Bitter-Bellied Richard (1)

Coming out of the room and going back, Richard found Rachel in the cozy kitchen, sipping on a steaming cup of tea that filled the air with its soothing aroma. 

'Tch! What's with him and tea all the time? Well, typical Richard Floyd,' she thought, rolling her eyes. 

The tension from the previous night still lingered, like a faint scent of smoke. 

The warm sunlight streaming through the window highlighted the dust motes dancing in the air. 

"We didn't get to greet each other this morning. Good morning," he greeted her, his tone neutral but firm, his deep voice a gentle rumble. 

"Morning," she replied, offering a small smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Richard poured another cup of tea from the tea machine before passing it to her, the aroma of Earl Grey filling the air as he leaned against the counter, his eyes fixed on Rachel with a thoughtful gaze. 

"What would you be doing after I leave for work?" he asked, his deep voice a gentle rumble. 

Rachel shrugged, her shoulders rising and falling with a soft sigh. "I was thinking, I'd like to go see my parents. And from there, I was hoping to visit my father's company." 

Richard's brow furrowed. "Seeing your parents is fine, but the company? I'm not sure that's a good idea," he said, his tone laced with a hint of caution, his words hanging in the air like a delicate mist.

"Why not?" Rachel asked, her tone edging towards defiance, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm part of that company too. I want to see how things are running." 

Richard set his coffee down, his movements deliberate, and moved closer, his gaze steady on hers, his eyes narrowing slightly. 

"Rachel, it's not about your capabilities. It's about safety and keeping a low profile. Things are volatile right now." He paused, his voice low and even. "I'm trying to protect you." 

"I can handle myself," she insisted, lifting her chin, her jaw setting in a firm line. "I'm not a damsel in distress."

"I know you're strong," Richard said, his voice softening, his eyes filled with a gentle understanding. "But right now, it's best if you stay out of the office. At least until things settle down a bit." 

Rachel's frown deepened, her eyes flashing with determination. 

"I'm not going to hide away just because your nephew is causing problems. I want to contribute, to help my father's company. I need to do something, Richard." Her voice held a hint of desperation. 

"Rachel," Richard said more firmly, his tone laced with a subtle urgency, "I need you to trust me on this. Going to the company could put you at risk. Your parents' place is one thing, but the office is another. I can't protect you there." He paused, his gaze intense. "I can't lose you, Rachel."

Hearing the last sentence he made, weakened her. It sounded like he had lost her before, but wasn't it vice versa? 

The pain of their past separation lingered in her heart now, a wound she thought would have healed when she saw him. 

She sighed, the fight draining out of her, her shoulders slumping in defeat. 

"Fine. I'll go see my parents and stay away from the office. But this isn't over," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "We'll revisit this discussion." 

Richard nodded, relief washing over his face, his eyes softening with understanding. 

"Thank you," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I promise I'll protect you, Rachel."

Rachel sipped the tea, finishing it all in a gulp, and stood up, smoothing her dress with a subtle tug. "I'll hold you to that." 

Richard walked to the door of the kitchen, pausing before he stepped out, his eyes locked on hers with a hint of warmth. "Be a good girl today, alright? Stay safe." 

Rachel looked up at him, a hint of mischief dancing in her eyes, her lips curling into a sly smile. 

"Good girl? That's not really my style, but I'll try." She said it with a playful flutter of her eyelashes, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

He chuckled, a rare and gentle sound that warmed her heart and made her smile. "I appreciate the effort. Have a good day with your parents." 

His eyes crinkled at the corners, and his gaze softened, making her feel seen and cared for. She barely saw these good looks in her past life. 

It was a beautiful sight of Richard in the mornings and she loved it. She wouldn't trade gold to see him this way every morning. 'I too would protect you, Richard Floyd,' she swore.

"You too, have a good day," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper, her heart feeling a little lighter.

She watched him straighten his tie, his movements precise and deliberate, as he prepared to leave. 

A hint of a smile still played on his lips, a subtle softening of his features that made her heart skip a beat. 

As she helped him gather his things, she paused and looked at him, curiosity evident in her eyes. 

"Richard, why are you being so nice this morning?" she asked, her tone laced with genuine curiosity, her voice tinged with a hint of skepticism. "You were all rude and gruff yesterday. What changed?" 

She raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing, as if trying to see beyond his façade.

His smile paled slightly, but he maintained it, his eyes meeting hers steadily, a hint of determination in their depths. 

"I'm in a good mood," he replied, his voice even, a touch too measured. "Can't I be in a good mood?" 

Rachel raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied him. "It's just...different, that's all. You were so cold yesterday, and now you're acting like everything's fine. Like nothing even happened." 

Richard sighed, running a hand through his hair, his eyes clouding over for a moment before he regained his composure. 

"Look, yesterday was...intense. A lot happened. But today is a new day, and I'd rather start it off on a better note." He paused, his gaze holding hers, his expression open and sincere. 

Rachel studied him for a moment, searching his face for any hint of deception, her eyes lingering on the faint lines of tension around his mouth. 

Finding none, she nodded slowly, her expression softening. "Alright. I'll take your word for it." Her voice was cautious, but a hint of trust crept into her tone.

Something was off about this Richard and she knew it was true yet, she couldn't just place her hands on what exactly!

Richard smiled again, this time more genuinely, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Good. Let's keep it that way." 

Rachel gave him a small smile in return, her lips curving upward slightly. "Not bad." 

She walked him to the main door of the mansion, the silence between them comfortable. 

As they reached the threshold, he turned to her, his expression serious. "Just be careful, alright? And remember, if you need anything, call me." 

Rachel nodded, her eyes locking onto his, her heart skipping a beat at the sincerity in his voice. "I will. Thank you, Richard." 

She watched him step out into the bright sunlight, his figure disappearing from view as he walked down the driveway.

As he walked away and into his car, Richard watched her go back into the house, a mixture of emotions swirling within him - concern, determination, and a hint of something more. 

He was determined to protect her, no matter what it took.

When Richard got into the car, he turned on his tablet, the screen flickering to life as he accessed the encrypted file. 

A video began to play, showing Rachel in the kitchen, her movements fluid as she expertly prepared fruit juice. 

But it was the next part that made his frown deepen - her smiling warmly as she handed the glass to one of the maids, her voice clear as she instructed, "Please make sure Derek gets this. He needs it." 

Richard's eyes narrowed, fisting his hand. 

So, Rachel hasn't changed. She still loves Derek, yet pretends to play nice with me? 

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth.