Axel checked his phone and noticed he wasn’t receiving any notifications anymore, it meant Nora got her to stop.
He knew he hurt her and he understood her frustration. Just like he has always said, Lily doesn’t deserve him, she deserves someone better.
Apart from him using her to get what he wants, was he willing to let her go? Of course not. He might not deserve her but at the same time, she is safe with him.
The world or anyone else is too cruel for her, she would be taken advantage of.
The door to Axel’s office opened and Max walked in with a smile. Axel slowly stood up and walked towards him.
“Are you coming to give me a hug because… ” Max trailed off as Axel punched him, he lost his balance and fell to the floor.
“What the fuck?” Max asked as he massaged his jaw and stood up.
“What the fuck did I do?” Max asked and Axel was about to punch him again but he resisted the urge.
“My wife is not someone you should take advantage of. Just because she is gullible doesn’t mean you should treat her anyhow.” Axel replied.
“What?”
“She told me what you fucking did with her.” Axel said and Max sighed.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean… ”
“Spare me that bullshit.” Axel cut him off and walked back to his seat.
“Come on man. I am sorry. I was fucking high on that day and your wife was looking so pretty.” Max said and Axel glared at him.
“Sorry, my bad. I am just trying to explain myself.”
“It is fine. How was it?” Axel asked as Max took a seat opposite him.
“The trip? It was great. What did I miss?”
“I got Malia pregnant.” Axel said and Max’s eyes widened in shock.
“What? How?”
“It’s a long story. I got drunk at the party, it was just being drunk normally, I think something was wrong with my drink. I feel like it’s all planned with Susan.”
“How is Lily taking the news?”
“Not very good. She drained my account.” Axel replied and Max chuckled.
“That’s crazy.”
“What are you going to do about this?”
“For now, Malia is going to move into my house. I will think of a solution later.”
“And Lily?”
“I will handle her.” Axel replied and Max sighed.
Axel had his way of handling things after all.
*********
AT NIGHT
Nora held Lily’s hand as they both walked into Axel’s house, they got into the living room and met Axel and Max seated on the couch.
“Max.” Nora called happily and rushed to him while Lily stood and watched.
She didn’t feel too good and to make it all worse, Max was back.
Nora pulled away from Max and turned to Lily.
“Hi, Lily.” He said and she waved at him.
“Hi, Max.” She replied. Axel stared at her and she avoided his look. Nora walked back to Lily and held her hand then pulled her closer to the couch where Axel and Max were seated.
They sat opposite them and Axel gave Nora a look. He knew something was up from the way Nora was grinning.
“What?” Max asked.
“Axel. Obviously, you know Lily isn’t happy.” Nora started and Axel nodded, urging her to go on.
“So I came up with an idea.”
“What is the idea?” Axel asked.
“While you think of what to do with Malia, Lily and I would love to go on a trip to Paris.” Nora said with a wide smile.
“No.” Axel said and Lily rolled her eyes.
“What? Why no?”
“Why do you want to go to Paris?”
“Because of your wife. She needs space from you, you cheated on her.” Nora replied and Axel rolled his eyes.
“She is right though.” Max added and Axel glared at him.
“It is dangerous going to Paris. Why not somewhere nearby?” He asked.
“Paris is close enough and it is going to be safe. Instead of staying in a hotel, we will be staying at an apartment. I know a friend there who gives apartments to travellers. It will be safer because we will be going there on a low profile, we will travel normally and spend a few days then we will be back.” Nora explained.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Max said and Axel glared at him again.
“No.” Axel said.
“I want to go.” Lily said softly and Axel turned to her.
“I want to go, Axel.” She said and Nora held her hand and nodded.
“Please Axel, we want to go.” Nora said softly like Lily did and he glared at her.
“You will only spend four days.”
“Yes!” Nora said excitedly.
“I am not done talking yet.” He said sternly with a glare and her smile faded immediately.
“Sorry, please continue.” She said and he turned to Lily.
“You will call me three times a day, when you wake up, before lunch, and when you are about to sleep. You will inform me of everywhere you will be going, you will send every picture of where you are, and always share your location.” He ordered and Lily nodded in response.
“Yes, she will do all that.” Nora said with a happy smile and giggled.
“We are leaving tomorrow, I already booked our tickets.”
“What? Tomorrow?” Axel asked.
“Yes, thank you.” She giggled and Lily stood up.
“I will start packing.” she said with a low voice and walked away.
“Lily is really sad.” Max said as he glared at Axel.
“Don’t glare at me.”
“You know, I should punch you too. You deserve it.” Max said and he rolled his eyes.
“I will start packing too, bye.” Nora said happily and rushed out of the house.
“So, you are really going to let them go to Paris by themselves?” Max asked and Axel nodded.
“Yeah, as long as they follow my rules, nothing will go wrong.”
*********
Axel stood in front of Lily’s room and slowly walked in, she turned to him and he closed the door.
She was seated on her bed and going through her phone, Axel walked to her and sat next to her.
“Hey.” He called and she dropped her phone.
“Hey.”
“Are you texting someone?” He asked and she nodded.
“Yeah, Nora.” She replied.
“Are you done packing?”
“Yes.” She answered.
“Do you really want to go?”
“Yes. I can’t stand being around Malia. Just find something to do about it before we get back.”
“I will.” He replied and pulled her closer to himself. He wrapped his arms around her and she closed her eyes as she placed her head on his chest.
“Can you spend the night here?” Lily asked.
“Of course.” Axel replied.
*********
THE NEXT DAY
Lily trailed behind a maid as she helped her carry her bag down the stairs, she got to the living room and met Nora waiting. Max and Axel were also in the living room.
“Are you ready?” Nora asked and she nodded.
Axel stood up and walked to her, he pulled Lily into a hug and held her tightly.
“It’s just a hug. Don’t squeeze her.” Max said and Lily chuckled.
Axel pulled away from the hug and Lily smiled at him. He was glad she was smiling already.
“Call me immediately you guys land, call me when you get into the taxi and you are heading to the apartment, call me when you… ”
“I will always call you Axel.” Lily cut him off and he sighed.
“We will miss our flight. let’s go, bye.” Nora rushed her words and pulled Lily out of the house.
“You are really doing this.” Max said and Axel nodded.
“I guess I am.”
“How long will it take them to get to Paris?”
“Seven hours, twenty five minutes.” Axel replied.
*************
SEVEN HOURS LATER
Lily and Nora walked in the airport, they dragged their bags as they walked towards the exit.
“I am so excited.” Nora said and Lily chuckled.
“We are going to have so much fun.” Nora added and Lily smiled.
Nora was able to cheer her up on the plane. According to Nora, everything that was bothering her should be New York’s problem. Not Paris.
They got out of the airport and they saw different cabs waiting.
“Excuse me. Are you guys new here?” A guy suddenly asked.
“Yes, we are.” Nora replied with a smile.
“I am new here too. Nice to meet you, I am Caleb.” The guy introduced and shook Nora’s hands.
“I am Nora, and this is my friend, Lily.” Nora introduced and he smiled.
“Nice to meet you. So where are you guys heading?”
“Oh, Boulevard.” Nora replied.
“Great. I am heading towards that street too. Why don’t you guys join me? We can share a cab.” The guy offered and Lily shrugged while Nora smiled.
“Of course, thank you so much.” Nora said and they all got into the cab while the driver carried their bags into the trunk.
On their way, Nora kept chatting with the guy while Lily kept looking around.
As Nora chatted with the guy, he invited them to a party his friend he was visiting would be hosting later in the day.
Nora agreed to it.
Minutes later, they got in front of a building and they all got out of the taxi.
“So, I will see you tonight?” Caleb asked Nora and she nodded with a smile.
“Okay, see you soon.” Caleb said and walked away with his bag while Lily and Nora walked into the building.
They took the elevator to the floor their apartment was on, and in minutes, they got there.
“You were being too friendly with that Caleb guy.” Lily said as they dropped their bags.
“Who cares? It’s Paris, baby!” Nora yelled and turned the music on. Lily laughed and watched her as she danced around.
Suddenly, Lily’s phone rang and she looked at the caller. It was Axel.
She couldn’t pick up the call due to the music Nora was playing, so she excused herself and went to the balcony of the apartment.
“Hey, Axel.”
“I told you to call me immediately after you landed.”
“I’m sorry, I forgot.” She said and she heard him sigh.
“Are you okay?” He asked and Lily glanced at Nora who was still dancing.
“Yes.”
“How about Nora?” He asked and Lily turned. This time, she froze at the sight before her.
“Axel, someone is here.”