A tap on her desk got Raven's attention. She looked up to see Ralph standing beside her desk with a poker face. Had she dozed off to sleep? "I-I'm s sorry, sir. I've finished what you asked me to do, " she said in an embarrassed tone.
"It's 9 o'clock, Raven. Why didn't you go home?" He asked her, still staring at her with the same expression.
"Oh, I, I'll go home then," she said as she looked at her computer. It had already been shut down? How long had he been here?
"I'll drop you," said Ralph with the same expression on his face.
"Thank you, sir. That won't be necessary. I have my car," she said, stuffing her things into her handbag. Ralph didn't move an inch not did he change his expression but kept watching her.
"Be ready at 11 o'clock tomorrow. I'll send my chauffeur to pick you up," said Ralph. Raven nodded as she got up to leave but strangely he didn't move to let
She glanced at Ralph to gesture to him to remove his hot hand but to her dismay, he didn't even look at her. She tried to push his hand away but couldn't. He caught her hand which was trying to push his hand off her thigh."Ralph," she whispered and he pinned her with a hot gaze, daring her to say something with everyone's hawk-like gazes hooked onto them."Yes, darling," he asked, bringing his face near hers.Raven colored and shook her head, looking at her plate. "Nothing, " she mumbled. With a smug smile, Ralph looked away while his hand stroked her thigh creating havoc with her senses."Raven, you should come home more often. Don't wait for Ralph to invite you. Just come over anytime you want," said granny."Yes granny," agreed Raven. She actually liked his granny and Jane. Rebecca glared at her from opposite the table. She was the daughter of a business magnate and socially very active."It's not fa
Raven saw granny sitting in the dining room and talking to Jane who sat sipping her tea. The other women had left thankfully. How long did she take upstairs? They both looked at her when she went inside. Raven colored a little. Did she look thoroughly kissed?"Come Raven. Sit with me for a while," said granny, looking smug and happy. Raven sat with her and Jane while Ralph went to get himself a drink. A phone call kept him busy afterward and Raven thought of an excuse to go home. She didn't want to leave though. She liked Ralph's house and granny. There was a warmth at the place which she didn't feel either at her own house or at Frank's cold mansion. She didn't want to dress up and go to attend Frank's mom's party. It was like torture for her. She knew she wouldn't fit in and after five minutes would get bored with the twisted questions that the aristocratic, haughty socialite guests would throw at her."How old are yo
"Raven, when is your engagement?" Asked her Highness Mary Jane Walterboro, the wife of some Baron.Raven stuttered not knowing what to say since she dreaded the day when she would be officially engaged to Frank. "It is scheduled after Frank's final examinations, Her Highness," said aunt Bella, saving her from replying."Bella, don't you think Raven needs grooming. Why don't you introduce her to our club this season, and you could chaperone?" Suggested another hotshot socialite wife.Before she could inform them about her college and internship, aunt Bella promised them that she would do so as soon as possible. Raven sat horrified by their plans. She had no interest in their socialite clubs. She would run away from home if they forced her to. At last, a grumpy Frank arrived wearing an expensive designer suit.
Raven's whole body trembled with anger. How could her dad expect her to go over the moon with happiness after knowing the news of her engagement? Who trades the lives of their children to save their business? It seemed as if her life had no meaning as if their company was more important than her happiness. A reminder popped up on her phone. She had back-to-back classes since morning today. Getting ready quickly, she rushed out of her room. Her parents were still sitting where she had left them when she went downstairs."Where are you off to so early in the morning?" Asked her mom."College where else? I have back-to-back classes today," she informed them."Oh, you should have informed me. Bella wanted you to accompany her to her club today, " said her mom with dread as if she had committed some crime.She shrugged and walked towards the front door. "I'm never going to her club. If you guys force me, I'll leave home," said Raven,
Anthony Baker nodded at her request. "If it's too urgent then let me consult Mr. Van Halen. I'll get back to you by evening, " said Mr. Baker. Raven nodded and left. She went to the cafeteria and got herself a sandwich and came back to her cubicle to munch on it. She didn't want Ralph to know but she needed the money to shift. The environment at home had become too toxic and at this rate, she wouldn't be able to live up to her family's expectations. She would surely marry Frank but she couldn't meet all their demands.After her lunch break, she opened her email and went through the step-by-step guide, teaching her to feed the information collected on the form into a software app and save it. It was a tedious job and she learned a lot in the process. She saw the types of machinery being used. It gave her a lot of practical exposure. Later she accompanied Mr. Baker to a tour of the production studio 2 where the prototypes for their latest project were ready
Raven packed her stuff into cartons that she had managed to bring home from her office. Dinner was over and yet she hadn't been able to inform her parents about her decision. She knew that they wouldn't welcome it in any way but she needed her peace of mind and therefore moving out was her only option at the moment. Her mom had accompanied aunt Bella to the socialite club since Raven didn't and she was all praise for it all through dinner, trying to convince Raven that it was the best thing for her. Raven turned a deaf ear to all her rantings. To her surprise, her dad too supported her mom. Satisfied with her packing, she lay down on her bed and was fast asleep from sheer exhaustion.The next morning, she was up early, excited to check out her new apartment. As she sipped her coffee, her mom came into the room with her coffee. "Be ready by ten today. Bella's coming over to take you to her house. She has summoned Mrs. Ellington who is very efficient at taki
Their car stopped right in front of a huge portered, purpose-built block with brick inlay on the facade, overlooking the bustling Wigmore Street. Ralph's chauffeur summoned a porter from inside and they unloaded all her belongings as well as the groceries. Ralph and Ravenhelped too.While they carried the stuff up the elevator to the apartment, Ralph's chauffeur drove away. Raven was surprised. Was he staying back to help her?The elevator opened onto the fourth floor. The huge corridor had apartments on either side of it. The whole building was spotlessly clean. Ralph stopped in front o
Raven glanced at him briefly from under her lashes. Was he very mad at her? She noticed that he was wearing the same clothes as he was wearing when he left, the same denim jacket over a black tee and a figure-hugging pair of jeans hugging his hot b*tt. His hair stuck out at the same angle as it was in the morning yet he looked hot and very very delicious. Suddenly he switched off his mobile and kept it inside his jacket pocket. She looked up at him to see his eyes hooked onto hers. Did he notice her checking him out?"You'll get spectacles soon if you watch me that way?" He leaned towards her and whispered into her ear. Raven blushed to the roots of her hair. She closed her eyes and turned towards the window, wanting to vanish from there. His hand shot out and he held her chin, turning her to face him. He searched her face."What did that boyfriend of yours have to say?" He asked with clenched teeth. Raven was surprised by his question."He cal