✧A DISASTROUS DEAL PT.2✧

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"Aria..." He said, his break more than uneven. Yet she pinched the brink of her nose as she shook her head. "You're an arse, nothing's new." She said with a small breath starting to calm herself as she patted her eyes to clear her tears.

"What happened?" 

"Well I didn't receive good news if that's what you're referring to. I caught something as a child and it's not going away." The father of two had discarded the packet and leaned in further.

"Whatever it is, I'll call healers. The witch's clinic my wife goes to is top-notch that—"
"This isn't something money can fix, that blood and power can fix. I'm ill Lestrange, is that what you want to hear?" It was hard to believe that the woman in front of him, the love of his son's life...Had handed him a will.

A witch that had turned eighteen with an Order of Merlin award in the midst, shouldn't be clutching the idea of living. No. He was going to do something about it.

"Does Orion know?"
"They know I was sick, but nobody knows now. Not Rabastan or the Crawfords, Wyatt doesn't—I want Wyatt to have everything. Alphard can mandate it and be in control of the money and all until he's of age or responsible it's...I'm sorry." She said, knowing that he wanted the union between herself and Rabastan to succeed and perhaps be a beautiful marriage.

But it certainly wasn't in the cards.

"What did the healers say?"
"Nothing good. I'll have to go in for a few tests once a month, it's in Germany." He nodded, knowing full well that Saint Mungos wouldn't be that resourceful.

"There isn't anything I can do?"
"Don't you think you've done enough?" She shot back, her defensive as high as ever. And it certainly hadn't dwindled down, not when she discussed something personal.

Though she had to admit, the idea of him holding above her illness in telling Orion before she got the chance was expected...There was even a line for Slytherins, apparently, too bad it hadn't been a few ticks before.

"Radoph? Good Merlin, I thought I spotted you!" The voice had certainly been a blessing, however it was the same aged men as Senior Lestrange that came over with all sorts of drinks in hand.

Where were they going?

"Gentlemen this certainly isn't the right time, I'm with a client." He said after greeting his friends, returning to his strict persona. And yet Aria smiled politely to the fellows.

"Oh? A client you say? I thought this was a new witch of yours...Tell me love, will you humor me next door too?" He said, and Aria could only allow her elbow to lean onto the table to pretend to fond over the fellow—In an instant, she had the man's tie in her fist and strapped around her fist.

"And here I thought you were a gentleman, pitty." She said before letting him go. It certainly caused an uproar of laughter to the group he was with, and even Radolphous had snickered a bit.

"Lads, Aria Crawford...I've had the opportunity having been her lawyer before she discovered the cure for Dragon Poxs." It was certainly a bragging detail, but the change in attitude had been lust to shock and admiration.

That is what she wanted.

The rush of words hadn't even gotten through her own translation, some were drunk, others were teases—But most were a compliment. Or she thought so anyhow.

"Tell me, after this do you think you'd be willing to join us next door?" One lad had asked, similarly what another had teased prior, as apparently the company of Radolphous' friends had come to join their table. The staff had brought chairs and Lestrange had shifted beside her. Merlin, it was as though they were now banded together.

It was clear that she was out of touch in the world of being posh, and the way the men bragged out their nights out while their wives were home was utterly disgusting.

"Maverick, we have a witch at the table. Hold your tongue better mate...My apologies darling, he's—"
"It's alright, I just pity the wives." It earned her a scoff from the man across from her, and she titled her head. "Something to say?"

"Hmm. I never thought you'd be a bratty young witch."
"And yet you marked all the attributes of me being young and a witch, so pardon me I don't like hearing how the lot of you commit adultery willingly. Yet god willing your wives did the same, that's where the line is drawn." The idea was suddenly plastered in their minds for a moment, and all laughter had commenced.

"You know, I had a question. Do you lot know McNair?" The instant nods had erupted and Aria simply nudged Lestrange's foot in warning.

"His son is quite handsome, could you tell me a bit more about him?" And just like that, the conversation had turned into an advertisement to the bloke. Dozens of things that she knew wasn't true, but that didn't matter.

Her point was proven and Radolphous was sulking right beside her, check and mate—Mate.

It wasn't much after that the men had decided to get going, but then she turned to him in question. "What is next door anyhow?"
"I doubt it's your type of establishment darling, let me get you—" The look she'd given him had certainly summed up the night, and he sighed.

After having paid for the bill, that he almost recoiled in Aria offering to pay for half. That was probably the purest look she's gotten all night.

The men were certainly bred with the normal manners, but goddess spend the night with a married wife.

"Happy with yourself? Now I'm going to be hearing about it from McNair himself."
"Oh nonsense, I met his father when I was at the Opera just the other night. Besides, my friend fancies him—You didn't hear that portion." She said with a slight giggle, and he tightened his grip around her arm and lead her to the given location.

"Well, this is it. I need to be getting you home."
"Why?...Don't you want to be joining your friends?" She questioned, eyeing around them but not seeing a door. Though with a simple nick of his head, he motioned to the underground location.

In beautiful script the sign read Eve's Garden.

"Ah, what a classly establishment. Are witches allowed in?" She asked, taking the first step forward until Radolphous tugged her back. "Absolutely not, Orion is going to—"
"To what? You threatened me with a contract because I slept with your son. Your morals are already out the window and scattered on the floor, and so is my opinion on you." It caused the elder to frown and she scoffed.

"What did you expect me to say? That I'd love to do a business deal like that?"
"Well I certainly didn't expect you to tell me you were dying."
"Well pardon my inner organs for not functioning properly, so can we go see some erotic witches or are we standing here out all night?" He sucked in a breath before tucking her arm further underneath him.

"It's Tuesday."
"Yes, well almost Wednesday."
"Grand, this is the worst night to take a witch."
"Even better." This was certainly not what either expected to go through, but as they approached the beautiful vine door, the small slit had slid open to crack a view as to who was waiting for entrance.

"'Eve's a beauty...'"
"'And women are our grace.'" Now Aria certainly didn't think he too went to this type of establishment, but in seeing that Rabastan went with his brother a few times.

They certainly got it from somewhere.

Upon entering, Aria realized her mistake instantly. If not from the damn moans of both men and women, it had been a public orgy. And she shuffled a giggle in her hand.

"Oh I cannot wait to tell Rabastan this one."
"You will do no such thing."
"But how can I not? I just walked into Eve's garden with his own father...I'm joking, god he might never speak to me again after that. Though it's still funny...Oh don't give me that look, come now." She said with a giggling smile.

"You're drunk. No wonder."
"Yes, well I can't hold my wine in any way. And I think I was nerve drinking, oooo." She cooed, taking hold of another glass of wine from a witch walking around in just about the bare essentials.

He didn't hesitate to snatch it from her. "You've had enough. Have you gotten the view yet?"

"Not enough, though I realize that perhaps people might recognize me." She said with a smirk, and Radolphus had turned away for a moment to swallow the champaign whole only to see that the woman beside him was no longer Aria.

"Aria?"
"Yes, please shout it a little louder. I think my publicist would kill me if she knew I walked ten feet near this place."
"And your father?"
"I think dad would've gotten a kick out of it." She said with a small wink before walking off and away from the very public display of bouncy tits and cocks.

How did Aria manage to push him to allow this?
He hadn't a clue, but the Ravenclaw certainly knew her way around getting her way or neither. No wonder his son had issues in getting anywhere on the marriage front.

"Radolphous...Love! I haven't seen you here in ages!" A very high pitched and feminine voice called out, and Aria smirked up to the man beside her. "Nadia, we're just passing through..."

"The back rooms? I can certainly get you a card if the two of you are in a hurry." Aria held herself from laughing, that would be the end of the world.

She sleeps with Rabastan's father?

"Not necessary, we were just leaving actually..."
"Take a goodie bag for the evening...And perhaps get the lady something special?" It was one thing to be dragged by a Ravenclaw, but Nadia had certainly dragged the likes of them to a store—How did it fit here?
Aria didn't know, but her jaw dropped in the instance.

"What can I interest you in love?" Nadia's attention was now on Aria and Radolphous' feet kicked back into gear. "Nothing. We're leaving, goodnight—"
"I'll take two of 24 and three of 47." The woman was clearly happy with the sudden purchase, and it earned her a very new look of furious on his face.

"Would you like to hear that those are your son's favorites?"
"No. Wait what?"
"I have about half that damn wall in my closet. Those are just the ones he likes to rip."
"Merlin have mercy on—"
"Here, shall I put it on your tab?"  Nadia questioned.
"Yes! Goodnight!" Aria didn't have the strength to fight Lestrange this time, not when he held both the bag and goodie bag in hand as they hurried out of Eve's Garden.

"Well congratulations, I think that's the most fun I've had in ages." She said with another laugh in her throat. "I have no words to say to you, Aria, for the rest of the night." That had been the last words they spoke in public, yet when he made sure that she was in the manor all safe.

Even saying hello to Loki, who barked up to the tall fellow in the living room.

"I do love your son, but as you can understand my level of trust is about a slim as this...And I think you knocked it down another notch with tonight."
"I want the best for my son."
"Then don't act like I'm a prize. I'm not. I'm a person. I'm a person with a career and other ideals than marriage."
"Six years. In six years, will you be ready?"

"Will I be alive? Do you want to risk that? That I marry Rabastan and then he's widowed within the next few months?" The reason had suddenly become clear.
"You'd...You'd suffer in an off chance that could be terminally ill?" Aria had lost the eye contact with the fellow, and sure enough, he earned it with a forceful hand on her chin.

Demanding her attention outright.

"Aria. Is this the issue?"
"One of the eight, but the main of the eight...Yes." He couldn't believe how unselfish she was being, she had the capability of being the most demanding if it had been anyone else in her position.

"Why do you want me for your son? And don't say because he loves me or that betrothed contract from when we were six...Why?"

"Because I loved you like a daughter, I watched you grow up right alongside my son. That image had been ripped out and we lost the years without you. You might not think I don't love you Aria, but I loved Cassiopeia. And no matter how much you deny that she's dead. She isn't. She's just more headstrong and demanding of the room around her." Her eyes had turned wide, all her bitter comments and he still stood there and claimed how much he loved her.

He settled a kiss on her temple, and merlin she could feel the heat of the moment as she smiled politely to the man. "Thank you."
"Anytime darling, I'll be taking this...We'll get it sorted. Orion doesn't need to know." She repeated herself right on after, and kissed his cheek in a parting goodnight.

But no other words had been spoken, and Aria slept alone—Crying herself to sleep as she slept with Rabastan's pillow so close to her nose. Pretending that he was here.

That he was here and wasn't going to leave. Ever.

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Date Posted: 12-26-2020

Time: 10:41

Words: 2341

Aria if you don't want Rabastan I'll take him off your hands hun😂