Chapter 24

Raiden parked outside the barely familiar house. He hadn't been home in decades, nor had he ever thought he would be about to take another step inside. He eased out of his car and walked up the pathway, not a single happy memory surfacing. The door opened almost as soon as he rang the doorbell and he made his way into the living room, his eyes inspecting the staged family photos. He cringed. His entire life had been about pretences, saving face, and betrayal.
His mother entered, her features bright with excitement, despite having seen him a few hours before. "I have dreamed of the day you would return to visit us. Stay for dinner, your father will be back by then." she pulled him to a seat beside her.

"And where is father?" Raiden questioned, poking at the thinly veiled illusion. His mother's face momentarily collapsed in distraught, recovering just as quickly.

"What brings you by?" she directed the conversation elsewhere to distract herself from the fact that her husband was only her partner in name. He had long severed ties with his family for his mistress and their children whereas his mother found her solace in the bed of their family chef. The disturbing part was that his parents still shared a home, appeared together at public and social gatherings to keep up appearances but their marriage was long dissolved. He immediately recalled his hatred for such a condemning life.

He pulled out the check from his pocket and handed it to her. Her face turned white. "Where did you get this?" she questioned.

"I was asked to return it to you," Raiden responded.

"Oh, foolish girl!" she spoke between clenched teeth.

"Foolish?" he questioned incredulously. "Is my worth expressed by dollar signs?" he confronted.

"Of course not! But this was enough for her to build a new life, one where she isn't ruining your future." she raised her hand to his face. Raiden caught her hand mid-air, bring it down from his face.

"You need to stop." he pronounced each word clearly. "I have always made my own choices, you can complain or disapprove but I will do what I want to do." he tried to make her understand.

"What about Naomi?" she questioned hotly. "Are you just going to leave her, she is alone now." it was the first time he understood why his mother wanted him to revive his connection with Naomi, in some strange way she felt as if they had experienced similar things.

"Mother, you need to remember that I didn't end my relationship with Naomi, she made the choice. She chose someone else. Do you really want me to be in a loveless relationship with a woman who, at the slightest chance, would forsake me for someone better?" he questioned seriously.

"There is no one better than you." his mother countered.

"It's a matter of perception," he responded.
His mother inhaled, "Do you, then, love this Ivory girl?" he could tell she didn't think much of Ivory, her tone, demeanour, and expression all altered in a split second. The question, however, was one he was no longer sure he could answer unwittingly.

"Does that matter?" he questioned. "If it's not her, it could be someone else, but the bottom line is that it's my decision."
She scoffed and he realized that he had made no progress. His attempt at being considerate and gentle had failed.

"I will never approve of that seductress!" she spat, immediately getting worked up. Raiden inhaled deeply.

"Don't call her that." his tone warning her to thread carefully.

"That's what she is! If she hadn't seduced you would be going against me right now?" she demanded.

"I have always gone against your wishes, have I then been seduced my entire life? My choices are made by me, don't rip away my accountability," he responded, raising from his seat.

"You are no longer welcomed at my business," he said, ignoring the stunned expression on her features.

"What?" she demanded.

"You use your privilege to abuse and insult my staff. I cannot condone it." he elaborated. "And also, if you mutter a single abusive word to any of my employees again, then we can forget our familial bond." he didn't wait for her to respond and exited.

***
Ivory pulled open the door to her apartment only to find Zoey posing on her doorstep, her hands begging to be relieved.

"I brought you food." she smiled, not waiting for an invitation to enter into Ivory's apartment.

"While I will never pass up food, why are you here?" Ivory questioned, her mood instantly improving.

"Felix texted me. He said you weren't feeling well and he mentioned something about a media scandal," she spoke casually.

"Are you using Felix to spy on me?" Ivory questioned, the smell of food drawing her to the kitchen.

"Of course! He's got to serve some purpose." Zoey responded sarcastically.
Ivory laughed. "It's weird, but I think he would actually feel complimented by that." Zoey joined in on the laughter.

"So, is there anything you want to tell me?" Zoey eyed Ivory like a hawk, compelling her to reveal her secrets.

"Well, Raiden's mother offered me money to stay away from her son." Ivory took a gulp of water, measuring Zoey's horrified reaction.

"You're kidding." Zoey was stunned.

"She thinks I am a gold digger." Ivory couldn't say those words with a straight face.

"If only she knew you came from money too." Zoey commented.

"That wasn't my money. I didn't earn a cent of it." Ivory countered, shuddering to think about her childhood. What was good about being privileged, every step of your life mapped out, every person holding you to unrealistic expectations.
Zoey shrugged. "So does it bother you that she thinks of you this way?"
Ivory considered this but the answer was clear. "No. I hadn't planned or expected to even meet his mother in my lifetime. Our relationship is fleeting remember?"

"Although, " she paused, her mind tugging her back and forth. "I think I made a mistake." the words were breathless. Once she said it, she wouldn't be able to go back, she knew that but she needed closure.
Zoey was paying full attention now. "What's that?"

"I fell for him." Ivory couldn't believe that she had actually said the words. There was a weight lifted off of her, she felt lighter. It had been hell trying to suppress it, trying to convince herself she was overthinking.
Zoey placed her plate down and moved closer to Ivory, wrapping her arms around her. "I know," Zoey confirmed. "What are you going to do?"

"I guess the only thing to do would be to end it." This time the tears did appear.

"Isn't there something else?" Zoey questioned, her heart hoping for her friend to be happy.

"This is the best option. It was bound to end anyway and now that things have become complicated by my feelings, his ex's reappearance, and his mother's disapproval, it's best we go our separate ways."

"I thought you didn't care about what his mother thought?" Zoey pushed.

"I don't. However, you know what my relationship with my parents is, I don't want him to have difficulties with his mother because of some temporary fling. It's hard to function thinking you've disappointed your parents and I don't want him to experience that. " Ivory explained. Zoey sighed, tightening her arms around Ivory.

"I'm sorry," she muttered, sharing in Ivory's pain.

"Don't be." Ivory whispered, grateful that Zoey was here with her.

"Is it going to be soon?" Zoey questioned.

"Is it selfish that I want a last couple of days with him?" Ivory questioned, her mind and body unwilling to let him go, but it was for the best. He didn't sign up for emotions and she wouldn't burden him with them.

"You can afford to be selfish once in a while," Zoey commented.

***
The weather had taken a turn. The previously sunny skies were overridden by rain clouds. Ivory didn't complain, the weather was just what she needed to get through her night. She cuddled by the window, her eyes unable to see past the shroud of raindrops, but the sound soothed her. She couldn't resign herself to forsake Raiden. Images of him plagued her as she tightened her hold on herself. She had been building up the courage to let him go but she wasn't even sure if he had already freed himself. The thought chilling her, an unusual sensation gripping her and settling in her chest.
Raiden barely felt the cold seeping in through his clothes, he pulled off his jacket and grasped it in the palm of his hand. His mind was concentrated on one thing, everything else be damned. He walked through the corridor of the building, his mind, and body on autopilot. He didn't want to think or evaluate, if he did, he might hesitate.

He applied his knuckles to the door, the pace restless. The door pulled open, his body instantly relaxed as she came into view. She stared at him up and down. He wasn't sure whether her astonishment was due to his appearance or the state that he was in.

"Hi." he breathed, Ivory's heart melting at the sight of him. His hair lay limply against his skull, rogue tendrils caressing his forehead while droplets of water rolled down and across his face. His plaid, long-sleeved shirt no longer leaving anything to the imagination.

"Are you crazy?" she requested, turning on her heels and walking further into her apartment, re-appearing with towels in hand. She pulled him into the apartment and closed the door behind him. "It's a full-blown thunderstorm out there." she continued.

"I am fine," he responded. "About last night- and this morning." he took her hands.
Ivory pulled away. She didn't want to hear any explanations that might cause her to change her decisions. " You have nothing to explain to me," she responded
quickly.

"You need to get out of these wet clothes," she said, attempting to move past the topic completely.

"Are you offering to help?" he questioned, bringing her face to his, their lips clashing out of pure, unabated need. Ivory gave into him, her entire being wanting to be present at this moment with him. Perhaps this would be the start of her closure.

***
"Is this one of your manuscripts?" Raiden pulled the thickly bound document from her nightstand into his lap.
Ivory instantly shot up, her hands reaching for it, but he hindered her.

"It's not very good," she responded, almost in a panic.

"Can I be the judge of that?" he insisted and she surrendered. "I had no idea you liked writing," he said.
Ivory sighed. "It's an escape. What's not to like?" she countered.

"You do know you work in a publishing company, right?" he paused when her features remained blank. "You could have offered it to someone."
Ivory smiled. "Who says I didn't?" she questioned. When she had first started working there, she had requested that Emery take a look but she didn't consider it good enough and advised Ivory to have more realistic goals.

"Who?" he questioned, but by the look on her face, he knew she wouldn't respond.

"Then let me take a look." he placed it back on her nightstand and turned his attention back to her.

"Are you tired?" she questioned, unexpectedly.

"Just a bit. Is there something you wanted to do?" he questioned, tracing the outline of his lips with his fingers.

"Only if you're up to it." she was testing his reactions. She needed to take her time with him count.

"I am always open to being tempted by you," he responded, fingering a strand of hair that had fallen from her hair tie.
Ivory sat up enthusiastically. "You won't change your mind?" she eyed him hopefully.
He grinned. "I won't," he promised.

"You promised," she confirmed. "You are not allowed to change your mind anymore, okay?" she demanded infectiously, unconcerned about receiving any further response. She hopped up from the bed, dragged on her robe, the fleeting sight of her bare flesh teasing him.

"Get up!" she demanded playfully, tugging at his arm. He complied, following her to the living room. His eyes catching a glimpse at the clock, it was after twelve in the morning.

"It's a very mundane request." she acknowledged, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"I've never done mundane. So for me, it'll be novel," he responded truthfully.
He didn't even notice the title of the movie. He waited for her to settle next to him. Instead, she rested her head on his lap, curling up on the sofa, pulling his arm around her with her hand.

He exhaled, his eyes not seeing a single frame of the movie they had been watching, he'd been too focused on her, he noted her eyes fluttering and fighting to remain open. The change in her breathing notified him of her unconsciousness. It hadn't been a good half hour since she played the movie. Her fingers pulling his arm closer to his chest.

"Did you know, I was really worried today?" he whispered, brushing the hair away from her face. "I thought it was going to be over." he exhaled.
He could feel himself drifting but he hadn't the heart to move her and risk disturbing her sleep. He pulled a throw pillow from the sofa behind his neck, leaned back, and closed his eyes.

***
Raiden eased his eyes open, his neck sore and tight, his right hand immediately cupping the back of his neck and then he stretched. Ivory was no longer next to him. He looked around and found her in the kitchen.

"I am sorry for the poor sleeping arrangement," she said, as soon as he came within her sight, placing an unexpected kiss on her forehead. Ivory tried to ignore the fluttering in her chest.

"I slept great." he lied, but it was worth it.

"Come, I made you breakfast." she gestured him to the dining table and they ate in comfortable silence.