(Avery’s Thoughts)My phone keeps on buzzing in my purse while Dmitri and I are sharing this unique smoking experience together. I try to ignore it and put the purse on my side, and enjoy the unique feeling. I honestly thought of it as a bad thing, well it’s not good either, since not all states consider shisha as a legal vice. I even thought it would smell really bad. But with my first hit of the smoke circulating inside this little flask over there, the chocolate minty flavor goes straight to my nostrils. It felt weird but not bad, so I must say, I enjoy this. Plus the fact that Dmitri’s warm hand has been traveling all over my body. And it boosts this strange feeling inside me. My phone vibrates again and when I check it, the screen displays Jeff’s name. I try to hide it from Dmitri but he notices it right away, so he puts down the pipe and asks me, “Avery, would you like to answer that?”I shake my head and answer him with a smile, “Uh, no, it is better not to answer it.” And

(Avery’s Thoughts) We just finished our tour in Macau yesterday, and we arrived in the States just a few minutes ago. Even though we had some disagreement, we made up the next day, and our stay there was splendid. I got to know more about his billionaire friends, and they told me more stories about Dmitri’s past. They even told me what kind of tricks Dmitri pulled to get me out of the SEXONITE’s system. We were back to being sex buddies, and we are enjoying our moments together because I added a clause in our contract that once Jeff and I married, I could no longer meet him. I may be a cheating girlfriend, but I want to honor the sacrament of marriage just like my parents did. And besides, somehow Jeff deserves it. He did nothing but love me with all his heart. But sometimes being apart tests your relationship in terms of patience, loyalty, love, and trust. And to be honest, I already failed two of them. I do love him, and I want to be patient with him, but I am no longer loyal

(Avery’s Thoughts)It is nine in the morning, I am taking a sip from this cup of coffee while currently looking at my wall scratching out things from my bucket list one by one. “Go to a casino, done, scratch it… Fit the wedding gown, done, scratch it… Hang out with bestie, done, scratch it…” I smile feeling great seeing my progress here. The next on the list would be ‘Donating Egg Cells’. I don’t know why but after watching a lot of documentaries about surrogacy, IVF, and couple having troubles getting pregnant, it makes me aware that not all can be given a chance to be a mother. Somehow, I believe I might help others, and besides, I have such great genes, duh?!A few minutes later my phone buzzes and the screen displays my day calendar appointment, “Seattle's Fertility Center appointment at 10.”Okay, I guess I’ll get going. Before I go out of my hotel room, an unregistered number appears on my phone screen and I immediately know who it is, so I answer happily, “Hey, Dee.”“I’m he

(Avery’s Thoughts) “Hey, you’ve been crying since you and Seid talked but you never answer any of my questions,” I hear Dee comforting me while he’s driving back to his penthouse. But words can’t just escape my mouth. All I feel right now is heartache, pain, sadness, and guilt, a mixed emotion of thoughts,“I wished I had known.”“He should have told me.”“I wish I would have been more understanding.”But on the other note, this is how my mind goes, “I loved him for 10 fucking years, I was loyal, and yet he was a cheater.”“He was a liar.”“He deserved what happened to him.”My brain feels like exploding and I feel suffocated, I think I’m having a panic attack. So I whisper to Dee, “S-stop the car, Dee.”“Why, are you hurt or something?” he asks with full concern towards me. I can’t even bring myself to tell him, and because of frustration, I raise my voice, “Stop the fucking car!” All I ever want is to get out of that small moving box. I need to feel the air. My attack is limiti

(Dmitri’s Thoughts) Before my appointment with Nikolai, I need to drop by here. It’s very unusual for Nik to invite me for a lunch, so it may be somewhat, important. I am inside my car waiting at the airport for him, I tap my fingers on the stirring wheel out of boredom. I hate going to the airport especially if I am to drive and pick up. I am used to riding a private jet, after all, so waiting here, at the parking lot is not an easy or even a comfortable task for me. “He said he would be out in a minute, where the hell is he?” I bite my lips out of frustration. Finally, Greta announces a call going through, “Incoming call from a restricted number, should you answer Dmitri?”“Connect me to him,” I command. “Call connected,” Greta confirms.“Where the hell are you? I’ll be late for work, hurry up,” I scold him.“Duh, you didn’t tell me about your car, dummy! Don’t be so hot-tempered Dee!” he answers with a sweet voice. Minutes after our last conversation, I can finally see his fi