When they arrived at Ray Kee Entertainment, Gerard parked the car and they alighted. The building was a twenty-four-story building and Raymond's office was on the twenty-fourth floor.
Ray fastened his coat buttons as they entered the building. He paused at the lobby and turned to stare at his assistant and the stranger girl who had been walking behind them all this time.
He said, "Gerard, take her to the waiting room on the last floor, give her special treatment." A tiny smile appeared on Choice's lips. That, was because she had no idea what was to follow. "You know what I mean, a close watch, we can't tell, she might also be a thief." Her smile disappeared and she glared at Ray with more hatred than anger.
He walked away to catch up with the meeting. Gerard glanced down at the marriage document Ray handed him earlier and led Choice to an elevator. He pressed the lobby button, and the doors slid open; they stepped into the cubicle, staring at the doors close between the thick cloud of silence that surrounded them.
While in the conference room with the marketing and sales department, Ray's mind was not at ease. Before he entered the meeting, he called his attorney to come over but he didn't give any detail or reason why, he thought of the possibility of being married to the stranger girl, someone he didn't even know her name, background...nothing.
"I'm glad to inform you all that the sales for the month have moved up by thirty percent." The head of the sales department announced and there was a round of applause even from Raymond.
He leaned forward on the executive chair. "Good job guys, great job."
"Thank you, President Ray!" Echoed in the room in different voices.
He took his phone and left the conference room.
Gossip stirred the room.
"Did you guys see the lady that entered the company with President Ray and Sir Gerard earlier?"
"Yes, she's really pretty, could she be the president's girlfriend?"
"There's no way that's the case, didn't you see the class difference? Maybe she's poor, she needed money and came to the president for some."
"She was taken to President Ray's office, she entered the private elevator."
"How sure are you it was President Ray's office. Don't say what you aren't sure of, she was taken to the last floor, she could probably be in the waiting room."
"She has a point, I don't think the President would stoop so low to keep a gf like that."
"Let's get back to work guys. If the President finds out that you guys are here gossiping 'stead of working at your positions, I don't have to tell you the rest of the story."
Jolted back to their senses, they all hurried out of the room.
Ray reached the waiting room to find his attorney had arrived and was taken in by Gerard.
He made sure in the conference room all phones were switched off to avoid interruption, including his. The attorney called his phone upon arriving only to find out it was switched off, so he phoned the ever-efficient assistant.
Gerard was going through documents related to business and most times his head was bent over the laptop on his lap. On seeing Raymond, he stood up in respect.
Choice glared at the Kingly figure that just walked in and said calmly but fiercely. "How dare you keep me waiting for more than an hour? I also have a business to run."
The attorney's gaze flew to the lady who sat comfortably on the couch, her head high. Did she just talk to King Raymond Kingsley in that manner? That man standing right there could cease the existence of her lowly business without lifting a finger.
His assistant, on the other hand, wasn't at all moved, he had encountered her lash out in anger a few hours ago. Strangely, he was pleased to see the big boss being challenged by a woman.
In the whole of the entertainment industry, no one had ever dared to speak that way to the big boss, and those who dared to cross his path ended up ruined and thrown into the abyss of no return. He was feared by all.
"You had better watch your mouth," Ray warned, "with a blink, that cheap business and you will go down the drain, don't push me."
Choice didn't dare to retaliate, she only threw away her face.
The two men in the room were already feeling scared for her. She knew who the hell Raymond was but she still chose to mess with him.
He got himself seated.
His assistant sat behind him.
"Good day, President Ray." The attorney greeted.
Ray didn't answer right away, he first gave an order to his assistant.
"Gerard, do a background check on her right away," Gerard stopped every other thing he was doing to start researching. "Good day, attorney." Ray felt it was the right time to reply to the attorney.
"Well, Mr. Ray, I have a clean record and what I do for a living is legal." Choice defended.
He adjusted on the couch, "and what exactly do you do for a living?"
"I'm a fashion designer and model," Choice confidently said.
But her confidence was about to be stepped on, Gerard didn't dare stop operating the portable computer in his hands, he knew Ray would know even without looking back.
Ray smirked, raising his brows, "I see, been on the runway? Done a commercial? Done the opening and closing of a show? What company are you signed with?"
"None, I'm independent." She replied after a moment had passed.
He scoffed, shook his head and his gaze left her to the attorney, "Bernard, you may begin."
Choice was so angry, but she could only grit her teeth.
Before the attorney could say a word, Gerard came to stand beside Ray, "President," he called his attention, Ray held out his hand and he handed him the tablet.
He stared at the screen, Choice's information was on display, he skimmed through them and gave the tablet back to his assistant.
Gerard went back to his seat.
"I went through the marriage documents," Bernard started, "and they're real, there's no trace of forgery, and the signature is yours."
Ray met Choice's gaze. She didn't even let out a smile or react to the news in her favour. He kept his gaze on her and said, "I want an annulment, make sure to get the papers ready as soon as possible."
Bernard wanted to interrupt Raymond and tell him the divorce wouldn't work out but didn't have such nerves to cut into the fierce ruler of the entertainment industry, so he waited for him to finish before spilling the bean. "P... President Ray, I'm sorry the annulment can't be possible."
"Can't be possible? What do you mean?" Ray asked.
"It says here in the document that you two can only get annulled after six months and that's only if the marriage didn't work out." The attorney cleared.
Ray frowned at Choice. "You did this on purpose, right? You purposely took advantage of my drunk state to..."
She interrupted, "Hello! I wasn't the one who dragged me into that chapel in the first place; it was you, and if there's anyone who took advantage of another's drunk state, then it was you."
The attorney stood up, he knew his work there was over and there was no need to be around, "with your permission," he asked Raymond.
"You may leave." Ray permitted and added, "but one word of whatever you know out there, you won't like yourself in the end."
"Understood President Ray." The attorney said with a nod and left.
"Take this thing out of my company, Gerard," Ray said calmly but hoarsely, pinching between his brows.
Choice crossed her legs. "I'm married to you which simply means that I own fifty percent of all your assets including this company," she paused, waiting for a reaction from Ray, but his expression remained plain, making it hard to know what was going on in his mind, "but I don't need them, keep your money, fame, and power to yourself. I can't wait for six months to be over 'cause the worst mistake that has ever happened to me is marrying a jerk like you."
Gerard swallowed a chuckle, the couple's show was amusing. 'finally President Ray has met his match' he thought to himself.
Choice stood up. "I'll disappear from your life and when all this is over, I'll be back to sign the divorce papers." She turned to leave.
"Stop there." Ray commanded.
She stopped.
She didn't want to but the tone at which he commanded her with...
She stared back at him and noticed a side of his lips lifted in a mischievous smile. At that moment, he had that look of evilness, dangerous but alluring as the black mole on his earlobe sparkled under the lights.
He said to his assistant, "Gerard, drive her to wherever she lives, make sure she retrieves her suitcase and bring her back here."
"Yes, President," Gerard curtsied.
"What for?" She asked, confused.
"We're married, right? Which simply means it's honeymoon time." Ray replied.
Choice felt a bang in her chest.
What!
Honeymoon?
What was he thinking?
Ray walked to her and whispered into her ear. "Get yourself ready for some exercise tonight and make sure not to scream my name too hard 'cause even the walls would ask for an autograph." His voice was deep and sexy, the one that could strike a woman nuts.
Choice remained calm. The next moment, she heard Ray's footsteps as he left the room.
Gerard was stunned, he has never seen the big boss act so crazy in the eight years he had worked for him. Ray was the ladies' guy, he didn't keep a lady for more than a day, and if the sex was good, maybe a week.
Choice muttered, "What a jerk."