Chapter 43

Strange Encounters

Desire I have for Stella is not to have Stella, it's the desire of her company and her love!!!

Stella is behaving so obnoxious these days!!!!

Edwin wasn't much bothered that Stella had been completely ignoring him.

She behaved like she'd been married to Iris and Edwin was the guest around here.

The two are so much into each other always gossiping and whenever Edwin is around there is a hush silence.

'I am jealous of Iris.' Edwin muttered as he rubbed his hair with the fluffy white towel 'But naay! I can't be. I love her too very much to be jealous of her. And isn't this what I wanted.

My two girls friendly with each other!'

But damn he needed his wife.

And I NEED her now.

He was desperate and aroused last night when she wore a pretty pink strappy night gown and was about to pull her but she escaped giggling that she wanted to chat with Iris first and then she'll join later.

Edwin could not recall how late she came because when he snuggled to her inhaling her sweet fruity smell, it was late in the night and she too was sleepy.

'But I want her and I am not going to office without spending time with her.' He was persistent

"Stella" He shouted

She was in the living room and would always rush towards him even if he whispered her name.

"M making live pasta for Iris; help yourself" she yelled making him pout.

But I am the one who wears pants in the family.

Edwin was not a possessive, dominating husband but he wanted the right to demand love from his wife especially since she had been kind of ignoring him since three days.

Edwin picked his mobile and dialed Stella's number.

"Stella. I love you" he said

"I know" she whispered giggling.

"I need you now" he said huskily as he fumbled with the buttons of his blue shirt not wanting to wear it before Stella tingles every part of hisbody with her mere touch.

"Get ready. You are getting late" she instructed. She sounded cold but he could visualize the pink blush elating her milky white skin enhancing her beauty.

"That you are right. Awww... Ooooww ouuucccchhhhh. SSS..ttteeellllaaa..ouch" Edwin grimaced in pain.

"What happened?" Stella was probably walking towards the room by now.

"My zip, oooo.. my buddy. Aw did not get my inner wear and my thing got stuck in the zip oooouuuccchh...." Edwin shrieked

"Oh no! I am so sorry... sorry" she choked "I should have been there."

She bent down working on the chain of the pants.

Her eyes widened at the sight of red Calvin Klein briefs Edwin had worn inside.

She gave him a stern look, her face at close vicinity of his hardened; extremely harden organ.

"You can really lick it to make it feel better" her gave her innocent pained face.

"Mr. Parker ...you need to grow up!" She shouted in fake anger trying to hide her smile as she bit her lower lip in that attempt.

Her pink floral dress complimenting the pink blush on her face.

Edwin pulled her from her curvaceous waist as she tried to escape.

Immediately she melted into his arms, their lips hungry and starved as they met each other locking and unlocking as Edwin's tongue invaded the taste of her mouth that was getting sweeter with every passing day.

Her moans were like soft music singing a love song.

Huskily he found his way twirling and his wet argot lining down her jaw and her slender throat hunting her way down her cleavage when she pushed him.

Absolved in lust he looked at her questioningly but she too was constrained with lust added by confusion.

"I need to go" she said in complete distraught.

"Why?" he managed to speak. "Hell!!! I want more."

He wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Edwin pulled her to have another kiss and she submitted.

He smiled at her being completely smitten.

"P... Pas..ta" she managed to speak as she jerked his hands and ran out of the room.

Edwin smiled at his power over her.

It's been three days and Iris was having a comfortable stay.

Much as Edwin was happy to have her here with him, so he was bothered.

She being a national celebrity and a renowned actress she was supposed to work but she was having her stay quite relaxed, neither does she ever speak of returning back.

He hoped everything was fine.

Edwin had noticed her attending her phone in the night when he and Stella were having their family time aka fun time, later when they joined her for a small chat she seemed to be quite upset about something.

Edwin let it pass wondering that it is rude to interfere in her personal or professional life but if she was there for a long duration there seems to be some snag attached to her life and he won't let a thin straw trouble her.

Edwin had always been concerned about her safety.

Miles apart he still maintained the tracks of her, not the stalker kind but he was always concerned about her safety and wellbeing.

He did feel a bone in the meat with the way she was behaving.

"Iris..Is everything alright?" he asked as he saw her spacing out.

"Why wouldn't it be?" Stella asked as she worked on the toast applying butter to it.

I am tired of Stella answering for Iris though it means that they were palling well

"No I meant" Edwin was cut with my words as Iris left to attend her call. It seemed important so she went to the porch to receive it.

Edwin took the opportunity to flirt with his beautiful wife.

With Iris round the corner 24/7 he needed to be cautious around Stella.

As warned by Stella!

'I said I'll fit that in" Iris shouted before she disconnected the phone taking her seat besides me.

"I hope no trouble in paradise?" Edwin asked and Stella coughed giving him a warning glare, widening her eyes showing him the whole view of the circumference of her blues.

Women! Wives! They can so intimidating at times...

"Everything is fine" Iris put her palm on his hand assuringly "It's only my secretary... she is sometimes pain in the ass." Then releasing a breath that she was holding.

"Then why don't you fire her. You have every right to do that" Edwin suggested.

"No.. No.. I can handle her. Actually her feisty attitude rather helps to keep intruders at bay." Iris said picking up her pasta with a fork and adding "and again she is the sole bread earner of the family. Her pay is important to her and me" she picked her glass of juice avoiding the talk further.

Edwin knew what she meant.

She remembered how she sufficed the needs of her family and deprivation of which led her to do jobs no girl would do in her conscience.

Edwin felt even more proud of her.

#####

After a hectic days work in the office, Edwin returned home tired and exhausted, his only energy booster being Stella's warm hug and a passionate kiss.

He was stunned to see the dimness of the house; probably both the girls were out on an excursion.

But these women, in excitement to shop they even forgot to lock the doors properly.

Edwin passed a silent prayer that he had secured my house with finger print locking system and he could enter home, add to it all the staff has been suspended for the day.

Edwin took a deep breath frowning; he already missed them.

Had they shared their plans with him, he thought he would have confederated with them.

He threw his bag on the side rack of the cupboards and then managing it properly scared of the wrath of Stella who was always finicky about keeping her things spick and span.

He loosened the tie and threw his coat on the bed, unbuttoning the first few buttons of the shirt he smiled inertly at the mess his clothes were creating.. 'Stella deserves it for leaving me alone and not even calling me once.

Earlier before Iris arrived, after 6 in the evening his phone would either keep buzzing repetitively taking her temper filled calls to reach home at an instant or flashing messages by Stella to reach home or his evening was ruined.

The view in front of his eyes was ecstatic as he headed ahead looking at Stella standing on the window staring at the moonlit sky.

She had adorned his favorite black dress he gifted her on her birthday last year.

Edwin blushed remembering the last time when she wore it for their dinner date instead of unlocking the car to leave for the diner, he had locked her into his arms taking her to the bedroom and the conventional followed later as they finished with crumpled bed sheet, exhausted and sweaty foreheads.

He softly reached her cupping her lean waist in my arms hugging her in my arms.

"My love, you look more beautiful than moon..." he choked on his words

His heartbeats fastened ten times its normal speed.

He was in shock!

She turned around her face equally pale as his; breathing erratic.

"Oh shit! Oh shit!!! I am so sorry!" Edwin lifted his hands in the air managing the distance between two.

She turned around, her dark eyes filled with tears which she managed not to spill...

Damn.. strong willed girl...

"I am so sorryithought stellanotused to anybody elseinmy room' Edwin mumbled relentlessly embarrassed about what he did.

She dreaded words from her mouth but failed to speak only mumbling, "It's not your fault either" she too was embarrassed by the whole situation.

Edwin was petrified with what he had done and shouted "Stella"

If Iris was at home, Stella's got to be at home too.

'Edwin" Stella paused looking at his unbuttoned and disheveled shirt which was half out of the waist and half still tugged in the pants.

She kept her face blank and said "I sent her here. I told her moon looks beautiful from our bedroom window." She completed holding Iris's waist supportively who looked completely dazzled.

'My apologies Iris. Actually dress.. Stella has same dress too" Edwin looked down not able to contain the awkwardness around.

"She loved the famous exclusive brand "Simply Gorgeous" over here and wanted to shop but she would only entertain paparazzi so I gifted her with the best of that collection in my wardrobe." Stella answered AGAIN for Iris.

Edwin pulled the pyjamas and tee from the wardrobe and left for the washroom expecting a bit of privacy from two girls who were invading the sovereignty of his sober mind.

Iris was interfering or becoming a part of their family now.

She was every where to be seen, bringing his morning tea, helping him with his office bag, looking for his misplaced keys.

Yesterday it went overboard when she was actually sorting clothes in his cupboard while he was in the washroom.

Desirously Edwin had walked out of the washroom expecting Stella in the room and going gaga with her but to his dismay, it was Iris working on the pile of clothes in his cupboard.

Iris was changing into Stella these days.

She dressed like her, her hairstyle also reflected the artwork of Stella who is very creative with her curling tools.

"Umm.. Can you send Stella in please" Edwin requested Iris who was working on one of the piles of his briefs.

God knows why?

He wonder why Stella was giving so many liberties to her.

Earlier she had been so possessive about the exclusiveness of their room that she even tried to keep the maintenance part away from the staff until and unless it is an emergency.

'Yes Edwin." Stella said as she wiped her flour stained hands with the hand towel.

"You okay" he asked looking into her sad blue eyes as he brushed his thumb on her cheeks.

She dulled even more as if she lost the walls of patience and few drops of tears slipped off her eyes.

"He was a great man. He should always be remembered with a smile on our face." Edwin said and hugged her. Edwin realized she was baking a cake for her late father's birthday. He loved her pineapple cheese cakes. "After all he would always want us to be happy"

She nodded in understanding. She looked very pale today.

You could notice the difference, her face was not pale because of the despondency but she looked really weak like she was unwell.

"You are having your vitamins as prescribed by Alex?" Edwin asked.

She got nervous all of a sudden as she hid her face working on something in her cupboard arranging her pile of plates in a straight line.

Edwin nodded his head "why are you so obsessed cleanliness?"

"Am sorry, I have been forgetting to take them lately" she said.

"Since Iris arrived. Right?" words happened to slip out of his mouth.

She changed her expression like a child caught with his hands in a cookie jar then immediately transformed them into anger

"What has Iris to do with my gulping those silly tablets?" she was unexpectedly loud.

Edwin pulled her into a hug; she was in emotional turmoil "sorry darling. It's like she is everywhere in the house. I do not get to spend time with you. I miss having you exclusively for me. I think she should now lea... "

His touch, his hug melted her like cheese on the frying pan as she rested her head on his chest and stayed still enjoying the closeness.

Edwin too stood still living for the moment.

When he bent to kiss her she suddenly yelled "oh shit my cake in the oven!!!!!" and sprinted out of the room.

Later in the break fast table there was an eerie silence. Iris was slowly munching on her peanut butter toast.

She'd been eating a lot of it lately.

Maybe due to some fit and slender body issues that she has to maintain for her forthcoming movies.

Edwin wondered if she had a boyfriend? She never seemed to be talking to anybody on the phone nor did she use the messenger service much.

Out of curiosity Edwin happened to ask her "So Iris why don't you share your life? Do you have a boyfriend?"

She choked on the bread she was eating and started coughing badly. Quickly Stella stood on her feet helping her with the juice.

Iris's face was red due to coughing.

"I'll get some water from the kitchen" Stella helped.

But as soon as she stood, Stella tripped on her place, some nerve pull or something

Edwin ran to her bending on his knees to ease her pain.

Softly he massaged her ankle, which had a mild sprain, and she was immediately fine.

Edwin however enjoyed the act a bit too much.

Iris's coughing had settled by now and she helped herself for water from the kitchen.

Edwin's hands were enjoying way too much as her orange dress gave him an easy access to her porcelain skin which were about to reach her thighs

"What is this Stella?' Edwin gasped at the blue spot, some kind of bruise marks at three different places on her legs.

"I don't know, they have been appearing lately". She tried to dismiss pushing my hand.

Worried he checked the other leg too, two blue marks were present on the calves of her other leg.

"You need to take care of yourself... For me..." He looked into her eyes. But a longing sadness prevailed in them.

Something was surely disturbing her.
Edwin fed her with ample breakfast till he was satisfied as the three chatted casually not before they toasted for her late father.

Edwin's drive to the office was consumed by worry of Stella.

Few days back she was so excited about our plans for the child. Now she did not pick on that topic at all. She is occupied with Iris's presence but still something, some hidden gorger is hurting her. Edwin could see it in her eyes.

So he decided on something before he left for home from office.

Since Iris is around Stella for eternity, he guessed she would be her company at the cemetery to offer flowers to her dad.

He'd finish the work by then. And then surprise her in the evening with something that would make her happiest woman in the world.

'''''''''

'Yes..... you can forward my number to him, only him and nobody else."

"No I am not telling you where I am right now." Iris snapped the phone shut immediately.

She was tired of the repeated questions of about where she was.

She could not tell them that.

It was too risky and just incase anybody happened to catch up with the reasons why she was here, she could only imagine the consequences.

'Better off I maintain my secrecy.'

She wondered what this chief security officer of United States security department had to talk to her. 'Maybe they needed to get some shoots done with them for the tourism promotion of the country.' Iris concluded

Here Edwin had taken good care to hide her presence. The entire staff was warned of being fired of their respective jobs incase the word of Iris being in their residence was leaked and in addition to that they would all be presented with twice the salary for a month and even a picture to be clicked with her. The enthusiasm of getting a photograph done with Iris overwhelmed the staff.

One of them approached her. She was an old lady in her mid fifties but really fit and polished enough to work as a staff at a demanding Stella's house. She pleaded her to get the picture of Iris with her grand daughter instead of her and also promised her word that her granddaughter would also abide to follow the no speaking rule.

Iris immediately hugged her. She had no idea why? Maybe she missed her granny who passed away when she was only ten.

And my movement around the city too was also well guarded with tinted glassed and a red hair extension with huge sun glasses.

Sometimes Iris even tanned herself to avoid any reverences.

Once Iris was stopped by a teen girl in school uniform and she said "only if your eyes were dark instead of green and your hair black instead of red, you would have really looked like Iris"

Iris looked at her shocked and scared.

She thought Iris was confused so added "Iris you don't know Iris, the Hollywood actress, her super hit movie "Wisdom" in which she fought with a tiger?"

Iris looked at her with my heart beating rapidly 'should I be happy or more scared?"

"Dr. Isabelle, come see the linens for your new clinic." Stella had pulled her with her to another showroom at the far end corner.

"Smart brains" Iris complimented her.

The shopping was fun till the beep of her phone demanded my attention.

"Hello" Iris said without checking the id.

"I still love you" the voice at the other end spoke with ultimate intimacy.

"Aaron... please. I told you I am sorry." Iris paused and murmured "I cannot love you."

"I know" he took a deep breath "I want to meet you."

"You can't" Iris denied.

She didn't want any further complications other than put by Stella.

Stella's been doing strange things daily to bring Edwin and her closer but nothing was working. Today she had the weirdest of plans to make the three share the same room in the night with a reason that the conditioning of Iris's room wasn't working and the other one being reserved for her father in law, she won't let her sleep there.

Iris wondered if it would work.

"Are you listening Iris? Just tell me where you are? I am only worried about you" he shouted in panic.

"I am fine" Iris answered softly.

"Please tell me which part of the globe are you?" He begged.

"I am at my home town" Iris gave in. She couldn't drag it any longer. She was already feeling guilty of denying any commitment to him.

He had always been a close and good friend and Iris was behaving like a bitch especially after almost accepting to be his girlfriend.

"Oh!! Its okay. Why were you reluctant to share?" he asked relaxed now.

"No I did not want anybody to know" Iris answered casually.

"Your wish is my command Love. I have locked my lips so no one will know." He said cheerfully.

"I will come and see you there soon" he said enthusiastically.

"No Aaron if you come, paparazzi would come to know. Please don't. I cant... I.." Iris panicked.

Iris could not have him here.

He knew about her one sided love.

"Hey relax, I am working right now. Soon I'll meet you. Don't worry. If you don't want, no one will know where you are." he said.

Iris could feel the grin on his face.

"Bye Aaron."

"Bye sweetie. I love you." And he hooked up the phone before Iris could repeat I do not.

She did not want to give any false hopes to him.

Even if she was not with Edwin, she could not be with anyone else knowing that he is in so much pain without Stella.

'Till Edwin is happy, I can't be happy too.'

Stella and Iris's shopping excursion was uneventfully over and they returned home tired and longing for a cup of tea.

Iris avoided going for shopping all these days but Stella's visit to her dad upset her so much that she thought may be this shopping would help her cheer up a bit as it is there was nothing she could do for her health.

They returned home to see dark entrance. Normally the staff was designated to switch on all the lights after the sunset but it was extremely dark today, kind of scary dark.

The darkness spoke of something untoward following with little light from the neighborhood barging in giving some visibility to the eyes.

The huge door was closed as usual and from the decorative glass on the doors the limited light reflected on the figure sitting on the steps.

Soon they were able to see him clearly as their eyes got accustomed to the available lighted surroundings.

He looked like a drenched horse, just out of pond, his hair sticking to all sides, his shirt completely wrinkled, half of the buttons open, his hands covered his face and as he looked at them, his red blotchy eyes made their hearts skip a beat.....

"You...