Chapter 39

A month later, Raymond was in the conference room of the Baldwin empire, having a meeting with the board of directors when the door was thrown open and stormed in a very angry Desmond.
Everyone looked at him surprised for they hardly sees the old chairman so angry that it's as if smokes were puffing out from his ears and they all prayed not to be the reason of his anger.
"Raymond!" Desmond shouted "what is the nonsense I hear?"
Raymond sighed, if his grandfather called him Raymond, then he must be really angry with him, "grandpa, I don't know what you are talking about."
"What nonsense!" Desmond slammed his hand on the table causing everyone to jump including Raymond, "don't you dare act ignorant with me" he warned.
"Grandpa, why don't you calm down and let's talk in my office. Maybe you can tell me what have you infuriated this much."
"Don't tell me to calm down. How could you break your grandmother's heart like this?"
Raymond need no soothsayer to tell him what could have his grandfather so angry. He must have found out about his divorce. Finally, he thought.
"How could you do this nonsense? And you even hid it from us! Because you knew we will never support your stupid decision!"
"Grandpa please, let's talk in the office, I will explain everything to you. Anything you want to know, okay? Please."
Desmond looked around then and figured that's not really the place to talk about their family matter. He turned around and stormed out of the conference room in quick steady strides that is unbelievable for a man his age.
Raymond slumped in his chair with a sigh, his mind ran far and wild as he thought of how to pacify his grandfather. He looked around the room to see everyone sitting quietly, afraid to even breathe aloud. He let out a deep breath, "meeting adjourned."?
He stood up and left the room immediately. When he got to his office, he paused with his hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath before pushing it open. He walked in to see his grandfather standing near the French windows, looking out to the sky. He could see his clenched fists and knew he was still fuming in anger.
He sighed, "grandpa."
"I will ask only once. Why did you divorce Felicity?"
Raymond ran his hand through his hair, of course he knew that's the issue, "I didn't divorce her grandpa, she divorced me."
Desmond glanced at him immediately, disbelief clouded his eyes, "what did you say?"
"You heard me grandpa. Felicity divorced me."
"What did you do? Why would little Lee divorce you?"
"I..." He gulped "I did something."
"I know you did something. What did you do?" Desmond snapped.
Raymond closed his eyes and let out a deep breath, "she saw me kissing her best friend, who was...naked."
Desmond looked like he had suffered a blow, his legs failed him as they suddenly couldn't carry his weight, he slumped in Raymond's leather chair, looking like he had just seen a ghost.
Raymond expected this so he just stood there, saying nothing.
What felt like hours passed before Desmond spoke again, "I can't believe this" he shook his head before looking at Raymond with disappointment in his eyes, "you have disgraced our family name. The Baldwin's are not known as cheats but you..." He shook his head again and Raymond saw his eyes watered, "she is such a beautiful girl, loving. Had the most tragic experience in life and you my dear boy, had the guts to hurt her with her best friend. Ha," he continued shaking his head "my poor Hana will be truly broken now" he stood up and walked up to Raymond, he looked at him and heaved a sigh before opening the door and leaving the office.
Raymond felt weak and slumped in the sofa, he wiped his face with his hands and rest his head on the sofa. He is truly a disappointment, not only to his family and his grandparents but also to himself and the only woman he has ever loved.
He wants to right his wrong but the problem is that Katherine will not allow him. Uncountable times he had gone to their home to see Felicity but Katherine never let's him. She hardly speaks to him even and is so fond of shutting the door on his face.?
But can he blame her? Hell no.
He brought it upon himself and now his grandparents that means the world to him are disappointed in him.
His love left him.
His parents abandoned him.
He has lost everything.
All he has is his companies, all the companies. Something he have always wanted. He is now a member of the World's Club but where is the happiness?
Where is the pure bliss he expected to come with it?
He feels empty.
Lonely.
And heartbroken.
To the world, he has gained everything but to him? He has lost all.
***
Katherine heard the doorbell and sighed, who could it be now? It better not be Raymond, she thought as she left to answer the door, she froze when she saw who was at the door, she gulped. Why are they here? How were they able to find her home?
"Hello. May we come in?" Desmond asked, snapping Katherine out of her thoughts.
She nodded immediately and stepped aside, while saying "of course, do...do come in" she closed the door after them and followed them inside, she really can't seem to know why they were in her house. Ever since the wedding, she can count how many times she had seen them in one hand an now, they are in her house.
"Can we sit?" Hana asked, calling her back from her thoughts once more.
"Yes, yes, do make yourselves at home" Katherine rushed to say, "what can I get you?"
"Don't worry dear, we are not here for refreshment" Desmond said.
"Oh" was the sound she made as she looked around the living room awkwardly.
"Sit down child" Hana smiled "we just wants to talk with you."
"Oh" she let out again before sitting down, "so, em...what do you want to talk about?"
Hana sighed, "can we...can we see Felicity?"
Katherine sighed, she should have expected, "I'm sorry ..."
"I understand" Hana interrupted before she could be rejected "Raymond did not only hurt her but us as well. The day of the wedding, I saw how that Grace girl was acting and how he was staring at her. I warned him that day but I never expect him not to heed my warning."
Katherine frowned, is she missing something? How did they know about Grace? "I'm sorry, but, how did you know?"
"He told us" Desmond answered "I found out about their divorce and confronted him. He admitted to me that little Lee saw him kissing her best friend and so filed for a divorce."
Katherine was angry, why did Raymond make it sound like Felicity was the one who couldn't wait to divorce him? If on normal circumstances that they were truly married and without the contract, if Felicity had seen him kissing Grace, she still wouldn't have requested for a divorce. So why does Raymond want it to look like she couldn't wait to get rid of him? "I'm sorry but that's not all. Felicity wouldn't have requested for a divorce just for that" as she said that, she realized the reason Raymond would have made it sound like that. It's because he didn't want to tell his grandparents about the contract.
"Oh my! It's there another reason?" Hana asked worriedly, even Desmond was anxious.
She thought about telling them about the contract but decided against it. A contract is a contract and since it's has ended and she has received her full payment, she has no right to disclose anything about the contract to anybody, no matter what Raymond had done to her niece, she has no right to hold him to it. After all, it was not stated anywhere in the contract that he must fall in love with her niece, she heaved a sigh then, "yes. He has been avoiding her way before that so when Felicity saw them, she thought it was because of Grace that's why he has been avoiding her and one thing about her is that, she can never hold someone against their will."
Hana and Desmond both heaved a sigh at the same time, "she is such a lovely girl. I must admit that I didn't see this happening" she shook her head "she is a freewill and fun to be with. Always happy and smiling" she dabbed at her eyes and smiled, "I'm sorry, it's..." She sighed "I really love her."
Desmond patted her back to comfort her, "I know, we both do."
Hana nodded at that. She just wish she could see her, even if it was just for a while.
Katherine could read the longing in her eyes and recalled she didn't let her finish her sentence earlier, "I'm sorry, I wish you can see her but you can't."
Hana nodded, "I know."
Katherine smiled and shook her head, "it's not that I don't want you to but that you can't because she is not around."
That got them looking at her, "where is she?"
"Felicity is currently in Florida and I don't know when she will be back. I miss her a lot."
Hana looked at Desmond before looking at Katherine again, "why is she in Florida?"
Katherine sighed, "she wanted a change of environment so I arranged for her and her nanny to go there. She will only be back when she feels like it. Though I can go see her when I want, I just want to give her some space for now."
Hana and Desmond nodded, "she deserves it. Do let us now when you need help taking care of her, we will do what we can" Desmond said and Katherine nodded and thanked them.
They didn't linger around anymore and left after a little chat about Felicity. Katherine watched them leave and she felt bad for them. She need no one tell to her that they really care about Felicity. But then, it's their grandson who doesn't want her. She heaved a deep breath and walked back into the house.
***
Seven months later, Katherine knocked on Raymond's office door, she entered when he permitted her to and could see the shock in his eyes when he saw her. He stood up immediately and walked around his desk to meet her, he perched on it, waiting for her to speak.
Katherine cleared her throat before saying, "I know there is a procedure to have this done but I just want to ask directly from you."
"What is that?"
"Can I get a two months leave?"
Raymond didn't expect that and his face showed it, "two months? Why do you need two months leave?"
Katherine bit her lip and looked down at her feet.
Raymond saw her action and got his answer immediately. Although his grandparents are heavily angry at him, he still found out from them that Felicity is no longer in New York and is somewhere in Florida. Although he often pleads with Katherine to please let him speak with her, she always refused but he never gave up. And he won't.
He knows that someday, she would return and he will be here, waiting for her, no matter how long it will take him. He accepted his fate now as a punishment from nature for not valuing her when he had her. So he will serve his punishment wholeheartedly and when he will finally be blessed to see her again, he is going to do everything within his power to have her back. Whether he needs to crawl and beg, he would because she is the best thing that has ever happened to him and he is not going to make the same mistake twice.
He nodded, "you want to go see her. When are you leaving?" He asked.
Katherine looked at him warily "what are you planning?"
Raymond smiled faintly, "don't worry Katherine, I won't follow you. Like I told you before, I will be here, waiting for her, no matter how long it will take."
Katherine still finds it difficult to believe him any time he speaks like that. She still can't believe that finally, he had accepted to have fallen for her niece. Although he had tried to get on her good book during the past seven months, she still can't trust Felicity's heart with him and so never gave him her number to reach her. Although a man like Raymond can always find someone anywhere with his connections but he had promised to not disturb her in her moment of peace and will wait for her here. And to her surprise, he has been doing just that.
"Then why are you asking me when I will be leaving?"
"So that I can get you something to take to her for me."
"Why do you bother? I told you she rejected every other one I sent to her immediately she learnt it was from you."
"Then don't tell her it's from me this time. Just make it look like you got them for her."
"I cannot deceive my niece like that."
"Katherine please" he grabbed her hand "help me."
"Why should I?"
"Because I have leant my mistake and is ready to atone. Please, help me get her back."
"You hurt her Raymond."
"I know" he sighed "I know. And I'm paying it for now."
"This is difficult. She doesn't even like hearing your name, let alone talk about you."
Raymond became dejected but he still looked at Katherine with hope, "I just have to try. I can't give up."
Katherine sighed, "fine. If you accept my leave then I will be leaving in two weeks."
"Your leave is accepted."
Katherine's eyes widened in shock, "just like that?"
"Is there any other thing?" He asked confused.
Katherine shook her head, "no, nothing."
"Okay" he nodded "I will book a first class ticket for you and while you prepare, I can get the things I want you to bring to her for me."
"You will book me a flight?" She asked bewildered.
"It's the least I can do, please don't say no" he pleaded.
"No, it's okay, it's okay."
Raymond smiled, "thank you."
Katherine nodded, "I will go to my office then and prepare everything to submit to Morris."
"Okay" he nodded and Katherine walked to the door, "Katherine" she turned to look at him "thank you."
She smiled when she saw it was genuine and left the office. Damn, she loves this new side of Raymond and should Felicity forgive him, she would really enjoy him. That's if she does but at the main time, she herself will seat back and enjoy his pampering. Damn, she will be traveling in first class. She grinned from ear to ear as she walked to her office. She felt a little bad on not telling Raymond her main reason of going to Florida, but it's okay. Everything is step by step.
The most important thing is that Raymond has realized his mistake and his fighting to right everything.