Raymond took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He had never talked about Arnold's broken engagement with anyone other than Arnold. He remembered how Alice, Arnold's fiancée, disappeared leaving only a letter behind thirteen hours to their wedding. He remembered how for the first time and only time in history, he saw Arnold tear. He remembered going after Alice to find out her reason for taking such an action, and convince her to return to him if possible, but nothing went as he planned as he realized Alice was in the company of a man, a new boyfriend. Raymond remembered how Arnold made Alice one of his topmost priorities and couldn't live a day without her before she left. He witnessed how Arnold was willing to take Alice back despite knowing she cheated on him. It was more like Arnold was helplessly in love with that woman who only saw Arnold as a ladder to climb into the higher society. Raymond remembered how Arnold slowly let go everything, forgiving Alice and healing himself as he did that. Arnold didn't show any interest in any woman, and never allowed any woman, except comrades, to get close to him. Raymond witnessed how women threw themselves at Arnold who seemed to think of them as a sore in the eye. For more than a year, Arnold never showed any interest in any woman, all he focused on, was work. However, recently, Raymond knew the ice surrounding Arnold's heart was slowly melting away and he felt happy for Arnold. But how was he going to answer Ciara, whose feelings seem unreadable at the moment. Nevertheless, they were all hoping for the best.
"Ciara, I can't give you a full account of what happened, but a summary" Raymond said when he opened his eyes.
"Why can't you give me a full account of what happened?" Ciara asked.
"Somethings are better left unsaid. Moreover, Arnold would be the best person to give you all the details"
"I can't go to him, so give me the summary"
"Alright. Arnold was ditched on the eve of his wedding."
"What? Ditched on the eve of his wedding? Why?" Ciara asked, looking surprised.
"She ditched him because she claimed she fell in love with another man which shouldn't have happened if she truly loved Arnold" Raymond replied
"Who is she? Do you have a picture of her?" Ciara asked.
"I'm afraid no. There's no way I will keep a picture of her. Did you get the wedding invitation?" Raymond asked.
"Why do you ask?" Ciara asked
"Because her name and pic were on the invitation" Raymond replied.
"I didn't take a look at it. Neither Vanessa nor Cindy took the pain to inform me. So I only knew he was getting married but didn't care enough to find out whom he was marrying" Ciara replied honestly.
"Alice. Alice Baidoo" Raymond gave the name out, and Ciara's face hardened.
"Alice? Are we talking about the model?" Ciara asked.
"Yes, the model" he replied.
"He must have spent a lot of money on a gold digger like her" Ciara stated the obvious.
"I'm afraid he did" Raymond replied.
"I just don't want to talk about that girl. She's more of a mood spoiler alert. Do you think we share any similarities? Talking about Alice and myself" Ciara tried to find out.
"The similarities are as follows; you're both women, you're both models, you're both beautiful, you're both tall, you both have nice figures. Apart from these, I don't see any other similarity" Raymond replied honestly.
"I hope so. Do you know the kind of women Arnold likes?" Ciara asked.
"Arnold would be the best person to answer this question" Raymond replied.
"I don't think I can ask that question" Ciara said.
"Why don't you answer her?" Raymond said as he looked behind Ciara.
Ciara turned to look in the direction Raymond's eyes were fixed, only to find out, only a step away from her, stood Arnold with his hands in his pockets, wearing a cold and unreadable expression.