FAREWELL TO WORK-E

Astrid left for work early. She bodes her pop and Enlil bye before climbing back on trees and swinging away from branch to branch. Enlil set a timetable for her and from the intensive training he set for her, she was left with no choice but to quit work. Surprisingly, Enlil allowed her to sell her products at the market but only for an hour, provided he assisted her.

She reached McPhearson with a heavy heart. But kept her silence about that matter. Firstly, she met Mr Rheanna and Mr Davis, explaining to them that she could not concentrate on her studies with long work hours, tiring her. She apologized for the short period of time she worked there but thanked them for allowing her to learn a wealth of knowledge from them.

Astrid cleared her throat and got the attention of her workmates. She looked at them with a sad eye and told them about her resignation from work, today being her last. Alex Mann cursed himself. He wanted to date her, but the prospect looked bleak. Matilda was devastated, she wished for Astrid to work longer but Astrid could not.

`I will be missing all of you. I mean in such a short period of time I've learned how to love you guys and call you my friends', she gushed excitedly.

Matilda: But you are leaving us so soon

Vanessa: Don't tell me the love bug bite you?.

Matilda: You did not tell us about your weekend adventure with the Wagners!

Astrid: Oh gosh, Lewis is true to his words. Hadwin is a daredevil. He is just as you said.

Lewis: Did you get his autograph?

Astrid: Yes, I did.

Astrid rummaged through her pocket and passed a piece of paper to Lewis who punched his fist in the air in his excitement.

Bettany: Will you be keeping in touch with us?

Astrid: Of course. Come on one group hug.

Vanessa: Aaron don't get your panties tight, otherwise you will regret you even wore one.

Aaron: I was just smiling at Astrid. I mean no harm.

Vanessa: You were not smiling at her face but at her breasts.

Astrid: Aaron, how could you!!

They hugged together and suggested to meet up for a dinner as farewell party, but Astrid refused citing final year terms and school. Enlil forbade her from going to any public places for the time being until he perfected his enhancement spell on her.

Bettany: How was your stay in their mansion? I mean is it true they have an orchard and all?

Astrid: They have an orchard, a pool, rose garden, an entire dirt bike arena and a basement with all sorts of games.

Aaron: You mean Christian type of games?

Vanessa: Don't taint her, you fool.

Astrid: Oh no, not those kinds of games but the arcade type.

Lewis: Wow, I'd kill to be there. Do you think they need like a helping hand to you know to manage the games room?

Astrid: They play Monopoly with real money. I think they need no help whatsoever.

Lewis: By the way Astrid there was a new video uploaded on Hadwin's Youtube portal. I think the girl looked awfully like you.

Astrid: But I thought he said my identity was blurred?

Matilda: It is. But we figured it must have been you. Tell me do you love that guy? Did you kiss and make up?

Astrid turned red before replying a firm no. Matilda wasn't having any of it and pressed her to confess.

Astrid: Gosh, they are both good looking, but I don't love them that way. There were some embarrassing incidents but that's about it.

Bettany: But your face says something else.

Astrid: Please, let's get back to work. You are not getting anything out of me.

She finished her shift and got ready to leave. She took one final look at her workplace and closed the door behind her. Astrid noticed that Alex was quiet, refusing to communicate much. She brushed it aside, maybe he was tired. But she was in for a surprise.

She felt a hand on her shoulder holding her back. She turned around and saw Alex.

`Alex?'

`I didn't get to ask you for a date, Astrid. I've been wanting to since last week', he was shy and scratched his neck.

`But I prefer our relationships as it is. I don't want to date', she put her words carefully, not wanting to hurt him.

`Would you have dated me, if I had been one of the Wagner brothers?', he was upset with his lost chance at her.

`Alex! I am not dating them. I merely helped Hadwin in an accident and they invited me over for dinner and we clicked. I mean all 3 of them has been nice to me. I'm not expecting anything from them!', Astrid spat in anger.

`I'm sorry. I didn't mean it come out like that', Alex held her cheek and caressed with his thumb. Astrid did not like his touch; it came as forceful for her. She missed Ace. She wanted Ace to touch her, no one else.

`I need to go, I can't be late for my classes', she slowly pushes his hands down.

`Okay, I won't keep you longer', he kissed her cheeks before she could react and dashed back to the backdoor of McPhearson. She wiped her face with the back of her palms, disgusted with men in general who always seem wanting to kiss.

Astrid finished her classes and hurried back home, feeling insecure. With the new revelations about her, her previously unknown fear was creeping back up. She picked her phone and called Ace swiftly while waiting at the bus stop near Lacroix Business School.

`Ace?', she was glad he answered her call.

`Darling. Missed me?', Ace finished his work later than usual today and was having dinner.

`Can we meet up for a short while before I head home?', Astrid suggested, playing with her hair.

`Sure, text me your location. Looking forward to meeting those lips of yours', he flirted and grabbed his meal of cream penne pasta. Gordon Browne and his driver waited for him by the Mercedes Maybach but Alex decided to pick the Maserati instead. He commanded them to driver fast, thanking his luck because the business school was near his office.

Astrid's face lit up at the sight of Ace's car. Gordon opened the door and sped off towards Grand Park for both the young couple needed a break from life and just be together to savour the fresh rain of love washing them with it.