The director left without saying a word, and I watched him walk away, feeling a strange mix of guilt and frustration. I didn't know what he was thinking, but I had a sinking feeling it wasn't good. How shocked he looked when Raymond kissed me. Honestly, I didn't see it coming either, his actions had caught me completely off guard. I was lost for words. Even though part of me wanted to yell, I couldn't bring myself to do it.
"Raymond, what was the meaning of that?" I asked, my voice trembling with a mix of confusion and anger. "After everything you've been through, is this your intention? To embarrass me in front of my staff? Why would you do something like that?"
He crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "He was getting too close to you," he said, his tone defensive. "I didn't like it."
I was taken aback by his response.
"Raymond, when did I give you the right to tell me who I can and can't be close to? And why would you kiss me just because you think the director is getting too close? Do you realize I can fire you right now without even blinking?"
He didn't flinch. In fact, he looked almost smug. "I know you can, but you won't," he replied, his voice steady. "Because of what I bring to the table. I was just being a good brother and a good secretary, that kiss was one of the ways I could show it. I could tell he was a womanizer, so I was trying to push him away permanently."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My anger flared, and my patience wore thin. "It's the audacity for me," I said, my voice rising. "You think you can justify this? You have the nerve to tell me all of this without feeling any remorse? You better get out of my office before I make your life miserable."
Raymond just stood there, unfazed by my outburst. But I was done. I had given him chances before, but this was the final straw.
Raymond had ruined my day. The audacity he had to stand by his actions after the kiss only made my anger boil over. I wanted to fire him on the spot, but as he pointed out, he was too important to me. Deep down, I knew I couldn't just let him go. Not yet.
To try and calm my nerves, I went to visit my dad. At least he was getting better, though I couldn't shake the feeling that I was just preparing myself for the inevitable. As always, his first question when I arrived was about Raymond. It was infuriating to see my dad still so fond of him, especially after everything that had happened. But I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth, not yet.
I sent for Raymond, trying to put on a brave face. I couldn't let my dad know how I felt, not with the way things were going. The worst part was that my dad liked having Raymond around, and I had to keep that in mind while pretending everything was fine.
After the visit, I found the cardiothoracic director and made sure to speak with him. I wasn't about to let the incident with Raymond leak to anyone, especially not to the press. I made it crystal clear: if I heard a word about it being spread in the hospital or beyond, he'd be out of a job.
As I left the director's office, I saw Raymond's grin from the driver's seat. It only made my frustration grow. The nerve of him, still smiling when I was fuming. He hadn't even apologized, not once. I spent the entire night waiting for an apology that never came, and by the morning, I realized just how lenient I had been with him. That's why he felt entitled to kiss me, to act like he could get away with anything.
I had to do something about it.
When we arrived back at the villa, I summoned Raymond to my office. I handed him a case file on patients trying to sue the hospital. I asked him to do thorough research on them and have it ready by the next morning. He chuckled, knowing full well that I was giving him a sleepless night.
The next morning, I found his work neatly laid out on my desk. As expected, but it wasn't enough. I wasn't about to let him off the hook that easily.
"Raymond," I said, locking eyes with him, "I need you to escort a patient from the asylum to the hospital today. No excuses."
The look on his face was priceless. Fear mixed with confusion, but he still managed to smile, which only deepened my frustration. I didn't understand it. Was he pretending to be unaffected? All I wanted was for him to have a terrible morning, to realize just how serious I was and finally apologize for his behavior.
When he came back, I noticed a scratch on his neck. "Go get that treated and come back for your next task," I instructed, not hiding my irritation.
I wasn't going to give up until I got an apology out of him. Next, I had him join a team heading to the prison to do a medical checkup on the inmates. I knew he hated the idea, and I was counting on that.
I watched as he gritted his teeth, holding the edge of his desk as though he might snap at any moment, but still he refused to give me what I wanted: an apology. I left him to stew and went to the cafeteria for some coffee to calm down.
On my way back, I stopped by the cardiothoracic department, my favorite in the hospital, just to check in. As I walked down the hall, I noticed a woman creating a scene near the entrance. She was shouting and waving her arms around, causing a disturbance, so I approached her to see what was happening.
The woman was clearly agitated, and her words were pointed with accusation. She looked desperate as she tried to make her case.
"Mr. Rex refused to pay me after our night together," she said, her voice sharp with frustration. "I've been lenient with him for the past two days, but I need the money to take care of myself. I know he's in the office, but the nurses are refusing to let me see him."
I raised an eyebrow. Mr. Rex, the director? I couldn't picture him being the type to involve himself with someone like her. Still, the hospital could not afford scandal, and I couldn't have things like this hanging over the institution. I needed to get to the bottom of this.
I motioned for one of the doctors to fetch him. I already knew Raymond would be insufferable if he heard about this. He'd undoubtedly smirk and say, "I told you so," which would only make me more frustrated. I couldn't let that happen.
Moments later, Mr. Rex entered the room, his posture straight, his usual confident demeanor in place, though there was a flicker of unease in his eyes when he saw the woman standing there.
"Mr. Blake, this woman here is claiming you owe her some money. Is that true?" I asked, keeping my tone measured.
He didn't miss a beat. "I don't know her. She might be a fraud trying to use my name to make money, which is why I ignored her," he replied, the words slipping from his lips with practiced ease.
But something didn't sit right with me. The way he dismissed her felt too rehearsed, too confident. I narrowed my eyes.
"Mr. Blake, you are the director of this department," I said firmly. "The doctors here look up to you. Don't bring your personal life into my hospital. I won't let this slide next time. I thought you were different."
He stiffened at my words, his jaw tightening. The woman's angry gaze never wavered from him, but he remained stoic, though I could see the shift in his expression.
"I assure you, I have no idea who she is," he repeated, his tone more insistent. "But I'll take care of this immediately."
I wasn't entirely convinced, but I had no choice but to let him handle it. At least for now.
Raymond returned, looking a mess his clothes wrinkled, his face flushed and red, but his lips still sealed. He wouldn't apologize, not yet, but I wasn't going to back down. His face looked pale, and there was a deep sadness in his eyes, but the anger that simmered beneath only pushed me further.
"Raymond, go wash up," I said coolly, not giving him an inch of comfort. "We're going to the club. You need to get over yourself."
I could see the frustration in his expression, his jaw clenched as if fighting against the words he didn't want to say. But I had made up my mind, this was the only way to get through to him.
I knew Raymond hated it when I was around other men, especially when they flirted with me. It drove him insane, and I intended to use that against him. I found a handsome guy at the club, someone who was more than eager to dance with me. As I moved closer to him, I felt Raymond's eyes burning a hole in my back. His gaze was filled with barely contained rage.
I didn't let up. I danced with the guy, letting him place his hands around my waist, smiling at him as I playfully kissed his cheek. The anger radiating from Raymond was palpable. The more he glared, the more I pushed it, enjoying the effect it was having on him, all the while watching his face twist with jealousy.
But the situation quickly escalated. The guy I was dancing with started to push boundaries, his hands wandering in ways that made me uncomfortable. I felt Raymond's presence like a force behind me, and within seconds, he stormed up, pulling the guy away with a furious growl.
"Jasmine!" he shouted, his voice trembling with frustration. "I am sorry for kissing you, but I'm not sorry. I can't stand seeing you with other men, Jasmine. My heart is not at peace when you're with someone else. I love you, Jasmine."
His words hit me like a wave, crashing into me unexpectedly. The raw emotion in his voice was undeniable. But there was still so much anger there, a storm that was far from over.