CH 85

Moments after Bastian’s departure and the door’s soft click, Odette deftly took the golden key hidden within the sofa’s crevice. Clad in barely-there attire, she rushed to the office door, locked it, and hurried to Bastian’s desk. 

With utmost care, she slid the key into the drawer lock, twisting it until a satisfying click signaled its unlocked state. Inhaling deeply, Odette pulled the drawer open. Despair swiftly gave way to hope as she saw the meticulously alphabetized pile of documents, reminiscent of the organization in the mansion’s library – which seemed to be Bastian’s habit.

“Diamond.”

With agile fingers, Odette began her hunt for a folder bearing the initial D, stealing furtive glances at the wall clock. Each ticking second gnawed away at her patience. A mere 10 minutes were all she had to locate the folder Theodora sought.

Failure would render her efforts futile. Yet Odette refused to let that transpire. Her heart lay in pieces, but she wiped away the tears clouding her vision. She tightened her grip to quell the tremors in her fingers as she continued her meticulous search through folder after folder.

Diamond ~ Finally, she spotted a label bearing that name, but alas, it was not the mine document she was looking for. Time had slipped by unnoticed, and five precious minutes had already vanished.

Ah, this is it! Diamond mine.

Upon discovering the coveted document, Odette crumpled onto the plush carpet. Relief flooded her heart, and her breath came in ragged gasps as if she had just sprinted. Nausea churned in her stomach, threatening to expel its contents, while on the other hand, she also wanted to cry.

After calming herself, Odette crawled back to the drawer, methodically gathering the strewn papers from the floor. As she returned the documents to their rightful place and secured the lock, her gaze fell upon her reflection in the glass cabinet.

Before her stood a woman, scantily clad and dazed. The pearl necklace and stockings adorning her body rendered her like a harlot. Rising to her feet, Odette disgust and disappointment that threatened to engulf her like a colossal wave.

With the document and drawer key in hand, Odette unlocked the office door and walked towards the fireplace. The ripped papers were folded neatly and tucked into her jacket pocket. She tossed the file folder into the roaring flames and placed the drawer key on the floor near the sofa, as if Bastian had carelessly dropped it—an idea that had struck her as she writhed beneath his body.

At last, everything was in place. After a thorough inspection of the room, Odette hastily dressed, marveling at the strength she could still summon to move her battered body.

Just as she fastened the final button on her blouse, a knock resounded on the door.

“Yes. Please come in,” Odette calmly replied. 

Bastian entered the office wordlessly, greeted by Odette’s serene smile.

“Sorry Bastian, I haven’t finished tidying up yet. Could you wait a moment?” Odette requested, smoothing her hair as if nothing had happened.

Bastian nodded and settled onto the couch, sinking into its soft embrace. As he reclined, his eyes were drawn to Odette’s elegant figure, gracefully braiding her ebony tresses, their dark lustre contrasting beautifully with her alabaster skin.

Fond memories of his touch on her body lingered in Bastian’s thoughts, sending waves of anticipation coursing through his fingertips. As Odette artfully secured her braid, her refined updo took shape, transforming her into a picture of perfection— a far cry from the disheveled woman sprawled on the couch earlier.

“Well, I’m done,” Odette announced, her smile radiant as she turned to face Bastian. 

A question….weighed heavy on his heart: What do I actually mean to you? But he let the thought dissipate, unanswered. Rising from the couch, Bastian’s eyes caught sight of the key to his desk drawer, lying forgotten on the carpet.

‘It must have fallen during our tussle …’ Bastian mused, retrieving the key and slipping it into his suit pocket.

Odette quietly took in the scene before her, then gracefully rose to her feet. When Bastian donned his coat from the hanger, he noticed Odette’s coat drying by the warmth of the fireplace.

The pretty blue Sabine coat, as Bastian fondly referred to it, captivated him, despite his limited knowledge of women’s fashion. He had once asked his aunt to craft a new coat for Odette, and he was quite pleased with the result: a beautiful, warm blue coat. Odette’s worn, threadbare coat now gently drifted  into the realm of forgotten memories.

“No need, Bastian. I can put it on myself…” Odette interjected, taken aback. She was hesitant to let Bastian handle her clothing; surely, that was crossing a line? Bastian’s brow furrowed in response.

Despite her protests, Odette’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink as Bastian persisted in helping her into the coat. The warmth of her rosy cheeks and the tender dance of her lashes only heightened her mesmerizing charm.

With a tender touch, Bastian grasped his wife’s hand and led her out of the office.

Their silhouettes, tenderly entwined, cast a poetic shadow as they strolled hand in hand through the serene company corridor.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

From a distance, the majestic structure loomed above. Odette found herself spellbound, her eyes fixated on the bewitching Ferris wheel. The sparkling behemoth, embellished with soft lights, elegantly glided across the night sky above the city, beneath the tender embrace of the falling rain. Droplets on the car window enhanced the charm of the ride’s lights, painting a dreamy twilight scene.

Odette couldn’t help but steal a glance at Bastian’s face as he focused on driving.

Bastian Klauswitz was a man driven by ambition, willing to go to great lengths to achieve his goals, even agreeing to an arranged marriage by the emperor. He was a relentless man, daring enough to mastermind a sham wedding for substantial gain.

If only Odette could perceive him in that light, everything would be much simpler.

Sensing the tremble in her eyes, Odette swiftly shifted her gaze to the passenger window. Bathed in the soft glow of the Ferris wheel, cherished memories of their time together flickered through her mind. To her, Bastian Klauswitz was a man who deserved both admiration and gratitude. In spite of the world’s moral standards and norms, she saw Bastian as an extraordinary person.

It wouldn’t be long before Bastian discovered that his vengeance against his father had been thwarted by her actions. Odette knew her fate the moment she decided to join forces with Theodora Klauswitz. Secrets could never be kept forever, so inevitably, her betrayal wouldcome to light. Yet, she clung to the hope that their secret would remain hidden for a while longer, at least until their wedding had safely passed. If the truth emerged only after everything had unfolded, perhaps the sting of failure and betrayal wouldn’t cut as deep.

Odette lowered her gaze, escaping the reflective lights that stirred tender emotions within her. In the end, she conceded to herself that she was a greedy,….. shameless,…..and selfish woman…

Bastian’s car raced on, slicing through the curtain of rain enveloping Boulevard Préves. The clamor of the tram crossing bell echoed through the lively night street, causing their car to halt and the outside view to freeze.

Bastian turned his head, intending to simply take in the scenery, but instead, his eyes were drawn to Odette.

What had captivated her so? Bastian mused with a smile. Glancing her way, he caught sight of a lavish jewelry store through the car window, its prestigious name emblazoned above the awning.

“Odette,” Bastian softly called with curiosity. But Odette remained unresponsive.

As the tram passed, traffic started to flow again. Bastian stepped on the gas and steered the car toward the upscale shopping centre on Boulevard Préves, where the jewellery store that had caught Odette’s eye was located.

“How fortunate we are to have a guest who made a reservation so late in the evening, allowing our store to remain open longer today. This chance to serve you, Captain, feels like a blessing from above.”

The jewelry store manager’s face radiated with a joyful smile. The employees, who had been griping about working overtime, found their spirits lifted by the arrival of the Captain and his wife.

“Bastian. Let’s head home now!”

The Captain’s wife murmured softly, her voice tinged with anxiety. Drawing upon her experience with countless customers, the manager discerned that the Captain’s wife was a modest woman who didn’t know how to harness her beauty.

“You’ve misunderstood; I really don’t want anything…”

“Captain, madam, please follow me to this room.” Eager to avoid losing such a cherished customer and the potential damage to his business, the manager swiftly interrupted the Captain’s wife and guided them to a room inside.

Captain Klauswitz mentioned that he wished to see the jewellery displayed in the showcase while awaiting the genuine pieces to be retrieved from the safe, as the showcased items were replicas to prevent theft or loss.

“Sir, please take your time and browse at your leisure.” Wearing a proud expression, the manager gestured towards a table adorned with rows of exquisite jewellery.

Upon witnessing this, Odette let out a soft sigh. The entrancing shimmer of the jewellery radiated a sharp, brilliant light. Although the gems varied in colour, they all belonged to the same category.

Those were diamonds, the very gemstones whose name appeared on the documents Odette had stolen.