A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE SIXTY TWO

THEME: His Legal Wife

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

Raven’s breath was unsteady when she got into the restroom. She found a free toilet and locked herself up inside. Tears streamed down her face like a fountain fall. All her life she had never felt hate emit from someone towards her.

Raven prioritized herself as a non troublemaker and was never bothered about getting hateful words or messages from anyone. Not even when she dated Jacob who was the cynosure of all ladies eyes while they dated.

She wanted to talk to someone so bad, but she knew better than to let her emotions out to Tiana. Telling her friend would only make things worse, knowing her too well she would barge into the Hall and rip Ashley’s head off her pretty neck.

Raven cried her eyes out for a while before she stepped out of the toilet to wash her face. Her eyes almost bobbed out in shock when she saw Christopher standing by the door side peeping out.

“Wh… wha… what are you doing here? It’s the females toilet.” She informed him, her voice sounding coarse.

Christopher’s hand held onto the doorknob tightly. To be honest, he didn’t know what he was thinking when he came after her to the extent of entering the ladies restroom and checking if he gets sighted by anyone.

Christopher had noticed her countenance when he walked back to the table and he had observed his sister’s mood and he could feel the victorious aura to the way she sat with poise. He didn’t bother to ask her why she must have acted irrational, all he wanted to know was if Raven was okay.

Christopher cleared his throat and he turned to face her. He had to hold himself back from touching her face even though it was obvious she had been crying. Her eyes were a bit swollen and her makeup was ruined.

“Why are you crying?” He queried.

Raven sniffed and ignored him as she opened up the faucet and rinsed her face with the water.

“I am talking to you, Raven!” Christopher retorted, getting pissed at her silence after he had put his ego on the line to ask after her welfare.

Raven sighed deeply. “It… it’s nothing, you didn’t have to come find me.”

Christopher facial expression changed immediately. “Really? You were taking too much time so I just needed to be sure you were okay.” He wanted to curse out loudly, after he had waited for about ten minutes for her to come out but she didn’t seem grateful for his concern.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

‘Women were all the same.’ He thought within.

However, Christopher found himself insisting. He knew it was Ashley but he needed to be sure. “Was Ashley picking on you again?”

And with those words fresh tears stung Raven in the eyes again as she stared at herself in the mirror. Christopher noticed her bleary eyes too.

“It’s nothing I can’t cope with. Just forget about it.”

Gritting his teeth, Christopher walked few steps to her. “Listen, if we are ever going to make this work for the next five months, three weeks and three days I would need to be defensive when it comes to you and I also can’t have Ashley blow our cover with her continuous interference. I need you to be sincere with me about what she says and how she treats you.”

The last words that came from him tasted like bile. “Please Raven. We can’t mess this up.” He added quickly.

Raven shook her head lightly and she smoothed strands of hair from her face. Thankfully, she had her powder box in her purse. Dousing it on her face and she applied a little lipgloss.

“I am ready.”

Christopher forced a tight smile on his face. “Okay. That’s alright.”

They both stepped out of the restroom and walked back to the hall with Christopher’s hands behind Raven’s back. His touch still makes her flinch and it took every vein in her to stay still.

“Seems you both can’t get away from each other for a minute.” Hope teased as she sighted the both of them.

Christopher chuckled, pulling out a chair for Raven to seat in. “Here baby.”

“Are you okay, Raven?” Ashley said with her eyes dancing with mischief while holding down a smirk.

“She is fine, Ashley!” Christopher replied with a finality in his tone. A silent message for his sister to back off.

Getting the message, Ashley snorted loudly and atmosphere became tense all of a sudden. Judging by the interaction it seemed like only James and Hope didn’t notice it.

“What would you like to eat? I was thinking of having lobsters, do you mind too?” Christopher whispered into Raven’s ears with his hand holding hers down.

Shivers ran down her spine as his voice made her tingly on the insides. It took away her vocals as she only nodded in response. With a flip of the finger the waiters came to take each person’s orders.

James nudged his wife’s side gently. “Look they are so protective and concerned about each other.”

Hope agreed as she smiled in response. “I have never seen Christopher let his guard down so much with anyone aside us and the rest of the family.”

Glancing at Ashley and Matthew, James inhaled. “It’s so nice seeing our kids in love and happy.”

“I am so grateful for the life we got.” Hope mumbled, leaning into her husband and he kissed her forehead.

The foods arrived and it got Raven’s belly churning. The aroma they emit was amazing and she hadn’t realized how hungry she was. Picking up a fork, she dived into the fleshy part of the lobster and moaned unintentionally. She knew a well prepared food when she came across one.

“You like it?” Christopher had asked out of amusement when he heard the moan escape her lips.

Immediately Raven put a hand to her mouth as she chewed lightly with her eyes guilty. “I am sorry. They just taste so good. I couldn’t help it.”

“You are so cute Raven!” Hope interjected, smiling at her.

The table remained silent as noises from the other tables seeped in. Around 8:00 p. m Ashley and her husband stood up to leave. Exchanging their pleasantries with the parents and Christopher stood up at the same time.

“I will see you both off to your car.” He offered.

“You really don’t have to worry Chris, we will be fine.” Matthew told him.

Christopher insisted. “Please I want to.” He said, looking at his sister intensely.

Matthew got the message to avoid having the parents from getting a hint of what was going on. He led his wife outside with Christopher on their tail.

“Bye honey!” Hope called out behind them.

The night breeze blew at them as they all stepped out of the building awaiting the valet to drive the car around. Christopher pat his feet lightly on the ground and dipped both of his hands into his pocket. He faced his sister and husband.

“Please Matthew can you tell you wife to stay away from my woman and stop making her feel miserable?” He said.

Ashley scoffed in distaste. “Christopher, is this a joke? Are you really putting up a fight with me over a stranger?” She demanded.

“The last time I checked Ash, this woman you are referring to as a stranger is my wife and bears my name legally. Please stop messing around Ashley.”

Her nerves were beginning to work up her throat and she moved a feet towards him. “I won’t stop not until you tell me what the hell happened between you and Jessica.”

Christopher couldn’t stop the huff that left his lips as he closed his eyes for a flip second. “You really have got a nerve Ashley. Don’t forget I am an adult and I can make decisions on my own. Aside that you have no right, no right Ashley to meddle in my relationships. I chose Raven and I will chose her again. Don’t make me repeat myself, Ashley. Have a goodnight Matthew.” And with that he walked away and went back into the building as he folded and unfolded his fist in annoyance.