Bride For Rent novel Chapter 48

Days later, Hana and Desmond returned. They first visited the company to see how things has been since they left and to know how Raymond had handled the company for the past months. All they got from the directors and shareholders were nothing but words of praise. Each of them has something good to say about him.

In truth, they had always known Raymond will have everything under control, after all, he started his very own company at twenty three, now at thirty six, he has four companies under his name. So handling the century old Baldwin Empire shouldn't be a big deal.

Raymond met them in Desmond's office to welcome them home, "I'm sorry I didn't pick you up from the airport, I just had a lot on my plate."

"Nonsense child, we understand very well" Hana smiled and hugged him "I have missed you my little one" she kissed his forehead, though he had to lower his head for her to do that.

"I heard the things you did while we were away and I must say, you never ceases to surprise me little Ray. Your father still finds it difficult to believe you have such potential in you. Him and your mother still sees you as the four years old boy that left with us" Desmond rolled his eyes "I think it's high time they start seeing you as a man, don't you think?"

Raymond smiled, "it's alright. It's not like they are going to come back and said that to me."

"Seriously, I can't understand why in all these years they have only came home to see you thrice" Hana frowned "I had a good talk with them though, if they don't change their ways I would have to lock up those companies of theirs."

"Grandma, that's not necessary" Raymond tried to calm them down, gone are the days when he missed his parents, when he wants to play catch with his father or to have his mom sing lullaby for him as he sleeps or read bedtime stories for him. Gone are the days when he looks sad when every time his schools held Parents Teachers Associations meetings and instead of his parents to sit in the conference room like the parents of other students, he sees his grandparents.

Gone are the days when he forces himself to be a good boy all year so that Santa can grant his wish by sending his parents home to celebrate Christmas with him. Gone are the days when he watched from his window as the snow fells and wished his father would come home and build snowmen with him. Gone are the days when he curls himself in his bed and cry all night wishing to know why his parents abandoned him. Gone are the days when he wants them to have an impact in his life.

Right now, they are as good as dead to him, all he knows is that some where in some part of a country, they are there, trying to start up one company or the other. Abandoning him just for a contract was what made him like this, what made him to care about nothing but business. Deep in his heart he had always believed that if he set up a lot of businesses, his parents would be proud of him and would come home to him.

But they never did and slowly, he started losing his hope and he buried himself in his work, after all, his own parents abandoned him for some contract. No one but himself knew that why he has refused to marry wasn't because he doesn't want to, but because he is afraid that should he have a child, he will be like his parents, neglecting him and then his poor child will have to live like he did. He knew how painful it was and he couldn't bring himself to force that upon any child.

"Well, they better wake up now or else..." Hana was still angry.

"Don't worry" Raymond interrupted her with a light chuckle "I have you guys, what more can I ask for?"

Hana smiled and pinched his cheek "foolish boy."

"That reminds me, how is little Lee?" Desmond asked.

Raymond nodded and just at the remembrance of her, a sweet smile graced his lips as he thought about her cute little face, "she is okay. She has missed you two."

"Ah, that can be fixed, why don't you bring her home for dinner tonight. We have missed her two" Hana said.

"Yes that's good" Desmond seconded.

Raymond saw that and he hates the reaction it has one him, "you can't always run from me Felicity" he let his lips brushed the tip of her ear and he sensed her tensed up "why are you running from me?" This is the question he had wanted to ask her since he retuned home.

"Nothing" she whispered.

"Don't you like me anymore?" He asked in a hoarse voice, loving the way she was melting and hating the way he was erecting just at the closeness of their bodies. He swore, no woman has ever derived such reaction from him and now with Felicity, he doesn't know if he likes it or hates it anymore. She would be leaving his house soon and it will be such a shame if he doesn't get to be with her.

"Li...Raymond... I..." She stuttered.

Of course he caught on, he knew she wanted to call him little Ray just now and he found himself smiling sheepishly just at the realization that he still has her.

"Don't worry Felicity, we will fix this in no time."

She looked at him then and even if the inside of the car was dark, he could still see her dewy emerald green eyes with the passing of the street lights "what do you mean?"

The way she looked at him, the sound of her low voice all played an impact on him, he tensed up just looking at her lips and he knew, he can't deny the sexual tension between them anymore. He slowly leaned closer to her lips, stopping himself just an inch apart, he could feel her slow ragged breathing on his lips and he had to remind himself they were going to see his grandparents.

He released his grip on her hand and withdraw to his seat, he looked out the window to calm his nerves and clear his mind. Memories of how her lips tastes flashed in his mind and he had to fight for his self control. He knew deep within him that if Katherine doesn't take her away from him anytime soon, he might not hold up to his own side of the deal.