Raymond didn't realize how much it hurt to be kicked out from Jasmine's house till he got back to his empty house. He felt lonely and empty inside, cussing himself for asking Jasmine about her parents. if only he hadn't popped the question, she might have allowed him to spend the night at her place, he thought dazedly.

He finally got knocked out by drowning his aching heart with alcohol.

The next morning, Raymond drove to Williams house. Williams had been out from the hospital a month ago and had started going to rehab.
Raymond parked his car in the driveway as he got out and walked to the apartment.
He pressed the buzzer, putting a hand in his coats' pocket.

Williams voice was deep and staticy on the other end. "Hello?"

"It's me Raymond."

Williams buzzed Raymond up. Raymond climbed upstairs and walked to Williams flat. The door opened and Raymond was surprised to see Biki. The last time he had seen her was at the gallery, the day he warned her to stay away from him.

Biki was wearing nothing but an oversized grey sweater that hung low to her thighs.

"Raymond." She stepped aside and let him in.

"Hey," Raymond said and walked inside.

"Hey." She gave him a warm smile, closing the door.

"Hey man." Williams beamed and slowly walked to Raymond using his crutches, giving Raymond a bro hug. Williams had a cast on his left leg, his left arm was bandaged and a long scar from the side of his left eye, down to his cheek. Luckily for him, the glass that penetrated his skin from the accident missed his left eye. Most of the injuries he sustained were from the left side of his body because the truck had hit the left side of his car.

"Hey, how're you doing?" Raymond asked, giving Williams a pat on his shoulder.

"I'm good man." Williams said and sat down on the couch, keeping the crutches by the left side.

"Do I get you anything?" Biki asked Raymond.

Raymond looked at Biki as he sat down opposite Willams. "I'm good. Thank you."

"Okay." Biki gave a short nod and turned to Williams, placing a light kiss on his lips. "I'll be in the room if you need me," she said to him.

"Okay."Williams nodded.

Biki left them, walking inside to the bedroom.

"So how's everything been going?" Raymond asked.

Williams let out a long sigh. "Not too good man. It's been really tough for me. This recovery is fucking slow and it's really frustrating me. I'm just glad that Biki is always by my side. I swear man, I don't think I would have come this far without her."

"Well, I'm glad too that she's by your side. Look man, this shit takes time so just relax and before you know, you'll be back on your feet and everything would go back to the way it was." Raymond assured him.

"Yeah, you're right." Williams agreed with a nod, massaging his left shoulder.

Raymond stayed over for an hour as they talked about work at the gallery. When it was time to leave, Biki insisted on escorting Raymond out as he baded Willams goodbye.

With Biki behind Raymond,they walked in silence till they got to his car.

"Umm.. Raymond, listen i wanna apologize to you for all those times I was bothering you. I shouldn't have done that and I'm so sorry," Biki said in a soft tone as they stood by his car.
Raymond was silent, surprised that Biki apologized to him. Her fingers clenched as she waited tensely for his answer.

Williams was not just Raymond's assistant but also his friend, and Raymond wouldn't like to have any problems with Williams because of Biki.

Raymond let out a sigh, folding his arms as he leaned towards his car.
"Look Biki, I don't hate you okay. Williams is my friend and seeing him happy matters to him. I appreciate the fact that your presence in his life makes him happy and I'm glad to see that you've been by his side through these hard times. I just hope that you realize that Williams really love you."

Biki nodded, removing a strand of hair that fell to her face. "I know Raymond and I love Williams so much. I don't wanna hurt his feelings and I'm really trying to change."

Raymond didn't realize that those last words he said to Biki in his office at the gallery really touched her. She had cried inside her car as she drove to her salon. She'd stopped going to the club and had focused all her attention on Williams and her salon.

Raymond's eyes were warm and he placed a hand on Bikis' shoulder gently. "It's alright Biki. I know you love him."

Biki let out a sigh of relief. "Does that mean you forgive me?"

Raymond Chuckled."yeah."

A huge smily spread on her lips as she gave him a hug. He didn't push her away but gave her back a soft pat on the back.

"Thank you." She breathed, letting of him.

He gave her a nod, pulling out his car key. "I gotta go now. You take care of yourself and that young man," he said walking over to the driver's side and opened the door.

"Take care too. Bye." She waved at him with a smile.

He smiled at her as he got into the car and drove off.

*************
   ******************
         ********************

Raymond parked his car in the driveway of the country club. He had no plans of going to work that day and so, after his short visit to Williams house, he decided going to the country club to meet a business client.

As Raymond got out from his car, a falcon F7 pulled over by his side.
Raymond let out a low groan as he knew who the car belonged to.

Dressed in a blue collared shirt, white pants and white sneakers, John came out from the car, a cigar between his fingers as he wore a baseball cap and shut the car door.

"Raymond." John grinned, spreading his arms wide and walked briskly towards Raymond.

Raymond rolled his eyes, putting a hand in his pocket."John."
There was no hint of pleasure in his voice.

"My man, I haven't seen you around for a long time now," John said and gave Raymond's left arm a squeeze.

"What do you want?" Raymond asked with a scrowl on his face, pushing John's hand off him.

John let out a laugh."Geez relax man, what's your deal."

Raymond said nothing and walked passed John.

"How did you do it?" John asked in a raised tone, getting Raymond's attention.

Raymond furrowed his brows and turned to john. "What?"

John smirked, putting the cigar between his teeth, brought out a lighter from his pocket and flicked it open, lighting up the cigar. "How did you do it Raymond?"
John asked again calmly, putting the lighter back in his pocket as he held the cigar between two fingers and inhaled, puffing out smoke from his mouth.

"What are you talking about John?" Raymond growled, slowly loosing his patience.

"What did you offer her that she accepted to work for you?" John asked as he walked up to Raymond, taking a long drag from his cigar.

"What the fuck are you talking about John?"

John let out a sly laugh as he pulled the cigar from his lips. "What's her name again.." he clicked his tongue, touching his chin as he tried to remember.
Raymond was staring at John with a hard profile.

John snapped his fingers, a crooked smile on his face."Yes I remember her name now, Jasmine. Yes that's her. I can never forget such a beautiful name."

Raymond's jaw clenched. He balled his fist hard as he recoiled when Jasmine explained the truth to him of how John tried to have sex with her before giving her a job at his company.

"I mean, I don't see any difference between us," John said with a scoff.
"We both got the looks and the money so I'm still wondering why she would let you into her pants."

"You fucking bastard," Raymond said angrily as he lost it, grabbing John by the collar of his shirt in a tight grip and pulled John close, his angry hot breath fanning on John's face.

John stood still without making a flinch, smoking his cigar, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"You're lucky I didn't beat the shit out of you after what you did to her." Raymond sneered, tightening his grip on John.

John chuckled. "Ohh I see. So you've taken a liking to her hmm. That's so unlike you Raymond."

Clenching his fist hard, Raymond had to restrain himself from punching John. With an angry grunt, he pushed John roughly.

John staggered backwards with a laugh and smoothened his shirt.

"Stay away from her. I'm not gonna warn you again John cause next time, you're gonna kiss my fist. I promise you."  Raymond warned John with an angry glare before he turned and walked away.

John watched Raymond walking away with a dirty smirk on his face. "We'll see about that."
He brought out his phone and dialed a number.

"You got eyes on her?" He asked once the person answered his call.

"Yes sir. She's at work right now," A deep male voice said at the other end.

"Good." John grinned. "You better be careful this time. I don't want the bitch to know she's been watched."

"Of course sir." The man assured him.

"Alright." John hung up and smoked the cigar with a wide grin on his face.

So guys we've met John again.
I never forgot about him...hahaha
I have great plans for his character and I can't wait to share it.
We'll see more about him in the future updates to come.

Don't forget to leave a comment and make me smile (✷‿✷)❤️❤️