Raymond looked at Ariel, confused. Did she just say calling her beautiful was like an insult? Why was that? Didn't she even know what her appearance looked like? Was she so unaware or did she never look in the mirror?
No, the problem must've been from her boyfriend. After all, what lies did that sick bastard feed her in order to keep her by his side and do all sorts of dirty stuff on his behalf?
He looked at Ariel. It didn't look like words would get through to her and he honestly didn't have the energy for that either so why not change the tactic?
"Are you saying that because you don't have long flowing hair or because you don't dazzle right now?" He suddenly asked and she raised her head in shock. "Or is it that you claim not to be beautiful because you are not adorned with expensive jewelry and wearing expensive clothes?"
"That's not it." She shook her head but he didn't seem to care and continued talking.
"Well, it doesn't matter." He said and she looked up. "Standing by my side, your standards have to be second to no one." He took a step towards her. "So even if you are not beautiful, you will be beautiful. You must be beautiful. Money... Will make you beautiful." He defined.
Hearing this, Ariel's mind immediately went to plastic surgery. But his next words offset that thought.
"A little makeup here and there will do the trick." He said. "I heard that makeup transforms even the most ugly woman, so that will do."
Unknowing to her, an expression of relief flooded her face and she sighed.
"Ariel, you're still lacking in your act." Raymond pointed out, walking back to his chair. "What did I tell you about being arrogant, prideful and obnoxious?"
"Do I... Do I also have to apply that while it's just you and me?" She asked.
"Why? What's the point of doing it if you don't do it when you're with me?"
"No, I meant when we're alone." She added and he tilted his head to the side.
"If you don't, how will you perfect it?" He asked her.
"All the time?"
"All the time."
"But... " She clenched on the hem of her dress. "... I..." Seeing yet again another nervous act, he couldn't help but wonder what else got her stumped.
"What is it this time?"
"It's just... You're a bit scary." She said in a low key but it was loud enough for him to hear.
"That's not something I'm hearing for the first time." He said and folded his arms. "What about it?"
"I... I said this before but I'll say it again." She courageously raised her head to speak to him face to face. "I'm not used to your presence so I can't feel at ease when you're around. No matter how good I am at acting, when I'm with you, I will definitely tense up because... "
"My presence scares you." He completed and she nodded. "Fine." He picked up the cup of coffee and twirled it, muttering to himself how it had already gone cold. Then, he looked up to meet Ariel's expectant eyes. "We'll just have to be together almost every time for you to get used to my presence."
"What?" She stared at him blankly. What did that mean?
"I can't take you to the company just yet but I can keep you around when I'm at home."
"Wait a minute," she stepped forward. "...You want us to stay in the same space everytime you're home?"
"I knew you were smart."
"Even the bedroom?" She asked and he paused, his eyebrow twitching to that question. He almost scoffed.
"You said it wasn't but hearing you now, it would seem all that goes around in your head is how to have sex with me."
"No, that's not it. I swear."
"Then why did you mention the bedroom?"
"I was just curious." She started twiddling her thumb and Raymond sighed.
When he said that, he definitely did not think about the bedroom yet she thought of it right away.
He didn't want to ask exactly what she was curious about, fearing they wouldn't be able to end their conversation any time soon if he did.
No matter how tempting her body may be, he didn't think he would ever entertain the thought of taking her, a girl who was almost ten years younger than him, to his bed.
Well, this was his mistake. If he had just cleared it up from the beginning when she brought up the issue of being his sex slave, then they would definitely not get to this point. And then, he went ahead to carry out his intimidation plan and grabbed her breast.
He covered his face. He definitely brought this upon himself.
"First of all, whether it's in my bedroom or anywhere else, know that I won't lay a finger on you. Even if we are the only ones there, do you understand?" Ariel nodded.
"I understand." She answered.
"I think that should be all for today." He said, checking his watch. "I have a meeting soon."
"Then what were you doing at home this whole time?" She asked but before he could even come up with an answer, a knock came from the door.
"Master, it's time for the meeting." White announced from the other side.
Without wasting time and without uttering a word of goodbye, Raymond headed for the door and left.
"Really, why did he spend two hours in my room doing nothing?" She wondered, unaware that he really was watching her sleep.
Like he said, watching her sleep strangely gave him a sense of tranquility so he could not bear to wake her up.
But then, he found himself questioning his own method for the plan that he carefully drafted out.
'Will I really be able to do this?' He wondered.
"Master?" White called, seeing Raymond stand unresponsive at the door. What was he thinking so hard about?
"It's already started." Raymond muttered to himself. There was no way he could change the method now.
This plan for revenge, according to Raymond, would also be helping his own revenge plan and he stood to gain more from it... That was what he made Ariel believe but in all honesty, he was trying to make her strong. He wanted her to be able to stand on her own two feet and face those people who ruined her life without batting an eye.
And the reason why he was putting so much effort into it was because he was trying to pay his debt.
Thought he tried to convince himself that he already paid the debt he owed her for saving his life that night by saving her own life but his ego and pride were far from satisfied.
And in order to release himself from the burden, he decided to help her get her revenge, even if it meant he would have to force himself to break out of his usual character.
Besides, when he said getting revenge for her would also lead to his own revenge, he wasn't lying. Going around with an obnoxious lover and ruining the name of the Stein family more than he had already done, was something he always wanted to achieve and the opportunity presented itself quite nicely.
They knew how to play too many dirty tricks so it wouldn't be bad if he did the same.
But if he wants this to work, he also has to play his part well. Even if it meant getting close and intimate with Ariel. And unlike the girls who approached him on a daily basis in order to get in his bed, Ariel was not intolerable and her feeble excuses to get in his bed were actually more adorable than one could imagine.
Raymond subconsciously smiled, stunning White who peeked a glance at Ariel's door, wondering what type of conversation they had for him to actually smile.