Allegedly Yours

Barbeque Party

Chapter 51

The next day, the group decided to experience one of the most picturesque activities in Frankfurt—a river cruise on the Main. The weather was perfect, with clear skies and a gentle breeze that carried the scent of summer. Aston, Nyrah, Zale, and Alessa boarded the sleek, white boat that promised a serene journey through the heart of the city.

As the boat set off, they found a spot on the upper deck, where they had an unobstructed view of the skyline. The sun sparkled on the water, casting shimmering reflections that danced along the boat's side.

There was a small pool on the deck where Alessa sat with Zale, dipping her feet into the cool water. The ambiance was serene, with the city lights reflecting off the surface of the river, but the underlying unease was evident.

Alessa tried to distract Zale with light conversation. "This is really nice, isn't it? The view, the water... it's almost magical."

Zale nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. "Yeah, it's nice," he replied absently, his eyes flickering towards Aston and Nyrah every so often.

Alessa sighed, knowing Zale was preoccupied. "You need to relax, Zale. This trip is supposed to be enjoyable."

Zale finally turned to look at her, a small smile breaking through his stern expression. "I know, Alessa. It's just... I can't shake the feeling that something's not right."

Alessa grabbed his arm, resting her head on his shoulder as they both watched the scenery. The river sparkled under the setting sun, casting a golden glow over the city.

Just then, Nyrah arrived with Aston. She was beaming, holding Aston's hand tightly. "Mind if we join you?" she asked, her smile genuine.

"Of course ," Alessa said, lifting her head from Zale's shoulder.

Alessa looked at Nyrah, noting how happy she seemed these days. It looked like Aston was finally treating her well. As Nyrah sat beside her, she asked, "So what are you doing near the pool? Don't want to swim?" She glanced at Alessa, who was wearing a white floral mini dress.

"I want to, but not now," Alessa replied, turning her face towards the scenery again. Just then, a splash of water hit her face.

They all started playing with water. Alessa's dress got drenched, clinging to her body, while Nyrah's jeans were equally soaked. Zale noticed Aston sitting at the table a short distance away, clearly unwilling to participate in their foolishness. A mischievous idea came into his head as he took a handful of water and splashed it on Aston.

Aston looked up, his face a mix of shock and annoyance. "Seriously, Zale?" he said, wiping the water off his face.

"Come on, Aston, join the fun! What are you doing sitting alone making those weird expressions?" Zale mocked him, laughing.

Aston's irritation flared. He looked around and spotted a bottle of champagne on the table. Without a second thought, he grabbed it, popped the cork, and, with a mischievous grin, splashed the entire bottle of champagne on Zale.

Aston smirked, satisfied with his deed. He moved closer to Zale and claimed, "Now you look better." But then Zale grabbed Aston's hand, trying to push him into the pool. Aston didn't let go, and they both lost their balance, tumbling into the pool with a huge splash.

Nyrah and Alessa burst into laughter, watching the two men flounder in the water. "Now you both look better!" Nyrah teased, clapping her hands in delight.

As the group, now drenched, decided to get changed for the evening, the atmosphere lightened even more. They each retreated to their rooms to change into dry clothes. Nyrah chose a casual but elegant summer dress, while Alessa opted for a comfortable but stylish pair of shorts and a tank top. Aston and Zale, after some ribbing and laughter about their impromptu swim, changed into relaxed evening wear, with Aston in casual slacks and a shirt and Zale in cargo shorts and a T-shirt.

Once they were dry and refreshed, Alessa and Nyrah decided to put together a barbecue party. They headed outside to the deck of the private cruise, which was now bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. The sky was painted in hues of pink and orange, reflecting off the tranquil waters.

Alessa was at the makeshift outdoor kitchen, arranging the utensils on table Nearby, Nyrah was marinating and preparing the food for roasting.

Zale stood by with a large fan, waving it to keep the smoke from the grill at bay. His focus was split between keeping the smoke away and glancing over at Aston, who was lounging in a deck chair, completely engrossed in a game on his phone.

"Hey, Aston, you could at least pretend to help," Zale called out, trying to mask his annoyance with a playful tone.

Aston looked up briefly, a smirk on his face. "I'm helping in spirit," he replied, before returning his attention to his game.

Zale rolled his eyes but couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, right. Your spirit must be on a high score streak."

Nyrah glanced over at Aston and shook her head with a smile. "He's hopeless. Just let him be, brother. We're doing fine without him."

Alessa, busy skewering the vegetables, nodded in agreement. "Besides, he might mess up our masterpiece."

Zale continued to fan the smoke, but his eyes kept drifting towards Aston's phone screen. Just then, a message popped up on the screen, which Aston instantly opened and read with a curious expression. Zale couldn't read the message but was immediately suspicious.

As Aston raised his head, Zale quickly tried to act as if he didn't notice anything. Aston excused himself from the group, mumbling something about needing to check on something. Alessa and Nyrah, engrossed in their conversation and joking around with some of the staff, didn't notice Aston slipping away.

Seizing the opportunity, Zale handed the fan to a nearby servant and quietly excused himself as well, making sure not to draw any attention. He followed Aston at a discreet distance, determined to find out what was so important.

Aston walked through the cruise's elegant interior, his pace quick and his expression focused. He made his way to a secluded lounge area, where he thought he could make a call in private. Zale, ever the shadow, followed silently, slipping behind pillars and furniture to remain unseen.

Aston took out his phone and dialed a number, speaking in hushed tones. Zale strained to hear, his curiosity piqued.

Zale stood hidden in the shadowed hallway, his heart pounding as he strained to overhear Aston's conversation. The fragments of Aston's words came through clearly:

"Yes, I'm in Germany now... No, she doesn't know... I'll meet her tomorrow."

Zale's ears perked up, his mind racing. Aston was meeting someone tomorrow, but who? The next sentence made his blood run cold.

"Yes, I got the address... Yeah, her name is Nina Schneider."

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