Chapter 35: Chapter 35

She was waiting for the lecture to end so she could talk to him before he left without saying a word to her. Instead of making a note her gaze focused on him, he was listening and watching the professor in total concentration. However She definitely didn't hear anything else, her mind was swayed, perturbed as she was sitting, playing with a pen, scrambling nothing on her book.

”That's the end of the lecture...” Professor Clark packed his text book and laptop into his bag then left the lecture theater.

Students had started leaving the lecture theatre one after the other, Charlene sprang up from her seat, she took her handbag, the book and her pen then stood on the way she assumed he would take. Javier noticed so he whirled to take another exit, he made to leave without talking to her, but before he could take another step further, she called his name softly. “Javier, wait.”

He didn't look back but he stopped walking. She sighed, walking over to where he was standing. “Hi.” He looked at her grimly with no sight of the welcoming smile he always had on his face whenever he looked at her.

“Hey,”

She scratched her forehead tenderly. “Are you going somewhere?”

“Yes, why?” He paused for a while, he noticed she had nothing to say to him so he made to leave. “I was going somewhere before you called.”

She smiled, thinking he was going to ask her to come along, however his intent was different. “Then, I'm coming with you.”

Javier grunted irritation, he rolled his eyes and pouted. “You don't have to.” He murmured, turned to leave.

She extended her hand, grabbing his hand he turned abruptly. She looked down at her feet, her eyes were red as if she was at the verge of tears. “Are you mad at me? What have I ever done to deserve your cold side, Javier? Have I done something terrible?”

He extended a hand to his arm and removed her hand on his. She was completely muddled, gulped as she stared into his eyes. “Nothing, Charlene. I just, I just need a space—I'm busy, I have to go.” He said roughly, without wasting a second he left without a turn at her. She didn't understand why he was being cold to her, he hadn't been returning her calls or her text messages and when they unexpectedly met he pretended as if he never saw her. All this perturbed her and she didn't know another way to approach him, they never had a serious fight before, back then when she didn't tell him about her getting married he wasn't cold like he was right now. ‘What could it be?’ Charlene could definitely not figure out anything, he was the only one that could tell her what she did wrong, she had exceeded her thinking capacity.

She took in her lower lip, shrugging off what he did. She sidled out of the lecture theatre. She glanced at her watch, she would be attending another lecture before the end of the day, she had thirty minutes left, sinc professor Clark ended his lecture rather quickly.

“THE NEGOTIATION WITH HER ATTORNEY DIDN'T WENT WELL, MR SULLIVAN.” His attorney explained to him thoroughly.

Richard put his pen down, he raised his gaze from the phone to his face. “That means you ain't competent enough.”

“But, Mr Sullivan…”

“About to give me another excuse? Yeah, I know you can't do it so stop telling me you can.” He seethed, a bit pissed off.

He was agitated when he saw he wasn't ready to listen to what he had to say. There was something else he had to inform him but Richard was apparently bored of his excuses. “There's something else you can do.”

He chuckled before bursting into a ridiculous laughter. The attorney furrowed his brows puzzlingly as he didn't know what prompted the laughter. “Something else? Are you saying she's going to be granted sole custody of our child? Do you know who I am?”

“Of course I do. Miguel is a baby, and Ms Henrietta has evidence she can use against you. She has evidence that you are forced to marry your wife and there's no way the court will grant you the child's custody when your marriage with your wife isn't perfect. You never love the woman, and to raise the child together will be quite difficult which is why the court may reconsider and grant her sole custody of your son.”

He tightened his fist exasperatingly. “Damn that bitch!” He cursed underneath.

His attorney sighed silently. “What if you get her what she wants?.”

The statement prompted him to look up, he narrowed his eyes then relaxed on the couch. “What are you talking about?”

“If you help her receive the contract then she's going to give up.”

He laughed weirdly, after all his instinct was right he knew Henrietta wasn't doing this because she wanted the child to be by her side but because of her own selfish benefits after finding out Richard's only fear was Miguel, the only weakness anybody could use against him. “I refuse.”

“But, Mr Sullivan…”

“I can assure you one thing that I'm going to hire another attorney that will get me what I want. It seems like you're on her side.”

The door slid open, then Devyn entered with a mischievous grin plastered on his face. They looked forward to the entrance, he halted when he saw Richard was busy. “You should leave.” Richard said to the attorney.

He nodded, rose then bowed a little. He grabbed his suitcase before leaving the office. “Hey, buddy.”

He rolled his eyes. “What brings you here?”

“Am I not welcome? Should I leave or…”

“The exit is over there.”

He turned around, pretending to leave but when Richard didn't call him back he halted and turned around afterwards. “You're terrible. Hey, what's up with Mr Drew? What's he doing here?”

“Are you here to interrogate me?”

“Of course yes. Do you have a problem with that? He visits frequently, it's unusual. Is there any problem? Or are you planning to divorce Charlene?”

“You are crazy?!” He snapped. Although it sounded more like a question, scarcely Devyn had no answer to that.

Devyn cleared his throat, twitched his lips as his eyes darkened with suspicion. “Okay. Have I said something wrong?”

“Get out, Dev. I'm not in the mood for jokes.”

“I'm not here for jokes either. I need answers to my questions. What's the matter?”

“He's here because of Miguel.” he threw his hands at the back of his head.

“I thought you and Henrietta already discussed the issue.”

“That idiot has a motive. There's a contract she wants me to help her with to make her give up on Miguel.”

“Then you should do it. I don't trust that woman, she's not doing it because she wants the child. She's selfish.”

“I won't do what she wants. She'll always come back no matter what.”

“You have another option left which is Miguel.”

“Of course I'm not stupid enough to let her take Miguel away.”

“What are you going to do now?”

Richard contemplated for a while. He looked at him and smiled. “Nothing.”

He knew his reply was a joke, he didn't mean what he said. If he wouldn't help her get what she wanted then there was no way Henrietta would back off. Devyn looked closely but he didn't figure out any suspicion in his countenance. “Nothing? Are you serious now?”

“I'm dead serious.” He picked his phone on the couch, he emailed someone before looking up at Devyn.

“You're not.”

He rose, walked over to his desk. He drew out the drawer, took his car remote then gestured to him, both of them exited the office. They took the elevator to the first floor. “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere peaceful.”

“Peaceful?”

“Are you ready for a rough ride?” The bodyguard opened the door, they hopped in the backseats then the driver drove out of the company.

“Thank goodness, I thought you'll be the one to drive.”

“Perhaps I gave you a fright.” He looked at his eyes, smirking mischievously.

Devyn shook his head negatively, he hit him on the shoulder playfully then snapped his fingers at his face as he leaned a bit over. “Not a bit. That aside, where are we going?”

“Can't you wait to find out?”

“You know I don't fancy surprises. You tell me what I need to know or are you planning to kidnap me.”

“To the mansion.” He said to the driver who nodded to his order. Devyn wondered why he had to come along with him to his mansion, he checked his watch, it was six o'clock in the evening.

“Whatever, you ain't going to ruin my plans for tonight.”

Richard understood what he meant, he didn't have to question further. If it wasn't clubbing then he would spend the night probably negotiating with his clients. Eventually the driver halted the car in the garage, they alighted after the car was opened. Richard led the way in while he tagged behind him.

“Whoa! It's cool here.” Devyn sauntered to the sofas, he slumped onto it and threw his hands up. “We are here, what now?”

“You surely don't learn to be patient. I need to change to something else so we can go out together.”

His eyes darkened with mischief. “But Charlene…” He winked his eyes surly as he whispered to him.

“Shut the hell up, Bud.” Richard stifled the desire to laughter, his countenance was conspicuously hilarious however he refrained. He went to the staircase, then descended hurriedly.

“Don't keep me waiting here.”

“Be back before you say jink.”

“Jin…”

He entered the room, however she wasn't inside, probably with Miguel or at the library. He saw the ribbon she used in the morning before leaving for campus on the nightstand. He dipped his hand in his right pocket, brought out his phone, he put beside the ribbon and took out everything in his pocket then put them down on the nightstand. He unhooked his watch, sidled across the room to the dressing room to return it to its appropriate place. After that he stepped out of the bathroom, had a quick shower, walked out in a white towel, returned to the closet and changed into casual clothes.

After picking his phone and a new car remote from the nightstand he exited the room. He was close to the living room when he heard a loud laughter.

“Then I'm going to throw a party by the weekend so both of you can meet.”

“Count me in, she has to say yes.” Charlene replied with a bright smile. Richard appeared, they looked at him since they had sensed his presence. Charlene smiled at him but he kept a straight face, there was jealousy in his eyes while looking at both of them.

“Are you two flirting?” He demanded solemnly with a plain countenance.

They gasped. “We're not!” They retorted. Charlene faked a frown, Devyn chuckled when he saw his expression.

“I see both of you are having a good time. Then did I interrupt something?”

Charlene was about to answer but Devyn beat her to that. “Of course you did. Well I'm throwing a party this weekend, my friend is coming over and I want to introduce her to Charlene.”

“Oh. Is that necessary? Dev, what's your motives? I'm suspecting you. Charlene, come over here.” He said hilariously.

She lifted a brow, trying hard not to laugh. “Why should I?”

He walked up to her and drew her to himself since she never budged an inch from the spot. “Hey. Dev, get your eyes off my wife and stick to your chicks.”

Devyn stared unbelievably at him, finding it difficult to comprehend everything he was seeing and hearing from him. He smiled lightly, Charlene cleared her throat. “Richard,”

“yes?,” He answered, wrinkling his face while tightening his lips.

“Nothing. Are you heading out?”

“Yeah, Devyn and I have to be somewhere, and I'll be returning home late.”

“Okay.” She forced the word out of her mouth, as her face fell disappointedly.

Devyn watched both of them secretly, he didn't need anyone to tell him there was something going on between them. Whenever Richard fell in love with someone he always found it hard to hide it, in his talk, smile, and attitude. Everybody knew Charlene loved him so much but the case was different for Richard, Devyn concluded in contemplation that he had started liking her.

“Dev, let's go.” Devyn rose from the sofa and faced Charlene. “Is Miguel sleeping?”

“Yes?” She wondered why he asked her, that was unlike him. He always checked on him after returning home, by asking her the question meant only that he hadn't done that yet. “He hasn't woken up after his babysitter put him to sleep.”

“Good. I won't stay out long.” He glanced at her one more time before walking out.

“If we're going to the nightclub I need to at least change this suit, I look old.”

He scanned his body, shook his head in disagreement. “Nope, you look perfect.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?”

“We're not going to the club. I'm meeting someone tonight. We're supposed to rendezvous at the tower.”

“And I have to come along?”

“Yeah, get in the car.” Richard hopped in the driver seat, Devyn also did the same, they fastened the seatbelts then Richard drove out. Devyn kept thinking about the person they were meeting, asking Richard was futile if he was going to tell him he would have done that without him asking at all. All he had to do was to wait and find out on his own.