Chapter 17 (1/1)

Charmaine was stunned motionless by Raymond's unexpected kiss.  The tenderness of his kiss did peculiar things to her insides and she couldn't seem to concentrate on anything but the feel of his soft lips gently molding to hers.  When she at last regained her senses she pushed against his chest, her eyes flashing angrily.  "Why did you do that?" she demanded.Raymond brought his fingers to lightly touch his lips as he looked at Charmaine.  She couldn't have known by the smug smile which was now forming on his face how the kiss had affected him.  Raymond had kissed many women in his lifetime but none of them sparked fireworks within him the way it had when he kissed Charmaine.  Hiding behind his usual cool arrogance, Raymond said flippantly, "Because I figured that was the only way to shut you up."  Giving her a sly look, he joked, "I did say I wanted to change your view of me.  That was definitely a fun way of doing it.  By any chance, have I changed your mind?" he added the last in a teasing note.Strangely hurt that Raymond had kissed her just for fun and was now joking about it, Charmaine glared at him.  "I don't like being kissed unless I want to and especially not by someone who I despise and can't stand the sight of."Raymond laughed and sauntered over to the living area to lounge on the couch.  Looking at her with a cheesy grin he said with exasperation, "You're such a prude.  It was only a kiss.  Stop acting like a baby by making a big deal out of it.""What?!" Charmaine shrieked in outrage.  She stormed over to where he was now half lying on the couch with his arms cradled behind his head and looking up at her as if she was a ten year old throwing a needless tantrum.  If Charmaine had a big thick bat in her hands right now she would have no hesitation in using it on him.  Perhaps a whack or two in his head might get her message clear to him.  "I'm sure you have women lining up just waiting to be kissed by you but I'm not one of them.  So don't use me for fun and don't try to make it sound as if I'm overreacting to it."Raymond merely continued smiling smugly at her and goaded, "But aren't you?""No I'm not!" she practically screamed out and felt embarrassed when Raymond burst out laughing.  "What's so funny?" she seethed."It's you," Raymond blurted out when his laughing subsided.  "You claim you're not overreacting but here you are screaming about a meaningless kiss."  Closing his eyes he stretched his arms upwards and yawned.  "Listen, this conversation is getting boring.  Can we drop it?"Charmaine was beyond furious when Raymond apparently dismissed her by closing his eyes.  So he thinks she was overreacting.  Well Charmaine will show him just how much she can overreact.  Quietly she walked away.With his eyes closed Raymond heard shuffling movements.  He opened an eye to have a peep and saw her walking away.  Thank God, he thought with relief.  He didn't know how much longer he can continue acting nonchalant about what happened between them.  In truth, he was still reeling from the aftermath of their kiss and was alarmed by these new unfamiliar sensations that he never had the pleasure of feeling with all the other women he had kissed or slept with.  Closing his eyes again, he conjured up the image of Charmaine in his arms and the warmth of her body pressed against his.  Enraptured with his daydreaming he didn't hear Charmaine's return.  It was only when he felt a shocking downpour of icy water on his face that jolted him from his relaxed position and back to reality.Holding the now empty glass in her hand, Charmaine smiled snidely at him, "How's that for overreacting?"Raymond wiped away the droplets of water from his face and then ran a hand through his wet hair before looking at her.  "That was very childish of you," he said in a very low voice.Crossing her arms in a combative stance, Charmaine responded tersely, "If it gets the message across to you then I don't care how childish it is."Raymond turned away for a few seconds to grab a handful of Kleenex to blot the dampness from his face.  When he faced her again the look on his face was enough to make Charmaine cower back in fear.  "You want to play then I'll play with you."Charmaine did not like the sudden gleam in his eyes.  Nor did she like the tigerish grin that was now set firmly on his face.  Backing away from him, Charmaine asked coarsely, "W-What are you going to do?"Raymond advanced towards her, his steps slow and languid.  He saw fear leap into her eyes and knew she was going to bolt any second.  Just as she turned to make a run for her room, Raymond's hand shot out and circled her wrist.  He gave her a hard yank which caused her to tumble backwards to fall against him, exactly as he planned.  Wrapping his arms across her waist he hoisted her up in the air and carried her in the direction of the bedrooms.Charmaine saw where they were heading and alarm filled her.  Struggling uselessly against his grasp she screamed, "What are you going to do?  Put me down!"Tightening his hold on her, Raymond murmured into her ear, "You wanted to play and play we will."  He turned into her room and went into the adjoining bathroom.  Shifting her to one side he freed one arm and reached up for the shower head, detaching it from its anchor.  As he lowered his arm he turned on the water and a spray of cold water spurted from the shower head.Knowing what he had in mind, Charmaine squirmed feverishly against him.  "Don't!  If you dare…"  Her words got cut off as Raymond bent her head over the tub and hosed her with the spray.  Charmaine shrieked as a blast of icy cold water poured down the back of her head, soaking her completely.Raymond immediately released her and turned to shut the water off.  When he faced her again, Charmaine was still standing where he had left her, with her head hanging slightly over the tub, her hair plastered wetly to her face.  He grabbed a nearby towel and wrapped it over her head before pulling her back from the tub.Charmaine slapped his hands away and pulled the towel he wrapped around her head to wipe the wetness from her face.  "You bastard!" she bit out as she began vigorously drying her wet hair.Raymond smiled and leaning against the sink he said casually, "Its call payback."His response only incensed her further.  Throwing the towel onto the floor, Charmaine locked her gaze on him and shouted, "Payback?  For what?  For pouring a small glass of water on you and I get this?"Straightening from the sink, Raymond walked towards Charmaine.  As he passed her he leaned down and whispered into her ear, "Let this be a warning.  If you're going to act like a child then I'll play along with you."Before Charmaine could make a nasty retort Raymond was already out of her bathroom.  Fuming at what he had done, she picked up the discarded towel and resumed drying her hair with angry strokes.  After a moment she threw it onto the floor again.  She's not going to let this incident go that easily.  She'll find a way to get the better of him and when she does he'll be the one wishing he never messed with her.--------------------------------------Myolie arrived earlier than usual into the dressing room.  Of course she had a purpose for doing so and with that in mind she went directly to Kenneth.  He was seated before the mirror adjusting his wig for his upcoming scenes.  "Hi Kenneth," she greeted overly bright.Kenneth gave her a tentative look and greeted almost reluctantly, "Hello Myolie."  He still hasn't forgiven her for her treatment of Natalie that night.  Although he understood why she acted that way but she shouldn't have taken her unfound jealousy out on innocent people.Sensing Kenneth's aloofness, Myolie faltered, debating on whether she should ask what she came to ask.  She had no one else to turn to.  In desperation she surged ahead, "Ken, do you know where Raymond is staying in Shanghai?"Kenneth let out an exasperated sigh and mumbled, "Raymond again."Grabbing his arm, Myolie squeezed and said with urgency, "Please Ken.  I need to see him and discuss our relationship.  He's not answering any of my calls and… and… I don't know what to do anymore!"Kenneth softened when he saw the tears shining in her eyes.  He knew she wasn't going to give up on Raymond no matter what and in a way Kenneth pitied her for loving someone who didn’t return that love.  "Myolie," he began gently, "When will you stop this nonsense and wake up?  There's no future for you and Raymond.  The sooner you realize it the sooner you can let him go and move on."Myole looked at him as if he had slapped her on the face.  Dropping her hands from him she stood up rigidly, her eyes full of angry accusations.  "I thought you were my friend.""I am," Kenneth responded adamantly.  Taking her hands in his, he said gently, "It's because I'm your friend I don't want to see you going after something that is never going to happen.  Why can't you understand that?"Myolie shook her head in denial, the tears she had been holding fell fast and freely.  "Please Kenneth.  Just tell me where I can find him.  I want to hear it from him.  I have to see him!"Kenneth knew it was useless.  Myolie was going to do whatever she wanted to.  Pulling out a piece of paper from his pocket he handed it to her.  "The entire production crew is staying in these blocks of houses.  I don't know exactly which one Raymond's in but I'm sure you can find out once you're there."Scanning the address quickly Myolie clutched it in her hands.  "Thank you Kenneth!  Thank you very much!"  She then ran out of the make up room leaving Kenneth to ponder whether he should give Raymond a heads up that Myolie was coming.  After some thought he decided not to.  He's already gotten too involve in their messy affair and its time he left them to their own destruction.