Chapter 4: Sphinx

Raymond's P.O.V

I drove to Ruby's house after I left my parents, I needed to see her one more time before I go. I've been childish all these years, being too proud and scared to tell her how I truly feel. After knocking for a while, I knew she wasn't there, so I texted Chad to know where his girlfriend, Summer, could be, I figured I would be able to find Ruby that way. Chad texted back, telling me they were both at his party,.he also asked why, I told him I just wanted to talk to Ava.

I drove back to the Mansion, when i entered the living room, I knew I would probably have Chad hanged in the morning, that wasn't my priority rn, I needed to find Ava, after looking around for what seemed like eternity, i spotted Chad and Summer dancing close to the bar, I walked over and asked Summer, where Ava was. she wouldn't tell me, she just walked away, I was trying to persuade Chad to help me ask her where Ruby was, when she came back with two drinks, she was about handing one of it to Chad, but, immediately,he asked her where Ava was, she sighed and walked away.

Chad looked at me and shrugged, I tried looking for Ruby again myself, I wasn't having any luck, I had just emptied the third drink, when I saw Summer, walking out from the edge of the room with empty cups, I went there to check the place myself when I saw the most beautiful face, sitting at the corner, the dress complimented her skin tone.

I told her how beautiful she looked, when she moved closer to talk to me, I could feel electric shocks moving all over my body.the scent of her hair, took away every sense of reasoning from me, I wanted to have her, there and then, but I couldn't, I wouldn't, I needed to tell her how I feel first and also know that she wanted me too.

I asked if she wanted to go some place quiet and she just nodded looking at me. I led her to my room, the Master bedroom. I couldn't hold it back in anymore, so I just told her how I felt, when I was done and she didn't say anything, I was a little hurt and scared, but when she kissed me, I was surprised. I couldn't process the emotions going in my head, if it was the alcohol or the kiss, I wasn't sure, I just knew my head felt fuzzy, tho I couldn't think straight, I knew I wanted her as much as she showed that she wanted me.

I woke up with a terrible hang over, I felt a body snuggle in close to me, that was when the memories of last night came back to me.

I looked at her, drew her in my arms, and kissed her forehead and her neck, I was starting to get aroused again, but I couldn't act on it. I needed to leave, as a Sphinx, I can't have anything that would disrupt the chain, I couldn't be with Ruby, I felt bad for taking her Innocence, knowing I can't be with her.

So,. I wrote a note, expressing how I feel and also left her the Mansion, I hope she doesn't see this gift the wrong way, I just wanted her to have a memory of me, we had made love three times before morning and I hope it was as special to her as it is to me.

I called my lawyer on my way to the airport, I already concluded my degree in Business in a more prestigious University last year, I was just taking the Medical classes to be close to Ava, tho I didn't attend classes frequently, but, now, with my dad being diagnosed of Arthritis, I needed to step in as the C.E.O of Sphinx Group of Companies.

As soon as I arrived at the airport, I saw Bella, my fiancee, waving a card, I just walked past her like I don't know who she was, as soon as I got to the car, she rushed in beside me.

"At some point, Ray, you have to come around to the idea of you and I being partners, not just partners, engaged partners" she said waving the piece of rock on her finger in the air.

We drove to my parent's place in silence, when the car stopped in front of my parent's house.

Bella held my hand and stopped me from going out,

"What about Ava do you like so much, I'm here and you have to make do with that" she said

"Look, we are both being forced into this union so stop acting like this is a real thing, we are going to go out there and give them a show and immediately, we get back to the house, we act like total strangers, do you understand?", without give her time to respond, I grabbed my hands back from hers and left the car. I turned to her side of the door and opened it for her, we walked to the foyer together, when my mom opened the door, I kissed her cheek and walked in, leaving her and Bella at the door.

My sister, Rima, doesn't like Bella, so she came to hug me, not acknowledging Bella. "I've missed you so much, I couldn't fly to Florida with mom and dad to see you, so I decided to surprise you" she said as she released me from the hug.

I touched her face and said "you've definitely grown shorter, Cake, I missed you too", she shook her head laughing, and then walked away.

She doesn't like the nickname Cake , I started calling her that when she intentionally fell on her 12th birthday cake, so no one else aside her, could have it.

Mom called us to the dinning room, I sat opposite Cake, with Bella sitting close to me and my parents each sitting at one end of the table.

"you guys should be planning your marriage soon, it's not ideal to wait for too long"my dad said in the course of eating.

I stood up immediately and left, the dinning room, I could hear my mom calling but I just left the room.

I went to my favorite part of the house, the garden and sat down. minutes later my mom came and sat beside me.

"your dad only means well, the board wants a man of responsibility, that is, a married man, to be C.E.O." she Said.

I looked at her and shook my head. "I don't have a choice, do I?"