Chapter 96: Chapter 96

“Avery, what are we really doing here?” Jeff asks irritably after we finally gets out of the crowded airport.

The States is very different from France, and I must say, I prefer living in France, although, I’ve missed being home. I am finally home.

I look at his frowning face and acts cute on him, “Babe, please, stop asking questions, I have a surprise for you, okay? Trust me on this!” I try to convince him while clinging my arms at him.

However, he still hasn’t gotten over the fact that I lied to him about my encounter with Dmitri so he distances himself to me and untangles my arms. But I am too stubborn and didn’t let him do so.

“Come on, please, you’ll soon forgive me,” I even press my body at him and I can sense the effect on him. But he still chooses not to even look at me.

From the moment I’d arrived home, up to now, we haven’t had a single decent conversation. It is more on him scowling, or me, avoiding his questions.

But I keep on irritating him, hoping that he would forgive me anytime soon.

Not long, I can see a black sedan parking right in front of us. When it comes to a full stop, the window rollls down and to my surprise, I see Seid’s handsome face. My face brightens and I excitedly bents over to make sure it is him.

“Avery, come on in,” Seid yells at us trying to catch our attention.

I lean forward a little and gives him an okay sign and says, “Coming.”

Jeff is glaring at me when he sees me smiling at the driver of the black sedan.

“Babe, it’s Seid. You do know him, right?” I roll my eyes at him and ignores his jealousy. Instead, I push Jeff beside the car’s door, “Come on, let’s go, hurry.”

“Wait, are we going to ride here? Isn’t it awkward riding with your ex?” he asks.

I scoff, “Oh, please It’s nothing. We are so over, and we remain friends, didn’t we?” I answer his ridiculous commentary.

“I’ll properly introduce later, now go, we are causing a traffic,” I say in a hurry and pushes him even more.

Being a gentleman, despite his anger, Jeff opens the door for me, and I get in, and then he goes right after me. Seid accepts us warmly.

I notice his new haircut, and his glowing face. It seems he’s been more handsome. He looks much better now than before.

“Getting even more handsome, aren’t we?” I start off with a joke, and then I hug him from the backseat, “Hi, Seid. It’s been a while,” and he kisses me on my cheeks.

He hugs me with one hand, and pats the back of my head, some things really never change.

“It’s good to have you back, Ava,” he calls me using my nickname, something that he prefers doing ever since.

Jeff discreetly pulls my dress back, so it means I should go back to my seat. So when I pull myself from him.

I start feeling the tension from Jeff’s side. On the other hand, Seid smiles widely as he looks at Jeff. To break the ice, I ntroduce them to each other,

“Seid, this is my fiance, Jeff,” while I point to Jeff.

I turn my body sideways, “Babe, this is Seid, a good and trustworthy frined of mine,” pointing to Seid.

Jeff is cautious enough, but Seid is kind enough to break it, he extends his hand to him, “Hey, bro. Sorry about the hug, you can call me Seigfried, or Cohen. It’s up to you.”

By the way, I take care of Ava’s property here in the States since she left, so I hope you don’t mind,” he even adds.

Jeff, who was skeptical at first now opens up, “Pleasure, I’m Jeff, I am her fiance. Finally, we meet,” he says coldly.

The introduction is about to be extended when the airport marshall knocks on the window. Simultaneously, the cars behind us honk loudly so we have no choice but to move, “Sorry, let’s chat later. Gotta drive,” Seid says and hits the road off.

***

On the road, Jeff suddenly wraps his arm over my shoulder, as if sending a signal that I am his to fence off. I see the glimpse of Seid’s eyes at the rearview mirror, but he instantly withdraws when our eyes met.

“Was Jeff right? Did I make a big mistake asking Seid to pick us up? Am I being inconsiderate?” I ask myself. I look outside the window, and see everything around. Only few things have changed, but nothing remarkable really.

While we are at the expressway, Seid finally speaks up, “So, Avery, seeing you here, it means to say that you have finally decided, aren’t you?”

I am surprised by his question, in fact, I haven’t told Jeff about it, that is what this is all about. I want to tell him about my plan once the deal is closed. But now that Seid’s already brought it up, I have no choice but to explain.

Especially when Jeff’s eyes are glaring at me thinking that I once again leave him out of the truth. You may call it trust issue on his side, but I can’t blame him, can I?

I sigh.

“Goodness, Seid. Really, in the car?” I scold him a little.

Seid is surprised by my response and apologize, “My bad,” then he laughs, “I thought you already discussed it with him.”

“Discuss with me what?” Jeff’s tone is a bit alarming. Both Seid and I feel the pressure steaming off of Jeff’s face.

“Uh, I think you and Ava should talk it out. I am sorry,” Seid concedes.

“Hey Seid, we haven’t eaten yet, are there any restaurants where we can stop by?” I ask him.

Before Seid could even answer, Jeff butts in, “Avoiding the topic again aren’t we? Hey Seid, tell me, did my loving fiancee happened to tell you she met Dmitri in France, and that he follows her to Germany?” Jeff bluntly throws the bomb.

“Say what? Dmitri Sullivan? Really, Avery?” Seid’s bewilderment is enough for Jeff to find out that I didn’t tell neither of them.

Jeff sighs, “I guess it’s a quits,” he continues with his irritating remark.

“Okay, Jeff, Seid has nothing to do with Dmitri, nor Dmitri’s appearance to our relationship. That’s the reason why we are here, I want to prove my loyalty to you. But can it wait until our stomach is full, and at least have a decent place to talk about it?” my voice remains calm.

I know Jeff is being an ass right now, but I deserve it. I cheated, and yet until know, he knows nothing about what happened to me and Dmitri in Germany. And I plan to leave it that way.

He doesn’t have to know. He must not know.

Silence takes over during our trip, and after half an hour, we exit the expressway and stops by a fine-dine restaurant which Seid recommends.

***

We ordered some food and had a peaceful meal, it was so peaceful that none of us even talked to each other.

I asked the waiter to clean up our table, and bring us some bottle of wine.

“Now that we have eaten, can any of you two enlighten me with your secret plan?” Jeff starts off with his statement.

Seid looks at me, “Ava?” he says in a soft voice.

I look at Jeff and holds his hand, then I nod at Seid, and he hands over some document.

“This is the surprise I want to tell you,” I softly say and then give the document to him.

“Have a look,” I add.

He takes the document out of the envelope and he starts scanning it. My hands are glued together as if I’m prayin that this will be enough for Jeff to accept my apology.

To prove that I love… I mean, to prove that I choose to be with him.

I can see Seid’s eyes going back and forth to me and Jeff. Just like me, he’s been observing his reaction.

Jeff turns the page one by one. And I could see his hands tremble a bit, but I don’t know the cause of those trembling.

I just really hope and pray that he’ll forgive me with this.

“Avery…” his voice quivers, still reading the documents. Seid and I are both nervous while waiting for his feedback.

I drink the wine in my glass and then pour another one.

I am about to drink my third round when he puts the document down and drinks his wine.

I gulp watching him drink.

“This document, is this true?” he both looks at me and Seid. And the two of us nod at him.

“Yes, do you still remember what I told you the night when you proposed to me? That I wanted to live in France for good… with you?” I ask him.

Then he nods at me, “Yes, I do. But I thought…”

“I know I lied about Dmitri, but believe me, I did it because he doesn’t matter to our relationship. I wanted to avoid the unnecessary strength we will both use fighting over him. So please believe me when I say I want to be with you forever.”

“So, you are really going to sell your property here? Are you sure you are okay with that?” he asks.

“Actually, it was already sold. Somebody bought it right away,” Seid butts in.

“Really? When did you put it up?” Jeff asks.

“I asked him to put it up last month, the night when you went back to France. You see, I don’t want to lose you, babe, so I hope you could-” and even before I could finish the sentence, I feel his lips crashing over mine.

He kisses me not minding about the people around us, not minding Seid who’s sitting across from us.

And I let him devour me until he’s satisfied.

But Seid clears his throat, “Uh, hello guys, I am still here, and well, I am still her ex, remember?” Seid jokes around.

So we part for a while and laughs at his joke, we drink the wine altogether, and order some raw oysters to pair it up with.

“I guess everybody’s happy, huh?” Seid says. “So, Avery, are you ready to face your punishment, now?”

I frown at him, “My what?”

“Don’t tell me you forgot about Kendra? You are going to visit her aren’t you?” Seid scolds me.

“Of course, I will see her no matter what. God! I don’t know what to tell her!” I sigh.

“She’s going to kill me if she finds out, I’ve been talking to you from time to time,” Seid rests his back on the couch of the restaurant chair.

“Then, it will be both your punishment right?” Jeff jokes around and laughs his ass out.

“Shut up,” “Shut up!” Both Seid and I yell at his not-so-funny joke.