<b>Chapter </b>44
Mason
<b>David </b>sent me the address just as he promised.
As I drove down to the bar, I couldn’t help but think about Lydia.
She must be celebrating now, and a part of me wishes I were there with her.
I reminisced about the time when we vowed to be together to celebrate every win and loss together.
That probably didn’t count anymore,
I pulled in front of the bar where other cars were parked.
From the amount of luxurious cars in the parking lot, it was clear that this wasn’t <b>an </b>average bar.
As Lapproached, loud music resounded from the untrance. Light shed in different <b>colors</b>, temporarily brightening things around me.
I stopped inside the bar.
<b>It </b>was more like a club than a bar. There were so many people in the middle of the bar dancing and pushing their bodies together.
I was led to a private booth by a waiter dressed <b>in </b>a ck shirt and trousers.
“Man!” David stood when he saw me.
He was in a white button–down, his suit jacket ced on the side.
He held a
<i>ss</i>.
of drink in his hand.
The smell of cigarettes hung heavily in the <b>air</b>.
The booth was separate <b>and </b>private, just like liked it. The loud music was gone. This was the second <b>floor</b><b>, </b>a different world from the first.
“I didn’t think I’d be seeing you this soon.” He extended his hands, and we shook and hit the side of our shoulders together in a mini hug
“How long has it been since Ist saw you? You look as fresh as ever.” He said.
I sat expressionless..
“How long have <b>you </b>been in the city?” I asked
-Touched down in New York yesterday. Didn’t want to call till I settled in, but after reading the news about Lydia, I knew I had to see you.”
There were three empty bottles on the floor and an unopened bottle on the table.
<b>David </b>opened the bottle and poured some into the empty ss on the table. He pushed it towards me.
<b>There </b>was a te with squashed cigarette butts.
“Hmm,” <b>I </b><b>said</b>.
I took the ss from him and twirled it.
“How <b>did </b>all this happen? I lost contact with the media all those times I was away. I knew of Kavas corporation, <b>but </b>not in my wildest dreams would have thought that Lydia was the face behind such a big and sessful corporation<b>” </b>
<b>He </b>ced the ss on <b>his </b>hand on the table.
I took a slow sip from my ss, fully aware that David wasn’t done,
He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his jacket by the side. He then ced a cigarette between his lips, holding it in position while he fetched th?c. lighter on the table.
He flickered it on Smoke oozed from the cigarette. He sucked in and then blow it out through his mouth and nose,
“Lydia is dead<b>; </b>how did the dead rise up?” He asked. I looked to the side.
“would have doubted it if I heard this from someone else, we celebrated your divorce together and drank tofort you at her death. <b>But </b>who knew. she was alive all these while!” He sounded more confused than pissed,
“How is that even possible? I tightened my grip around t ss
“Not only is she back but she is now a rival. <b>Mason</b>, it isn’t fait that you aren’t speaking, tell me, what changed.”
The side of David was never hard to find.
He loved gossip as much as women did.
1 gulped down the remaining content of my drink and ced my ss on the table with a thud.
“I would <b>dly </b>tell you if I <b>had </b><b>an </b>idea.” That was the truth, but I am just as clueless as he is.
“I was as surprised as you are, if not more, when I saw her.”
He squashed the butt of the cigarette on the te, adding it to the halves on it.
“I can only imagine<b>.</b><b>” </b>
I poured myself a drink
“The only reasonable thing to assume at this point was that there was a mistake. We never saw her body.”
Inodded.
We were silent for the next minute, each of <b>us </b>covered in our own thoughts.
I wanted to speak to Lydia. With each <b>gulp </b>that ran down my throat, I wanted her.
My mind reverted back to the time we spent in the hospital together. That was the highlight of my day. I didn’t think she was capable of stiming so much
emation in me.
“But one thing is sure, she sure has changed.” David’s words cut through my thoughts. He was right.
<b>Maybe </b><b>she </b>was correct when she said Lydia was dead,
“But I’m curious about one thing,” David said, leaning forward. I looked at him, “How does all this make you feel? Do you want her <b>back</b>? Do you regret letting her go<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Do I want her back?
“I know for a fact <b>that </b>you never let her off.” He added, his expression turned more serious and maybe mixed with a look of conce
“Even though you imed otherwise, I know you never stopped loving her. So <b>now</b>, how does her return make <b>you </b>feel?”
<b>David </b>may be a jerk most of the time, but he was one of the most understanding friends I had. He never judged and was always ready to listen.
10:52 Sat, 2 Aug G
No one <b>has </b>asked me that question.
<b>Not </b>run me.
running away from the question. I don’t want to talk about it
1 fear if entertain such questions or thoughts, I may truly want her back, and that was not possible.
She doesn’t want me
Irested my <b>back </b>on the couch, running a finger through its soft and smooth surface
I didn’t say anything: I didn’t know how to reply.
<b>Lydia</b>.
Her name slipped out of my mouth. Suddenly, all the anger i felt about losing the contract disappeared, reced with a deep sense of regret for losing
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