Back To The Viper by Antara Mann

you’re damn right. Harry explained to me that certain things are inevitable for some people. For others, though, some of the parts of their destiny are optional. It turned out that was exactly my case. However, yesterday Harry assured me that it was not a problem for us to go back to our past again during the showcase and fix our present.” She paused. “Are you in?”
    “Am I in? There’s nothing in the world right now that I want more than that. We should discuss it with the boys, though.”
    Ashley giggled from the other side of the line.
    “I can’t believe that just a few weeks ago we were dissatisfied with our life.”
    “Yes, I guess fate has a weird sense of humor,” Craig agreed with a sarcastic note in his voice.
    “By the way, I already talked to Chad, and you’ll be surprised to know he’s having problems, too.”
    “Speaking of Chad, isn’t he straight now? It’s amazing what a single time travel can lead to!”
    They laughed, but soon after, Ashley became serious again.
    “All right, we only need to talk to Wayne. I’ll do that, and I’ll call you when I’ve arranged everything.” Ashley ended the call and stared at the beautiful view from the veranda of her villa. There were tall palm trees in the front and in the distance the ocean was glistening with sunlight. Enterprising by nature, Ashley was used to leading the band and the boys. No wonder she had her own successful company now. She looked at the clear blue sky above – what would it be like if she could transfer this spirit of entrepreneurship and management into the real life she had had not so long before? She had never considered this possibility. After their band had broken up, Ashley had begun to wait tables at nightclubs and had never graduated from anywhere. But why would you need a diploma these days, anyway? The important thing was what you were able to do, not what degree you had. And she was definitely able to organize and lead. It was time she began to make use of those qualities.
     

Chapter 17
     
     
     
    “Honey, how do I look in this dress?” Olivia turned her head to look at her back in the mirror.
    Wayne was trying to keep his eyes on the exit of the store, wondering what else apart from a fire could activate the alarm.
    They had been at Maxfield for more than two hours because his fiancée wasn’t able to decide which piece of clothing she wanted. He openly hated stores and shopping as a whole and thought it was a waste of time. If he liked a piece of clothing that matched his size, he bought it immediately.
    “Wayne! What are you looking at? I need your opinion! Doesn’t this dress make my ass look bigger?”
    He turned his eyes on her in boredom.
    “Baby, you’ve been hesitant about this model for half an hour now; I don’t know what else you want me to say. Your ass looks normal…” He couldn’t finish because she burst out nervously:
    “You mean my ass is big, then?”
    “No, I… uhh…”
    “All right, then, Mr. Playboy! If you will insult me, then you’ll get no sex for a week! First, you won’t help me choose an outfit for the 20 th Century Fox party, and now you’re insulting me! Great job, keep it up and the next time we’ll have sex will be when hell freezes over!”
    “Shopping is not for men,” Wayne muttered to himself. “Olivia needs a girlfriend or, even better – a gay friend. Where is Chad now?” He thought and remembered that he was supposed to meet his friends. They had agreed to meet at Ashley’s at 137 Sunset Boulevard. She had called him a few days before, suggesting that they see one another today when all of them were free. He looked at his watch and the little time that remained made him do something.
    “Baby, I’m sorry, but I really need to go.” He didn’t wait for an answer, but rushed straight at the exit without even daring to look back. Olivia’s threatening cries could be heard from the fitting room. On leaving the store, he looked apologetically at