Page 80 of His Beloved Princess
"Do you remember the case with Zelda Pharmaceutical Company six years back?" she asked, and I quickly nodded. She got it right after returning from Detroit, where she helped to catch a serial killer. She should be working for the FBI now, but something happened there, and she was moved back to Seattle.
"I found a witness willing to confirm that the trials were forged, but she disappeared. The CEO of Zelda wanted to help me, but they threatened his family, so he stayed quiet. However…" she wiggled her eyebrows, smiling victoriously, "his conscience was stronger than his protective instinct, and he got me the phone number of someone who would help me."
"You never told me that," I muttered, pouring us another round. We’d already drunk one bottle, but I didn't plan to go out tonight. Peter was in his usual spot in Bastian's room, and Andreas was in New York because of some emergency. If I neededsomething, Frederick or Derek were at my disposal, but I wanted to enjoy the night with my best friend. It had been a long time since we had some girl time.
"It’s classified information," Zoe pointed out, leaning closer over the table as if someone was behind the door eavesdropping on us. "Anyway, the number was Andreas’," she grimaced. "That's how it all started."
"What started?" I pushed when she snorted and narrowed her eyes at me. I felt tipsy but still sober enough for a quick, spicy story between my best friend and brother-in-law.
"Nothing special," she mumbled, shrugging nonchalantly, but I saw the sadness behind her look. "He is devoted to his wife."
"He's getting a divorce," I corrected her, and she flashed me a surprised glance. I slapped my hand over my mouth, but it was too late to take the words back. Andreas kept his situation off the radar because of the kids, and he didn't want anyone outside the family to know about him and Ava splitting up.
"What?" Zoe whispered, watching me like she expected me to explode into laughter. "He has a perfect marriage."
"Obviously, he hasn't," I muttered, wrinkling my nose. "Don't say anything to anyone, Zoe, please. I shouldn't have told you."
"Of course not," she agreed, taking a slice of pizza. "I have no interest in hurting you, or him, or anyone in that family."
"So, nothing happened between you two?" I asked carefully, watching her slowly chew the undoubtedly great food. I took my own piece of cheesy deliciousness, patiently waiting for her to finally give me some details.
"I got drunk, and I hit on him," she replied eventually, picking onion with her nails and placing it on an empty plate. "He politely sent me to hell. Since then, I've been a nervous wreck around him."
"That's all?" I lifted an eyebrow at her, and she blinked in confusion.
"Yes, that's all," she confirmed, but I didn't believe her. I knew her too well to know this wasn't the end of the story.
"Tell me the truth, Zoe," I sighed, faking annoyance, and she rolled her eyes at me.
"It's thetruth," she claimed, but when she saw I didn't buy it, she mumbled, "It's complicated."
"Because?" I licked my fingers from the cheese remains and wiped them with a napkin while she was mustering the courage to admit that she cared for Andreas Thorn more than she ever cared for any other man in her eventful life.
"Fine," she snapped, glaring at me. "Do you want to hear I like him? Of course, I do. Which woman in her right mind wouldn't?" She angrily hit the table with her open palm and stood, staring at me as if I were her enemy. The sudden change in her demeanor took me aback, but she didn't allow me to react.
"He is a successful lawyer, devoted partner, father, and a respected and highly appreciated man in society. He is intelligent, loyal, and absurdly attractive. And when he says he has your back, you can be one hundred percent sure he won't let you down. Who wouldn't want such a man by their side?"
She threw her arms helplessly in the air. All kinds of emotions were written all over her beautiful face.
"But he never cared for me more than he cares for his assistant or colleagues," she said. A lone tear escaped her left eye, and she quickly wiped it with the back of her hand. "His family and you are his main interests right now. I'm just a means to accomplish a goal."
"I'm sorry, Zoe," I whispered and embraced her. "I'm sorry you never trusted me enough to tell me."
"Tell you what?" she sobbed, resting her forehead on my shoulder. "That I'm platonically in love with a married man who doesn't know I exist?"
"Shut up," I groaned, and she giggled, moving away.
"I'm fine. Don't worry." She smiled, and even when I didn't believe her, I let her be. I hoped she knew she could tell me anything, yet I hid things from her, too. We both had our little secrets.
We drank another bottle of expensive wine and ate everything within our reach before Zoe decided to leave. I suggested she could stay, but she didn't want to because she had a meeting with her boss early in the morning and didn't want to wake me. I knew it was only a lame excuse, but I wasn't in the mood to argue. Since myrelationship with Bastian started, we grew apart, and I couldn't blame her for having a life.
So, I again stayed alone in a vast apartment, wandering halls without a particular reason. Eventually, I showered and went to bed, missing Bastian next to me more than ever.
Alcohol probably heightened my anxiety and fear for him, and I couldn't stop the tears from falling from my eyes. I tightly hugged his pillow, thinking that his scent was barely noticeable, and I let my feelings flow freely through me. In the privacy of our bedroom, I could allow myself to crumble and whine in pain.
No one would judge me for not being strong enough.
Totally lost in my suffering, I almost didn't hear my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Only because it didn't stop after nearly two minutes, I stretched my arm and took it, inhaling a deep, shaky breath. Peter's name was blinking at me from the screen, and I tapped the green button to answer the call.
