The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Anastasia was buzzing with curiosity when she heard Monica finally said yes to Jason. But what did Herman have to do with it all? Grabbing Monica's arm, Anastasia gave it a playful shake. "Come on, spill the beans! Don't leave me hanging like this. You're killing me here!"

Monica, a bit sheepish, admitted, "I thought your husband was sneaking around with some gorgeous woman, so I had Jason follow him. I promised if he kept up with your husband's car, I'd be his girlfriend. So, isn't this somehow related to your hubby? If it weren't for that mix-up, I wouldn't have jumped into things with Jason so soon."

Anastasia was momentarily speechless, then burst out laughing. "Looks like Herman played Cupid without even knowing it."

She wasn't worried about Herman being unfaithful.

"Ana, you're laughing!" Monica pouted. "I was planning to let Jason chase me a bit more, enjoy the thrill of the chase. Now, I've gone and leapt right in. What if Jason thinks I'm too easy?"

"If you suddenly played hard to get, Jason might think that's even stranger," Anastasia teased. "Just be yourself."noveldrama

"Ana, how's Herman in the... you know, intimacy department?" Monica's sudden question made Anastasia blush. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm doing some research. Are men over thirty really as good as they say? Studies claim men peak at twenty and decline by thirty, while women hit their stride at thirty. So, a thirty-year-old woman with a twenty-year-old man would be ideal."

Anastasia couldn't help but chuckle. "That's just theory. There's always room for exceptions. Besides, that's not everything in a relationship."

"You're speaking from a place of plenty," Monica teased. "Admit it, Herman's skills are a nice bonus, aren't they?"

Anastasia's cheeks reddened, her mind drifting to memories of Herman.

"I knew it!" Monica exclaimed excitedly. "Come on, dish the details. How long do your... sessions last?"

Caught between laughter and embarrassment, Anastasia replied, "Monica, you're so straightforward."

"We're like sisters, come on. I'll tell you my stories too."

Anastasia sighed, giving in to her friend's curiosity. "Thanks, but I don't need to know about you and Jason's adventures. Let's just say, each time is well over half an hour..."

Monica's eyes widened. "Over half an hour? That's impressive! More than that? Ana, you've hit the jackpot."

Anastasia laughed. "Get your mind out of the gutter. For all you know, Jason could last over an hour. He works out regularly, hardly drinks or smokes. You might be in for a surprise too."

"Now that you mention it, I'm itching to jump him," Monica said, licking her lips.

Anastasia couldn't help but laugh. "You've been eyeing him for a while, haven't you? Be honest, you've liked him from the get-go."

Monica nodded. "He's a great guy, so different from my exes. I thought he was with Alisa, so I stayed out of it. But now that he's come to me, I'm all in."

Anastasia chuckled. "I should've known. You've been setting traps for him."

As they chatted, Monica's phone rang. It was Jason, inviting her out for dinner and a movie.

Now that they were officially a couple, it was the natural next step.

While Monica sweet-talked Jason over the phone, Anastasia noticed a few strands of hair left on the bed by Julie.

Driven by a lingering doubt, she impulsively collected the hair. A DNA test could clear up her suspicions.

Monica headed out for her date, and Anastasia caught a cab to see Herman. She intended to ask him to have Devin run a DNA test on the hair.

As Anastasia made her way to the company, Herman was getting the latest updates on the investigation into Kayleigh's situation.