Michelle, for her part, could not help smiling. "Yes, you're right. " she replied, almost conciliatory by her standards. Since Adolé didn't feel like talking, she left the remark for now and stepped from one foot to the other, freezing. The musicians had all taken the taxis that had been waiting outside the restaurant. Now they had to wait until the next one came that Michelle could take. She herself would cycle the short distance to her house as she had come, even though it had already become late and quite cold. After that they went each their own ways again, except that they probably saw each other again in the studio for a short time in the next days.
So, on closer inspection, this was probably the last encounter they would have, if you disregard the usual promotion tour, which was certainly not on the schedule for a few months or a year. First of all, the CD had to be produced, the cover had to be designed and the whole marketing machinery had to be started.
Suddenly Adolé was overcome by a certain restlessness. Somehow it didn't feel right to see Michelle for the last time without having told her the right words. Maybe she should confront her here and now. I don't know if we'd ever had a better opportunity. But at first, she wasn't even sure if this was what she wanted. She had only just come to rest. Now her insides were boiling again. If only she knew exactly what to do.
"Shall we share this taxi?" Michelle Adolé's train of thought broke through. Adolé had not noticed that an apparently free taxi was approaching the restaurant. "Thank you. No. I came by bike. I don't have far to go. "she fought back with determination. Michelle seemed a little disappointed and decided to try again.
"But it's already so dark. And yet so cold too. ", she said to consider. Adolé was confused. "First she sleeps with me, then she dumps me, and now she's worried about how I get home? You bet I'm cold!?!?!"
Fury was building up inside her. She was still thinking about what to do, but in the face of Michelle's contradictory behavior she decided not to hold back any further. Why should she?! They were in the middle of the night in the dark in front of a restaurant that no longer had too many customers. There was hardly anyone around them, so there was no danger of anyone hearing their conversation. As always, she had to be careful with the press and overly curious people with a cell phone camera and a strong desire for recognition, for whom an argument between two celebrities was an opportunity to stand out.
But she threw every caution overboard, took a step towards Michelle and took a deep breath.
"You care about me? You?!?! For real?! Excuse me, but I don't think that's your place. You could have been worried about me when I woke up alone in your house in the morning a few weeks ago after we had a wonderful night together. But you didn't worry too much about me then. "Without any consideration, she beat the words right out of Michelle.
She went on regardless. "I was under the misapprehension that this night meant something, that we were close, that something special connected us. But after I woke up the next morning alone, without a single word from you, without an explanation, something changed. All that time without a word - until now. Who does that? You sleep with me and then disappear? “
Adolé could hardly contain her outrage any longer. Disgusted, she looked at Michelle from top to bottom. "Couldn't be more obvious, could it?! Worse still, you would have had every opportunity to come forward afterwards and explain everything to me. But you decided not to do that. For weeks. Until now. And the only reason we're seeing each other now is because of our embarrassing collaboration, which you're too bad for yourself.
Michelle had obviously not expected such an outbreak. She shrank back and looked embarrassingly at Adolé, then again on the floor. Her timid attempts to say something were ignored by Adolé in her rage.
"So please spare me your supposed concern. If you really cared about me, you would have done everything possible to save the situation and clarify what happened after we were in your house. We're not teenagers anymore. Better yet, if the press gets wind of our affair, we're both screwed. And yet I took that risk. Because it was worth it. Because I thought it was worth it and I thought you were worth it. But I guess I was wrong. And what do I get out of it now? Is that what got me anywhere? No! You ran off on the quiet when you got cold feet. Great! Really very grown up! “
Adolé could not resist a scornful gesture and took a short break, but Michelle, who was close to tears and had her hands clenched in front of her face, could not take advantage of this opportunity and did not make a sound.
While Adolé reached for her bicycle, pulled it and was already halfway up, she set about the final act of her revenge.
"So? Did you get what you were lookin
g for? Did you hang my scalp in your trophy case with your other victims? That's great. I congratulate you!
The only thing that really amazes me is that you didn't take the chance and leaked something to the press, something that exposes me while you are not mentioned at all. In our circles the mere suspicion is enough... But you will know what advantages you had from the night with me.
Now if you'll excuse me. I have to go home. At least there I'll have some peace and quiet and won't have to deal with hypocrites like you! “
Without further ado, Adolé got on her bike and pedaled bravely. She accelerated and left the manor at a brisk pace. What remained was Michelle, who was in tears.
22.
Michelle could no longer hold back the tears. She knew she had hurt Adolé. More than that. She couldn't blame Adolé for being so harsh with her. If only she could explain to her...
It took a few minutes until she had gathered enough to make it to the taxi, which was still standing at some distance, waiting for its next passenger. She dropped herself in the back seat and hummed the name of the hotel where she was staying. Then she turned to the side during the short drive and looked silently out of the window. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. The strangest thoughts circulated in her head. There must be some way to put it all right.
Michelle was deep in thought when she reached her destination. As if by remote control, she handed over the requested amount to the driver and went straight to her room where she dropped her coat lost in thought. Desperately sobbing, she lay down on her bed. How could all this have developed this momentum of its own? Tears rolled down her cheeks, which seconds later dripped onto the fresh white of the bedding. Dark thoughts billowed over her. She lay there for minutes before she could calm down a bit.
She turned on her back, took a deep breath and reached for a handkerchief. Still she could not think clearly, but she urged herself to be sensible. She blew her nose and tried to calm down. More and more an uneasy feeling took possession of her, an inner restlessness that could not be shaken off. It was as if she had finally received bad news, which she saw coming towards her in slow motion and which she had not been able to prevent from coming, despite all her efforts.
Because she could not free herself from this dark feeling, she decided to go outside again. She could not stand this room any longer - she needed air. So she grabbed her coat, which she had carelessly thrown on the parquet floor, threw it loosely over her shoulders and ran out onto the hotel forecourt.
There she first walked restlessly up and down before giving in to an unexpected impulse. She abruptly turned around and rushed back into the hotel and to the reception desk. "Do you have bicycles? Can you lend me a bike?" she surprised the stunned receptionist.
"Yes, we did. But at this hour?! It's the middle of the night."
"Yeah. Whatever. I need it bad. What do I have to do to get one?" The French woman was determined not to let up.
The young man continued to look astonished, but had apparently decided not to resist Michelle's wish any longer.
With a "Follow me, please, I'll do it" he led them past the reception area and the offices behind it to a wooden house similar to a garden shed where the rental bikes were stored. There he handed Michelle - after he had gained access - the bike she had chosen without looking at the alternatives. After asking her for her room number, he warned her once again to be careful and then wished her a good ride. Michelle thanked him well, knowing that her wish would normally not be processed at this time. Then she pedaled resolutely and quickly left the hotel building behind her.