POWER UNDISPUTED

Chapter 10

"Oh, Angela, I didn't know you were such a joker," Raymond said, wiping the tears from his eyes. "You mean he's Mr. Delaney?"

More laughter ensued as Damien watched on in amusement. He had never felt the need to prove himself to anyone. Not when he was a struggling office worker and definitely not now when he was potentially the most powerful business man in the world.

Angela had begun to enjoy the unfolding drama. Of course, Raymond was too arrogant to believe that Damien was the man he had to answer to. And Damien would not want to flaunt his power. She felt tingles trying to imagine how it would all play out.

"That's exactly what I mean," Angela said, smirking.

"Him?" Raymond chuckled. "He's been eating all this food as if he'll never get to eat in his life again. I know he definitely won't get to eat here ever again. Unless, of course, he plans to keep mooching off you."

"I don't mind that," Angela said.

Raymond sharply glanced at the beautiful woman. Was she bewitched? What was her relationship with this bottom feeder?

His resentment for Damien grew by the second. How could this scoundrel hold such high regard to Angela when he, heir to the Ronchester throne had fruitlessly tried for years?

"And do you mind?" He asked Damien. "Do you mind mooching off a woman? Do you mind being such a weak man that you need a woman to prop you up. Look at you, eating like a pig. You don't even have the decency to respect yourself and order something small."

He felt nothing but disgust for Damein.

"If she doesn't mind, then I don't," Damien said with his own smirk.

Angela giggled and Raymond just about lost his mind. "How can you laugh? He just admitted he's only after you for your money. Can't you see that he doesn't deserve you?" He turned back to Damien. "Do you think you deserve to sit at the same table as her?"

By now, Raymond's voice was going up in volume, attracting attention to their table.

"A pauper like you should be hanging around women of his calibre," he spat.

Angela gasped, with feigned anger etched on her face. "So you're saying I'm a pauper for hanging around him? Is there what you're saying, Raymond?"

Raymond glanced back at Angela and realised his mistake. "No, no, I didn't mean that at all. I mean he should only be with lowly women like himself. Not you, Angela."

Angela pressed on. "Oh really. So you're saying I'm a lowly woman?"

Damien sat back, watching the scene unfold with little input from himself. He might not know how powerful he had become but he knew Angela was an asset, someone who's bad side he was happy not to be on.

"Oh no," Raymond said. "No, not in the slightest. You see what he's doing to you? See how he's making you second guess yourself? You shouldn't be around him."

"He hasn't said anything. You're the one who has done nothing but insult me since you got here." Angela got on her feet, loudly scraping her chair against the floor as she pushed it back and grabbed her purse before heading to the bathroom. "You have made me lose my appetite."

Raymond watched her go with remorse written all over his face. Realisation dawned on him and he immediately turned to Damien.

"This is all your fault," he growled. "You show up out of nowhere and foul up the place with your putrid presence. Can you not see where you are? Do you think you should be in such a place? Leave now or I will make you regret the rest of your life."

All eyes were glued to the confrontation. Everyone, of course, was rooting for Raymond. They, like Raymond, believed Damien was out of place. They spent thousands of dollars on meals and they didn't want to feel like just anybody could afford it. Damien was just anybody and he had no business being there. They silently cheered for Raymond.

"You said you had a business proposal. I'll give you one minute to pitch it to me," Damien said, looking pointedly at Raymond.

Who the hell does this guy think he is? Anger swirled around in Raymond's gut. It was one thing for Angela to make a joke but was this idiot delusional?

"Bastard. Who the hell do you think you are? You think I have anything to say to you?"

Damien chuckled. "You seem to have a lot to say. Anyway, you seem like a go-getter regardless of your cluelessness. I'll give you one more chance. Before you say anything, realise that this will be your one and only chance. After now, even if you cry tears of blood, I won't listen."

Raymond felt like grabbing and yanking out fistfuls of his hair out of his head. Was this bastard out of his damn mind? His hand itched with the urge to push Damien on the jaw.

The air was thick with tension. Total silence except for the sound of Raymond's heavy breathing.

"I warned you," Raymond said as he marched towards Damien.

Damien watched in anticipation. For so long, he'd had to restrain himself from beating up assholes like this because Courtney claimed it could have a negative effect on her reputation. No need to care about that anymore. He could let loose. He could shut down any clown who dared lay hands on him

As adrenaline coursed through his veins, the whole scene played out in slow motion. Raymond yelled something as he reached for his collar to grab him. He was about to spring into action when another hand grabbed Raymond's and shoved it away.

"Mr. Ronchester, I would appreciate it if you keep your hands off my esteemed guest," Abigail said, glaring at Raymond.

Raymond's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Murmurs erupted amongst the guests. The manager herself had come out? And she called the pauper her esteemed guest?

"What the hell is happening?" Raymond asked, looking like he was losing his grasp on reality. "Who the hell are you?"

Damien merely smiled at him, leaving his question hanging in the air.

Raymond couldn't take it. That smug smile, he had to wipe it off Damien's face. Abigail was still standing between him and Damien.

He raised his hands in surrender and made to leave for his seat but as soon as he'd passed Abigail and the path was clear, he lunged for Damien.

His hands were inches from Damien's throat.