Chapter 32: Chapter 32

He sighted her car parked opposite the mansion, she was standing by the car, looking at him grimly. As if he cared, he sauntered casually toward her with his hands stuffed in his trousers pockets. “You never learned to be fast, right? You kept me waiting out here.” She seethed, glaring at him scornfully.

“Like hell did I invite you here? What the hell do you want? How many times have I told you to stop calling me?’

She rolled her eyes insolently. “You know what to do if you're tired of me. I'm here to see my son and your gatekeepers won't let me in.”

“Then deal with it. I don't want you near my son and if you dare to be smart, Henrietta, don't make me do what I'd regret later.”

“Perhaps are you planning to get rid of me? Richard, I'm your baby's mother.” She coaxed.

“A warning!” He was obviously exasperated by her response. He snapped at her, she flinched back.

She gasped, never expecting that from him though, however she knew he wouldn't welcome her. His cheerful countenance was replaced with frown. “Richard?”

“Don't make me repeat myself. I don't care if mum is giving you the upper hand but you really don't have any chance with me. I'm heading in, my wife needs me.” He said, spared her a last glance before turning around.

Henrietta was nearly speechless, she watched him in awe and motionless state. “Then you'll see my attorney for that. As a mother do you think I won't be granted my son's custody? Like hell you get to be kidding me. I'll do everything in my capacity to get Miguel from you, I see he's the only one that matters to you now. I hate you!” She hollered, not minding it was night and her voice was disturbing the hushed atmosphere. Richard didn't wait to reply since it was a futile threat, there was no way he would allow Miguel to be taken away from him.

He headed back, leaving Henrietta to find her way out, he pranced in and made his way inside. He took the elevator upstairs, opened the door and sauntered inside, heading to the bedroom. He saw she was still in the same position he had left her, she lifted her head to meet his pair of gray eyes with black tint on the outlines staring at her, the lust in his eyes was being superseded by fury which was obvious in his expression. He pranced majestically to the bed without switching his gaze on her. “Sorry to have kept you waiting.” He stroked the strand of her hair behind her ear.

“Um-huh.” A feeble response but the only one she could come up with.

Richard gazed steadily at her, he sat beside her and put his phone down on the nightstand. “Are you still in the mood?” He asked politely.

Her heart skipped a beat, she gulped while blinking multiple times. She had to be careful of her reply, any mistake would surely lead her to regret. She moistened her lower lips and parted her lips to reply. She was taking her time and he was also waiting, he wouldn't do anything without her consent. “Free me.” She said instead.

He shrugged apathetically. He extended his hands to the bed then freed her from the fuzzy cuffs while leaving it hung up on the bedhead. “So, what now?”

She drew her nightwear down to cover her pants, she curled up and covered her body with the duvet. “I'm not in the mood.” She purred, he barely heard what she said so he lifted a brow. “I'm not ready.” She said calmly.

“Fine.” He smiled ingratiatingly. “Goodnight,” He leaned over, kissed her forehead and stood up. She was muddled and perturbed, despite he smiled at her it was obvious he was irritated but what confused Charlene was, was it because of her or the call he excused himself to receive.

“Goodnight.” She whispered.

Richard moved to the other side, he got on top of the bed. He laid down, covered himself with the duvet. Her eyes were still watching him, he adjusted his head on the pillows then furrowed his brows while facing her with his eyes shut. “Stop staring at me with those misty eyes of yours.” He wasn't looking but he apparently knew she was staring at him like she would have been.

Her brow ceased. “I wasn't looking at you. I guess you changed your mind already.” She turned to him in bed.

This time he had to look at her, he raised an inquiry brow. “About what?” He wasn't thinking as he didn't know what she was talking about.

“You told me not to come to our room, didn't you?” She smirked.

“I didn't forget but you've paid for stepping into the room so you're forgiven. It's not like you'll ever listen to me.” He shut his eyes to sleep.

The last sentence threw her into a state of confusion. “I don't have any other place to go.”

“Other rooms are available.” He responded without opening his eyes, but his face was turned, facing her.

“I want to be next to you.” It slipped her mouth before she could refrained herself. “Oops!” She covered her mouth.

He smiled lightly at her response. “You're next to me now.”

A minute' silence was broken by a question from her. “Can I ask you something?”

“I'm listening.”

Charlene could look at him to her satisfaction because he wasn't looking, perhaps he preferred to be answering her question with his eyes tightly shut. “About you and Charles...”

“He wants me to give you a chance to prove your love to me.” He paused, opened his eyes to catch a glimpse of her countenance the moment he said that. Just as he anticipated, it was unclear to her. “We talked a day before your birthday. It's nothing secret, he told me there's a reason to love you and you've proved him right.”

“So—”

“Let's say we're even, I'm giving us a chance. Give yourself another chance to love me and I'll give you a chance to trust you.” All what he was saying was something she never awaited, maybe not now but now was too soon and shocking. She contemplated why Charles did that without telling her. ‘Did he beg Richard to love her?’ It was an insult to her dignity as a woman. As if he knew she was thinking crazy, his next statement was an answer to her thought. “Before we have the conversation I was going to give you a chance to prove yourself that you're not obsessed, I don't want to marry another wrong woman. I have to be sure, and I trust his words, I hope you're not going to make a mistake, I may end up hating you.”

“Was that the reason for your actions back then?”

“Uh-um.” He nodded.

“Do you love me?”

He opened his eyes. “I like you, it changed tonight.”

“Don't worry, that won't stop me from loving you. I love only you.”

He beamed. “If that's the case you should be more comfortable around me. I don't like to see you anxious when I'm around, be yourself and I'll be myself so this can work out for both of us.”

She peered into his eyes. “Okay.”

He shut his eyes again, then slept.

She stood awake, contemplating what he said. Was she supposed to thank Charles or berate him for keeping a secret? She wasn't sure, but Charles would absolutely pay for what he said. It had been five minutes he slept, she concluded it was time for her to sleep and dream of tomorrow. She drew the duvet up to her chest and slept, facing him.

SHE HAD SET for school, looking different as if today was her happiest day. She made her way to the dining room, although she didn't wake up next to him, she believed he had left but she met him eating. As always, a tedious and tepid appetite. He was taking his time chewing the food in his mouth, he acknowledged her presence, he looked up with his expressionless face.

Charlene grinned and took a seat around the table. “Good morning.”

He could recognize her lucid moments, happy and freed from depression unlike before. “Did you sleep well?” He gulped a glass of coffee.

“Yeah, I slept like a baby.”

He chortled. “Ain't you a baby.”

She began to eat. “I am?”

“You are. I'm going to drive you to school, is that okay?”

“Of course, yes.” She answered with enthusiasm.

“Be quiet so you don't choke on your food, okay.”

She nodded obediently and continued eating without making a sound. Richard had finished eating, after all he wouldn't finish his food. He watched her carefully.

She dropped the cutlery, wiped her mouth with the napkin then gulped a glass of juice. “I'm ready.” She announced.

“Wait.” He checked his watch. She wondered why despite it was time for them to leave. They stayed for thirty minutes in total silence. “Okay. Let's go if you're good.”

The moment he said she realized why he wanted them to wait, because she just ate. They walked out to the garage, they went toward a white car, Charlene knew it was his favorite car and he only drove it without his driver. Charlene headed to the passenger side and he followed her. Before she could open the door herself he beat her to it, he opened the door and gestured to her as a chivalrous man he was. She giggled and stroked her hair behind her ear. “Thank you.” She murmured before hopping in.

“You're always welcome.” They hopped in the car, then he drove out of the mansion. Richard drove at high speed and she almost cursed him for making her feel like throwing up when the long ride finally ended at the campus parking lot. “Are you okay?” He asked with concern.

She abruptly glared at him. She stifled the desire to yell, of course it wasn't okay. “I can never be okay but thanks for the ride.”

“You're welcome.” He replied, staring out the window.

Charlene traced his direction to see students staring at his car, some were pointing at the car and talking to each other. “No one attracts their attention like I do. Gotta go, byebye.” The door unlocked automatically, she alighted and hung her handbag over her shoulder like a sausage. She headed over, students murmured to each other.

“That's Mr Sullivan.” A student pointed at his car.

“Oh, dear she's so lucky, he even drove her. Oh, my... She looks expensive and classic.”

“What do you expect?”

Charlene stopped walking, she turned around to see his car driving out. She sighed and pranced to the entrance while ignoring their murmurings. She went to the lecture hall, Javier was absent. Fiona waved at her from the backseat, she smiled at her and walked toward a guy at the front since there was a seat available next to him. She sat down while the guy adjusted, creating a space between them.

The lecturer proceeded with her lecture when she noticed the hall had settled down. Everyone left the hall one after the other after the lecture came to an end. Fiona stepped down to where she was. “What's up, Fiona?” Charlene returned her pen into her handbag.

“I'm good. Thanks for helping out yesterday, I'm relieved and happy.”

“It's nothing. Have you seen Javier on campus today?”

“Nope.”

“Then I'm going to call him. He didn't tell me he won't be coming to campus today. I'm heading out now, I need to talk to Charles today.”

“I'll hang out with friends.” She left. Charlene texted him of his location and he replied instantaneously. She headed to the garden. There he was talking to Veronica, smiling brightly. Charlene halted and watched them from far, he looked in her direction.

Veronica waved at him before leaving, Charles strode to where she was. “What's up, sis?”

“I'm never going to be okay unless I break your bones.”

He pouted. “Have I done the worst again?”

“What's going on between you and your castigator?”

“Don't be so inquisitive?”

“Why?”

“Fine. She's a friend.”

“A friend?”

“Charlene! We're friends, I just finally realized she's a good person and we made up.”

Charlene ran her fingers through her curly hair. “Indeed. I was going to scold you but I changed my mind.”

“You seem different today?”

Puzzled, she furrowed her brow. “How?”

“Happy.”

“I'm not going to tell you since you didn't tell me what you told Richard.”

Charles gasped, and giggled. Charlene turned to leave but he hurried after her. “Wait up,I'm going to tell you everything.”

“Never mind, he told me everything already.”

“What! I thought I told him not to tell you.” They walked alongside.

“Why?”

“Because–I don't know, I just don't want you to know about it.”

“Well, I know now.”