Chapter 37: Chapter 37

“You'll be late if you keep pretending to be sleeping, Charlene.” Richard whispered to her ear, sending a chill down her spine. She chuckled quietly as she turned her back at him. She had checked the time when Richard left to get dressed in the closet, since she had made up her mind to spend the whole day with Miguel there was no reason for her to wake up early. Moreover she was imagining last night's event, she couldn't get over it. Their first night was awesome, if there was anything Charlene ever wanted again it was his touch, she wanted to feel his touch again.

Richard thought she was still in pain, perhaps she was regretting what happened between them last night. Literally they were a couple, that should be expected to happen even if both individuals were forced to marry each other. However Richard wasn't giving up until she answered him. “Does it hurt that much?” He asked chivalrously. The magnanimous attention she was receiving from him was making her uneasy, she wondered if it was good to look at him or ignoring him was the right thing to do. “Charlene, if you keep ignoring me I'll kick your ass off the bed.” Again he didn't get any response from her.

He whimpered with frustration, completely tired of her childish act. Though he said he would kick her off the bed, he couldn't bring himself to do that. There was another way to make her budge. He grabbed the duvet trying to pull it down, but she clutched onto it tightly. “I want to get more sleep.” She murmured and her eyes were barely opened.

“You eventually found your voice.” He returned to his standing position. He fixed the watch around his wrist. “Won't you be late for school?” He reminded her calmly.

She turned up at him, looked at him straight in the eyes and shook her head vigorously. “I'm not going.”

“Why? I must have wasted my precious time waking you up. You silly girl.” He poked a finger on her forehead as he blinked slowly.

She pouted. “But you never ask why I'm still in bed. All you did was ask if my body is still sore or not.” She reminded him innocently, acting up like a baby and Richard found her cute.

He agreed to what she said, despite knowing she was awoken he only asked if she was hurt. There was a minute of silence between them, all they did was look at each other. “Being your first time it must be really painful that's why I asked. Do you mind if I get you out of the bed now?”

Her eyes popped up. She shook her head, rejecting his offer. “My legs are in perfect state. After all, why would you do that?” She mumbled, rolled her eyes as she looked away from him.

Richard didn't bother to retort, he went into the bathroom and returned with a pink towel. He extended it to her, she glanced at the towel and his face then she arched her brows in puzzlement. “Wrap this on your body.” He said in an imperative manner.

“Why?”

“I guess you don't mind standing naked in front of me.” He smirked mischievously as he winked.

She gasped surprisingly. “No!” She exclaimed.

“Just do as I say.” He frowned.

Charlene ponderously sat up and collected the towel from him, she looked at his eyes before drawing down the duvet, exposing her nakedness to his eyes. His countenance was completely plain since he was obviously determined to get her out of the bed. She put her feet on the floor and wrapped the towel on her body which only stopped above her knees. “I can walk…” She was interrupted by his next action.

Richard didn't let her complete the sentence before carrying her up in his arms. “To make it easy.”

“Why would you do that? What if I ruin your clothes?” She asked him calmly while in his arms. He carried her into the bathroom then put her into the bathtub tenderly.

“Take your bath. I'll be heading to work now, take care.” He leaned over, pecked her hair then patted it gently. He rose then left the bathroom.

Charlene chuckled, blushing hardly. “Is this how it feels to be loved? Oh, my!” She threw her hands in the air, and closed her eyes while relaxing to the smoothness of the bubbles.

SHE WAS the least person he expected to meet in his office waiting impatiently for him. He walked straight to his chair, then faced her at once. “What brought you here?” He demanded grimly.

Henrietta stood up briskly, she shut her eyes, inhaled and exhaled deeply. “You of course, Richard. I've had enough of this bullshit. Why would you meet with director Wilson?”

“It's none of you fucking business. Are you stalking me?” He furrowed his brows.

Henrietta sighed softly, moving closer to where he was. “Stalking you? Do you think I'll waste my time on you? Of course not. I must have guessed right. Miguel…”

“Henrietta,” He paused for a second to give her a warning countenance. “Don't involve my son if you don't want to get hurt.”

“Miguel is my son! I'm his mother. Why are you doing this to me, Richard? Do you think I left Miguel because I wanted to? I didn't sign the divorce contract because I wanted to but I had to do what I did. I know you despise me for leaving Miguel, but please Richard don't deprive me. I just want to be by his side, I want him to recognize his birth mother so please Richard, I'm not taking Miguel away.” She clasped, appealing to him almost in tears.

Richard wasn't moved at all, he knew who Henrietta was. That was what he expected from a con artist. All this while he heard everything she said but he didn't pity her. “All right. Get out!” He said imperatively.

Henrietta looked up sharply, tears hovered the corner of her eyes while gazing steadily at him. Slowly she fell on her knees. The tears she had been holding trickled down her cheeks. “I'm begging you, Richard.”

He stepped away from the swivel chair. He stuffed a hand in his trousers pocket and skipped a step close to her. “Ah. You're confusing me. What exactly do you want? Miguel or the contract?”

“My son. I miss my son so much, Richard. Please… let's forget about what happened. We don't have to take it to court, it's something we can solve amicably. I must be high when I think that I'll be grant the custody of our child. I'm sorry.”

He contemplated everything thoroughly but it was hard for him to make a decision. He was dubious about her at first, but something was definitely off which he could put his mind on it. He doubted if she was faking it like she used to. “Okay. I'm not convinced. Leave my office now, I have a tight schedule for today.”

“Please, Richard.” She wept silently.

None of it mattered to him, all he craved for was fresh air and he could only get that if she left. He puffed out air onto his face while looking at her as he tapped a finger on his desk while he was barely leaning on it. “Fine.”

“Yeah?”

“Today is Wednesday, you must bring my son back home by the weekend.”

Henrietta's eyes popped up. “Are you saying that your gatekeeper will let me into the mansion?”

“Get out before I change my mind!”

She rose, drawing down her layered dress. “I promise you, I won't do anything stupid.”

He nodded twice. She pranced to the couch, grabbed her purse and headed to the exit. Before she could leave he spoke, and she halted her hand close to the button. “Don't create a scene. You know what I mean right?”

“Yes.” She nodded several times as she exited his office. She pressed a button on the elevator and it slid open, she stepped in. She checked her watch. Her phone bleeped indicating a new message. She swiped up the unlock and read the message Dolly sent. The elevator opened and she stepped out. She swaggered out pompously. The workers couldn't stop whispering to each other while staring at her. However Henrietta kept strutting as if the world was in her favour, and nothing else mattered. She went to the car park, opening the car door, Dolly glared at her instantly. “You never told me you'll be spending the entire day in his office. What did you do this time?”

“I told you to come with me, didn't I?” She answered while fastening the seat belt. She took a few tissue paper out and used it to clean her face.

“I told you I'll be staying in the car because I don't want you to embarrass me. Were you able to convince him?”

“Let's forget about the contract. I only told him that I want to spend more time with Miguel and he agreed. You know what, Dolly? Let me focus on my son for now. I'm pretty sure Maggie wins this time, let her enjoy till I get back on my feet.”

“You're too blind to see the truth.”

“What truth are you talking about?”

“Richard has gotten over you and nothing is going to change that. You should reconsider and give Mr Domenic a chance.”

“Ew! That old bastard.”

“But he can get you what you want. Just talk to him.”

“I'm not going to do that. Rather I'll do everything it takes to win Richard's trust. I'll give him a reason to trust me.”

Dolly sighed softly, she was obviously tired of everything. “You never listen.” Dolly drove out of the car park. “Where are we going now?”

“To the mansion–Richard's.”

Dolly didn't bother to ask why they were heading over to his mansion, she drove to the mansion. Throughout the ride they only discussed her break. She halted the car opposite the mansion. Henrietta opened the door, as she was about to step out she pivoted her head. “Are you not coming?”

“I'll be staying in the car.”

“All right.” She alighted, then shut the door. She crossed to the other side. She advanced toward the gate, as she reached the huge gate, it was as if the gatekeeper was waiting for her, he opened the gate and she strutted in.

She walked in, ignoring every maid she encountered. As she arrived in the living room she sighted a maid about to ascend the stairs. “Welcome, ma'am.”

She ignored her completely as she walked toward the elevator, taking it upstairs instead of taking the stairs. She approached his door, then halted in front of it. She grinned.

The same time Charlene also stepped out of the bedroom, wearing a gray crop top and blue jeans, she wore a colorful bandana on her hair, looking stunning as always. When Henrietta heard the sound the door produced, she turned around. “Oh,” Since she didn't expect to meet Charlene at home, she was surprised.

Charlene flustered at her. “Miguel is inside.” She purred. It was after she received a message from Richard she exited the bedroom, staring at Henrietta she knew she came for her son.

Henrietta flipped her hair back pompously, leering at her awkwardly. “Humph.” She huffed surly.

She opened the door and entered. She met the babysitter playing with Miguel, and there was a bag packed beside the crib. “Good morning, ma'am.”

She walked over. She looked at him affectionately as he was sitting on the tiling floor, playing with his toys, “Miguel,” She called his name, crouched a little and carried him up in her arms. “My baby.”

Suddenly he burst into a loud cry, extending his little hands to the babysitter. Henrietta was shocked that he didn't recognize his own mother, she tried to pet him not to cry but it was futile, Miguel didn't want her to carry him.

“Shush. Don't cry.” She pecked his cheeks but he kept wiggling in her arms. “Take the bag out.” She advanced the door, the babysitter took the bag and opened the door for her. They stepped out.

Charlene was still standing by the door as if she was waiting for them. Henrietta stopped in front of her, she turned around while the baby kept shrieking in her arms. “Enjoy it while it lasts.” She said threateningly.

Charlene didn't respond to what she said, she turned around, opened the door to the bedroom and entered, ignoring her completely.