CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

Nicholas was seated in his office, expecting Astra as he worked on some of his old files. He knew it was going to be a long day yet as he figured Astra would still be angry and jealous from the stunt he pulled a day before. He considered letting her calm down first but he actually had some evidence to show to her. Sarah had interviewed all the old stake holders and one was able to give her the exact papers given to him. It showed that Nicholas was scamming them of their morning, but Nicholas could tell that it was fake. He just needed to know who was doing that and to prove him wrong, quickly.
He was still working on paperwork when he received a call that Astra was coming in. At the knock on his door, he stood up to greet her. She was wearing a pretty grey dress and he was not surprised to see anger in her eyes, that was all his doing.
Nicholas did not expect the blow that Astra took to his face. He was not expecting it so he had no time the dodge and her fist collided with his jaw with a crack.
'You bastard!" He heard her cry out and Nicholas groaned. What the hell did he do now? He cupped his jaw, all the while trying to massage it when he looked up at her.
'You are a fucking bastard! Thompson told me all about it. Leave that woman and her son alone!" Astra shouted. Nicholas was confused. He knew she was referring to Sarah and Theo, but how did that relate with Thompson? What was she even talking about?
'What the hell? What did Thompson tell you?" Nicholas asked, frowning at her Astra did not seem to like that question as the anger on her face seemed to increase.
'I should punch you again for having the nerve to ask such a question. You know what Thompson told me, it's what you did," Astra said.
'You got married to that woman while you were still married to me. After you had her child and she found out that you were a fraud, she wanted to leave you and you are holding her down with the child. You have ruined my life already. Leave that poor woman and her child!" Astros shouted. Nicholas started to see wave. The news and the punch was overwhelming. He did not know what to think. What the hell was the talking about? Why did Thompson tell her that? How did Thompson know that he was parading Sarah as his girlfriend? Nothing made sense anymore.
'You mean Sarah?" Nicholas asked. Hoping that there was not another woman somewhere else that he was supposedly married to.
'Yes, I mean Sarah Michealson," Astra said.
'Sarah is my cousin!" Nicholas shouted. He was frustrated about the lies.
'Why am I even standing here talking to you? You think you can lie to me like you have lied to everyone else? Just leave the poor woman alone," Astra said. Nicholas groaned because he put himself in that situation. He should have never tried to make her jealous.
'Sarah is my cousin. I mean it. Theo is her son, but not mine," Nicholas said, calmly this time. Astra frowned at him and looked at him, it was as though she was considering if she should believe him or not.
'You told me she was your girlfriend yesterday and now she is your cousin?" Astra asked and Nicholas dragged his hand over his face. It was going to be one long explanation.
'I was trying to make you jealous," he admitted. Astra raised her eyebrow at him. There was no way she was buying that.
Nicholas felt the world go black as she turned to leave the office.
~~~
Astra began to panic immediately Nicholas went down. She was not sure what to do with all the information she had. He lied that Sarah was his girlfriend because he wanted to make her jealous. That did not make a whole lot of sense to her, but his fainting had changed everything. She reached to his phone and called his secretary.
'Nicholas fainted, please call the health care facility in the office," Astra said to the phone and the woman on the other end.
Astra was still wondering what she should do when Sarah, and another person, presumably a doctor walked into the office. The worry that Astra saw on Sarah's face made her feel that their relationship was definitely romantic. She loved him.
'My God Nicholas. What his wrong with him? What did you say?" Sarah asked, facing her Astra was confused because she figured she did not say anything wrong. Then again she had walked in shouting.
'I came in here to confirm something. Thompson told me that you were married to Nicholas while I was also married to him," Astra said and confusing set on Sarah's face. Astra did not know if it was because she was confused as to how Thompson found out or if it was because Nicholas was telling the truth.
Before Sarah could reply, the doctor said, 'We have to get him to the clinic. He needs some bed rest, he will be fine. The stress from the past few days is affecting him. And he also has to tone down on the alcohol," The doctor said while Nicholas started to slowly open his eyes.
'By God Nicholas, you scared me. Stop doing that, just relax will you. We need to get you to the clinic," Sarah said as he tried to talk.
'Sarah," he said slowly, and Astra felt out of place. Even if Nicholas was truly cheating on her with Sarah, she was not being forced to stay with him. She actually cared for him.
'I should start going," Astra said as she picked up her bag and Sarah nodded. Astra was of the opinion that Sarah did not like her, and that was a woman she was actually trying to save.
'Astra," Nicholas said, but Sarah calmed him down.
Astra left them and started leaving the office. She was at the elevator when she heard her name, it was Sarah.
'Astra. For clarification, I am Nicholas' cousin, my son Theo is not Nicholas' son. We only met after the both of you got divorced. I don't know what Thompson told you, but it was a lie, I don't know why he is lying though, what he is trying achieve. Regardless, I don't think you should come and see Nicholas like this. The both of you are not good for each other. I will convince him to put someone else on the case, so please, let him go," Sarah said. Astra was just staring at the other woman. It was clear that she loved Nicholas. Astra was not sure if she was really Nicholas' cousin or not, but her intentions nevertheless were pure, she wanted Nicholas to be happy. Maybe that was how their story was meant to end.
Astra walked out of the office and into her car. Maybe the best person to move on with was Jared after all. Maybe it was fate. She did say she was going to talk to him when she returned. About the embarrassing encounter and all. Maybe it was fate that she called Jared after all.
The drive to her office was short as she thought about everything that happened. It was not until she got back to her desk that she realized that she did not tell Nicholas about the fraud thing. It did not matter though, she was no longer going to be on the case. It was their problem. Astra hoped it would mean Thompson would no longer come to meet her and tell her stuff like that. Things that she did not want to hear.
Astra sat at her desk and worked till it was almost time to go home. Tongues were still wagging from her earlier encounter with Regina but Astra ignored them all.
When it was almost time to close, she closed her laptop, packed her things and went up to Jared's office. If she wanted to be with Jared, gossips and HR couldn't stop her.
'Hey, Astra. I stopped by your desk during lunch but you were out," Jared said as he saw her. He was wearing a baby blue shirt and grey pants. It almost seemed like they were matching with her grey dress.
'Yes, I was out. Are you free this evening? To go for drink, just us after work," Astra said. Jared raised his eyebrows at her. He was not fidgeting like the last time he asked her out, he actually looked amused. It was funny to him.
'Is there catch to this?" He asked and Astra shrugged.
'Why don't you take me up my offer and find out," she said and he laughed.
'We should get going then," Jared replied. His bag was already packed. It was almost like he was waiting on her. They left the office together and Astra was pretty sure that tongues would wag the next morning.
Both dressed in office wear, they went to a bar. It was not really a date, they just needed to talk.
'I am sorry about yesterday and this morning," Astra said as she sipped her non-alcoholic wine. She did not need Jared to know how bad her alcohol problem was, not yet at least.
'It's okay. You were drunk. And it was a nice kiss," Jared said and Astra gasped.
'Is this the alcohol talking?" She asked and Jared shrugged.
'It was definitely not how I imagined our first kiss to be, but a kiss is a kiss," Jared said and she chuckled. Astra decided not to mention the fact that she said she loved Nicholas if Jared did not mention it.
'It was so embarrassing that morning. I did not even know how I called you," Astra said and Jared smiled.
'I know I am not the one you meant to call," Jared said and Astra sobered her.
'But I feel there was a reason you called me though," he continued and she nodded. She felt so too.
'To be honest, Jared, I am confused. I am not sure what I want now. I don't want it to seem like I am using you or leading you on. I like you, but there is still something holding me back," Astra said to him. She had to at least say something.
'I know it is because you are in love with Nicholas, and it's okay. He doesn't deserve you, the love will fade," Jared said and Astra's heart tightened at his words. He card for her so much, even if he knew that she loved another. Why couldn't she just love him?
'I am sorry Jared," Astra said.
'It's okay," Jared replied.
'I will try my best. We can start slow, maybe with time we can move on together," Astra said and Jared nodded.
'I am thinking of getting a new job, starting to drop applications," Astra said. Jared's eyebrows raised as he looked at her.
'Why is that?" He asked.
'The workplace is becoming toxic. I don't think I can stand it for much longer," Astra said.
'I don't know if anywhere else will be much better, but follow your heart," he replied and Astra nodded.
They both finished their drinks and walked back to their cars together.
Jared escorted her to her car and when he bent down to kiss her, she didn't stop him. He placed his lips on hers and she let him. The kiss did not bring fireworks in her belly or butterflies even, but Astra figured that time could do that too.