meet with. I would even choose dinner one on one with my father instead of that…that.
“Of course. See you later then?” I said with only a bit of hesitation in my voice. We’ve said our goodbyes and Bianca hang up.
“Who is coming over?” Alessandro asked from his spot on the couch.
“I’m going for lunch with Bianca. And Astrid.”
“Astrid?” His frowned told me that he was just as surprised as I was. “What the hell would she do with you two?”
“I don’t know. Bianca said she likes me so much. But I highly doubt that since…” I bit on my tongue just in right time. If I told him anything, Alessandro would right away pass it to Salvatore and I didn’t want him to know that I wasn’t on best terms with his relative.
“Since?”
“Nothing. I just haven’t felt she might like me. She is not a person I see myself friends with.”
“Then call in sick or something.”
“Why would I? She is just a person, besides she seems really close with Bianca and Salvatore so I should at least try make things between us good.” Though I really didn’t want to.
“I’m just giving you a friendly advise – don’t get near that woman.”
“Why is it?” I frowned slightly, making my way to the living room. Maybe Alessandro would be the one to spill beans about her bitchiness – and her supposed sexual intercourse with my husband.
“You…you just told me you didn’t like her and as a friendly bodyguard I am that main concern is your well-being – I’m just looking out for you.” He said but his eyes were wondering all around the room.
“Now, that’s just bullshit.” I sat down on the edge of coffee table.
“That is not!”
“I have no idea how you got so far in this family. You are terrible liar. Now, speak.”
There was a lot of hesitation and he visibly fought in his head weather to say something or not but then finally he looked up at me.
“I won’t tell you any details. That’s not my thing to say. But just as a friend I’m telling you to keep away from her. I knew her my whole life and if there is one thing about Astrid is that she is a manipulative bitch and I saw the way she looked at you. And I know it will do you no good. She…she is really bad blood, Christine.”
I sighted trying to process everything he just told me. Unfortunately without spilling any beans.
“If…if she told me something, hypothetically of course, how serious should I take it?”
“What did she told you?” He raised his eyebrows, sitting straight.
“Nothing. I mean…she’s crazy, right?”
“She is but…you should ask Salvatore. If she threatened you in anyway or just said something about…whatever she told you, he is the one that should know.”
“Ugh, fine. You are no help. But anyway, I would love to not go, believe me. But I can’t do this to Bianca. She is my only friend.”
“Fine. Just don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. When are we leaving?”
“Don’t know yet, she will text me. Now, be a bit useful and grab duster.” I said with a sweet smile, going back to the kitchen.
By the time we arrived at the small Japanese restaurant my nerves were taking the lead. I should have done what Alessandro said and call in sick. There was no point in facing Astrid. I was greeted by Bianca’s hard, loving hug and brief one from a blonde woman that had this awful smile on her face. Lunch was passing rather quickly as only Bianca was keeping up conversation not that she minded. But everything has it’s end and my friend had to leave to bathroom, leaving me on my own with Astrid. If she said one word I would get out of there as fast as possible. At least Alessandro was nearby, just few tables away, sipping on his coffee.
“Long time no see, how is married life sweetheart?” She asked with her sugary voice, moving way closer then I liked that.
“Good.” I sad shortly, moving my eyes back to my salad.
“Are you sure? I mean, perhaps in your opinion but little bird told me that it’s not necessarily married life, if you know what I mean.” She giggled making me look at her. Deep down I was hoping that she was fooling around to pull information out of me.
“What are you talking about?”
“Come one.” Astrid rolled her eyes, flipping her straight hair over shoulder. “Salvatore told me that you didn’t do anything. Poor guy, he is trying so hard and you just…” She shook her head. “No wonders he comes to me seeking release.”
I felt as if oxygen left my body when she like at me with that smile. It couldn’t be. Salvatore wasn’t a man that would just go around telling about our life. He just couldn’t do that. And surely he wouldn’t…cheat.
“Why are you doing this, Astrid?” I asked quietly, unwanted tears filling my eyes. I didn’t want her to see what impact her words had on me but I couldn’t help it. At least I’ve fulfilled her demonic plan to hurt me.
“I’m just telling you facts. It’s not my doing. It’s Salvatore’s.” She shrugged and just moment later Bianca came back.
“Everything alright?” She frowned slightly and there was confused smile on her face as she sat back down.
“Oh, yes, I just were telling Christine about how my husband died.” Astrid sighed, shaking her head as if she was trying to push away unpleasant memories. Her face was now showing sadness and just a moment later she ‘forced’ a smile.
“Poor thing. But no longer this sad things. What you two say about little shopping?” She asked with a polite smile and I just nodded.
I didn’t know why exactly but that moment I had a strong feeling that Astrid might’ve actually kill her husband. I had no idea about his death but if he wasn’t what she wanted then poor guy.
***
I probably was never more happy to be back in the apartment before. After tossing the lonely shopping bag from Victoria’s Secret in the corner I made way towards the couch to stay there to cry my eyes out and put my thoughts together before I had to confront Salvatore. But something wasn’t right. It should have been dark since I didn’t turn the lights on but instead soft light of candles was filling room.
Once I saw my husband standing next to dining table, pouring red wine into glasses, I felt even worse than before. I didn’t want to face him. Not yet at least, my head was full with what Astrid told me and I wanted on the edge of crying.
Thought now it made sense why Alessandro left a floor earlier. Salvatore must’ve called him.
“Hi.” I said quietly, standing in my spot. “I thought you will be back later.” I wished I was able to play it at least a bit better.
“I thought you might enjoy a little surprise.” He shrugged his shoulders and just like that planted a soft kiss on my lips that made my cheeks blush and stomach tighten in uncomfortable knot at the same time. “I made Alfredo pasta and opened your favourite wine.”
“Sounds nice.”
We sat at the table and I started to slowly force food into myself. My stomach was refusing but at the same time I didn’t want Salvatore to pick up that something was off.
“Alessandro told me you went for lunch and shopping with Bianca?” Salvatore started and I was a bit confused that Alessandro didn’t mention Astrid. For a moment I considered keeping her out of it but decided against it. I wasn’t here for long but I had enough of it. Especially knowing that he went to her.
“Yes. And with Astrid actually.” I said almost too casually looking at his reaction and I could see how much he tensed, his fork freezing in the food.
“You had fun?” He asked with bit of this coldness that I hated.
“It wasn’t the worst.”
“And why did Astrid join you? I didn’t know two of you were friends.”
“We are not. Although it was her idea. She asked Bianca to get me for day out with them.”
There was long silence and it wasn’t comfortable at all. I was poking at my food, not even trying anymore seeing Salvatore’s mood drop so much. He was sipping on his wine, gaze fixed somewhere ahead and he seemed angry.
“Did she say something to you?”
Many things. You have no idea.
“Actually, she did.” I looked at him with a curiosity though it wasn’t entirely fake. I wanted him to explain but also I was scared to go further into this conversation. What if Astrid was telling the truth? Not only about them having sex in past but about the present? What I would actually do if he confirmed?
“What exactly?” He looked at me with this coldness that weren’t there for this past weeks.
“About you meeting her throughout last few weeks.” I let out, my heart aching. There was long, tensed silence between us and I could see how angry Salvatore became. One moment he just stood up, so rapidly that chair went flying on the floor with loud crush that made me jump in place. He stood there for a moment, breathing heavily before he walked away to his office I assumed.
“Fucking bitch.” Was all I heard as he muttered underneath his breath and I wasn’t exactly sure if it was about Astrid or perhaps me.
Every time I thought I got closer to him, to actually get something out of him he would just shut himself like this. It was getting tiring. Through the course of last weeks we grew closer and I told him more and more about myself while he was so silent.
It was awfully cold this night in bed. I thought that things had changed for better but just like that with a flick of fingers Salvatore he was back to his old self that had more important matters then sleeping. I hated that it hurt so much. Not only the way he treated me this evening – also the fact how he just betrayed me. Maybe it wasn’t confirmed by him but I had this feeling. And I was more then willing to find out if it was true.