Tactics

As Geoffroy arrived in the office, he saw Thirdy dragging Iñigo at the lobby area. The latter keeps on pushing their cousin away, but Thirdy just aptly grabs him back to drag him to wherever he is planning on taking him.

The scene made Geoffroy smirk. It's not only because it is funny, but he also liked the idea of Iñigo being dragged like he is being taken by the authorities. He decided to join the fun, so he walked towards his two cousins.

“Hey, guys!” he said to the two.

Thirdy and Iñigo both looked at him, stopping their push and pull scenario for the meantime.

“Oh! So you finally found your way to the office,” Iñigo said scornfully.

“Yeah, I figured something fun is happening here,” Geoffroy said. He looked at Thirdy. “Why are you dragging him like this? Did the police call, saying they’re ready to take him in?”

“Ha! Ha!” Iñigo said. “Aren’t you the one who they should take in because of indecency and grossness?”

“Excuse me!” Geoffroy retorted. “What I’m doing is normal behavior for a virile man on his prime. I'm not doing anything wrong.”

“How about when someone walked into your home, asking your parents to let her marry you because you accidentally impregnated her?” Iñigo asked Geoffroy.

“Have you ever heard of the word ‘condom,’ Iñigo? Oh! Surely, you didn’t because how would you even use one with your lack of sex life?”

“I know what condoms are, idiot! But I’m not an idiot like you who believes that condoms will never fail. There is at least 3% chance that a condom might fail because it accidentally broke, it slipped while you go rough, or you just failed to put it on because you are too excited to have sex and you are simply a moron!”

Geoffroy’s last straw of patience snapped at what Iñigo said. He was about to attack him, if only Thirdy did not intervene.

“Hey, stop it!” Thirdy said. “You’re in the office, and everyone knows who you are.”

Instinctively, Geoffroy looked around and found some employees secretly casting their gazes at them. He calmed himself and tried to ignore Iñigo’s irritating face.

“So what are you really doing?” he asked Thirdy.

“Astrid came to see your brother,” Thirdy answered. “So I was dragging Iñigo away because he wants to butt in to their–”

“Astrid who?” Geoffroy asked, although he is having a good guess who that Astrid is.

“Astrid, your brother’s ex,” Iñigo said before smirking at Geoffroy.

“She came to talk to your brother–”

Thirdy just looked on as Geoffroy dashed to his brother’s location. He looked determined to find him no matter if it takes him to the end of the world.

“Hey! Wait for me!” Iñigo said to Geoffroy.

But Thirdy was able to grab him again. “Where do you think you are going?”

“Why is he allowed to go there while I'm not?” Iñigo asked.

“Why do you even ask?” Thirdy answered instead. “Let’s just go back to our offices and start working.”

When Geoffroy found his brother talking to Astrid, it was that moment when she was asking him to go to her engagement party. Though Geoffroy did not hear what they were talking about, his sudden appearance kind of saved Auguste from the difficult choice he was about to make.

“Brother!”

Auguste looked at the incoming Geoffroy.

The latter went to his brother’s side. “Astrid! It’s been a long time!”

Astrid smiled at Geoffroy.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you busy about your engagement party with a royal prince?”

“Well, I just thought I would give your brother a visit,” Astrid said. “As you’ve said, it’s been a long time.”

“Oh! You didn’t have to. As you can see, my brother is very busy. He is now the CEO of the group, so he’s kind of busy and has no time to chit chat with an… old friend.”

Astrid avoided Geoffroy’s stare, obviously a little embarrassed.

“Geoff…” Auguste said, casting a reprimanding look at his brother.

“What? Did I say something wrong? Aren’t you busy these days? Isn’t it the reason why I’m here right now? Because I’m the new COO, to assist you in your job as the CEO. Oh! By the way, I’m sorry I was late. You see, I had to pull off an all-nighter last night.” Geoffroy winked at Auguste.

Who rolled his eyes on his brother. “If you could only stop your… inappropriate hobbies.”

“Brother, you know this is what makes me alive,” Geoffroy said. “I don’t like a dull life. I’m not saying your life is dull. We all have our choices in life. I won’t judge you. I know you won’t judge me as well.”

Auguste rolled his eyes on his brother again, and in the process catching a glimpse of Astrid who is just looking at him. He still can’t read what’s going on her mind based on her reaction, but he can feel like she doesn’t like what is happening.

Meanwhile, Geoffroy just continued in his speech. “I won’t start judging you about meeting a random girl on the bar, having a funny - I suppose it’s fun since you were laughing – conversation... then not even asking for her number. Man, that is really very alarming, you know?”

Auguste's eyes shot back at his brother. He gave him that what-the-hell-are-you-talking-about look.

“I don’t think a normal guy would pass out the opportunity to get to know a girl who caught his interest,” Geoffroy said.

“I think you’re talking too much already,” Auguste said.

“I am? I'm not. Am I?” Geoffroy looked at Astrid.

Who just looked down when she realized the younger Ortega looked at her.

“Uhm... I think you’re quite busy.” She looked at Auguste, then smiled. “Maybe we can just talk some other time.”

Auguste just nodded. He kind of felt relieved, although there was something alarming about that abrupt ending of his conversation with Astrid. It’s like he felt kind of regretful all of a sudden.

“Goodbye, Auguste.”

Auguste was stunned. A familiar feeling washed over him. It was the same feeling that he felt when Astrid broke up with him and bade him goodbye.

Astrid smiled at Geoffroy, who said “Goodbye!” to her, before leaving. The brothers were left looking on as Astrid left, with Auguste staring at her remembering that one last time he saw her before this day.

“Well, that was quite... uncomfortable...”

Auguste looked at Geoffroy.

“Aren’t you going to thank me? I just saved you from a very awkward situation.”

Instead of answering, Auguste just walked away.

“Hey!” Geoffroy called as he watched his brother walk away. He did not bother going after him. Instead, he just sighed and said, “Obviously, you still feel the same, Brother.”

Unbeknownst to everyone, Iñigo waited for Astrid at the lobby. No, he’s not letting this chance just pass by without gaining anything from it. It could be a connection to someone important like the royal prince Astrid is about to marry, or an opportunity to earn a point against his cousin and rival Auguste.

“Astrid!” he called out when he saw her about to leave the building.

Astrid looked back and saw Iñigo. She smiled at her former classmate.

Iñigo walked towards her. “You’re leaving already?”

“Yeah... Auguste is quite busy.” Astrid avoided his gaze.

“Well, he is always busy. But have you talked properly with him?”

Astrid looked back at him. “I guess, some other time.”

“Why don’t we have a mini-get together? Let’s invite the others.” By others, Iñigo meant the other members of their circle of friends. “For sure they’ll be happy to see you again.”

“Sure.” Astrid smiled.

“I’ll make sure Auguste will come.”

Astrid just looked at him.

“I can make him come.”

“I don’t know...”

“Oh, I have ways.” Iñigo smiled confidently.

Astrid just nodded. “Okay then. Just inform me about the details.”

“Yes. Oh! And make sure you bring your fiancé along. You know, we also like to meet a real-life prince.”

Astrid just nodded again. “Okay.”

The two classmates said their goodbyes, then Astrid left. Iñigo looked on as a malicious smile curled up on his lips.