"Hello, mate," Raymond asked his friend, Pete, on the phone. "I have a request.""What is that?" Pete’s voice was distant and distracted."Money. I'm in need of money.""How much?""Maybe ten grand," Raymond shrugged rubbing his head"Ten thousand dollars? What's that for?" Pete’s voice rose five decibels higher than normal."You know… I've been wanting to surprise Roselle. Maybe get her something really expensive that she will really appreciate. She said the gifts I give her are poor." He hesitated, but then he still said: "Just like me."He sighed. "Sorry, man. It's your fault, though. You shouldn't have gone for a rich woman. Sometimes, I think you don't deserve her. She deserves someone in her class or higher."He exhaled, rubbing his temples, trying to think. "You're right, that's why I'm trying to make it up to her. I want to get her something that she'll remember for the rest of her life.""So, you need money?""Yes, I do. I'll pay back.""Okay. I have a friend who lends money.
Roselle was in the living room when he woke up. He smiled and came up to her, planting a kiss on her cheek, but she pushed him aside. "You're just waking?"He sighed in exasperation. "Roselle, did you understand all that I told you? I was beaten, robbed… can't you see my black eye?"She hissed. "Well, I thought you were running away from doing your duties as a man and making excuses that you were not able to buy me a gift because you were 'robbed.' " She paused for a second then her eyes opened wide in realization. "Did you just raise your voice at me?"His head ached so hard he was unable to answer her. He walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Finding a carton of milk, he emptied it into his mouth. It increased her fury."Don't you dare drink that milk from the carton! I bought it with my money and all you do is put your mouth all over it. Answer me when I'm talking to you, Raymond."He turned to glare at her, but remembered that it was HER house he lived, he backed down."I've
“You bloody thief! You stole my money when I said I wasn’t going to give you any.” Raymond’s father roared.Roselle’s face was different. She was red with embarrassment and her mouth dropped open. She walked up to her husband and threw her hands across his face, her five fingers leaving imprints on his face. rubbed it and endured the pain. That was something he was used to.“You son of a bitch,” she cried, “how dare you humiliate me in this way? After everything I’d done for you, you chose to steal from my father.” Before he could recover from what she had said, another slap came running in, harder and hotter than the rest. “I want a divorce.”Tears clouded his eyes. “You can’t do this, Roselle. After everything we’ve been through? I promise you that I didn’t steal the money.”“Finally, my daughter’s senses have been restored. Divorce him I will support you with a lawyer and finances.” Roselle father smiled.Roselle turned to Raymond. “It’s not about the money. I hate you, I want you
Confusion clouded his face, but the men weren’t budging. Their dark sunshades were joking, and the sun reflected in it.“I hope you are joking, what sort of prank is this? Am I in any sort of trouble?” Raymond asked, confusion making his head throb.“Of course, we can’t joke with you, Master. Your father will kill us.” One of the men said in full respect.“My father?” Raymond asked again. He hadn’t heard someone talk about his father. He couldn’t remember his earlier days. All he could remember was Roselle saving him from a bunch of thugs then asking him for coffee. When Roselle was still Roselle.“Yes, your father,” the man reminded him. “Mr. Kane. He thought you were dead, well until now.”“I was dead? I truly don’t understand anything you say.” People around them took pictures that would later go to the tabloids with the heading “Missing Billionaire’s son, Raymond Kane, finally returns home”.“Please, come into the car with us. We will take you home.”Everything sounded like a joke
“Yes, you heard me. A suite.” Raymond repeated. He knew where she was driving at, but he wanted to give her the benefit of doubt.“I heard you, yes, but I don’t know why you will be booking a suite in this hotel.” The woman gave him a look, weighing his looks and outfit with her eyes.“Why do you think so?” he asked.“Because you do not look the part. It is obvious enough.” She smacked the chewing gum in her mouth, her mouth moving, making her glistening red lips to glow. She looked horrible with a big mole on her chin. Linda, Raymond read off her name tag.“Who hired you to work at the front desk of this company? Your work here is to be nice to customers irrespective of how the person is dressed.” Raymond dipped him hands in his pockets and looked deep into her eyes. They burned with rage.“Who gave you the audacity to work into my workplace to tell me how to do my job?” she stopped typing off her computer and looked at his outfit. “You look like what came out of a thrift store.”“I
Linda was long gone. Raymond paid her a thousand dollars for her “cheap” services and let her go. She thanked him profusely and said I was going to cover a lot for her. Good riddance, but at least, she was good in bed. And she was also without a job.He rolled out of his king-sized bed and slipped into the bathroom. Room service got him the softest, cotton towel he had always used.He got to the roof and waited, thinking of what to do next. He needed to be strategic to know what next to do and how to tackle with the so-called people who slapped him behind his back. He would take care of Roselle in due course. All he needed was to focus on the people who broke his nose and designed his face with bruises.And his so-called best friend, Pete.He searched through his contact and searched for his father’s contact—Mr. Kane. It was still like a dream hat the richest man in the city with the highest connection was his father. He needed to find out what happened to him at the forest, and why.
He had just come up with the right plan. Raymond held the rails of the roof and thought of how he was going to handle things. Everyone deserved second chances and so did Roselle. Maybe, she hadn’t planned on divorcing him and was probably drunk. Pete may have gotten into her head.It was morning, her birthday. He took him bath and tried on one of his old clothes. He had gotten a change of wardrobe so he wasn’t going to activate it, yet. He pulled out a fading pair of tuxedo and threw on his body. He slid his old, cracking phone into his pocket and called a driver.His father sent a Lamborghini to come pick him, but he returned it and requested for a Honda Civic. So, he waited till he saw a blue car pulling up at the driveway.“Mr. Kane,” the man greeted. “Where do you want to go?”“Take me to any jewel shop you know.” Raymond said.From the driver’s face at the rearview mirror, he was stunned at how Raymond dressed regardless of his wealth. “Got a girl?” he asked.“I’m trying to win he
Chapter 8As he walked out of the ceremony, he could feel a rush of pride swelling in his chest. Finally, people knew who he was. This was only the beginning of his rise to fame, and yes the genesis of mental tormenting for Roselle. As he got into the car, he noticed people on the street taking pictures of him. He could barely believe what he was seeing. It didn't take long for the pictures to start circulating online, accompanied by captions like "Missing billionaire's son found!" and "Finally, a clue in the mystery."His ride pulled up to the hotel, and as he stepped out, he was met with the curious stares of people on the street. He could tell they were wondering why a man dressed in what some might call "rags" was walking into such a luxurious hotel. Some of the staff recognized him and gave him a warm smile, while others looked at him with suspicion. None of their stares seemed to bother him as he made his way into the elevator, where he found himself sharing the space with a m