Chapter 112: The mission in jeopardy
As Raymond stepped outside and spotted Lena standing a few feet away, angrily stomping her foot against the pavement, a faint smile crept onto his lips.
At least now, she had a taste of how frustrating things could be. He tried not to dwell on what he had seen earlier, her laughter, the way she had leaned toward David, the ease between them. The memory stirred something sharp and unpleasant in his chest, something he refused to name.
Sullivan and Eric approached him shortly after, waiting silently for instructions. Raymond spoke briefly, informing them that they would be heading home without him, as Lena would be riding with him instead. Both men nodded without question.
Lena, however, had other plans.
From where she stood, she shot Raymond a look, one that carried both defiance and irritation, before turning on her heel and walking straight toward her own car. She opened the door and slipped inside without hesitation.
Raymond noticed. He also caught the challenge in her expression before she got in.
Daring me?
The smile on his lips deepened slightly.
"Never mind," he said curtly to Sullivan and Eric.
"I’ll be joining you guys."
"Mr. Black, please, can I have a minute of your time?"
The voice cut through the moment. Raymond turned and saw Mr. Devonte, the organizer of the event, hurrying toward him with two assistants trailing behind. Raymond exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose as a headache threatened to form. He had attended the gala at Devonte’s personal invitation, yet everything that had happened tonight had completely overshadowed the purpose of his presence.
"Go wait for me in the car," he told Sullivan and Eric. "I’ll join you in a few minutes."
They nodded and left immediately.
"Mr. Devonte," Raymond greeted, extending his hand as the man finally reached him.
"Mr. Black," Devonte replied eagerly, shaking his hand. "I wanted to speak with you after the auction, but you left too quickly. Someone mentioned you were heading out, so I thought I’d try my luck. I’m glad I caught you."
Raymond gave a noncommittal hum, his expression neutral, silently urging him to get to the point.
"I know you prefer formal dealings," Devonte continued, clasping his hands together nervously,
"but there’s something I held back from the auction tonight. A cane, one believed to have belonged to Emperor Augustus of Rome. Knowing your interest in rare canes, I thought you might appreciate it, so I didn’t put it up for bidding."
That caught Raymond’s attention.
His brow lifted slightly as he extended his hand without a word.
Devonte quickly signaled one of his assistants, who stepped forward and handed over a carefully wrapped object. Raymond took it, unwrapping it with deliberate precision.
The moment the cane was revealed, his eyes sharpened.
It was exquisite, crafted with remarkable detail, the gold gleaming even under the dim outdoor lighting. There was an undeniable weight to it, both physically and historically.
"You’re certain this is from the Roman Empire?" Raymond asked, his voice calm but probing as he examined it closely.
"Yes, Mr. Black. You’re free to have it appraised for confirmation," Devonte replied quickly.
"Good," Raymond said. "Thank you for bringing it to my attention. What’s the starting bid?"
"Ten million dollars," Devonte answered. "That’s the estimated value of the gold alone."
Raymond didn’t hesitate.
"I’ll take it for twenty million," he said simply.
"Pending appraisal. Once confirmed, payment will be delivered."
Without waiting for a response, he rewrapped the
cane and turned, already walking toward the car.
"That works perfectly, Mr. Black!" Devonte called after him, relief evident in his voice. "It’s a pleasure doing business with you."
Raymond didn’t look back.
By the time he reached the car, Lena was already inside, sitting stiffly. Sullivan took the driver’s seat, Eric settling in beside him. Raymond slipped into the back seat without a word.
The ride home was quiet, almost deceptively so.
Raymond remained focused on his phone, scrolling through something with calm indifference, while Lena sat beside him, her gaze fixed on him with barely concealed anger. If looks could kill, he would have been long gone.
When they arrived home, Lena didn’t wait. The moment the car stopped, she stepped out and hurried toward the house, as though putting distance between them was the only thing on her mind.
Raymond followed immediately, slipping his phone into his pocket as he got out and closed the door behind him. His long strides quickly closed the gap between them.
Sullivan and Eric exchanged glances, both shaking their heads slightly before heading off.
Raymond caught up to Lena just before she reached the stairs. He grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
"Let me go," Lena snapped, struggling against his hold. "Haven’t you done enough? You wanted me to ride home with you, and I did. What more do you want?"
His grip tightened just enough to keep her still.
"I don’t like the way he stood so close to you," Raymond said, his voice low. His eyes moved over her, lingering. "Do you miss it? Our intimacy... is that it?"
"Are you insane?" Lena shot back, trying to push him away while she still could. His touch was already beginning to stir something she didn’t want to feel.
"Yes," he murmured, stepping closer. "For you."
Before she could react, his hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her toward him as his lips crashed onto hers.
The kiss was sudden, intense and demanding.
For a moment, he kissed her hungrily and Lena did the same, he turned her around her chest pressesto the wall as he kissed her neck, she moans softly pushing her head backwards as, her back rest on his chest, her head tilted a bit for good positioning as they kissed passionately, his hands found his way to her boobs and gave it a squeeze. Lena moans loudly
And then...
Something snapped.
Lena pushed him away with all her strength, stumbling back slightly as she broke free.
"Stay away from me!" she said sharply, wiping her lips as though trying to erase the moment.
She didn’t wait for a response. Turning quickly, she rushed up the stairs.
"You say that like you didn’t enjoy it," Raymond called after her, a quiet chuckle escaping him.
She didn’t look back.
By the time she reached her room, she slammed the door shut behind her and leaned against it, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Slowly, she slid down to the floor, her fingers brushing her lips before falling to her chest.
Her thoughts were a mess.
Everything that had just happened replayed in her mind, over and over again.
She couldn’t resist him.
And that was a problem.
"I can’t let this keep happening," she whispered to herself, pushing herself up from the floor. "I need to find a way to resist him... or I’ll ruin everything."
Her hands moved to her clothes as she began to undress, her mind still racing.
"I won’t let this end with me back in his bed before my plan even succeeds," she muttered firmly.
Downstairs, Raymond stood where she had left him, his gaze fixed on the staircase.
A small, satisfied smile touched his lips.
He had let her go, intentionally. He didn’t want to force her, not yet. He wanted her to come to him willingly.
"Don’t worry, kitten," he murmured to himself as he turned away, heading toward the mini bar. "" I will have you on my bed again, hands on the bed, ass up while I plunge into you. But I will be patient till you come around no rush."
He poured himself a drink, the amber liquid catching the light.
"I see the game you’re playing," he continued softly, a quiet laugh following. "And I’ll play along... for now."
Taking a slow sip, he leaned back slightly, completely at ease.
After all, patience had always been something he possessed
He sat down and pulled out his phone and called the number he had been hoping to dial all week.
"Fever," he said quietly as the line connected. The phone did not ring for long before Fever picked up.
"Hello boss," he answered immediately.
"Any news for me yet?" Raymond asked as he relaxed into his chair, his fingers idly playing with the whisky glass in his hand.
"It is as you suspected, your stepbrother has a hand in everything, but I have not uncovered it all. He is careful, everything he did was nearly untraceable except for one thing.
Your brother created a social media page not too long ago, and it seems he had a reason. That was the platform where Mr. Smith contacted him, but that is all I found linking them. The page has since been taken down, but I managed to recover it. I will send you everything so you can go through it yourself," Fever said.
"Well done. Keep looking; I believe something will turn up soon," Raymond replied.
"Yes, boss," Fever said before the call ended.
When the line went dead, Raymond remained seated, his face darkening as he sipped his drink.
The silence in the room heavier than before, pressing against his thoughts. Whatever his stepbrother was planning, Raymond knew it was from over, and he intended to be ready for it all.
