Chapter 137

RATE AND REVIEW

TEN YEARS LATER...

The story has taken a ten year leap. Raymond, now back in the United States now resides in Orlando, Florida. He is a successful Business man respected all across America. He has everything he's ever wanted, even though he's a businessman, he's still achieved his dream of being a surgeon but he handles his business strictly.

He moves around with so much pride and confidence but there's something he lacks on his face...... A smile.

He lost his smile ten years ago after he left his girlfriend.... Ariana behind. He returned only to find out she already passed away and he'd cursed himself ever since because he'd wanted to be right by her side on her death bed but he couldn't and he lost his smile knowing he couldn't keep his promise to the only girl he'd ever loved.

Several girls had being making attempts on him, wooing him and even seducing him but none of them had an effect on him because only one person on earth had that right. The late Ariana Wilson.

PREVIEW.......

Raymond walked into his house with an emotionless as usual before walking into his room and changing.

He walked down where he met his buddy, Arnold making dinner.

" What's up dude?" Arnold asked as he put off the gas before going to join Raymond who was watching the news.

" Nothing, just stress from work" Raymond said and rested his head on the couch.

" What work, work that pays or your work of guilt?" Arnold asked.

" What do you mean by my work of guilt?" Raymond asked.

" Come on Ray, don't pretend. We both know what you've being doing to yourself every single day since you returned to America" 

" I don't know what you're talking about" Raymond said and got up.

" We both know that you're..... "

" I'm hungry, I'm going to eat" Raymond said and left for the kitchen where he dished food for himself. He wasn't willing to have another Rayna conversation with Arnold so he just had to make up an excuse.

He dished his food before going to sit and eat.

" So, what do you think about hiring a model to promote our product?" Arnold asked.

" I'm not sure. Many models already have sponsors and the ones who don't aren't really pretty. Don't get me wrong, they're beautiful but I don't want them for my product" Raymond said as he had a spoonful of his food.

" That's the problem Raymond. The company's stock exchange is reducing because we're not making sales and why is that? We don't advertise" Arnold said.

" I'm still thinking about it Arnold" Raymond said and took a sip of his water.

" You're not. All you keep thinking about is Rayna and how it ended so don't tell me you're thinking about the company. You built this company eight years ago and it has being improving but now, I feel like it's decreasing and why.... You're getting depressed. Get rid of the past Raymond. She's dead and she can never come back to life" Arnold said and left angrily.

Raymond bowed his head, if only it was that easy to forget one's first love, he'd have forgotten about her years ago.

Maybe Arnold was right, the company wasn't progressing because he couldn't forget his first love.

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RAYMOND'S POV

I got up, said My prayers, arranged my bed before going to take my bath. After bathing, I changed into my clothes before going to Arnold's room. I got there and I saw him watching a movie.

" Dude, don't tell me you stayed up all night to watch a movie" 

" I couldn't help it. It's one of her movies" he said and gave me a childish wink.

" Becks M?" I asked, hoping she wasn't the one he was referring to.

" You guessed right. She's just so talented Raymond and I'm in love with her" he said and I rolled my eyes.

Arnold had been crushing on Becks M since he watched her first movie six years ago and I couldn't help but wonder how he could say he was in love with someone who he'd never met.

" Whatever, just get prepared so we can leave" I said and left.

After some time, Arnold joined me and we left to the company, Rayna's love.

I'd named my company after myself and Ariana as a symbol of love. I wasn't there for her when she needed me the most so me remembering her this way is something. 

I walked into the company and everyone greeted me but as usual, I only nodded before walking into my office. I sat on my seat before ordering for breakfast and going through my files.

" Breakfast's here sir" a voice said and walked into my office before dropping my breakfast of tea and sandwiches on one of my desks.

After some time, I ate my breakfast before going back to my laptop.

" Good morning sir" my secretary, Maya greeted as she walked into my office with some files.

" What is this for?" I asked

" You have a meeting with Zach devices this morning and another with Priya shoes thirty minutes after. That's all for this morning" Maya said.

" When's my meeting with Zach devices? " I asked.

" In an hour sir" she said.

" Alright then. Take these files to the conference room, I'll be there in an hour" I told her before going back to my laptop.

" Okay sir" she said and left.

After she left, I stopped what I was doing and rested my head on my chair's head rest. I ran my fingers through my hair as I stared at the amount of files I still had to go sign, I still had a new product I was working on and it was still going under tests and I couldn't wait for the tests to be finished because it was draining a lot out of me.

I sighed before going back to work. I signed the ones I needed to and I left the others. 

Being the boss was hard.

After an hour, Maya walked into my office to inform me that my meeting had started.

" Alright then" I said and walked out of the office to the conference room where I met the executives of Zach devices seated.

" Good morning" I greeted them before going to take my seat beside Arnold.

" Good morning Mr Styles" and with that the meeting started.

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" We really need a model to advertise your  cosmetics and our devices" Mr Mitchell, the head of Zach devices said and I stared at Arnold who gave me the " told you so" look.

" We're still working on that Mr Mitchell. We can't just go out there and sign a contract with a model who isn't popular. For this, we need someone very popular who can get the attention of the public and someone who can get the public to patronize us" I said.

" You're right Mr Styles. We need someone who is very popular, beautiful and spotless. I go for Becks M" one f the heads of Zach devices said and I screamed inwardly.

What was everyone's deal with this Becks M? I needed to find out more about her. First she got Arnold and now...... They want her to be the face of our product? She must be very beautiful but I doubt she'd be as beautiful as they make her seem compared to my Ariana.

Damnit!! I was in a meeting and I was still thinking about her.