Chapter 22: Used you
On getting to the sitting room, she stood transfixed on seeing who it was, her heart began to race, she had forgotten about him and here he was, standing in front of her with a bouquet of rose flowers.
" Victor?".
" Hey, Alice", he stood before her smiling but Alice wasn't smiling back.
" What are you doing here?",
" Uh...",
" Why didn't you tell me you were coming?", she asked not letting him talk,
" I wanted to inform you but you were not picking up my calls or replying to my texts",
" You should know that's because I'm busy",
" Of course, sure, that's why I came to surprise you", he said smiling and extending the bouquet forward.
Alice eyed the flowers and sat on the couch, " just drop it there", she pointed at the table.
" Um, okay", he placed it on the table.
" So what are you doing here?",
" I want to take you out, you know, go on a date",
" And what makes you think I'm interested in going on a date with you?".
" Uhh", Victor was confused, " I thought...",
" I don't know what's going on in your head Victor but thanks for dropping by",
" Wait! Wait!", he called as Alice made to leave, " I thought we had a moment, like ...a thing together ",
" A thing together?", Alice scoffed and laughed, " You're funny, we have nothing together, Victor ",
" What about that night ",
" You mean the night you took advantage of me?",
" What?!",
" Yeah, you took advantage of my situation and emotions, I came to you because I was feeling down and you took advantage of that, I am too broken right now, two men just betrayed my trust and I'm taking my time to heal and work on myself, so please ", she said and walked away leaving Victor dumbfounded.
" I'm sorry Alice", he shouted after her but she was gone, " I thought she consented to that, ugh! Victor!!", he roughened his hair, " you shouldn't have", he scolded himself.
He later decided to leave and find a way to seek Alice's forgiveness and gain back her trust.
A few minutes later, Victor arrived at the bar and joined his friend to have a drink, he ordered a drink as he sat down.
" Huh? Weren't you going on a date?", Klaus asked as he was surprised to see him. He asked him to be his drinking buddy but he declined saying he was going on a date with Alice.
" Got cancelled",
" Cancelled? Why?".
Victor explained what happened to him and what Klaus did next made him frown, and he burst into laughter.
" Are you laughing right now?", he asked frowning,
" I can't help it, Victor", he said and tried to subdue the laughter, " okay, you're saying, that she said you took advantage of her",
" I shouldn't have done that",
" Ugh! How can you turn to such a dummy when it comes to this lady, isn't it so clear that she's playing you?",
" Playing me? Alice wouldn't do that",
" Oh, you trust her now? After a night? Isn't the same lady the reason you divorced your wife",
" That was my decision ",
" Of course it's yours, wake up man, this lady is playing you, how did you take advantage of her when she consented",
" She was sad then",
" Her boyfriend broke up with her and she runs to you, to a man she never gave attention and boom! You guys had sex and boom! You divorced your wife ", Klaus burst into another round of laughter causing Victor's frown to deepen.
" What's your point?",
" To me, she used you",
" Use me?",
" Yes",
" Alice would never do that",
" Oh come off it, trusting a woman who made you divorce your wife that's his sister",
" She's not his sister ",
" Biologically ",
" And she didn't use me, if anything I was the one who took advantage of her situation ",
" Keep believing that, but to me, she used you to avoid her marriage ".
" Marriage? What marriage?",
" You didn't know?",
" Know what?",
" Oh boy ", he laughed, " he lives at the back of the town",
" Whatever, what marriage are you talking about?",
" She was supposed to marry Christian Charles, but because Clarisse was divorced, she ended him marrying him instead of Alice ",
" So you're insinuating that Alice used me to avoid marriage?",
" Yes".
Victor began to crack some laughter not believing whatever gibberish Klaus had just uttered, " Nice theory, Klaus",
" I'm serious ",
" Indeed", he nodded still laughing. Seeing that Victor didn't believe him, he shrugged,
" Your choice".
*********************
Sharon hung up after some conversation with Christian, she went to take her seat when she saw Ashley approaching her, all dressed and looking gorgeous.
" Are you heading out?",
" Yes Mum, how do I look?", she asked smiling as she turned 360 degrees.
"Looking so gorgeous, but where to, and when will you be back?",
" I'm heading to my friend's birthday party",
" Which of your friends? Haven't your friends done their birthday",
" Yes...but the one doing birthday is my friend's friend".
Sharon eyed her suspiciously, " when will you be back?",
" Latest tomorrow",
" That won't be possible",
" Why?", Ashley's shoulder dropped and her face became gloomy.
" Because your brother and his wife are heading back and we'll be having a family dinner tomorrow night",
" Ain't they supposed to be on their honeymoon?",
" Yeah, but I guess it is what it is, he just called to let me know they're coming back",
" I guess your son isn't that romantic then".
Sharon raised her eyebrow at Ashley who was busy laughing.
" I trust my son, and you", she pointed at her and she immediately stopped laughing, now pouting, "That pout won't work, be back by tonight so you can help me prepare for tomorrow ",
" Prepare, the maids are there of course ",
" What the maids will do is there, we also have some work to do so be back by tonight or go back to your room and text your friend's friend happy birthday, long life and prosperity, sorry but I won't be able to make it, accompanied with some funds ", she said maintaining her serious expression.
Ashley pouted her mouth, " okay",
" Okay, what?",
" I'll be back by tonight ",
" Promise?",
" Pro... promise ",
" Break the promise and your account will be frozen",
" What?! You can't do that mum ",
" Break the promise and see".
Ashley grumbled and left knowing fully well her mother was a woman of her word.