(Chapter 126) All Over A Cigarette

Wu closed his laptop and looked across him, he could see that Moustof was working hard at the mission he gave him.

It was a simple hierarchy to follow for him. Astrid was the big boss of the organization. Then the second in command was Winoa, her personal attendant. After that, came the other secretaries, often working within a business that Astrid owned major shares in to monitor them personally, only Wu was personally trained by Astrid, while others were trained by Winoa or him.

Wu was a secretary that was also involved in their underworld business, he was the third in command there as well. And often was the only figure people could see there.

Everyone else had subordinates that followed them, and then they had their own subordinates... Moustof was a secretary under Wu, but only stayed clean and didn't even know the operations in the underworld.

"After you finished, the boss requested a new plan to be drafted up. It is your choice to decide within the businesses boss owns." Wu said to Moustof, who looked at him in surprise.

"Really? Okay!" Moustof was a secretary of one of the most powerful women in the business world, but even he knew to be respectful to the man who made sure he was sharpened as a business weapon.

Wu was happy knowing that Moustof would be getting some action, he had grown and started to look more like an established career man. Of course, any other business would be ecstatic to have him as a CEO. But even in his eyes, he had small issues to iron out first.

Just like him, Wu then stood up and took his laptop in his bag. "I'll leave it to you. I have some business of my own to finish." He said, while Moustof simply nodded.

Wu walked through the company and accepted some of the bows, or even some of the whispered compliments about him. But he always kept a stoic face in front of those who called him a genius.

Him? A genius? It was never in his mind. His boss was the only person who could be called a genius fairly. How could a 15-year-old girl be the best hacker in the world and also be able to run so many businesses easily? And then be able to effortlessly walk into the cruel underworld and dominate the position. He was almost 30, yet he had been taught more by his boss who was almost half his age than he learned by himself...

Wu then went into the car park and got into his simple town car. He never did his job for the money, rather he enjoyed working under his boss. And just wanted to learn more under her.

It was what happened with their large hacker team as well. They often spent weeks at a time in their offices cracking codes their boss sets up, completing missions for her, keeping up to date on missions and technology. They were obsessed with the knowledge their boss could give them.

Wu turned on his phone and looked for any recent news in the underworld, it was no secret in their mafia that the big boss was planning something big. And Wu was keeping track of every single detail.

Seeing a message from the person in charge of collecting information in the darkroom. Wu started to type something over to his boss.

'Confirmed that mining operations across the world is starting to speed up. On the call of Jukovic.' The message was enough for his boss to know what to do.

Wu then decided to go back home. His small 1 bedroom apartment, to get a more stable signal to contact the MI6 team in Russia.

That's right, Astrid was their special informant, but right now, he was acting under her orders to give them help while she was busy. His boss wanted to give Jukovic pressure from multiple sides, not only her and the underworld. But also ramping up police and government pressure.

This was a plan Wu came up with one day, after Astrid learned she was on the watchlist for dangerous criminals from a young age. She had a thought to both clean her name, and only wash out any government officials that could cause her any problems in the future.

Wu gave a basic idea of a plan almost a year ago, and since then the pressure the police had been applying to Jukovic had amplified, while some government officials had started to become Astrid's ally.

Wu then received a message on his phone from Winoa, the second in command. And the only person to be in constant contact with the big boss.

'You have free reign for a week until boss completes her next plan. Boss said to do as you wish.' The message was to the point.

'Roger.' He replied, as he walked into his lit apartment, with a server room in front of him, he took off his jacket.

"America is next on the issue... We need ample connections before then." He mumbled, as he started to draft up some business deals.

.......

"Why not!?" Back inside the Tuhs household, there was an eruption teetering on the edge.

"It isn't good for you right now. You can have a cigarette when you feel better." Lewis spoke in a harsh and unbreakable tone.

Astrid huffed in anger. As she narrowed her eyes at Winoa.

Winoa was afraid... It was painfully obvious that Astrid had a smoking problem, although she hadn't smoked a lot today. She now had an edge to her eyes...

"Apologies Miss, but smoking will only make your pain worse." Winoa bit the bullet. She wished for her friend not to feel as much pain as she did. And smoking could make her feel worse.

Astrid's eyes were strained and she bit her lips. "Fine, get out of my room. Right now!" She shouted at both Lewis and Winoa, pointing at them both.

Lewis smiled at his angry kitten. "Okay. Sleep well." He said before walking out with a smile.

Winoa was guilty, she disobeyed Astrid's order... But it was for her own good, smoking was bad enough as it is. But Lewis also didn't want Astrid to smoke while on her period.

Astrid slumped onto the bed and felt her head thump. 'Is this withdrawal?' She wondered. Her smoking habits definitely had to be sorted out. She would smoke on her periods before and clearly felt worse, but she still needed that urge.

She thought to what she and Lewis had been saying lately. Wanting a child, how could she want a child when she was such a bad smoker? It would be bad for her while pregnant and while the child was born. But even Lewis knew how bad her tendencies were. She was molded to overthink everything.

"I don't think I will be able to make it." She mumbled to herself, as she roughly pulled the quilt over her head.

Lewis was in a better mood than the two women. Sure, they had their first argument, but not only did he win. But he also made sure Astrid would be healthy during this period.

But still, a part of him was upset. Knowing that his beloved was probably sulking... He didn't want to take away Astrid's stress relief. He just wanted her to not feel as much pain from the cigarettes.

Winoa was like a walking zombie. She sat herself down in a chair and stayed half-dead for a few hours. Her thoughts were low and full of self-loathing.

'Miss will be in pain smoking, but what if she can't take the stress? Ahhhh, if only there was a healthier smoking option.' Winoa wallowed in the pity. As Lewis went back into Astrid's room after a while.

Astrid immediately woke up hearing her door open. But she was in a bad mood, and tired. So despite feeling Lewis's arms go around her, she didn't say anything.

"Sorry for being so strict... I just don't want you to feel more pain." Astrid could feel the sincerity in Lewis's voice, as he spoke in a low and apologetic voice.

Astrid then sniffled. Bringing Lewis to wipe her eyes with his fingers gently. "How could I possibly deal with being pregnant if I can't smoke? I think I might explode." Astrid mumbled. She seriously was crying over not being able to have a cigarette...

Lewis chuckled. "You can get through that. Just think, if we do have children. If you smoke, our child will be hurt. And I'll watch over you." Lewis fiddled with Astrid's hair. To comfort her.

Astrid took a deep breath. She was embarrassed after a while. How could she lose her cool and shout at Winoa and Lewis over a damn cigarette? She was disappointed in herself.

"Sorry, I'll be good." Maybe it was her period. But Astrid was very emotional right now.

Lewis hummed and got under the quilt. "I'll join you... You are beautiful, love you." Lewis muttered, constantly caressing Astrid's hair.

Astrid felt loved and warm... So she quickly fell back asleep. While Lewis also fell asleep, leaving a distraught Winoa to sleep with her thoughts.