"Oh... I see. Why not I come with you then? After all I'm your fiancé." Sylvia suggested with a smug on her face.

"What?!". Ray exclaimed.

"Yeah. Any problem? Can't I come with you to the gathering?". Sylvia asked on her end.

Ray was mute. He ran his fingers through his hair with confusion. "I... Well, there's no problem but the thing is you can't come with me." He finally said with nervousness.

"But why?". Sylvia questioned.

Ray grunt inwardly. 'What should I say now for her to believe me?' He thought deeply and then an idea hit him. "Okay, fine! I'll come to your place instead. But I want you to know that I won't stay long. I'll stay just an hour with you before going to the gathering. Is that OK?". He asked.

Sylvia was surprise at his decision. 'Why'd he prefer to come to my place rather than allowing me to go with him? I think something is been fishy here'. She thought and sigh heavily. "OK...it's fine. I'll be expecting you." She replied quietly.

"Alright. See you soon." He said and hanged up.
"I think is time for me to tell her what she needs to know. I don't want to hurt her feelings, I don't want to embarrass her on that day,she doesn't deserved to be treated that way even if I don't love her. This really has to be sorted out." He thought out loud and started dressing up.

He put on his orange shirt and a blue jeans with his white converse and then took out his car key and his wallet and phone and headed out of the room. He went to his parents room and told them to go ahead of him that he'll join them later at the party.
*^*
Thirty minutes later he was at Sylvia's apartment. He got out of his car which he had packed in the compound and walked to the front door. After knocking twice, the door was opened and Sylvia stood there smiling at Ray. She kissed him on the cheek and said. "Come on in", which Ray did and she locked the door thereafter.

"I'm so happy to see you. I wish you could stay for more than an hour. Can't you just forget about that gathering and spend sometime with me?". Sylvia asked with a frown and a pout.

"Ugh. No. I really need to be there. You know I'm part of the reasons why the contract was signed, it will be unfair not to honor the invitation." Ray replied.

"Oh. OK. If you say so. Come over to the dinning table, I ordered something's for us to eat. And most of all,I bought your favorite wine." She said with a grin.

"Oh. You really didn't have to go through that stress you know. Well,I'll have no choice but to take part of it since you've gone through the trouble of arranging it for me." He replied and followed right behind her.

She paused her steps and turned to face him. She placed one hand on his neck and the other hand on his chest. "What about if we do a little stuff before enjoying the meal?". She asked in a sexy tone using her fingers to trace his chest.

Ray stared at her with a furrowed brow. He wasn't expecting that from her right now. Although they've been together for two years but he hasn't had sex with her despite the fact that she's always seducing him. He had never for once taken advantage of her which makes Sylvia at times wonders if he's really a man.

Ray flinched from her and said.
"C'mon Sylv, its not the right time to do this,I'm sure you know it."

"Oh,please. Just stop it,what kind of man are you anyways? You're always like that whenever I want you to do this with me. Or do you have someone else you're having sex with that makes you this uptight with me?". She questioned glaring at him.

"No. Why should you say that? The fact I don't have sex with you doesn't mean I'm doing it with someone else. I just don't want to take advantage of you. Try and understand me." He answered.

"C'mon baby,you're not taking any advantage, it's what I want I'm asking you to do." She replied with a soft tone moving closer and touching him again. She was about kissing his lips and when Ray took her hands and led her to the dinning.

"Come here let's eat before it gets cold." He said taking a sit.

Sylvia eyes was burning red. She clenched to her fist like she's gonna hit someone. She shot him a dagger look while he opens the plate of food on the table but gave him a tight smile when he looked up at her.

She took a sit close to him and they started eating. She had ordered shawama for both of them to eat. Ray was eating his but Sylvia was picking at hers. When Ray saw what she was doing he paused and said.

"Are you OK? Don't you like it?". He asked.

"Uhmm, sure I do like it. Keep eating." She replied with a forced smile.

"Okay. Sylv,I do have something to tell you and its very important."Ray said pausing from eating.

"Okay... Before you tell me about it,let me get glass cups so that I can pour some content of wine for you and I." She offered with a smirk and went to the fridge that was in the kitchen.

A minute later she was back with two glass cups. She poured the wine on one of the cups and handed it to Ray. Ray collected it and muttered a 'thanks' to her before taking a sip. She watched him do that and she smirked with satisfaction. She took a sip of hers before she continued eating.

Ray had finished the content of wine in his cup. "Do you need more?". Sylvia asked when she saw he had finished it.

"Ugh. No. So regarding what..." He answered and trailed off. His eyes were becoming blur,he shook his head and he got himself a little before checking out his wristwatch. The time was already 6.30pm.
"Sylv,I think I have to get going now,its 6.30,they should be expecting me by now. I guess I'll have to tell you what I had in mind some other day." He said and stood up. Unfortunately for him,he fell back to the chair.

"Baby,are you OK?". She asked stretching her hand to touch his.

"I....guess... Its...like my...eyes are...getting blur." He said groggily.

"Blur? But the percent of alcohol isn't much." She replied.

"I...don't know. I really have to get... going." He said and stood up again. This time he held something and so he didn't fall back. He staggered towards the parlour.

"Baby,are you sure you can drive like this? Do you need me to take you there? Or maybe you should just relax here." She suggested and walked towards him.

"No... I'll be...fine." Ray replied. By now his eyes had gotten more blur. Just when he was about getting close to the entrance door,he hit his leg on one of the couch and fell face flat on the couch and that was it. Everything got dark while he shot his eyes closed.
************^^****
Right here at the Williams home, the party had already started after they'd waited for Ray without him showing up. The guest were busy eating while some were dancing to 'bank alert by Psquare'.

"Babe,are you OK? You look tensed on this your beautiful dress." Emily asked her friend,Jasmine who had searched and waited for Ray for more than an hour now the party started.

"Ye..ah,I'm fine." She answered flashing her a smile.

"I doubt it. Is because of your Prince charming right? Don't worry,he'll show up soon, maybe there was something he had to attend to that's why he's late. Just keep calm." Emily assured her friend.

"I hope he shows up. I also hope he's fine wherever he is." Jasmine said quietly.

Emily squeezed her friend's hand and said. "Just keep calm. He's fine,and he'll come,OK?". And Jasmine nodded. Both friends were interrupted when Mr Robert walk up to where they were standing at the edge of the parlour.

"Jasmine. How are you?". Robert greeted.

"I'm fine,Sir. I'm glad you'd make it down to the party." She replied with a warm smile.

"Sure. Why shouldn't I when I'm partners with your dad's. I even came with my wife. Come let me introduce her to you." He said and wanted to take a step before he remembered Jasmine was with someone.
"Oh. I'm sorry miss, forgive my manners. May I know you?". He asked.

"Oh,she's my best friend. Her name is..." Jasmine was cut in by Emily's voice.

"I'm Emily. Its a pleasure meeting you Mr...?" Emily asked.

"Robert. That's my name. May I steal your friend for a minute?". He asked.

"Sure. I'll leave you two." Emily said and patted Jasmine's arm before walking out of their sight.

Robert led Jasmine to where his wife was sitting having her glass of red wine. "Honey,I want to introduce you to Jasmine. She's Williams only daughter. She and Ray are behind the success of our new contract. Jasmine, meet my wife." Robert introduced with a grin.

Jasmine stepped forward and stretched out her hand to shake Robert's wife but her hand was hanging on air. Jasmine watched as Clara accessed her with her eyes.

The next action from Clara to Jasmine surprised both Jasmine and Robert.
Clara pulled Jasmine into a hug. Jasmine was still shocked but hugged her back anyways.

"Its a pleasure meeting you. You're really beautiful. I'm sure you took after your mum." Clara said with a smile. But Jasmine expression changed to a frown immediately.

"Hey,what's wrong? Did I say something wrong?." Clara asked wanting to touch Jasmine but Jasmine flinched from her.

The three of them stood there in silence. "Hello, Mr and Mrs Robert". The voice called and walked towards their direction breaking the tensed atmosphere between them.

"Louis? You're here?". Clara asked smiling at him.

"Yeah. Ray invited me to the party earlier today. Where's he?". Louis asked.

"We don't really know. He told us he'll join us that he needs to do something first and he wouldn't be long, but he has stayed more than expected. We haven't seen him yet. Do you have an idea where he could be?". Robert asked.

"Not at all. He didn't even tell me he'd be somewhere. I tried calling him when I got here for him to come out and take me in here but he wasn't picking." Louis answered.

"I also did call him too but no response." Clara said.

"Are you guys sure he's OK? I mean isn't it weird that he's not picking up calls?". Jasmine sheep into the discussion that was when Louis attention went to her.

"Wow,who is this gorgeous lady standing right next to me?". Louis asked checking out Jasmine.

"She's Jasmine. Her dad is the host of the party." Robert said.

"You're Jasmine? I've heard much about you. At last I met you." Louis said with a smile and stretched out his hand to shake hers.

Jasmine was stunned just as Robert and his wife were. "You've heard about her from who?". Robert and his wife asked unison shutting Jasmine up who wanted to ask the same question.

Louis stood there with a gape. The three of them stared at him waiting for an answer.

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