TBYM Arc 1.3: Diamond necklace: the goddess's tears

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Emilia was still very much in love and was silently trying hard to get acknowledged by her indifferent husband. Amandine thought it was kinda cute, even if the forced angst was a bit annoying. Not only did Emilia have to deal with her husband’s cold war but there were also rivals that didn’t leave her alone. The couple’s relationship was in a stalemate, so entered Amandine and Androula. One was a twenty-year-old girl who had a crush on Alexandros, a child of one of the friend’s families, Androula; the other was his former mistress, Amandine. There had also been some more antagonists to this relationship: one of which was Alexandros’s mother who looked down on Emilia but eventually had been won over.

Amandine, who learned about the marriage through newspapers angrily visited Alexandros’s home when she knew he wouldn’t be here with the purpose to talk with Emilia. She lied, pretending that she was searching for Alexandros, making it seemed as if their relationship was ongoing even now. That cast a shadow of doubt in Emilia and some angst were thus added. Annoyed and depressed, Emilia flew back home. She could tolerate being called a gold digger but not cheaters.

Coming home to an empty place, it was then Alexandros's turn to repent. He finally learned to put two and two together. He analyzed his wife’s behavior since knowing her and realized she didn’t exhibit much of a gold digger’s behavior: she actually never asked for money, didn't go to parties and she was also very kind and respectful of everyone, even the staff. Annoyed by the sense of loss in him and his conflicted feelings towards the woman, the man confronted his cousin to know the truth. After some more angst, they cleared the misunderstandings and embarked on the road of happily ever after.

Their story was really such a hassle.

Now, she wasn’t sure what the original Amandine thought but she supposed it was jealousy and maybe, in the end, she did develop some kind of feeling for her partner and that, despite their earlier agreement. Either that or she was mad that he moved on. Another possibility being that she misinterpreted his gift. Alexandros himself hadn’t been sure, he never went to look for his ex and explained to his wife that his previous relationship stopped long before, as earlier as when he came back to Greece to see the woman who was supposed to be his cousin-in-law.

However, thinking carefully, it could really be that Amandine misunderstood the present and once she read the article featuring Alexandros’s wedding, the truth was like a slap and in bitterness, she lied to his wife in order to not let him have an easy marriage life. Nonetheless, after that move, she didn’t seek them out again and since this wasn’t about her life story, it was impossible to know what became of the woman.

Her misunderstanding could also be understood though. There was nothing that accompanied the part present. How was she supposed to understand that it was a parting gift? Just how many jewelries did he think he had given her these last three years they had been together? Though this one certainly was the priciest one, she still couldn’t read minds yet. So, she merely thought it was one of his many gifts. Though the man had said that he couldn’t promise her a future, he still said that, at the very least, while they were together, they were exclusive. Thus, in search of an explanation, she flew to his home. Though he never brought her to his family home, he would sometimes bring her to his apartment and having spare keys, she searched around for clues of his family home.

To give credits to the man, he had been very clear about the sort of relationship he wanted with her from the very beginning. His family was quite conservative, not only was the woman an actress but she was also a divorcee. Simply put: no question. If left to the hands of his parents, he would be marrying that family’s friend girl who just turned twenty-one. His mother had been hinting at her for a time now and Alex was tired of pretending to not understand so he simply stopped coming back home, instead, he came more to Amandine's apartment. While he was a frequent visitor, he made sure though to not spend a full twenty-four hours there let alone days, he had a number of penthouses and villas in many countries and while shooting anywhere near him and they happened to be in the same country, she didn’t have his qualm and was a carefree freeloader. So far, she had always enjoyed her life. Maybe with the passing time, the lines of their relationship blurred in her head.

Which was not something that could happen to the present Amandine though.

She was just one of the girls he walked by before finding the girl, while for her, he was a means to an end. And everyone was happy with this.

***

Today was her day off. Amandine lazed around, not feeling like doing anything other than sit on her sofa in front of the tv. That didn't last long though. Her phone rung and Alexandros's voice came out from the speaker, after the brief pleasantries he asked,

“Are you free on friday night?”

She briefly glanced at her agenda lying on the table before answering,

“Unless it changes during the following two days, I shall be. Why?”

“I'm having dinner with Rosvatti Petro and Diana Limbourn.”

Amandine had to sit straighter at that.

“Petro Rosvatti as in the producer and the screenwriter Diana Limbourn?"

She was genuinely impressed. Was he planning on sponsoring a film?

"Nothing could be hidden from you, pedhaki mou." 

Her lips lifted in a smile.

"A shame I have nothing to wear.”

Once more she worked hard in taking his money. After all, he would later refer to Amandine’s behavior and compare it with Emilia's and understands in the end that his wife wasn’t a gold digger at all.

Though he would scorn it later, for now, Amandine could hear soft laughter as he replied,

“A good thing everything can be bought with money and you look astonishing in everything you wear.”

After giving her the details of the time and the restaurant they were dining in, he cut the call.

It wasn't rare for them to dine in public. They had been photographed a couple of times and though the newspapers were actually publishing the truth while saying they had that kind of relationship, in the end, both parties denied it, saying they were simply friends.

When it was business-related, or during some special holidays like Christmas, new year or even valentine's day, he never invited her out. In addition, he mostly never introduced her to his partners and dear friends either, so there was no need to mention his family. The woman didn’t even know where his family residence was, precisely. However, to mere acquaintances or people who held no real meaning in his life, pleasure centered dinners, he wasn’t stingy and let her participate, and that, mostly when those who would be present would be people that could gain her some connections. It could be considered as him helping her out.

***

Friday was fast to come. He came knocking on her door at nine sharp but his gaze was oddly glassy and his face a little pinkish. He dismissed that remark as he led her to his car.

The night started great, really, if only for one more guest she didn't know was supposed to be here: Franco Roselini.

In the colon task of her dimensional blue board, things were spelled clearly. Short but concise. Enter the entertainment world, marry, divorce, hook up with Alexandros Andreou and finally, receive the diamond necklace named the goddess’ tears.

Since the story wasn’t in Amandine’s perspective, there weren't details thus she had a latitude to be who she wanted. The man sitting in front of her at this moment was related to hose tasks too, her ex-husband, Franco Roselini. 

Amandine had married a fellow actor at twenty-three. At the time, both of them had been the main actors of a series that was highly rated. She was still wondering who she should target but who knew that this fellow she was filming with would proclaim his undying love for her. The public was eager to support him, wanting to see their fictional couple become a real one. The result left them disappointed. Three years later, the divorce was pronounced in Amandine's favor and the idyllic partners became enemies.

For those in the know though, the marriage stopped being one as early as ten months after they pronounced their vows, Amandine finding her husband cheating with another actress. The agreement they had signed with the production prevented them from doing as they pleased and they had to wait for the ending of the series before falling out completely. Thus, in exchange for things to be shushed, she took almost all of his money. Bitter, he was hostile to her every time they met and she couldn’t help insulting him back too. How long could they keep on being polite this night?

As she saw his mouth turned into a sneer, she was ready to bet not long enough.

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