A Deal With The Billionaire

EPISODE SEVENTY FOUR

THEME: Memories of one night

CONNECTICUT, UNITED STATE OF AMERICA

CHRISTOPHER CRAWFORD APARTMENT

Christopher walked down the stairs as he looked around the house. It was empty. Just like it had been for the past few days since the sexual encounter between him and Raven. And he hadn’t set his eyes on her since that day.

For a moment he thought she had left the house. However, it surprised him whenever he woke up and saw his breakfast ready made and placed on the kitchen island for him. He still didn’t have any idea what had ensued that night, his brain had been racked consistently but he couldn’t get to the root of it and it was really getting to him.

“Good morning sir.” Matilda greeted him. “Miss Raven couldn’t make you breakfast, but I prepared something for you. You should have some before heading out.”

“Morning Tilda. Thanks, I will surely have it.” He settled on the stool by the island.

To rid himself of guilt he ate the food Raven prepared for him diligently everyday. But somehow he wished she had been the one to prepare today’s breakfast too. Ever since they got married, Raven had been consistent with cooking breakfast for him before heading to her workplace and sometimes on weekends they always ate together. But the last weekend, he had eaten both breakfast and dinner alone and it felt empty.

“Matilda, when did my wife leave for work?”

“Very early sir. When I got out, she was ready to leave for work.” Matilda replied. She noticed how his expression changed when she told him about Raven. The old woman had been taking note of the uneasiness between the both of them for the past few days but she couldn’t do anything about it. She wished she could interfere but it was better for someone like her to know her place and that’s by not going past her boundary.

“Is everything alright, Tilda?”

Christopher asked, he had been calling out to her for a few seconds and she wasn’t responding.

Matilda jolted out of her thought. “I am sorry sir, did you call me?”

“Yes, I just wanted to inform you that I was leaving for work. Thanks for the food. And have a nice day.”

“Bye sir.” Matilda waved at him.

Christopher had lost focus at work since the sexual encounter with Raven and it has been hard to keep his mind off what exactly had happened that night. Somehow not seeing Raven at all had also made it worse for him.

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“Hello sir.” His secretary called out as she stood by the door.

Christopher looked up from his laptop. “Yes.”

“The meeting with the board of directors will be starting in five minutes sir.” She informed him.

“Oh thanks. I will be there in a minute. Wait a sec… is everyone present in the boardroom?”

“Yes sir. The board of directors are just waiting for your arrival.” She replied.

“Ok.” Christopher checked to see if he needed anything from the table but nothing occurred to him. He stood up and headed out of the office.

The meeting had been going on for about thirty minutes when one of the board members directed an instruction at his secretary and she tried searching for the file that was submitted to her the previous day.

“I… don’t have it here with me. Please excuse me.” She stood up in a hurry to get to the office. She tried moving past her boss but he grabbed her hand in an attempt to stop her and tell her to look up a soft copy of the file on the tablet. But the the swift movement opened up a flood of unlocked memories.

Christopher had to hold his head with both of his elbows on the table, as the happenings of the day he saw Jessica’s articles came back to him. He remembered how he had been helped out of the bar by the bartender and Raven picking him up while helping him to his room. He remembered lamenting on how Jessica had maltreated him and pulling Raven back to the bed to not leave and how he shamelessly pleaded with her to stay with him thinking she was Jessica.

Christopher felt so disgusted with himself for treating Raven the way he did and without hearing her out. Benjamin was right, he had acted irrational.

Christopher stood abruptly. He gestured at his secretary and she came to him. He whispered something to her, then turned towards the inquisitive eyes looking at him.

“I am so sorry gentle men, you would have to excuse me. We would schedule the meeting at a more free time. My secretary would send you all a memo.” He informed them before walking out of the room.

On getting to his office, he pumped the mahogany desk with his fist. He was so disappointed in himself. He had been so engrossed with the idea of Jessica that he forgot every other person in his life too will be hurting.

Since that day he hadn’t seen or spoken to his best friend. He and Benjamin had never stayed that long without speaking to each other. His thoughts raced as to what he was to do.

Nodding to himself, the first thing that came to mind was to find Raven and apologize to her immediately. He called Steve to meet him at the entrance and he stepped out of the office.

Christopher stopped at his secretary’s desk. “I don’t think I will be returning today. Cancel all of my meetings.”

“Alright sir.”

He moved fast towards the elevator, praying hard that she would forgive him and let him right his wrongs.

“Where to sir?” Steve asked as he got into the car.

“The golden restaurant, please.” Christopher muttered as he pulled off his tie.

Without waiting for any further instruction, Steve rode straight down to Raven’s work place. Christopher almost jumped out of the car when he got to his destination. Walking to the counter, he exchange pleasantries with the lady he met there.

“Please I will like to see Raven Cra…”He stopped himself from saying Crawford. He wasn’t certain if she had added the name at work. “Sorry I mean… Raven McKenna.”

The lady at the counter raised her eyebrows as her eyes did a crawl on Christopher. “Raven McKenna. She didn’t come in to work today sir. Do you need me to drop her a message?”

Christopher waved her off. “Oh no please, don’t worry I will get through to her later.” With despair, he walked out of the restaurant and he was confused as to what to do next.

Different thoughts came to his mind and he hoped Raven hadn’t eloped to stay away from him. Raven would never miss a day at work so he was surprised she wasn’t at work and his mind also went back to her not preparing him breakfast.

“Had she really left?” He questioned himself. Not knowing what to do, he called the one person who always proffered him with solutions.

“Please, pick up.” Christopher muttered as he dialed Benjamin’s line.

And he eventually picked after two dials. ‘What do you want?’ Benjamin said with a stiff voice.

Christopher ran his hands through his hair. ‘Are you that pissed at me man?’

‘Listen I am at a shoot, Chris. I don’t have much time to spare. Why did you call?’

‘Ok, I need your help.’

‘For what?’

‘I need to get to Raven. I just remembered what exactly happened that night and I admit that it’s all my fault. I am so sorry. I came to her workplace now and I can’t find her. I don’t know what to do.’ Christopher rushed out his words.

There was a long pause on the other line. ‘Maybe she took a day off from work. Have you called her mom? She might be there.’

Christopher smacked his forehead. He hadn’t thought of calling Eva at all. He knew Benjamin would always know what to do. ‘Thanks so much man. I appreciate you.’

Benjamin let out a grunt. ‘Bye.’ He hanged the call.

Smiling to himself, he kept it in mind to make it up to his friend after he seeks Raven’s forgiveness. He searched through his contact list and dialed Eva.

‘Hello Eva.’ He spoke into the receiver.

With excitement lacing her voice, she replied. ‘How are you Chris?’

‘I’m fine thanks. How is Rowan? Is he back from school?’

‘Yeah he is back but currently taking a nap.’

‘I am sorry to bother you but I checked Raven at work and she wasn’t there. Is she at your place by chance?’

‘No, she isn’t here. Probably she went out with Tiana and forgot to mention it. You should call her.’

A nervous chuckle escaped his lips. ‘I will do just that, thanks ma’am. Have a goodnight rest.’ He told her as he hung up the call.

Checking the time he realized it was past three. Since there was still a lot of time he decided to go back to work but plan to leave early in order to wait up for Raven at home. He was determined to talk to her today and nothing was going to deter him.