“What exactly are you talking about?” Raymond spun around, acting as if he had no idea what George was trying to say.
His expression turned serious as he stared directly into George’s eyes, not hesitating or flinching.
Raymond knew he had to play dumb, act like he was unaware of whatever George might be implying. It was the best way to get out of this conversation quickly.
“I have a strong feeling you know exactly what I’m talking about,” George said, raising a brow and refusing to buy Raymond’s sudden act. “I overheard Julie mentioning that you two should give each other space. What was that about?”
Raymond fumbled for words, searching for an excuse. “No, no. You must have misunderstood. Julie wasn’t talking about space between us. She was talking about the boss’s quarters-that’s where we’re both headed right now.”
“Really?” George’s eyes narrowed, not convinced by Raymond’s quick response. “I’ve been paying attention.”
George’s tone made it clear that he wasn’t fooled. Raymond could feel the pressure mounting, but he kept his composure, trying to remain calm. George’s suspicion was growing, but Raymond had to stick to his story.
“Alright,” George finally said, walking past Raymond toward the boss’s quarters.
As soon as George was out of sight, Raymond let out a breath of relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. He knew he had narrowly escaped further interrogation, but it wasn’t over yet. He had to keep his guard up.
A few minutes later, Raymond arrived at the boss’s quarters, where George was already waiting. To his surprise, Julie was there too. Seeing the two of them together made Raymond’s heart race. He cautiously approached, his gaze shifting between them, trying to stay calm.
Julie and George were seated outside, waiting for the boss, who was still inside attending to some business. There was only one seat left, and it was next to Julie. Raymond hesitated, knowing George was watching his every move.
George smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. “Raymond, why are you standing there? There’s a seat right next to Julie.”
Raymond’s heart skipped a beat. He and Julie exchanged a brief, uncomfortable glance before Julie quickly looked away, sighing softly.
“I’m fine standing, thanks,” Raymond replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
“Suit yourself,” George said, shrugging.
The three of them fell into an awkward silence, waiting for their boss to arrive. Raymond decided to keep his distance from Julie, not wanting to make things more complicated. He wanted to keep everything professional and avoid any unnecessary drama.
After what felt like an eternity, someone came out and motioned for them to enter. Their boss had finished her meeting, and it was time for them to go in. As they stepped inside, Raymond’s mind raced. He couldn’t figure out why Julie was here. Usually, only he and George were called in for business matters, so seeing Julie was unexpected.
George entered first, followed by Julie, and then Raymond. George was fully aware of how strange Raymond and Julie were acting, but he chose to play along for now. He wasn’t going to let them off that easily.
Their boss was seated behind a curtain, as she often did during these meetings. The three of them stood before her, heads bowed in respect. Her presence always commanded attention, and none of them dared to make eye contact.
“Mr. Raymond, what brings you here today?” their boss asked, her tone sharp and direct. She seemed genuinely surprised to see him.
“Madam, I’m here to report on Alpha Darwin’s health. The doctor has given us an update,” Raymond said calmly.
“And what did the doctor say?” she asked, leaning forward slightly, her interest piqued.
Raymond took a deep breath. “The doctor said Alpha Darwin has a brain tumor and needs surgery as soon as possible.”
Their boss didn’t seem shocked. In fact, she barely reacted at all. It was almost as if she already knew.
“I see,” she said. “And when will the surgery take place?”
“I haven’t scheduled it yet, Madam. I wanted to get your approval first,” Raymond replied. “Once you give the green light, I’ll inform the doctor.”
“Tell the doctor to proceed. The surgery must be done before the start of next week,” she ordered without hesitation.
“Yes, Madam,” Raymond nodded, but he lingered, unsure whether to ask about Julie’s presence. He glanced at Julie, his feelings of unease and frustration building.
Before he could say anything, the boss called out, “Julie.”
“Yes, Madam,” Julie replied quickly, her voice full of respect.
“You will be relocating to a new city tomorrow. There is someone you need to gather information on,” the boss instructed, her voice firm.
Raymond’s heart sank. He felt as though a weight had been dropped on his chest. The thought of Julie leaving hit him harder than he expected. He had dreaded this moment, and now it was happening. There was nothing he could do to stop it.
“Yes, Madam,” Julie responded obediently, though she didn’t dare look in Raymond’s direction.
The room fell silent for a moment. Raymond’s thoughts were spinning. He couldn’t believe this was happening. The fear of being separated from Julie was now a painful reality.
Raymond clenched his fists but kept his face composed. He knew there was nothing he could say or do to change the situation. He was powerless.
George, on the other hand, watched the exchange with quiet satisfaction. He had suspected something was going on between Raymond and Julie, and now, he had all the confirmation he needed.
The boss dismissed them, and the three of them left the room. Raymond walked out last, his heart heavy with the knowledge that Julie would be gone soon. He glanced at her one last time, but she didn’t look back.
As they exited the building, George smirked again, his eyes lingering on Raymond.
“You okay there, Raymond?” he asked mockingly.
Raymond didn’t respond. He just kept walking, his mind too clouded to say a word. This is not the right time to engage George.