Chapter Fifty Nine; News

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"I didn't know you were back." She wanted to sound casual like there was no tension between them. She just wanted to be out of there and away from him.

Speaking of getting away from him, she would tell him about her plans of going back to her apartment.

He walked in her direction, matter of fact, he was reaching for a plate, so she handed him one.

"Thank you." He said before going over to where he would dish his food.

Amanda was done placing the plates carefully before turning towards him.

"Uhh, I wanted to let you know that I would be going back to my apartment tomorrow." She said as she watched him give her a side-eye before taking his focus back to his plate.

"What are you talking about?" He asked with a tone that made that question rhetorical.

"You are not going back till this intense winter is over." He said sounding conclusive and authoritative like he didn't need her opinion in that decision.

"I can't stay here." She insisted with her gaze still on him, but his gaze was focused on the meal which he was trying to put together. He was a little clumsy with it, it was obvious that dishing his food wasn't something he did on a daily bases or even once in a while. She was tempted with offering to assist him, but they were in the middle of a serious situation and he needed to learn how to do things himself.

"Why?" She heard him ask. 

Why did she need to go back to her apartment? She wondered. Or why has she decided to make her own decisions? Why did he think he had a say about where she decided to stay?

"I don't give you enough space?" Raymond had finally managed to put together a plate of molé which he now placed on the semi-wide, long concrete kitchen counter.

He pulled one of the long kitchen stools, sitting on it before slightly looking up at her then looking back at his plate.

"That's not it," she said as she wondered why he felt like he had a say in her life. Or that he could control where she decided to stay.

"So what is?" he asked, taking a spoon full of his meal, chewing on it, and gazing directly at her.

"Look, I'm not trying to fight you, or tell you what to do."

"It's for your good, for your health."

"You have barely recovered and still recovering from a cold."

"Don't let your stubborn little self get you sick again."

She was speechless, and couldn't find words to utter. And this was exactly the reason why she needed to leave here. Why was he such a perfect human? She hated admitting he was right. 

She couldn't go to her apartment, so where would she go? 

"Don't tell me you are thinking of even going back to your apartment? are you trying to freeze to death? 

Your apartment is inhabitable now, but in a couple of weeks it will become habitable, once this intense winter is over, then you can go back."

"I figured you will be needing some stuff, Scott will take you to get whatever you need." 

"Fine, I will stay a couple more weeks, but I don't need you paying for my stuff."

"I can sort myself out." She wanted to make herself clear, she didn't want him acting as her father or protector. She was living there and she would act on her own terms.

"Didn't say you couldn't." Ray now stood and moved to the refrigerator to grab an orange juice.

She hated his guts and how he could stare up so much within her while still maintaining his composure.

She later drove to the nearest grocery store to get what she would be using and needing for a couple of months. 

She had gotten so many things that she couldn't carry herself.

She headed to the cashier, but she had met the manager instead. She still went ahead as they calculated her stuff and it amounted to two thousand and three hundred dollars. But Ray, yea, classic Ray had already earlier spoken to the manager about her arrival, so the manager informed her that her purchase was covered by Blazzers. 

A little frustration built inside and she sort her phone before proceeding to call Rays' phone. He didn't answer because he might have guessed why she was calling.

She received a text message from him almost immediately.

"I know you can pay your bills but while you are in my house, I will cover for your needs, just like I would have done for anyone else."

It's been a week now, she barely even saw Ray around the house, he was doing well with staying away from her and that was exactly how she wanted it. Yea she was sure, but she wondered why she was trying so hard to convince herself tha this was what she wanted. Ray was barely even home, he mostly return at night and when she was awake and ready to go to work, he was still in bed. 

At work, he was mostly late and left early. He had arrived that day at almost 1 PM and after a couple of minutes, a man all suited up with a briefcase came looking for him.

The well-dressed eloquent man had no appointments with Raymond but he had made a call and in no time Raymond asked her to send him in.

After what seemed like thirty minutes or more, the man left and Ray left a couple of minutes later. He seemed upset, but she wasn't really sure because he mostly wore a plain face recently.

The next day the news was everywhere on the media and TV.

That the CEO of Blazzer electronics has been served a divorce letter from his secret long-time wife Rebecca Boucher. 

And apparently the divorce was supposed to cost him Fifty percent of his company wealth according to the papers."

Fifty percent was unrealistic for a one-year marriage, she thought as she heard the news.

Rebecca was backing her outrageous demand up with the claim that she had helped Raymond build the company up when the company was officially handed to him.

She wondered how Raymond would take the news, she figured that the man that had come to see Ray the day before was the lawyer who probably served him the papers.

Was there a way around this? She wondered. Why would Rebecca think 50% was an achievable goal? Because it looked absurd from her view. Rebecca was a lawyer, she definitely know what she was doing, she had a plan and she hoped this won't put Ray down bad.

The whole Blazzer was full of talk, from every corner of the complex was a murmur. 

Not only did everyone find the news of Ray's marriage shocking, but since they didn't hide their relationship around the office, people were wondering if she knew he was married. If she was just a side piece, a home wrecker or even a gold digger.

The news of Ray and Rebecca being separated for over eight years Somehow didn't make it to the news, it was labeled as a secret marriage. Yes, it was secret but it had been over for years 

Everyone in the office was staring and some were even pointing in her direction when she got to work. She went into her office and swore not to come out till they closed for the day.

Just after a few minutes of finally getting to her office, her safety fortress, Lang had barged in.

"Did you see the news?" She asked looking a little trill.

"Yes," Amanda admitted sadly.

"It's everywhere." She added.

"Yes, even people in the office are going crazy about it." Lang said.

"Yea, I noticed. They gave  me a death stare till I walk into my off." Amanda said with her expression showing how this affected her.

"Are you okay?" Lang asked, reaching for her shoulders and rubbing her palm on them.

"I think I am...

For now." She said before the two women reached for each other and shared a hug.

The day was going so slowly, the time was past twelve but it felt like she had been at work for 12 hours. The time was crawling, she was also tired of hiding from the prying eyes of her colleagues. 

It was 3 pm, two hours before she went home. But Ray wasn't here yet. She doubted if he was coming. He must have left early or even didn't sleep at home because his porche truck was not in the garage when she was leaving for work.

She hoped he was okay, but all she could do about the situation was just hope.

It was closing time, she waited extra thirty minutes to get the place a little cleared up before she left. She got back and his truck was in the garage, so she guessed he was back.

She settled in her room before going downstairs to have dinner. She took as much time as possible eating, hoping he would come down but he didn't. "It wasn't too much that she wanted to make sure that he was okay. It was just only a kind gesture." She thought to herself.

She waited a little while before she finally gave up left to her room. 

Raymond heard a faint knock on his door before Amanda stepped in. She was wearing a grey knitted overall with a short. 

She walked in while he was sitting on the chair in his room. He had turned on hearing the knock to be faced with her.

He didn't think he needed anyone with him, but she was not just anyone.

"Hey." She said with a soft tone.

"Can I come in?" She asked.

"I think you are already in." He responded."