CHAPTER 41: WHY DIDN’T YOU COME?
The next morning seemed tighter than before in terms of business in the company as the workers had to meet up with people; business individuals for lots of interrogations and talks. When it was getting to the second time of the day, the work started getting lighter as meetings came to an end.
Vegas was the most frustrated of all as he would not stop complaining and mumbling to himself how unhealthy this was nevertheless, he had to maintain his working spirit high in front of everyone else as he was well respected and praised for walking in the exact footsteps of his father. It would be a shame if he was to depict the exact opposite.
This was something he considered an edge over Raphael and he wouldn’t let it go just like that.
Raphael was coming back from the conference Hall with Evelyn and Jeremy behind him, listening to his instructions and ideas that he had.
“Morning, sir.” The workers greeted him as they walked past one another.
“Good morning.” He replied to them.
“As I was saying, I think we should change the whole structure this time around. Company Zee seems to have caught hold of how it would look and we don’t want a carbon copy, try searching for the last diagram of XX Company and that of AA company to see if there is anything you can do about it.” He said as he entered his office, Evelyn shut the door and listened patiently. She wasn’t into architecture so she knew nothing about it, she was into business administration or management, and she could do well in both and her work was yet to land now.
“You mean I should try to see if I can merge the drawings from both to create something special,” Jeremy asked and Raphael snapped his fingers in agreement before sitting down.
“Exactly. You can go ahead and start right on it.”
“Alright, boss.” Jeremy walked out in full spirit as he was fully prepared for his work. Evelyn stood with her head high, ready for any work assigned to her.
Raphael locked eyes with her and smiled, “Miss Evelyn, how are you doing?” He asked her.
“Why do I feel like what you are about to say next isn’t going to be something that I will be pleased to hear?” She asked as she raised her eyebrows.
Raphael laughed and stood up, he counted his steps inwardly as he approached her. Standing right in front of her, he pats her hair and she slapped his hand away. Raphael was more than pleased, if she could act this way towards him, it only meant one thing, she was beginning to warm up to him and this was what he needed in the first place.
“You are very intelligent, Evie and I am proud of you for that. Of course, your feelings are right, they can never lead you astray. Overmorrow, WE will be leaving for HY City for an event. To be precise, it is an auction and you as my assistant must follow me.”
“How many days is that going to take?” She inquired.
“Probably a few days but not more than a week.”
“What? No, I can not go with you. Who is going to stay with Tom?”
“Kira,” Raphael replied to her.
“Kira? She has her life and needs her privacy.” Evelyn blurted out.
“I understand but we won’t be gone for long. It might just take a day or two and then we will be back. You are also working because of Tom so you shouldn’t be willing to lose your job just for a two-day trip. I need you to be prepared and make sure that nothing is left behind as you will have to start handling this part of the company’s official account. Everything needs to be ready. Do you have any questions?” Raphael conveyed.
“Can I not go?”
“Was that a question?” He stared at her confusingly.
“Obviously!”
“I mean, was that a question related to how you can help prepare for the trip?” He carefully twisted the words to make her give up and she did as she rubbed her face with her palms in desperation to be let out of this hook.
“I will start getting prepared now.” She assured him.
“Let me know when you need anything.” Raphael notified her and kissed her forehead before going back to his seat. Evelyn was caught in the moment and blushed.
“Excuse me then.” She exited the office. Raphael shook his head in astonishment.
_*_*_*_*_*_*_
Kira ended the lecture for the day and received a sitting ovation from the students. When she got to the school this morning, she saw that she had gotten a bit famous because of yesterday’s event. Speaking of which, she was unable to see Richard anywhere. When coming, she had looked at the basketball arena but he wasn’t there so where could he possibly be?
She picked up her bag and walked out of the Art Studio. She had not walked for two minutes when she came across Richard. He was dressed in an oversized T-shirt black baggy jeans, his sunglasses were hooked to the hair on his head and his wall was royal to watch.
Kira looked around and was about to call him but then looked around and stopped herself. Some students were out of classes. She quickly made her way towards him.
“Richard.” She called but he did not wait, instead, he kept going. She got in front of him and raised her hand.
“What is wrong with you?”
“You are in my way,” Richard stated with indifference as he looked at her, he was taller than Kira and had a different body than her so Kira standing in front of him was giving the meaning that she was his junior instead.
“Look, I just want to apologize for that night, okay? I am sorry if any of the words sounded rude to your hearing, I just…I was caught up in the moment and wanted to prove a point but I did not realize that I was hurting you in that process. I apologize.” She said everything she wanted to say in a breath and looked into his eyes for his response.
Opposite the building, a Barbie-looking girl was making her way up the stairs with a friend of hers behind when her attention was drawn towards the two people.
“Lucinda, look over there.” Her friend, Rose nudged her and pointed to the place she wanted her to. Lucinda then took a look and wore a frown on her face after that.
“Who is she? Hold on, isn’t she the one that has been making the school entertainment news since yesterday?” Lucinda asked for confirmation which she received immediately.
“Yes, she is the one. I heard that she is the new Art teacher for only this week, she is an outsider and many praised her skill to be unmatched in the school.” Rose replied as her eyes lingered on Kira’s figure. Lucinda scowled and pinched her friend.
“Are you praising her or what?”
“Ouch, no, I am not. I am only telling you what people said about her.”
“But what could they be talking about?” Lucinda mumbled as she watched Kira hand her phone over to Richard.
Back to the two, Kira watched him input something like his figures and saved it but she wasn’t privileged to see the name yet.
“Why didn’t you come last night?” She asked him after keeping silent. Richard threw her a feigned surprised look.
“I didn’t know you considered it serious for me to visit you and I also did not get any injury last night so I thought that I shouldn’t disturb you. Anyway, I will let you know if your apology has been accepted or not very soon.” Richard spoke his mind and slightly pushed her from blocking his way.
Kira gulped, he wasn’t smiling nor did he seem pleased to see her. She must have hurt him very deeply with her words but now, she really wanted to make up with him to show that that night, she was deeply concerned about him and just didn’t want him to get involved in something illegal that could as well claim his life.
“But what did he save his number on my phone?” She regained her direct thinking as she scrolled through the contacts but wasn’t able to find anything helpful. Richard was nowhere to be found too.
Lucinda hurriedly walked to meet up with Richard at a corner. She pulled him by his hand and the latter stopped to look at her.
“Why did you stop me?” He asked her.
“I am sorry but I just kinda saw you with the lady from yesterday and I was curious if the two of you knew each other because earlier your conversation seemed intimate.”
“You were able to eavesdrop on our conversation?”
“What?! No, I only said that because I could see how close you two were and you aren’t that close to any females on campus…well, except me.” Lucinda flipped her hair with pride.
“I see. You don’t have to worry or even get curious about what we spoke about. She isn’t something important…to you. Excuse me.” He removed his hand from hers and left.
Lucinda’s face grew red and she could feel anger flow through her veins at that moment. Rose came out from behind and touched her shoulders.
“Don’t get all worked up, Lucy. This isn’t your first time seeing him behave this way towards you.”
“But it’s slightly different today. I need to see if something is up between them and I also need to show that b*tch and the world that HE is mine now that I have the power to.” Lucinda said firmly.
“What if she isn’t your rival? She is clearly older than him and it’s something the Gulf family won’t allow from their precious son.” Rose revealed and Lucinda looked at her friend with admiration.
“This is why I love you. Your thinking is superb, why didn’t I realize this earlier? There is nothing to get afraid of then. I should work on getting closer to him then.” Lucinda said with a mischievous smile.
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*Overmorrow* is an archaic word for *the day after tomorrow*. I just decided to use it so you could be aware, even if it’s archaic, it isn’t wrong. Thank you for reading.