Chapter Four

Song of chapter: Just a dream by Nelly.

Bastian's POV;

He was slightly disoriented. How does one react upon finding out that your wife has been screwing up another man. Bastian didn't know the answer to that question. Even Stefen, the almighty know it-all was clueless. He thought to ask Alyse, his wife and apprentice about it too. She had said it was nonsensical and brushed it off. But it came as a reality when Stefen got home one fine evening to prove to her that it was true. There was a picture and to top it all off, a video cam.

Alyse was furious about Stelle's actions. She didn't bother to hide it from Bastian when she barged into his office the next day. It seemed she was on a break from her shift. She was a neonatal nurse. Bastian wasn't surprised or angered by her actions.

Rather he felt warmed that at least some people still cared about him and respected him unlike others he knew of. He didn't even know the guy his wife was banging. All he got from Joash was that he was the head chef of The Grand Prix Hotel, a five star hotel bringing Vegas to your doorstep.

Apparently Joash was a fan of his cooking show and knew him like the back of his hand. Bastian couldn't just let her use him like that and dump him like a dirty rag. No! He was going to give her a divorce whether she liked it or not. He took his phone and dialed his lawyer. He should file a divorce. He didn't want to dwell on the matter. It always arose something in him which drew people's pity.

He knew why Stelle did that or more like he thought he knew. They've been married for three years now officially but they've been together for five years and had no child to call them mom and dad. He was twenty-five years and full of life when they met at a convention.

There, they hit it off. She looked too interested in his works at that time. His art pieces were going to be auctioned off for the second time in a row. She had approached him claiming to be a fan of his paintings.

"Hi, I'm Stelle Duncan." He remembered how she bashfully extended her hand. She was in a green off shoulder sequin dress which ended right on her knee. She was beautiful. He had acknowledged then took her hand.

Bastian shook his head trying to make those memories vanish. He didn't need them anymore. If only he had seen the signs. He sighed. He couldn't believe he was sharing his wife with another man! The thought enraged him. Finally, He was going to take the advice his mother had given him when he told her two years ago : divorce her, She's not worth keeping. She had stated firmly. His father had nodded in approval.

He had used up enough time giving her the pleasure of using his surname. He was going to rip that off her!

He was in his office going through a few art pieces Stefen had put on his desk. They were ones he had decided they should auction off in summer. Masterpieces he had done a long time ago when she was his motivation. Well, Stefen had a great taste and good intuition. He was going to follow his advice.

Before that, he took his laptop, opened his email account and began looking for one particular mail. He had ordered a dozen of paints of different types from his favourite factory. It was yet to arrive. His hand itched to paint. But what exactly? He did not know. If it were old times where he thought they were in love, he would have painted his wife. Guess it was only just a dream. Le sigh.

Mother's day was approaching fast. Bastian was to paint something. He needed a kick to get started but nothing appealed to him. He shut his laptop seeing that the delivery was bound at 15:00. It was only ten in the morning. He had more time. He gathered himself out of his chair. He was going to his studio to see what his hand and mind want to do. He always lets them run wild bringing out those art pieces everyone adored.

Bastian missed lunch. Yet, he had something to eat. He managed to paint an abstract image. It was not enough. He needed something more lively. Something which was vibrant and spoke volumes. Deterred , he dropped his brush. He took steps back to analyze what he drew. It was only a mixture of colours.

The colours were splashed on the canvas. On one side, the red mixed perfectly with the black giving off an intense feeling but on the other side of the painting, it mixed with the green and the yellow giving off something dull. More like a picture representation of his brain at the moment. He continued to stare trying to make out that of the other colours, the purple, the blue,….

"Whoa" A voice exclaimed from the doorway. It was Gabbie, an assistant to Joash at the storage unit. They were the ones who saw to it that he had enough paints and canvas of his liking at all times. She was there with Morgan, a class-A flirt and manager of his auctions. He made sure that the paintings were auctioned off at the right time with the right amount too. Bastian didn't mind their intrusion. Mostly Gabbie was here to greet him or to give him a briefing of what was going on at the storage unit. Though the report was due next month.

Morgan whistles. "Boy, you're dehydrated." He saw that Bastian was still stuck in the paint block of his. Where's that inspiration when you need it? He asked no one in particular. Bastian gave him the stink eye. He didn't need him to say it out loud. He saw that he carried envelopes from the express mail.

"Oh Bane? This came in for you personally." Morgan took a brown envelope from beneath the pile in his hands. Bastian took it curious to know who it was from. He wasn't expecting one until the nineteenth of June. Morgan and Gabbie stayed waiting to hear juicy news from him. After a short time, Bastian realized he was not alone. He turned catching the two inquisitive persons red-handed.

"What are you two still doing here? Off you go" He dismissed them. Gabbie and Morgan refused to go upon seeing the smile spread on his face.

"Spill the beans, Bane. Come on, spill it. " They began to walk closer towards him but he took steps backwards hugging the envelope to his chest.

Gabbie's eyes twinkled. "Is it a secret admirer?" Bastian grew stunned. He couldn't let Morgan get a whiff of this letter. It was an exclusive magazine enclosed with a letter from the sensational Marion Brizo. He had forgotten today was father's Day. He would have to read the letter somewhere peaceful and safe. Maybe that's why the shipping is taking so long.

Morgan eyes darkened. He also knew about Stelle and what happened with her. He knew Bastian was too reserved nowadays to even shoot a person a smile. "Oh, is she the one you've been sending postcards to?" Bastian spoke too soon. God, he wouldn't hear the end of it if he doesn't pacify them soon.

He had to improvise someway somehow. And to talk of the postcards, there were only three people he sends them to. His beloved mother, his annoying sister and a wise woman he valued her company, Meliá Andreou, his grandmother. Even if it was only through postcards and email.

Bastian had met her for the first time when he decided to give Zeff business an interview. She was just passing by making sure everything was in order so didn't stay up for more than a two minute conversation. His brother, Lazaros was supposed to do that but something came up.

"What has this got to do with you two?" He narrowed his eyes. "Do I pay you for that?"

Morgan clicked his tongue. "I'll eventually find out, Bane. Eventually." They were not affected by what he said.

"Just you wait." Gabbie added. She flipped her hair and walked out to help Morgan deliver the rest of the envelopes.

It was their turn this week. Bastian shook his head at their actions. He took out his phone to give her a call to let her know he got it. Probably, it must be something special. Before his hand could hit the number four button for a speed dial, the screen changed to an incoming call. It was Dr. Bryce.

Finally the old man had decided to pay heed to his advice. He had given off some of his semen for diagnosis. He and Stelle had visited the hospital hoping to find out what was wrong. Nothing came up. Not on his side nor Stelle's . The results said they were okay.

Bastian hurried over to the lounging room. He was certain the crew were there since the hallways were empty. He didn't feel shy talking about his personal matters before them. They've been together since he sold his first painting. That was eleven years ago. They had even managed to convince his father to allow him own his own gallery far from home. In simple words, they were his nannies even though he was older than a few of them.

"It's been a long time , Bryce." Bastian greets as he slumps into the couch.

"Hello Bast, I could say the same for you." Dr. Bryce responds cheerfully for a hot Friday morning.

Morgan, Gabbie, Stefen, Joash and Meghan were present in the room. Morgan and Joash were playing FIFA games, Stefen was playing Scrabble with Meghan while Gabbie was on her phone as always. Browsing over who knows what. They didn't raise their head when he entered the room but seeing he was speaking to Dr. Bryce, that caught their attention.

"How's life treating you, Bryce?" They were on some kind of personal level terms. Bastian knew about his lunatic of a daughter and Bryce knew about his disappointment of a wife.

"Life's treating me well but sometimes pretty unfair. " He sounded too happy speaking about the sorrows of life. Bryce rambles Bast's ears off for a while that it was becoming too unbearable.

What really has happened Bryce? Did Natalya die?" Dr. Bryce chuckles over the phone. "Speak now or I'll cut the call." Bastian connects his ear pods then lies full in the couch leaving his phone on the glass center table in the middle.

The room was basically built for relaxation. Nobody worked here. They took their breaks her by engaging in games and other whatnots which diverted their minds from work. There was enough sofas for everyone to rest in. The guys had managed to even get a vending machine into the room.

Dr. Bryce was quite before he began again in a serious tone. "Do you recall when I said we will analyze your semen sample?"

"Yeah. Yes I do . I mean who wouldn't." The rest were minding their own business with just one of their ears while the other listened in on Bastian's conversation. "What has got to do with it?"

"Well, I have both good and bad news." Bryce sighed. "Which do you prefer first?" Bastian rolled his eyes. That's what he always says every time he was give his report. That last session was like four years ago. Why now?

"Anyone. Shoot I'm listening. Tell me something I have not heard before." Bastian took a nearby armrest and pushed it under his head. He rests his hand on his stomach and closed his eyes. He had forgone his suit and tie in his office. He was just in a white shirt and black trousers. He was slightly uncomfortable but it was okay.

"What do I begin with first?" Bryce was seriously becoming annoying these days.

"Really." His forehead creased. Bast made sure to let his irritation known.

"Spoilsport. On a more serious note, the good news is as I said there's nothing wrong with your semen so you can conceive."

"I know that Bryce. I've heard that like a thousand and one times."

Dr. Bryce didn't let his comment get to him. "To prove this, we used your semen in an experiment and It was successful."

Bastian scoffs. "Why did you fuse it together with that of a dog's eggs?"

Bryce heaved. He was still getting used to his unnecessary comments. "Hahaha , very funny." He said dryly. "We used it in one experiment with a female human. And I'm proud to say she's currently six weeks pregnant." The line was silent. Dr. Bryce feared the worst until Bastian shouted.

"What!" He startled not only the doctor but also the other occupants of the room. They looked at him expectantly.

"You've got to be kidding me." His baritone voice was still high.

"I don't walk on all fours, have no fur and stink like the American sewage system so no. I'm not kidding here."

Bastian got up . The information was too much for him to take in. "How…When..."

"Calm down, Bastian, calm down. I don't want you to develop a heart attack."

T'was an unexpected joy at dawn. "Screw you and your medical terms. God! This is refreshing news." The crew returned to whatever they were doing though they could hardly concentrate now with Bastian's shouting.

"Hold your horses, I've got bad news remember?" Bastian's excitement deflates a little. "remember I told you earlier that it's all an experiment?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, the female doesn't know about this."

"What?" since when did Bryce go bad?

""I used your semen in place of what was expected for her. Not that she cared about who's semen. She gave me the honours to choose and I did choose yours with high hopes."

"And you got your results?"

"Yeah…" Apparently, Bastian had gone silent. Bryce has been calling her his name for the past two minutes.

"I'm here, Bryce. Right here." Dr. Bryce breaths a big sigh of relief.

"However I wasn't done with my news-" The little rat was he'll bent on ruining his mood to ashes.

"No more Bryce. No mo-"

"Would you let me finish!" Dr Bryce snapped. This is the first time he ever lost his cool. Not even his lunatic daughter could do so.

"Go on sir."

"For your benefit, I'm going to let you in on her progress but tell Stelle about this." He didn't really know about Bastian's pending divorce.

"There's no need for that. I'm filing for a divorce from Stelle."

"it's just a precaution. Stelle ca- what?"

"Atta boy. Finally your brain cells are working." Ouch that hurt.

"I'm just glad after so long, something good is coming my way."

"You're speaking as if you have a chronic disease and are going to die soon." Bastian could feel the old man rolling his eyes at his end. "Two to five years time give or take."

He shrugs. Not that he could see. "Maybe I ha-"

"Shut your trap!" Geez! Man. "I'll give you whatever information you'll need…"

"Look man, I haven't asked for your assistance," He bristled.

"See it as a favour."

"From you? Please." He couldn't help the eye roll.

"But-" …

I respect his intentions.

"Let me finish!" He snaps again. " The exception is, I wouldn't share anything about the mother. It's only going to be about the baby."

The phone call with Bryce went well to the extent that he got a source of inspiration. He was just inspired at the moment. He didn't bother about his crew. Bastian went to his office took his suit and tie then called his chauffeur. He was going home to celebrate in his own way. Maybe he tell his family first about it.

The crew would curse him for sure.