Chapter 26: Chapter 26

Raymond stuffed his smartphone into his coat pocket after receiving a text from Thyme allowing him to take some day off because Verdict had taken care of everything. When he wanted a distraction, the people around him did not even give him a chance. Telling him to rest—something he would accept it gladly before but now he hated it. Precisely at times like this, what he needed was something that could make him busy, can be distracted him even if only for a moment. Raymond gave a deep sigh, closed his locker and walked out from the room. His working hours at this place was also over. There was no way he could ask Edward to increase his working hours, because there were already a few new employees hired by Edward, making that option impossible for him.

He asked Mike who would normally agree if he offered to go home together and try out the new food at the street booth, but he also immediately refused his offer, hurried home without saying the reason. Inviting Rachel and her friend was not the best option either, considering he knew that the woman was clearly after him. He was also not interested in women who only rely on the charm of her big chest and her voice that was always made as cute as possible every time she talked to him.

Bringing Hazel? It was not the right choice either, considering it was the cafe rush hour. Along with the awkward atmosphere he successfully created, it was also impossible for Hazel to accept his invitation. So he was forced to leave the cafe, nothing to do. Maybe he should go home and lie all day in bed until tomorrow? It was not a bad idea, but it means he will spend his time being unproductive. Then his mind, which was blank because there was nothing to do with him, would bring him back memories of his time with Hazel.

What should he do now?

He walked down the street, looked around the snow-covered surroundings. It seemed that this week the weather in Cirillo city was much cooler. More snow, though not as much as in Morozov city. He could still see the sun rising through the gathered clouds, looking like a soft pillow. Around him, every few metres, he found a lot of couples flaunting their affection in public, something he had just realized now. What was with this situation? Why were all people around him full of couples who were intentionally showing their affection?

‘Ray ~!’

He was surprised to find someone holding his arm while calling his name in a voice made as sexy as possible. When he turned to his left, his eyes locked onto the figure of a woman with wavy blonde hair, wearing thick clothes but still showing her curves. The gold hoop earring worn by the woman swayed. His sensitive nose smells of a man's perfume from her body. He looked lazily at the woman who smiled happily when she saw him.

‘Still excited as usual. Who became your target this time? Entrepreneur?’

‘Guess it, Ray.'

His nose sniffed again the scent left on Martha's body. ‘A man. Forty-five years old, although from his looks, he looked like he was approaching thirty. His height was 189 centimetres. Love going to the theatre. The classic type who thinks he can buy everything with money and—’

Martha immediately put her index finger, showing the woman's black nails filled with nail art onto Raymond's lips, asking him to stop. 'I'm just asking you to guess his age. I didn’t ask you for the details.’

‘Old habit,’ Raymond took Martha's index finger away from his lips, just realizing that compared to their last meeting, Martha looked much thinner. But he did not have an intention to say it. ‘You will leave him soon, as usual. Even though that man thought that he had succeeded in conquering you.’

‘Exactly. My little brother is really the best,’ Martha winked as she leaned against Raymond, continued walking. The actual position made it difficult for him to walk normally because he had to support Martha's body. But the best part was, he did not have to worry because, from someone else's point of view, his older sister would look like his girlfriend.

‘You better be careful with Sis Martha.’

Verdict's words crossed his mind suddenly. He glanced at Martha who seemed to be oblivious, watching his older sister once more time closely. Was what Verdict told him yesterday true? Was Martha just pretending in front of him? He doubted. Indeed, several times he had told himself that if the time when Martha would betray him, he would find a way to escape. Easy as that. It was not difficult for him to escape danger.

‘How are you?’

‘Good. As you can see,’ Raymond answered casually.

‘Good, really?’ Martha stopped her steps, then removed her hand from Raymond's arm and immediately blocked him by standing in front of him. Her face looked irritated. Martha's behaviour now even destroyed this woman's outer impression. ‘Don't think I don't know anything about you.’

‘If you know, why do you mind asking me?’ Raymond smiled as he put his hand in his coat pocket, undisturbed by Martha's actions.

‘About Clive's men who attacked you. About Verdict who arrived in this city yesterday. And also,’ Martha paused for a moment, ‘you broke up with Hazel, too. I know all of them.’

Even knowing about me breaking up with Hazel, he muttered to himself.

Raymond walked over to Martha, no longer smiling, but staring coldly at the woman who looked surprised by the change in his face. ‘That's why I said it before. If you already know, why do you mind asking me?'

Martha was silent. Looks tense, seen from her body language. He tried to stay calm, got closer to Martha's ear as he continued to whisper. ‘At that time you said you would explain everything to me. You promise to say all of it. But why I didn't know about the part of you faking your own death?’

He was satisfied when he saw Martha's expression change which was increasingly visible in his eyes. There was a look of frightened eyes that were slightly visible to him, followed by the stiffening of Martha's body that the woman herself did not notice it. The freezing response. If so, then a flight response would appear before becoming a fight response.

‘Where did you know about that?’

‘None of your business,’ Raymond pulled himself away from his older sister who was still looking shocked. ‘You just need to answer my question.’

‘There are a lot of things going on, and I can't say that for now.’

Raymond's eyebrows shot up one side, doubting the reasons Martha gave him. ‘A lot of things? Like what? Following Amanda, for example?’

‘What are you talking about, Ray!’ Martha immediately took a few steps back, looking surprised. ‘I didn't know that he was Arnold's younger brother until you came to this city. I really mean it! Seriously, who gave you that idea?'

‘But you knew about Clive's attack the other day. Also about Verdict who arrived in this city. You said it yourself,’ Raymond noticed that Martha was giving a flight response. The woman's pupils widened, her trembling lower lip and pale face said it all. Verdict was right. There was something Martha was hiding from him. He should have realized it from the start. That woman knew too much. About the fact that he requested Thyme to let Amanda stay in the Umberbridge mansion for her safety, which led to the attack of Clive's people. Until his relationship with Hazel. He thought, as an informant, it was natural for Martha to know all that. What never crossed his mind at all was only one. Why did not he realize who Martha worked for? He was familiar with Martha's work. The woman preferred challenges and thought in terms of the benefits that could give her profits. Not the type of solo player who did not like to be tied down by anything. For Martha, as long as she saw it profitable, there would be no problems. He should have known this.

Once again, he watched Martha. There was no answer from the woman. He sighed, realizing that his attempts to inquire further would be futile, considering that Martha had said it clearly through her body language. ‘Then there's nothing more to explain.’

Still no answer. The woman did not move an inch, remained standing in her place without saying a word until he left her.

***