The Sweetest Temptation
Chapter 216: Struggles

Chapter 216: Struggles

"So, tell me, Stella, what’s going on with you? And don’t tell me you’re fine because you look anything but fine." She spoke rapidly, her words tumbling out in one breath.

Stella felt a rush of panic flood her chest, wondering where to even begin. Her life had been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, and she didn’t know whether to start with the good or bad parts.

While she racked her mind, she came to the stark realization that her life had been so full of negative events; it was a miracle she was still standing.

Beatrix observed her closely, taking in every detail. She wondered how long it had been since they last saw each other and what she had been through in that time. She could not tell, but at that moment, she knew she was having a hard time coming to a decision about what she should tell her first.

"Okay, let me make it easy for you, what are you doing?"

Stella flailed her arms around herself while she replied to her question.

"I only recently came back, Beatrix, I have nothing, save for the air that I breathe," she replied with a tinge of humor embedded in helplessness. Suddenly, she remembered why she was in the mall in the first place.

"Oh, and a hundred dollar bill," she added with a carefree chuckle which elicited a laughter from them.

But Beatrix’s expression quickly turned serious as she looked at Stella. "Would you look at that, fate definitely brought us together, tell me nothing more," she exclaimed before leading the way to an eatery nearby.

"Two platters of item twelve, please," She ordered from the tender, who quickly scribbled the items on a paper and had it sent to the cook. Then she turned to Stella, who was beaming with a delightful smile that warmed her heart. She returned the smile as they found a free table and took their seats, waiting for their orders to arrive.

"Have you found Rhys yet? You were still looking for him the last time we spoke."

Stella’s voice was soothing as she spoke.

"No but, Stella; let’s deal with you first, okay? One at a time," Beatrix replied with conviction in her tone.

"Okay ma’am," Stella threw her hands up as an evidence of her surrender.

"So, I actually came across a job opening from as company that I’m affiliated with. I was going to forget about it, but now that I got you – I think we should give it a shot." Beatrix said to her, "The last I checked, the CEO is in need of a secretary. You think you can fill that space?"

Stella could hardly believe her ears. "Are you seeking my permission? Of course I can. What do I need to do? Oh Beatrix, you’re most definitely an angel,"

Beatrix chuckled. "Oh, stawp it, Stella, it’s no big deal. I’ll just send you the link, and you can decide for yourself if it’s something you want to pursue. Just make sure to let me know once you’ve applied."

Stella nodded eagerly. "Of course, I will. Thank you so much."

As they spoke, a waiter approached their table carrying two streaming platters of sizzling seafood. Beatrix’s face lit up as she clapped her hands in delight and exclaimed. "Yay, there’s our meal!"

It amazed Stella just how happy she could be, she wished within herself that she’d be able to have joy such as she did. It seemed like a lofty goal but the good part of it is it isn’t unattainable.

******

"And here we are; my humble abode!" Stella’s voice was filled with unbridled sarcasm as she spread her arms in the direction of the slightly worn five floor building. Her gaze began to drop as Beatrix rolled down the window to behold the structure clearly.

The five-story building loomed over them, its exterior weathered and worn. The bright and colorful paint on the walls had long since faded and peeled away, leaving behind a patchwork of peeling, cracked and chipped layers.

The windows were grimy and some of them, broken, boarded up with plywood or cardboard. The metal fire escape, rusted and dented, clung to the side of the building like an afterthought.

The entrance door was dented and scratched, with a handle that barely worked. There was weed growing through the cracks on the cracked and uneven concrete steps leading up the entrance. There was an air of shabbiness that made the building look unsightly.

Beatrix looked back at her best friend, whose countenance had shifted completely, most definitely due to the intense scrutiny that she used to access her place.

"Oh Stella," she whispered slowly, as she sat back watching her intently.

After what felt like an eternity, she spoke again, "Alright, let’s get in. I’m famished, I hope you have a meal cooked up for us."

"We ate an hour ago, Beatrix. It’s okay, you don’t have to do that," Stella replied, her head was up now. She locked her solemn gaze with Beatrix’s regretful ones.

"What really happened, Stella? There are a lot of things we’ve not spoken about." Beatrix coaxed her, raising her voice slightly, in an attempt to dissipate the current atmosphere.

It was working quite well, because Stella heaved a deep sigh and looked back outside, in the direction of her apartment.

"I told you the headline already; we just got to make out time to discuss the entire biography." She chuckled at the last statement.

Beatrix bore an expression of pain as she watched her best friend – or the shadow of her best friend, stare out the roads. It was clear that she was no longer comfortable in her presence, and she knew why. She wiped away the streak of tear that was rolling down her eyes.

She was the only one that knew about her story, because people have a habit of taking advantage of someone that is emotionally vulnerable. And so, she shut every other person out, except her. But in the time of her greatest struggles, she hadn’t been around.

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