Chapter 38: Chapter 38

He had been staring at him ever since he stepped into his office. Although he had something to discuss with him concerning the company, there was something else that was more important he'd love to ask him. Devyn cleared his throat.

He blinked multiple times as he gazed at him steadily.Richard was literally pissed off. He wondered how long he would continue to be staring at him. He put down his phone beside him. Then, contracted his lips into a frown. “For how long will you continue staring at me like that?”

Devyn sat upright purposely. He chuckled. “As long as I'm able to picture out the answers in your eyes. How was your date with Greta?”

“I know you're going to ask about that. It was quite exhilarating. She's just obsessed.” He said with a pout.

“But you're married. Didn't she know?”

Richard cocked his head as he looked intently into his eyes. “Does it matter? When you desperately want something, other things don't matter.”

He gasped surprisingly. He furrowed his brows, focused on him with a look of puzzlement. “Perhaps you are planning to cheat?”

“I would have done that if I wanted to.” He shrugged his shoulders apathetically. He paused for a while. “But I don't plan to.” He added.

Devyn wrinkled his face. “You need to be straightforward.”

“I am.” He narrowed his eyes. “It's getting late.” He attempted to stand up but Devyn spoke up abruptly.

“Don't choke back on your words. Say it out. Are you having feelings for thy woman?” His eyes darkened with suspicion. He grinned mischievously while waiting for a moment to tease him.

Richard knew what he intended to do, so he decided to ignore him. He stood up, he grabbed his phone on the couch then faced him at once. “I do not own you any story.”

Devyn rushed to his side overly excited due to Richard's facial expression. He already knew the answer to his question but he wanted him to say it, rather than thinking. “Come on, buddy. Perchance have you…you know what I'm talking about right? I'm sorry. I'm not intruding on your privacy but I still have to clear my curiosity. Have you and Charlene–you know what I'm talking about, right?”

Richard skipped a pace close to him, then hit him on the shoulder. “I don't know what you're talking about.” He pretended.

“You surely know what I'm talking about. Tell me. Do you love her now? That explains your action back then.” Richard parted his mouth to answer but he was interrupted by his next sentence. “I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

Devyn smirked. He gave Richard a lovely pat on his right shoulder while smiling brightly. “You won't be able to restrict her. I know you're going to fall in love with her but I never knew it would be this soon. Anyways. That time, I noticed how hard you stared at her. It was the eyes of a man staring at his lover.”

“Such a great fairytale. Thanks for the chit chat. I'm outta here.” He headed outside, walking out of his office.

Devyn rolled his eyes. There was no point asking him, after all he had gotten answers to the question he asked and the one he never asked. He felt super elated while finding it so hard to refrain himself from smiling.

Richard caressed the remote control in his hand. He unlocked his car at the parking lot, he opened the door and hopped in. He drove out of the company premises.

***

When the huge gate was opened, Richard drove in. He halted his car in the garage, and alighted. He made his way inside.

“Welcome, young master.” The maids greeted him warmly.

He advanced toward the elevator. He pressed a button, when it slid open, he stepped in and it closed up. He checked his watch to be assured it was the best time Bryant would be home since he didn't tell him about him coming to the mansion. He proceeded to the master bedroom, he used the key to unlock it then moseyed in.

“You came early today.” Bryant encountered him on his way out.

“Coming late I wouldn't have met you home. You said we need to talk.”

Bryant turned around and led him toward a couch. He pointed at the couch opposite his as he sat down gently. “I heard about you and Henrietta.”

Richard narrowed his eyes. He grunted softly, stifling the desire to laugh. “Social life is like a hot cake.”

“What does that mean?”

“I didn't know the news had gone viral.” Richard thought Bryant must have heard about Miguel since he knew every eye was on him. Whereas, Bryant hadn't heard about that yet. Although he was planning to ask him what he would do about their son after hearing from Luciana.

“Your mother told me that Henrietta wants the child's custody. I think the best thing to do now is to let go of Miguel. After all, she's his mother. She'll take good care of him. And I want to ask you, what have you and Charlene been doing? When do you plan to have a child with her?”

“First about Henrietta…she doesn't have time to take care of my son. I won't deprive her if she wants to take him with her.” He shrugged his shoulders. “We haven't planned anything yet. I don't know if she has a plan or not, we're going to talk about it. If it's me, I want her to finish school before anything. I don't want her to be in an awkward situation where she has to choose…just like Henrietta.”

“So, what are you insinuating?”

“Dad. To be honest, she's someone I want to keep by my side. I don't know how she did it, she won my heart over.” He expressed his feelings with a bright smile.

Bryant sighed softly. He was indeed happy that Richard found love in a woman he chose for him. He knew he would definitely one day, he was glad that it wasn't late. “And have you confessed your feelings to her yet?” He looked at him with the corner of his eyes.

“Not yet.” He said sharply.

“Why haven't you?”

“Is she not supposed to figure that out herself?”

“You're a complicated person. It's going to take her time to understand your feelings for her. Well, if that's the case just don't hurt her.”

“I'm your son, dad!”

“She's my daughter in-law. The one I love most.”

“More than you love your own son?” He asked with a surly huff.

“Maybe yes, and if not yes then it's equal.”

“If there's nothing else to discuss, I'm out of here.”

“No. Wait! In two days the chairman of Howard company invited me to a business party. I want you and Charlene to come along. I'd like to introduce you and Charlene to him and we'll be talking about our partnership.”

“A partnership with them? Jeremy hasn't told me anything yet.”

“He must be pretty occupied since he's made as the new CEO of Howard company.”

“That bastard is actually keeping things from his best friend. I'm going to kill him.” He cursed underneath.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, dad. I'll add that to my schedule.”

“All right. My regards to my daughter in-law.” He nodded. He rose, then exited the bedroom.

“A grand party? So annoying.” He unlocked his car, opened the door and hopped in. He drove out of the mansion. Throughout the ride to his man, he pondered what Bryant told him. It had been a while since he heard from Jeremy, if not him and Devyn worked in the same company but different department, he seriously hadn't been checking on his friends. Adonis travelled abroad. Liam on the other side was out of the state. Scarlett hadn't been returning his calls or texts. He must have neglected everyone but his best friend was an exception, the last time Jeremy called he never mentioned about a grand party for his grandfather's retirement.

He halted the car in the garage. He opened the door, he alighted and grabbed his briefcase. He moseyed inside, a maid rushed over and assisted him with the briefcase. “Welcome sir.”

She sidled across the room, luckily she met him right on the staircase . “Richard,”

He turned abruptly. “Hey,”

She walked up to him, she extended her hand to the maid who had his briefcase, gesturing to her to hand it over. The maid looked at her face with reluctance. “Ma'am?”

Richard signaled to the maid. She gulped hardly before surrendering the briefcase to her. She bowed a little. She turned around and left. “How was your day?” She asked, while they ascended the stairs alongside.

“Pleasant. And you, how are you today?”

“I'm very good.” They entered their bedroom.

“I'm going to freshen up now.” He was alreading unbuttoning his suit. He took off the jacket then unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his torso to her eyes.

She lowered her gaze. “O–okay.” He stuttered, walking toward the bed.

He chuckled quietly. “Or do you mind joining me?” He approached the door, but stopped to catch a glimpse of her countenance.

Charlene abruptly stopped by the bed, she put the briefcase on the bed then whirled to look at him. She gulped. “I'll pass. Rather, let's have dinner together.”

“I will also pass. Don't tell me you're afraid that something unexpected may happen…just you and me under the shower.”

Charlene clutched her dress tightly. “I don't know what you're talking about. But if you insist…”

He extended his hands to the air and stretched his body. “Not needed. Just teasing you. You look fresh.” He chirped. He sauntered in.

Charlene stared at the space for a while. “Teasing me? Whatever. It's not like I'm afraid of what he's thinking, I just have a lot to ask him.” She slumped onto bed helplessly, running her right hand on the duvet. She would wait for him, there were a lot of questions she wanted to ask. However, she was having a second doubt. ‘Would he answer her with honesty?’ Concerning their marriage, she was muddled. Perhaps he wasn't as she was, her feelings were obvious to him. He was aware of her feelings, how desperate she was to make him fall in love with her but he got her confused. After Henrietta came for Miguel, it made her realize another thing she had never thought. Having another child was part of his plan?

Charlene was completely lost in thought, she didn't realize when he stepped out of the bathroom and went to the dressing room to get dressed, not until he returned to the bedroom, he approached her with dead footsteps that produce no sound. He stood in front of her. He leaned over to her face and flustered at her. “Is there anything you want to share with me?”

That jolted her out of a deep thought. She sat up as he also pulled backward. Charlene blinked rapidly, moistening her lip. “There is…”

He pouted his lips cutely. He sat beside her and turned to her. “What is it?”

“About you and Henrietta. Do you still love her?” There was a long silence after the question.

“Before I answer that, can you tell me what prompted that question.”

“Curiosity. I just want to be sure I'm not fighting a lost battle. Richard, please answer me with honesty. Do you still love her?”

Richard stared intently into her eyes, he instantly knew Henrietta must have said something to her. He knew Charlene better than anyone else, she was like an opened book, you got to know everything about it as you flipped to every page. She was a type that couldn't consume a certain emotion in, which was fear. Fear of losing something precious. “I'm over her.”

“Are you sure about that?” She beamed.

“Very sure. Is there anything else you want to ask me?” She shook her head vigorously. There was another conversation she would love to have with him but she wasn't ready, perhaps he also wasn't ready for her; that was her belief.

“All right. I'm starving right now.” He stood up, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

She also did the same. Richard had taken a few paces toward the exit before she spoke up. “Richard, wait!”

He hesitated. He turned around. “Yes?”

“What do you think about having another child?”