Change

CHAPTER 63: CHANGE.
Evelyn was busy attending to a new customer of hers when the conversation between two girls who were there for delivery got her attention.
“Do you think something might be going on between Erica and Raphael?” The first girl asked.
“Everyone is clueless but from the picture, they seemed to be intimate and she was laughing.”
“Hmm, when it comes to these upper-class people, it’s always hard to figure out what goes on around them.”
“But don’t you think it will be pretty cool to see them together? I mean, Erica rose to fame in the industry not quite long so in terms of class, she perfectly fits in for Raphael. The latter had already been disgraced by a lady once, he won’t fall into the same pit twice.”
“I agree but I can’t believe that my crush is involved in a scandal.’ The first girl pulled an ugly face and another girl wearing a yellow gown interrupted their conversation.
“I apologize for interrupting but I just couldn’t help it. I do love gist like these.” She said with an embarrassed smile.
“Nah, it’s fine.”
The ladies pulled one another outside after the second girl paid for the cake she had come to buy.
“Youngsters these days are out of the world but she wasn’t lying when she mentioned the upper class though.” The female customer that Evelyn was attending, agreed with the previous talk. She was an elderly woman who had come to Evelyn’s shop just to check out her brands and book an order alongside delivery with her. It was her granddaughter’s fifth birthday very soon and she wanted to surprise her with another design.
Evelyn nodded unwillingly because her mind wasn’t settled, “I agree ma’am.” She replied shortly.
“But this Raphael they are talking about rarely gets involved in scandals like these apart from the one that happened three years ago.” The woman continued.
“Was it that terrible? Everyone I meet keeps on talking about the incident.” Evelyn asked curiously and the aged woman laughed, she adjusted her pair of glasses that was perfectly sitting on the bridge of her nose and cleared her throat.
“Everyone knows. That was the main reason why Raphael Theophilus became known that very much in the whole of the Capital City, the Country, amongst the higher bidders and the fresh young pretty ladies made of natural qualities and plastic. It was unexpected, many were not even aware that he existed until that event. The news just blew up with a series of evidence, I even heard about the lady being in disguise and was not found. She is quite clever though.” The woman spoke at length.
Evelyn sighed and started writing. Her hand was busy but her mind was somewhere else. She brought out her phone after a while and sent a message to him.
‘Can you come over tonight? I need to speak with you.’
*_*_*_*_*
Later at the University, Richard was playing basketball alongside his friends. They were on break and he felt stressed out already because for once in his entire life, he decided to give his present course a chance but at that very moment on the basketball court, he regretted stressing his brain that much.
“Pass the ball over here, Richie.” A guy shouted and Richard did as he was told before making a V-sign with his hand.
“I am out.” He announced and walked over to the bench. He collected the bottle of water offered to him and drank it in a go before tactfully throwing it into the waste bin.
“Richard…hi, can I please have a minute with you?” Lucinda appeared from behind him with a seductive smile on her face. Richard frowned and turned around. She walked over to meet him and held his hands, Lucy took a few steps forward in a bid to bring Richard along with her but surprisingly when she looked back, he wasn’t moving.
“Rich…”
“What do you want?” He asked her.
“I thought you would like to see me more intimately.” She came closer to him and whispered but Richard took a step back.
“Aren’t you ashamed of yourself or don’t the words coming out of your mouth sound inappropriate to you? Why are you always putting on a disgusting act?” Richard scolded.
“What the f*ck are you saying, Richard? It’s me, Lucinda. Have you been charmed or what?”
“Stay away from me, Lucinda. I am done being with you.”
“That’s impossible! You can’t break it off with me!”
“How can we break it off if we didn’t even start in the first place? I told you that everything between us was for pleasure and not for love…”
“But I couldn’t help it…”
“Shush, don’t interrupt me while I am talking. I don’t have any feelings for you, Lucinda, and do you know what? I have no remorse for having slept with you because I am a hundred percent sure that I am not the only one. You only thought of me as your Visa after you would be done with all your nonsense but I am done, you’re too cheap and I am not to be blamed for accepting my offer alongside other guys’ offers. Stay away from me.” He warned her darkly and walked away.
Lucinda shook her head, unable to accept that she had even lost before the war began. No, he just couldn’t break up with her, she loved him and that was what mattered right? The students around were already murmuring and chuckling in mockery as Lucinda angrily left.
*_*_*_*_*_*_*
Evelyn entered her room and shut the door after pulling Raphael in. He could see the anxiety in her eyes and this somehow bothered him to the maximum as he wasn’t aware of what to do. He was stuck…f*cking stuck in the middle of all this trash.
Evelyn looked at him with her cute eyes that were filled with a lot of unasked words.
“What is going on, Raphael?” She finally asked him.
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you pretending to be oblivious? Raphael, there are pictures of you and Erica on the internet. People are talking, they are forming baseless rumors. I…I don’t understand and neither of you is clearing up the issue. What is going on? Do you love her or something?” Evelyn asked him.
“No…no, I don’t. I swear on my life, Evelyn, that I do not love her but please, don’t mind the news. Everything is fake and I am sure that these people…whoever they are, just want to take advantage of my situation. I promise you that nothing is going on between Erica and me. It’s all rumors, darling.” He reassured her.
Evelyn sighed, “Raphael, I don’t know what all of this is about but for my sake, can you just take care of it as soon as possible? And if it’s Erica that is your love interest, I promise not to get mad, okay? You can go ahead to…”
Raphael pulled her into his embrace and sealed her talking lips with his. Evelyn’s body shuddered and she wrapped her arms around his neck as she slowly gave herself into the kiss. Raphael finally rested their foreheads against each other.
“Please, can you not say that again? It feels like you are sending me away from you. I will try my best to overcome the news and make sure that nothing goes wrong. Please, trust me, and don’t ever doubt me, I need your faith in me…please. Do you promise?” He whispered.
Evelyn somehow felt that Raphael wasn’t okay. His voice was shaky and it was just…it was off. She looked into his eyes and caressed his face.
“Is everything alright, Raphael? You look stressed, what’s the matter?”
Raphael then masked his current expression, “I am alright. Just please promise me.”
“I promise.”
“Thank you. Now…since we are in your room, should we do a little bit of…” Raphael winked and bit his lips, Evelyn laughed and they slowly leaned into each other again until…
“Daddy, mommy, are you not coming out?” Tom asked cutely.
“I am coming.” Evelyn pushed Raphael away and ran out. He laughed and his face turned cold when she was out of sight.
*_*_*_*_*_*
Vegas parked his black and shiny car in front of a bar. It belonged to Shaft so he found it safe to be here. He got out of his car and shut the door before walking in. He met a man at the entrance.
“Miss Erica is right this way.” He led Vegas over to one of the exclusive rooms they had in there. The man pointed at the door and Vegas opened it instantly before pushing himself in.
He saw Erica seated in a revealing red dress that had a split. Her legs were crossed against each other in a high manner, revealing her smooth and fair skin. She sipped her drink, completely ignoring Vegas’s presence.
“Hello, Princess.” Vegas greeted slyly as he sat down. Erica puts down her glass.
“Shall we get down to business, Vegas?” She asked directly and with a stern face.
“We shall.” He responded with a crazy smile that made Erica roll her eyes.