Chapter 14: Chapter 14

“Get out of my office, Devyn!” Richard looked up at him with a cold face. He was upset because Devyn was distracting him and he never gave him a chance to focus on his work. Devyn laughed out loud mockingly, he tapped the tip of his index finger on his desk.

“Did Charlene know you're cheating on her?” Devyn repeated the question again, he knew Richard might hit him for repeating the question but he wasn't going to stop until he answered him.

“Get out!” He said in an imperative manner, he rose abruptly and glared at him.

“I will once you answer my question.” Devyn sat comfortably in the chair and put his hands behind his neck. “I thought you've changed. Seriously, you still fuck around after getting a wife. Tsk, you never improve, Richard.” He hissed loudly.

“The last time I checked I'm still single.”

“So why are you wearing that ring?”

Richard frowned, he returned to his seat and gently picked a pen on the container. He wrote something down on a card and pushed it toward Devyn. “That's the password you're here for. Kindly leave my office before I call in the securities.”

“Do your worst. Stop being an asshole and love the woman.”

“You should have asked her out the first night you met her.” He suggested while swirling in the swivel chair.

“It's too late. Okay, since you didn't answer my question I'm going to pay you back with the same coin. Watch out for it.” He poked two fingers at his face and his before heading toward the door. “I know who you are Richard, you're softhearted you'll eventually fall for her.”

He rolled his eyes and grunted softly. Devyn winked at him, he pressed a button on the wall and the door slid open, he looked back and shrugged his shoulders before walking out. Richard was about to return to his work when his phone rang. He picked it up and checked the call ID, he picked up the call and listened to what Annie had to say.

“Ah.” He shook his head in frustration, he checked his watch and found that it was almost time to leave. He stood up, he headed toward the door and walked out. He took the elevator to the first floor, his workers never stopped bowing which he ignored them completely. He went to the car park and hopped in the car. His driver drove to the mansion, and within fifteen minutes the car drove into the garage. Richard alighted from the car and made his way in, Vincent tagged behind him with his briefcase.

“Welcome sir.” Maids bowed respectfully.

“Where is Annie?” He asked a maid he encountered on the way.

The maid bowed his head, panicking because of his rasping voice. “S-she is in Miguel's room.”

“I'm here sir.” Annie answered while descending the stairs, she looked perturbed and she was feeling a lot of anxiety about what Richard would do after informing him about Miguel. “Sir,” She murmured when he reached his front.

“What do I hire you for?” He hollered imperatively.

Annie flinched back hysterically, she bowed her head as she stared at her feet and and her tears dropped on the floor. “I'm so sorry sir. It was an accident, I didn't know he's going to get hurt while playing with his toys.”

“Are you listening to yourself? I always tell you to replace his toy once it's useless. You know, I'm coming back for you. Where's my son?” Richard stifled the desire to hit her. He might be grumpy but he couldn't raise his hand and hit the woman.

Annie pointed upstairs. “She's with your wife.” She answered calmly. She wept silently and lifted her head to look at him, she was waiting for his next action. Richard had strictly warned her never to allow Charlene get close to his son.

“What?” He exclaimed unbelievably. “You are fired!” He declared imperiously.

“Sir? I'm sorry sir.” She clasped her hands, beseeching him in tears but Richard didn't wait to listen to her. He ascended the stairs precipitously instead of taking the elevator, he trudged toward the door and opened the door. He walked inside, headed to the bedroom but he halted on the track when he heard Charlene's voice. He couldn't conclude in his thought that she was soliloquizing because it seemed like she was talking with someone. He kept walking, the sound of his footsteps were feeble.

“Charles, what do I do? They aren't ready to return my ring unless they see Richard. I informed him yesterday but he hasn't said anything to me yet, I'm just going to remind him again. Charles, I want my ring. It's not just a ring, it's the first gift he gave. But I love him, I don't care if he doesn't feel the same way but please don't tell mom or dad, they may hate him. Let's keep it a secret. Seriously, Tina is a bitch!” She rested her back on the pillows.

Richard waited until she ended the call. Charlene hadn't noticed him yet, she put the phone down beside her and sighed out loudly. “What do I do?” She patted Miguel's back who was laying on her chest for a nap. He groaned silently as he wiggled in his sleep. “Sorry, love. Don't cry.” She kissed his hair, she looked up at the ceilings and moistened her lips. She pivoted her head when she saw him standing next to the couch.

Richard's anger suppressed immediately their eyes met. Charlene parted her lips to utter a word but she was speechless. With Miguel laying down on her chest she knew Richard was going to scold her for getting close to his son, she sighed as she gently laid him on the bed, she put her feet on the cold tiling floor and stood up.

Richard didn't know what to say to her, all he did was look at her till she left the room. When he heard no sound of her footsteps, he walked up to the bed and sat down beside Miguel. He was sleeping and there was a bandage on his left knee. “Sorry, baby.” He kissed his hair and ran his hand on the bandage. Charlene's phone vibrated on the phone, he looked over and saw it was her twin's brother. He moved his hand with reluctance, he eventually picked the phone and picked up.

“Charlene, should I tell dad about the ring? I'm pretty sure he's going to talk to Richard or get your ring back for you.” Charles said immediately Richard picked up the call.

“Let's meet.” Richard said politely.

“Why are you with Charlene's phone?” Richard could notice the irritation in his voice as he spoke.

“I'm hanging up the call now. Let's meet, I'm going to get her the ring.”

“Okay.”

Richard hung up, he brought his phone out and saved Charles' digits and put down Charlene's phone on its previous position. He looked at Miguel for a while and drew his top down a little. Charlene entered the room, she met Richard standing beside the bed, she walked up to the bed, she picked her phone beside Miguel and walked out of the room.

Richard went to the walk-in closet, he changed into casual clothes before stepping out. He picked a car remote from the nightstand and walked out of the room. He was expecting to meet Charlene in the living room but unfortunately she wasn't there. He strolled out heading to the garage, he pressed a button and a red sports car bleeped, he strode toward it, he opened the door and hopped in. He drove out of the mansion.

TWO HOURS LATER, Charles stared at the diamond ring in his hand, he arched his brow questioningly. He didn't understand why Richard was giving the ring to him after he got it back from the company they sold the ring to. The reason they didn't return the ring to Charlebe was because they wanted to meet Richard for their own interests, he was a famous businessman in Sydney and they had heard a lot about him. Richard gave the ring to Charles to give it to Charlene instead, also he told him never to mention anything to Charlene about him getting the ring.

“Why are you giving this to me? You guys live together, do you expect me to drive to your mansion and give it to her myself?”

“Getting the ring back is the only thing I promised you.” Richard said annoyingly.

Charles huffed, irritated by his reply. “Richard, I know you don't like my sister but don't you ever hurt her. If you're tired of the marriage just say it to her face and end the marriage instead of hurting her feelings. She's going to get over you in a month, it's not a must you love her, let her go if you don't want her. I don't joke with her, if you hurt her I won't hesitate to retaliate. And the ring—” He said threateningly and raised the ring to his face while grinned mischievously. “I'm going to give it to her without telling her the truth. Anyways thanks.” Charlene smirked, he advanced toward his motorcycle and got on it and zoomed off.

Richard sneered, he opened the car door and hopped in. He drove away at full speed. He pulled the car to a halt in the pub's parking lot. He alighted and walked inside.

He went to the VIP section. Jeremy was lounging beside Liam, he sighted him approaching majestically toward them. He looked at Devyn and smirked. “Didn't you say Richard isn't coming tonight?”

“Maybe he changed his mind.”

Richard walked up to where Devyn was sitting, he slumped beside him and hit him with his shoulder. “You lying son of a gun.” He murmured and rolled his eyes.

“What's the matter, Richard?” Devyn teased and smirked.

“I don't even know.” He ran his hand through his hair frustratingly. Jeremy laughed out loud, promptly Richard looked at him and lifted a brow. “What?” He pouted his lips cutely.

“Tell me, is it Henrietta or your new wife... Cathy?” Jeremy wrinkled his face, trying to recall her name but he couldn't.

“Charlene,” Devyn reminded him and burst into delighted laughter. “I'm pretty sure it's Henrietta. Richard is the one giving Charlene a hard time.”

“None of them. I'm just tired.” He closed his eyes for a second and opened them, he gazed at Devyn steadily.

“Holy shit! Jeremy, did you notice something?” He began as if he had something important to talk about however Richard knew he was going to prattle about nonsense. Jeremy sat purposely and focused his gaze on him, ready to listen to whatever he had to say.

“Like what?”

“Only Richard is blessed with two hot women. Back then it was Henrietta and now it's Charlene, to be honest Charlene is alluring. Maybe you didn't notice but I did.” He prattled.

“Are you hitting on her?” Jeremy enquired curiously.

“Saw the way you looked at her that night, you talked to her and that's unlike you. Both of us are.” Devyn whispered teasingly. Jeremy resisted the urge of rolling his eyes. “Richard, was she able to...” Richard knew what he was about to say, he shut him up with a growl. Jeremy laughed and shook his head.

“He did nothing with her, I can bet that.” Liam who had been quiet ever since he stepped in eventually interrupted.

“Okay, it's my turn now?” Richard scoffed softly and gulped a glass of champagne.

“Yeah, yesterday was all about me fucking every bitch... It's your turn. Are you afraid that you might crush her?”

“Guys please, can we stop talking about Charlene?” Richard cautioned, obviously he was getting pissed off.

Jeremy exchanged looks with Devyn and Liam, they shrugged their shoulders and burst into delighted laughter. “Why should we?”

“Unless you have a death wish.” He said threateningly. Devyn swallowed his saliva and looked away. “I'm out of here.” He seethed as he took his car key on the table and left exasperatingly.

Devyn raised his hand, they did high-five and smiled brightly. “Thanks guys. Mission accomplished.”

“Wait Devyn, why are you doing this?” Liam asked after a minute of silence.

“That night I think she came because of him. To be honest I want both of them to be together, I want him to reciprocate her affection.”

Jeremy shrugged his shoulders without uttering a word.

Richard drove to the mansion at a late hour, and most of the maids had retired to their residence. He ascended the stairs and went to his room. He met her sleeping quietly with Miguel laying beside her. Her hand was on his back, using it to pat him gently whenever he moaned in his sleep. He stood beside the bed for a while, he stared intently at her. He put his phone down on the nightstand and went to the bathroom, he showered and stepped out. He walked to his closet and changed into his nightwear. He returned to the bedroom and met them in the same position. Miguel groaned silently, Charlene patted his back without opening her eyes. Richard looked calmly, he scrunched and carried Miguel, Charlene moved gently in the bed which prompted him to halt. He waited for her since he didn't want to wake her, he stood upright and exited the room. He took Miguel to his room and laid him in his crib. He went to the wall and pressed a button so whatever sound he made he would be able to hear from his room. He went back to the room, he climbed up the bed and covered himself with the duvet, he turned on the spotlight above the bedhead and faced the other side as his back was facing Charlene. He opened his eyes widely since he wasn't sleeping. His phone beeped, he glanced at the notification which was from Henrietta. He rolled his eyes and switched off his phone.