Bastian
Chapter 136 - Ask Me For Mercy

✧Ask Me For Mercy✧

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“I’m sorry, but we can’t help you right now, please come by again another day, when madam’s health is better.”

   Maximin stared at the butler, who looked across the threshold at him with a flat, emotionless stare. His suspicions deepened. It was not normal for a close friend of the family to be treated in such a manner, though he was an unannounced visitor.

   “How strange. I have sent a letter, but  no reply. I tried to place a call, but the line doesn’t work, and I can’t even walk by and say a quick hello? Just how serious is her illness?”

   “I am not at liberty to discuss matters of the household. I am sorry, Count, but you are going to have to leave.” The butler remained as a stone wall and deciding that the butler can’t be convinced, turned to walk away.

   “Sir Xanders,” a familiar voice called.

   He had barely reached the bottom step of the porch when he turned to look up at the third floor window, to the dainty figure leaning out of it.

   “Oh my goodness, Odette?” Maximin’s eyes went wide with recognition. “Talk to me, I’m listening.” He waved his hands wildly.

   “Please tell Countess Trier my news…”

   “Madam!” came a whisper of a voice from inside the room with Odette. “Madam, step away from the window!”

   Odette disappeared and was replaced by the stern face of an old maid, who closed the window tight and drew the curtains. Maximin watched in confusion.

   The front door opened and several servants rushed out. “Please, you can’t be here Count Xanders, we will use force if necessary,” they were saying.

   “Very well, I will go. Please, clear out of my way,” Maximin said, trying to suppress the hot emotions rising up in him.

   He rushed away, not wanting to risk putting Odette in any more danger and clambered into his car. “Take me to Countess Trier,” he said to the driver.

   Odette needed help.

He didn’t hear what she was going to say, but he was sure of it. 

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Sandrine’s new home was located on the west side of Ratz Park. She had acquired it after the divorce and made sure it was close to Bastian’s own town house.

   She watched Bastian parked by the fence and walked across the road to meet her, she had set this meeting up and chose where they were to meet. She laughed and asked him cheerfully if it would be okay for them to meet in public. It didn’t seem to bother her in the slightest that she’d been caught in the act with her lovers, Noah.

Bastian hit the doorbell, the door opened and Sandrine appeared in person.  “Welcome Bastian, I’ve been waiting for you.”

   “Good evening, Lady Laviere.”

   “Come, we don’t need such formalities between us. Come in, before the tea gets cold.” Sandrine took a step back and beckoned for Bastian to enter.

   Bastian didn’t delay and entered into the house. “You seem to have changed a lot since our last meeting, a little more easy going.”

   “I gave the servants the day off.” She looked at Bastian ruefully.

   The corners of Bastian’s lips twitched as she looked at Sandrine’s shameless smile. She was smarter than her father and he felt some what sorry for the Duke, who was only using his daughter as a means of marriage business. He could have achieved so much more if had made her a successor.

   Sandrine led Bastian to the sitting room on the first floor. Everything had been set up in such a manner that Bastian’s head swam in the intoxication of attempted seduction. Sonorous music played through the phonograph, the fireplace was low and cast a deep amber glow across the room. A tea set was meticulously set up, with candles lighting the table.

   “I heard about the steel company and so I’ve shown my skills to celebrate your wonderful victory, what do you think?” Sandrine sat down and started to pour the tea. “Cookies and cakes have already been prepared, so, help yourself.”

   Sandrine was a lively and open spirit, much like the blossoms on the table. Her increasingly radiant charm stood in stark contrast to the closed off Odette, who was becoming more and more weary with each passing day.

   Bastian showed some courtesy and joined Sandrine for tea. Though Bastian had little to offer in the way of conversation, he doubted Sandrine even realised his indifference as she chatted away about the recent goings on within her social circles. It was around the time he had finished his second cup of tea that Sandrine revealed her true intentions.

   “Did you like my gift?” The rousing melody from the phonograph blended with Sandrine’s words. “I hope you did, I put a lot of thought into it.”

   “Indeed I did, it was very considerate and please pass on my gratitude to Noah Hoffman, your third-rate-artist.”

   “I will, Noah will be very pleased.” Sandrine smiled. If Bastian had not figured it was her doing, she would have been very disappointed.

   “Now, I think its time you repaid that little favour.” Sandrine moved to sit next to Bastian and unlike her mood, Bastian’s eyes remained cool. “I want to try out wedding dresses, ones fit for a spring bride.”

   “Sure, do as you wish,” Bastian said.

   Sandrine’s eyes went wide at the unexpected response. “Are you serious?”

   “Of course. If you wish to book Sabine, let me know. Reservations are likely booked up for the year, but if I ask my aunt, she might be able to squeeze you into a spot.” Bastian smiled. “I didn’t know you were so sincere toward that painter, although I wouldn’t have thought you and him a match, I am happy for you.”

   “What…” Sandrine looked at him.

   “Congratulations on your marriage, Lady Laviere.”

   Stunned into silence, Sandrine’s face went bright red with anger when she realised Bastian was mocking her.

   “BASTIAN!” Sandrine’s voice echoed through the room.

   “I am sorry to be leaving quite so soon, but Saturday evenings are congested with traffic and I do not wish to be late for dinner with my wife. I should really get going.”

   “Wife? Did you really just call that woman your wife?!”

   Despite Sandrine’s fierce anger, Bastian remained unfazed. He was clearly being deliberate in trying to provoke a reaction from her.

   “Why did you bother even coming?”

   “Well, despite everything, we were promised to marriage, it seemed inconsiderate to end our relationship over the phone,” Bastian said flatly, adjusting his tie. “I used you to climb the social ladder and you worked with your lover to stab me in the back. We’ve traded blows enough and are now even. So lets consider all debts settled and move on.”

   “No, there’s no way you want to break off our engagement now.”

   Bastian winced at the mention of engagement. “Its funny that you should use such a word, it has never really applied to our relationship.” Bastian treated Sandrine’s feelings like an account balancing a ledger. “I will do you this one small favour. I will hold all responsibility for breaking the contract, and more importantly, I am very grateful for burying Franz overnight. I might have ended up with egg on my face, but considering our relationship, I’m willing to tolerate that level of loss. Then let’s consider our relationship settled in this way.”

   Sandrine realised that this was what Bastian had planned all along, since the beginning. She hated herself for not realising sooner, she felt like a fool.

   “Think about it, Bastian, if you go like this, your wife will be in serious trouble.”

   Sandrine had always had a niggle that Bastian was not entirely honest with her, but always denied her intuition, allowed herself to be blinded by what she thought was love. Luckily, she had a premonition that something like this might happen, especially after the last time they were alone together.

   Sandrine stood up as Bastian made for the door and pulled out a rolled up piece of paper she had been concealing under the table.

   “I heard Theodora Klauswitz took care of all the paintings in the exhibition. She really does love her son. You even went so far as to take care of all the newspapers and magazines. Maybe you thought that was enough, but what are you going to do about this?”

   Sandrine waved the piece of paper in front of Bastian. It was one of the pictures she had taken from Franz Klauswitz’s studio, a charcoal sketch, which was much more explicit than any of the paintings that were in the exhibit.

   Bastian paused at the door and turned to face Sandrine. His mood darkened as he saw what she was holding. A slight crease appeared on his brow and his lips thinned. It was subtle change in expression, but one Sandrine could see quite clearly. She had gotten to him.

   Sandrine approached Bastian with a malicious laugh. As she closed the distance, until she was close enough to feel his breath. His gaze remained fixated on the charcoal picture.

   “This painting style suits my taste.” She reached up and cupped his check. She caught a faint glimmer of mockery in his icy-blue eyes as she began to unbutton his shirt.  “I like it so much, that I decided to start a collection. I have several of them already. If I were Odette, I would feel ashamed at how much I was parading my naked body around other men.”

   Sandrine grew bolder and tugged off Bastian’s tie. She had wanted to resist having to stoop so low, but what does it matter now? Bastian had already rejected her, their relationship in tatters, but she wasn’t willing to let this go until she got at least a little something out of it. Especially after being deceived for so many years.

   “If you don’t care about your wife and child, you’re free to go. But if not, ask me for mercy.” Sandrine tossed the tie away and finished unbuttoning his shirt, exposing his naked, well trimmed chest. “You know what I want, you used it as bait to lure me in and now I want it.”

   “Am I that expensive or is it that you are just that cheap?” Bastian said, his mouth curling into a sneer.

   Sandrine didn’t answer him, she knew he was just trying to bait her again, and instead of answering, she closed the distance between and kissed him.

Soon, their heavy, ragged breaths disrupted the tranquil atmosphere of the room.

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