(Chapter 76) Sudden Realization

"So how was it?" Lewis asked Astrid as they both sat in the car.

Astrid reached into her pocket and picked out a box of cigarettes, lighting in, she took a breath. "I'm sure that some of them will retract their support. But most of them will remain neutral for now. I am only speculative of one thing though." Astrid puffed and let the car fill up with smoke. Remembering that Romane and the driver were inside, she opened the window and let the smell escape.

"Speculative of what?" Lewis was quite relieved, he wanted Astrid to be more open around him. He noticed Astrid smoked but normally not around other's so was she becoming natural with him around?

Astrid took another puff of her cigarette. "Why host a banquet now? The timing doesn't make sense. Another election is coming up sure, but the President's son didn't seem to be going for anything for another 10 years minimum." Astrid spoke her mind. As she was in thought.

Lewis nodded. The car started as he eyes Romane. "Did you find anything?" He had sent Romane to speak with the women around, he was good at getting information that way.

Romane shook his head. "They didn't know anything. I could only guess that it is something between the President and his son." He replied.

Astrid finished the cigarette in silence, exiting the car when they stopped off at Lewis's house in France.

*Cough* "I took the liberty in preparing a guest bedroom for you." Lewis now felt a little awkward. Seeing Astrid's inquisitive gaze when they stopped at a mansion.

"It's fine." Astrid plainly replied. While Romane was baffled at the sight he saw. 'Why was boss making sure his friend wasn't angry at staying at his mansion? Are they not close? Or are they closer than I thought?' Romane's mouth then gapped and shut suddenly. Did he just find out his boss's sexuality by mistake?

Romane left to do work set by Lewis. While Astrid was given a quick tour of the mansion.

What could she say? It was one of the most expensive properties in the country. She had no qualms as she was sitting eating in a lounge room.

Lewis walked in and dismissed all the maids around. He sat down and then looked at Astrid. "I assigned a maid to your room for you. She would help with anything you need... Also, do you want male or female clothing?" Lewis asked with a straight face.

Only he knew how badly he wanted to see her in female clothing again. He didn't mind her wearing male clothing and hiding her gender. When he saw the businessmen all looking at her as a man he was inwardly pleased. He knew that if she went with no disguise, she would be the center of attention.

Astrid just eyes him with suspicion. "Male clothing." She spoke lifelessly, as if in thought.

Lewis just nodded. He realized that he might have made his intentions a little too obvious, he then inwardly devised a plan of his own...

"I'll be going to my room then." Astrid stood up to leave. She was already deep in thought. So she had no plans to talk to Lewis any time soon.

Lewis nodded and watched as Astrid left. He then looked down to the platter prepared for Astrid and noticed everything but the fish was eaten. Mumbling something to himself. He dismissed all the staff. And went to his own room.

The staff were originally quite surprised to see their Master come to the mansion, he had rarely stepped foot in the mansion since he often slept in his office if he was in the country. The maids that all ogled him also had another eye candy, in Astrid, to serve.

Diane was the maid assigned to Astrid. She had quite the imaginative mind. Thinking that the friends of the rich must be leechers, she prepared herself.

Not that she would mind. Being the woman of someone rich would only benefit her. But seeing the man she was assigned to completely ignore her and go into the room. She was upset.

Astrid closed the door and sat on the bed. She could say nothing bad about the hospitality given to her by Lewis. The room was good, the food she ate was good. But she still felt something was missing.

'Maybe another cigarette will clear my mind.' She then went to the window to smoke.

From his room, Lewis saw the open window and smoke coming out of it. He really never expected that Astrid would smoke so much. Especially when she was previously so ill.

He then froze. 'Astrid was ill for a long time, wasn't it something to do with her blood? Wasn't it also confirmed for her to have some serious questions over her mental health? Were those documents true?' Lewis then went into thought of his own. Even if Astrid had no problems with her lungs. She was still ill for many years, her immune system was terrible, and she was mentally extremely poor. After a while, becoming almost a living dead.

But he then realized something glaring. No documentation officially reported her getting better again. Nothing, no diagnoses was confirmed in the end. And she was placed on to the watchlist of the entire world. But that just didn't make sense.

So... How did Astrid magically recover? According to Leone Astrid was still physically weak at the start of school. But gradually became the best in any sport she did. He exaggerated the difference between everyone else and Astrid in the end.

At least Lewis thought he did. Astrid didn't go to school a lot, and didn't showcase her physical skills often. But apparently she was so good at sports many of the top coaches for many sports wanted her to train for their sports...

Lewis never paid much attention to Leone's rambling about Astrid at the start, but now he cursed himself. How could he not want to get to know more about her then? Was their something wrong with his brain?

Still seeing smoke coming from the window, he then decided to make a call to one of his good friends. While keeping her medical documents on the screen of his computer...