15. VISITING RAYMOND

After Justin left Yvonne's place, he went straight to Raymond's house.

Raymond was in the kitchen preparing dinner for himself.

Ray went to the door on hearing the doorbell, "Who's there?"

Justin kept quiet, trying not to make a sound and to make Ray scared.

"When you are ready to talk, you should talk louder cos I will be in the kitchen." He turned and went back to the kitchen.

Justin laughed loudly and pressed the doorbell repeatedly to irritate Ray, "It's Justin."

Ray came back to the door and opened it, "Come..." Justin entered before Ray could complete his sentence.

Justin entered, took off his shoe, and kept it at the shoe rack by the door.

Ray went back to the kitchen with Justin following him.

"Am still hungry," Justin said as he rubbed his stomach.

Ray shook his head, "You are still hungry or just hungry?" Glancing in his direction.

"Am a bit hungry. Went on a dinner date with a girl I met recently." He replied, smiling.

Ray nodded and added more to the food that he was preparing, so it would be enough.

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5 years ago, back in New York, The Russells were always in competition with The Malcondes.

Companies were either owned by The Russells or by The Malcondes worldwide.

The Malconde were destroyed to the least which made The Russells rise to become the top richest in New York.

The Malcondes position is still being fought for by other competitors but no one can take it.

People believe that they will still come back with full force, even as the main head, Mr. Malconde is dead.

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Raymond Russell is the top richest bachelor in California.

The Founder and CEO of Mond Enterprises.

Raymond left New York for California because he wanted to work on his own without relying on his dad for help or his dad rendering any form of financial support so he worked hard and made it.

The main reason for him leaving was to get away from his parents' disturbance. They want him to get married and each time the roof was brought up to discuss, he claims he hasn't found the right one but he knows better.

Ray served dinner while Justin helped and they both settled down to eat on the dining table in the kitchen.

After eating, Ray tidied up before they moved to the living room to watch a football match on the TV.

Justin balanced on the sofa properly and brought up a conversation, "I met a girl yesterday," He smiled at the memory of how they met, "Princess Justina."

Ray looking away from the TV in his direction, "Oh... Justina is her name. WOW your perfect match, Justin and Justina."

He nodded not bothering to say her real name, "Thanks." Justin explained how they met, how she responded to his question and how they met again.

"I asked for her contact but she told me, she would give me next time." He shakes his head.

Ray smiled, "So you still don't have her contact? After meeting her again?"

"You know the kind of person you have... I asked for it today again but noticed that she wants to give me excuses, I collected her purse, took out her phone, and dialed my number on it."

Ray laughed lightly, "Seriously Jus." Hitting his shoulder playingly.

"She normally put on baggy clothes, hiding those wide and huge curves with her big ass to top it but today with the waitress uniform she was putting on... Jeez!!! SEXY." He demonstrated with his hands.

Ray looked at him pointedly, "You better stop all this your one-night stands and your playboy stuff. You need to focus on this girl or..."

Justin nodded understanding his unsaid words, "Truly, I don't see her as one of my fling or a girl that I would keep as my plaything." He told Ray sincerely.

"WOW... just 2 days you are already in love." Ray applauded him.

"I never said so but I do like her. I want something real with her, I see her as the one for me."

"Better." Patting his hand. "Did you find out what made her cry the other day?"

"She won't say so I stopped bothering her." Ray nodded and turned back to the TV.

"Ray?" Justin called.

He looked back to Justin, "Yes?"

"Why do you like driving people away from you?"

"Driving people away from me?"

"Yes. Are you irritated by them or why?

Ray closed his eyes and sigh, "Justin am not... that's..." He facepalmed himself.

Justin interrupted him, "I want to understand you better." He looked toward him for an answer.

"I am not or feel irritated by people and I don't drive people from me, Justin. That's just how people view me."

"People view you or how you made them view you because of how you behave with people."

"Justin, A lot of things... Like many things from my past got me acting like this."

"Bad things from your past I guess." Ray nodded to that. "But what actually?"

"My first love." His eyes turned red immediately after he said that. Looking at Raymond at that moment, he saw a different Raymond, a broken Raymond. He felt sorry for him and guilty for asking.

"She left you for another guy?"

He smiled bitterly, staring into the distance, "I wished it was only that."

Justin moved closer to pat his hand softly, "Am sorry."

"That's why you don't have a girlfriend?"

"Girlfriend? What for? They cause distraction and I don't want that episode in my life now."

"How? Is it that you don't see any girl worth loving or what?"

"Justin... It's not that I don't... Just..." He breathed out heavily.

"You don't? We both know you are lying." Ray didn't reply, "You don't even look at any girl twice before you get irritated."

Ray sighs, "I have a girlfriend."

He looked surprised, "Huh? Where?"

"In New York, She will be coming over next month."

"Wow... You have never mentioned her before." Justin looked at him suspiciously.

Ray avoided his eyes, looking away from him, "She's not my girlfriend, someone like a friend that has been with me since those past times till now. I am planning on making her my girlfriend soon."

"When?"

"Next month when she comes here."

"Okay. Great." Checking his wristwatch. "I have to get going."

Ray walked him to the door, they did their guys' handshake and bid each other goodnight.

Ray locked the door and took the stairs to the first floor, he walked over to a room at the far end, entered, and locked the door.

He looked around, pictures were everywhere. Either on the bed, floor, pasted on the wall (everywhere), and a big giant painting of a girl smiling widely is hung up on the wall, at the top of the bed.

He smiled back at the painting as if the girl was truly smiling at him, with tears in his eyes.

"Why can't I move on? Why? Where are you? Come back to me." He couldn't contain his tears and they came rolling down.

He stayed in the room, laying on the bed till midnight. He stood up and looked around before going out, locked the door, and went to his room to sleep.