Raymond looked at Ariel and then at the executives.
"We'll finish this later." He said and they nodded, wrapping up with their various files and documents.
They all left one by one but not after stealing a glance at the beauty who was so clingy to Raymond Stein.
"They're gone now." Raymond said and she looked up. "Let's go too." He looked up at White. "It's last lunchtime so get a restaurant nearby ready for us."
"Yes, sir." White nodded and went ahead.
Raymond turned to Ariel. It was only right to point out that she almost messed up but seeing her like that, he felt it wouldn't be right and kept it to himself. He didn't know why but he followed that warning thought.
"Can you walk now?" He asked her and she looked at her feet. She was wearing the slippers now but she couldn't possibly wear that out.
"Well, I don't think..." Her words were cut short when Raymond suddenly lifted her feet from the ground. Not just her fit but her entire body and carried her in his arms.
"Let's go. I'll carry you out." He said and she hooked her arm around his neck.
"Are you doing this on purpose?" Ariel asked and he looked down at her.
"What?"
She stayed silent and looked into his eyes. For some reason, her heart was waving. She couldn't tell what was going on with her.
She buried her head in his chest and shook her head.
"Nevermind." She muttered.
Raymond took her out in the same manner he brought her in and they both went to have lunch. But before they went to the restaurant, Raymond stopped in front of a boutique.
"Get something flat and comfortable." He ordered and White took the orders and went into the boutique.
"What are you...?"
"You don't expect to use your bare feet in the restaurant, right?" He asked and she went silent.
White returned with a black leather flat cover shoe. It was Ariles exact size and surprisingly her kind of taste.
"I'd give to wear this type of shoe more often." She muttered, examining it on her feet.
"You don't have to wear heels all the time. It would be bad if you ended up breaking your leg."
"Flats don't really look good in the type of extravagant dresses I wear." Ariel said. "They're for modest girls."
"Then use block heels instead. That's better, right? You won't have to worry about breaking your leg while walking." Ariel looked at him. Was he worried that she could ruin the act or that she would actually break her leg? She couldn't tell.
Well, it wasn't really important to know either.
"Alright." She answered. "There goes the collection of shoes in my closet." She muttered but Raymond ignored it.
"Then, let's go."
They finally arrived at the restaurant and Ariel discovered the entire place was emptied out.
"Why aren't there any customers?" She asked no one in particular. "Is business that slow?"
Though Raymond heard this, he did not try to correct her misunderstanding and nodded.
"It seems so." He said and they took their seats.
"What would you like?" The waiter politely asked, handing them both a menu book.
Ariel glanced through the menu and was certain that this was an expensive restaurant. Was the reason why they didn't have any customers because the meals were too pricey?
After all, not everyone was as rich as Raymond.
"Have you decided?"
Ariel skimmed through the menu. She knew she was hungry but she didn't really have the appetite for anything.
"It's just a light meal, right? I'll just have the fruit salad."
"That won't do." Raymond disagreed and shut the menu book. "If you have only fruit salad, all my effort to fatten you up will go in vain."
"Haha, I don't burn fat that easily."
"I say you do." He reached out his hand and brushed her hair aside. "If not, where did all the food I stuff you with go?" He grinned and again, Ariel felt her heart wave.
What was going on, really?
Raymond noticed her pause and turned to the waiter who immediately flinched at his eye contact.
"We'll both have a plate of fruit salad." He said and the waiter bowed before scurrying away.
'He is so terrifying.' The waiter shuddered, remembering his cold eyes.
"What's wrong?" Raymond asked Ariel. She looked up at him. Did he notice anything? Was she faltering?
"Maybe I'm not feeling too well." She said, "And I don't know what's wrong with me either."
It wasn't a lie. Her heart wasn't feeling well and she couldn't tell why. It was affecting her act and it was affecting her quick thinking.
"Maybe you'll need a check up after all." Raymond muttered and beaconed on White to come over. "Once we're done with the meal, take her to Steve."
"And you?" White responded.
"I'll return to the office to finish up some work before meeting up with you two." He said and they all fell silent.
Ariel didn't say anything because she didn't have anything to say and White didn't say anything because he couldn't refute his master's words. As for Raymond, he went silent because he was deep in thoughts.
Earlier he had talked about a contract with White but couldn't go ahead with the contents. And that topic about making a bigger wave... What could be a bigger wave to stir the media wildly?
"Ariel?"
"Yes, sir?"
"For your next act," he paused on seeing the waiter approaching with their meal.
The bowl of fruit salad was dropped on the table one at a time. An iced apple juice, per the restaurant's recommendation for the meal, was also placed on the table.
"Please, enjoy your meal." The waiter said, bowing his head and immediately left.
Once Raymond was sure the waiter had gone past the point where he could hear their conversation, he continued.
"For your next act, I'll need you to seduce Marco." Raymond said and Ariel's eyes widened in shock.
"What?!"