Third person's POV
"These people! What exactly are they up to?" Raymond groaned in disapproval.
It was early evening and the weather was good. Raymond was sipping a non alcoholic wine from a cup as he read through a business newspaper.
"I can never understand what goes in their minds! Are they business persons or a gang of theives?" He mused to himself, then let out a dry chuckle. That was in reaction to what he was reading in the paper.
Few minutes later, Selena walked up to meet Raymond. The latter was in his office, upstairs. That was where he not only work, but usually also relax and unwind.
"I hope I am not interrupting something serious?" Selena asked as she walked into the room, with skeptical eyes.
She looked around the room as she asked. It was her first time being in there.
"No, not at all." Raymond replied her, with a smile.
Selena took subtle, fleeting glances at the symbols of wealth, around the room .
"You have never invited me in here, before. I thought I should invite myself in." She said and looked at him with furrowed eyebrows.
"Are there places I don't have access to, in your house. I mean, I don't want to trespass!" She added, gently with a smile.... A smile that was overly bright.
Her eyes held a questioning look and something else than than curiosity ...
"Oh, darling. It is not like that. This is my office and of course, you can come in here. I actually didn't think you would be interested in coming in here. I mean it is where I mostly work." Raymond explained to her, gently.
He had dropped the newspaper he was reading and faced her.
"You think I don't have anything beneficial to contribute to your work?" Selena asked him, then let out a chuckle.
Raymond was taken aback by her interpretation and the direction she was taking the conversation.
He tried to check her facial and body expression to ascertain whether or not she was angry or at least find out what was going on in her mind, but he couldn't.
Plastered firmly on her face, was a forced, wide eyed gaze, so Raymond couldn't say whether she was just trying to be impressive towards him or there was something else, and her body gestures, on the other hand, conveyed comfort and ease.
"No, darling. That is not it. I don't... " Raymond trailed off as he realized something.
Selena narrowed her eyes on the man, waiting for what he had to say. While at it, she moved closer to him and caressed his hand that was resting on the table, tenderly.
He had wanted to say he didn't think she couldn't contribute to his work, but he decided against it after reconsidering it.
He decided to be factual with her. It was his business after all. The business that fed him and his family and made him a billionaire. But he knew he had to do that, without making her upset.
"Selena, you're a surprise. I didn't know you had a head for finance. I mean, you don't even have any knowledge about the family business." He told her and chuckled.
Selena produced a laughter that sounded so forced, before replying him.
"Oh, I'm full of surprises, Raymond. And I'm happy to help in any way I can." She replied him, sweetly.
"So, tell me what do you think about diversifying your portfolio? I can help you make some savvy decisions, I have been making some research. Can you walk me through your thought process when evaluating investment opportunities?" She said to Raymond.
Raymond didn't know what to make of her sudden interest in the family business. He peered at her.
"Research about my business that she has absolutely no idea about?" He asked him, inwardly.
Selena realized he had a conflicting look on him and decided to change her tone to a persuading one.
"I just want to be of help to you, in any way I can. I don't want it to seem like I am just living in your house and living off you, without contributing to your growth, at all." Selena stated persuadingly.
At that explanation, Raymond's face was completely rid of any suspicions, and he had on a calm, smitten look.
The woman was being such a darling to him. He had no idea of what was going on in her head.
Her plan!
"I understand your point, dear. And trust me, I am grateful that you want to contribute but don't ever think I will allow you to do that, just because you feel like you are munching off me. I would be glad to take responsibility of you and your daughter, forever, without expecting nothing in return from you, darling." Raymond said to her, lovingly.
"That is how much I love you and want to be with you." He added, all smiles.
Selena gave him a small smile in return and went to wrap her arms around his neck, but her eyes shoned with dissatisfaction.
"I know you love me, darling. But let me be of help to your business. You have been the only one struggling to make everything fall into pleasant places all these while, but now that you have met me and have me by your side, I want to show you my full support in all that you do, darling." Selena said lowly and sweetly into his ear.
Raymond nodded in understanding, as he inhaled the sweet fragrance coming from her, with his head pressed lovingly to her stomach, as she had her arms around his neck, while standing before him.
"Let me support you. Tell me whatever you need me to do, to show you my support, love and care." She urged him, in her best ladylike manner.
"Okay, darling. There is something I would love for you to do for me then, if you would not mind." Raymond told her.
Selena's eyes lit up and a lazy smirk crept up on her face.
Was her plan starting to fall into place, already? She wondered, hopefully.
"Ask me for anything, darling. I would gladly do anything for you." She said to him, assuringly.
At that moment, the door flew open, startling Selena and Raymond who were in a cozy position.
A face of the intruder appeared at the entrance of the opened door and the smile on Selena's face faltered.
Raymond's eyes widened in shock as he laid eyes on the intruder.
Of course, the reactions from the duo was expected by the intruder. None of them was expecting to see her, but then she had appeared and there was no going back!