We had to dispose of the previous pot of food, and this time Ray let me prepare a new one. It was almost 12 midnight as I set the food on the dining table. We both ate in silence, stealing secret glances at each other. “This is very nice,” he commented. I smiled at him and simply said, “Thanks.” When we were eventually done, he joined me in doing the dishes. “We need to talk,” I said, wiping my hands off on a towel. “Where are we, by the way? This isn’t your house in the estate, if I recall correctly.”
Ray nodded, his eyes locked on mine. “No, it’s not. This is a safe house, a place I can come to when I need to lay low for a while.” I raised an eyebrow, intrigued, as we walked into the sitting room. The room was furnished with blue royalty-like furniture, simple yet unique, lost in our childish fight earlier, I hadn’t appreciate the beauty of the sitting room.
“A safe house? What do you need to be safe from?” I asked, sitting down on the couch and looking around for exactly what makes it safe, for I have only ever seen one on Tv.
Ray sighed, his expression serious. “Let’s just say I have some enemies, people who wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me if they knew where I was.”
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized the gravity of the situation. “And what about me? Why did you bring me here?”
Ray’s eyes softened, and he reached out to brush a strand of hair behind my ear. “I brought you here because I couldn’t leave you behind. I wasn’t certain what had happened to you, and neither could I have taken you to my house in the estate, for all I knew, it’s the reason we’re in this situation in the first place. I knew the kind of people I associated with; I should have been more discreet with you. Instead, I was careless. I’m really sorry, Nora; I’m sorry I had to put you through all this.”
I sat down, listening to all he had to say, feeling a mix of emotions. Fear, uncertainty, but also a spark of curiosity. “Do you have any idea who might have done it?” I asked, looking him directly in the eyes.
I noticed his expression changed at that moment, like he was fighting a demon inside of him, his hands that were initially resting on his lap was brought up to his hair, running his fingers through it, one could obviously see how nervous he was right now.
“You must tell me Ray, I deserve to know, don’t keep me quiet.” I begged, sensing his contemplation on either to tell me or not.
He drew closer to me and held both my hands placing them on his lap and rubbing it softly, “the thing is…” He paused and inhaled heavily.
“What is ?” I asked my patience running out,”You’re making me nervous.”
“Well it isn’t any of my enemies trying to get back at me, it was someone we both know so well.”
“Who ?”
“My son, and he got help from your sister,” he said, I was so eager to know few seconds ago, but now that I knew I’m uncertain on what to do with the piece of information, I just let it sink in bit by bit.
“How ?” I inquired, my voice already shaking.
“He got it from the CCTV cameras in my house and in my club,”
“You own the club ?”
“I’m afraid yes.”
This whole thing is just so much for me to process, why will Jake do something like that to me ? and my sister his accomplice ? my very own sister aided someone to tarnish my reputation, all for what ?
I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t notice the tears dropping from my eyes on rays hands that were holding mine.
“Hush baby girl.. I know how you’re feeling right now, but I promise to make everything right.” Ray said using his right hand to wipe the tears of my face.
“I just can’t understand why they’ll do such a thing to me,” I said crying even more, “everyone in my Dad’s company is already laughing and saying nasty comments about me, I’m almost certain she was the one who posted it on the group chat. But why ?”
“Even I don’t know my love.” Ray said.
“I was so embarrassed I couldn’t make use of the main entrance out of the company, I had to go through the back, and because of them, who have never in the slightest bit hurt, yet they’ll go through such lengths just to see me fall and disgraced.” Tears flowed down my eyes uncontrollably almost blurring my vision, Ray wrapped his hands around me, rubbing my back trying to console me.
“Oooh my baby girl, they really don’t deserve your tears, they’re too precious for you to waste it on them. Jake is my son no doubt, however that doesn’t excuse what he has done, I’ll get him to apologize to you as well as the general public, an apology won’t change anything but at least is a step on the right part,” he said rubbing his hand on my hair down to my back.
“People will still believe what they want to believe an apology won’t change anything,”
“I know dear, but I’ll do whatever it takes to make everything right, after all I’m it cause of this mess, if it takes me to use my influence I will. If it makes you any better, all the images and videos has been taken down from the internet.” I buried my head in his chest just inhaling his cologne and damping his shirt with my tears.
“You’ve cried enough my love, crying I’d the least thing you should be doing right now, you’ll ruin your pretty eyes.” I remained quite and when he say I wasn’t responding he stopped talking, probably thinking is best he let me have my moment.
We stayed that way for God knows how long, I just listened to his heart beat, and allowed myself enjoy the warm embrace of his arms.
“Nora!”
“Hmmm”
“Are you awake ?” Ray asked raising my chin slowly with his hands, I looked into his eyes, drowning in them, at that point I couldn’t help but wonder how a perfect man like Raymond could end up fathering a son like Jake, it wasn’t right at all.
I locked my lips in his, savoring him, wanting nothing more than to forget all that has been happening and just let it be the two of us.
He froze at my sudden initiative, however conceded in barely seconds pulling me closer to him as his hands raked through my body.