Chapter 6- Mira’s 1st Step

‘Ma please you can't go in” The secretary dragged.

Raymond didn’t look up when the office door swung open. He remained busy at his annoying files that have kept him rigid since morning, his expression clearly looks pissed off by network issues from his system.

He was still necked deep into his work when a young lady walked in. 

Her heels clicking distinctly against the marble floor, with her navy blue blazer exuding all poise and sophistication. Her hair tied up in a sleeked bun, her nude lipstick matching her make-up. Each step she made was more like an assertion that makes her impossible to be ignored. She shut the door softly behind her, ignoring the secretary’s feeble attempt to stop her from barging in.

“Hello, Mr Raymond”.

Raymond lifted his gaze. A flash of annoyance crossed his face, curious of what a strange lady with such boldness would be looking for in his office.  “Who are you please?” he asked curiously.

Resting her laps in front of his desk, unbothered and unbiased, never minding the professional disdain, she responded. “I am Mira, a daughter to Mayor Eves.  I am the betrothed wife to a man your wife swore not to leave”.

“Excuse me, My wife? What are you talking about?”

“Oh please spare me those crap Mr Raymond. Why pretend as if you don't know what I'm talking about?”

“What?” Raymond asked curiously.

 “Take a look at this”. She flipped a file dismissively towards him with a flick of her hand and the other one resting lightly on her chin radiating just dominance.

“Maybe this will explain better before the media does.” She said tilting her head and studying him with the confidence of someone who already knew the outcome. Raymond’s eyes narrowed widely at the file wondering the hidden danger inside it. 

Immediately he opened the folder…. He was shocked at what he saw. A printed hospital form with his estranged wife’s name written boldly on it…NICOLE VANCE. Stating clearly of her accident the previous day with Xavier.

“What is Nichole doing with another man?” He thought.

Raymond’s heart immediately kicked hard against his ribs, driven by emotions he couldn’t explain.

“Young Lady, Where did you get this?” he asked angrily.

“Does it matter?” Mira replied coldly. “Your ex-wife has been busy.”

He looked up sharply. “You watch your tone.”

“No, Raymond,” Mira said, leaning forward on his desk, as she spoke. “You’re the one who needs to watch her.”

He slammed the folder shut at her face, waving out the thoughts battling in his head. “Spare me all these, Nichole can't do such a thing.” He snapped.

“Oh why are you suddenly trusting her now? You think she wouldn't .” Mira cuts in. “She had a one-night stand with my boyfriend, and now,conveniently ends up in his car, in a disguise of being crushed under a truck which is making waves in all blogs right now.”You think this is a joke? Don’t act like it doesn’t look suspicious.”

Raymond stared at her, stunned and speechless at her words. The idea of Nichole moving on so quickly with another man is still unbelievable .

Trying to yank it off again, he said.“Look, that’s impossible. Nichole wouldn’t degrade herself like that.” he said again, but his expression obviously betrayed him. 

“Oh! degrade YOU, you mean?” Mira tilted her head, biting her lips and expecting an outburst from him. “Or are you pretending it doesn't affect you?”

Raymond clenched his fists.

Mira smiled faintly with a cruel, satisfying smirk knowing fully well she had hit the soft spot. 

She stepped closer, bending slightly and her perfume drifting over his nostrils, she said.

“Listen Raymond, I’m going to give you this warning,” her voice stern. “If Nichole tries this again, if she ever steps into my path with my man. I will make sure I finish what the truck failed to do permanently.”

Raymond rose abruptly. “Don’t threaten her. She is NOT your problem.”

“Oh, she already is,” Mira said, twisting her neck in a bragging way. “And let me tell you, once people find out she was playing house with another man while still legally bound to you by fresh paperwork, she’ll be your problem too.”

Raymond's nostrils flared in anger.

Before he could speak another word. Mira rose up, picked her berkin bags and walked towards the door, pausing just long enough to twist the knife deeper, she turned.

“Raymond, You told me she didn’t matter to you anymore,” Mira added casually. “But the expression on your face tells me she still does.”

Raymond stood rigid, his hands braced on the desk, breathing hard through his nose as she left without dismissal. The door clicked shut behind her as silence swallowed the office. Raymond has never felt this type of humiliation, the insult, the idea of Nichole with someone else, it made his ego burn.

Nichole….His Nichole. 

Despite everything, the thought of another man touching her, ignited something savage in his chest. He shouldn't be thinking about this, yet,he didn't understand why. Beneath his fury lay a truth he dared not admit: a flicker of the old warmth he believed was long dead, a craving he resented and the love he killed but never truly mourned, suddenly found their way creeping back.

“Fuuuckkk! Never! Not under my watch Nichole. I hate you but I can't watch another man take you”. He swore.

He crushed the folder in his fist, shoving it aside and snapping one hand on his head.

Raymond kept battling with his fury,but he couldn’t shake the bitter truth Mira had unintentionally revealed. He wasn’t only fighting his pride, he was fighting something he had sworn he no longer felt.

A past love refusing to die and masking itself as revenge.

If Nichole was alive…If she was being reckless…If she thought she could shame him and get away with it. Then he would surely deal with her, punish, bend and erase her completely.