Chapter 35 (1/1)

Charmaine was smiling as she approached Wayne's clients and when her eyes landed on the taller man of the two, she reflexively stiffened.  Raymond Lam!  She never thought she see him again, especially under these circumstances.  Tons of emotions soar through her as she reigned them all in and put on her most professional smile to greet them.Wayne turned slightly so that Charmaine could join them.  "Mr. Chan, Mr. Lam, this is Charmaine Sheh.  She will be assisting me with your case."Charmaine extended her hand to Mr. Chan first, "Nice to meet you Mr. Chan."  She then forced herself to clasp Raymond's hand, "Nice to meet you Mr. Lam," she said in a toneless voice and quickly pulled her hand away but not before feeling the gentle squeeze of his hand over hers.With the introduction over with, Wayne moved towards the conference table and gestured for them to sit.  "I know your time is precious so let's get started shall we."  Wayne sat at the head of the table with Charmaine to his right.  Raymond sat on his left and Mr. Chan next to him.  When everyone was seated Wayne focused his attention on Raymond and said, "Mr. Lam, would you begin by telling us how you know Fala Chen?"Raymond flicked a glance at Charmaine who was watching him without an inkling of emotion on her face.  Having her here made it extremely awkward for him.  He wanted her replaced but that would only arouse suspicion.  But the main reason why he was reluctant to voice any objections to her presence was because he waited so long to see her again and here she was, sitting right in front of him.  She was still as pretty as ever with her angelic beauty.  Yet the adoration that used to shine in her eyes whenever it was cast upon him was now cool and impersonal.  A feeling of regret filled him.  Clearing his throat several times, he began in a low, hoarse voice, "I met her last night at the bar.  I was with a group of friends and she was with her own group of friends.""How did you guys meet?" Wayne asked, his pen poised in the air ready to take notes.Raymond darted a quick glance at Charmaine before finally resting his gaze on Wayne.  "I went up to her and introduced myself."Wayne jotted that down.  "Okay, you introduced yourself.  You guys are now drinking together.  What happened next?""I invited her back to my place," Raymond said in a barely audible voice."What happened next?" Wayne probed.Raymond looked down at his hands and mumbled, "We had sex."Charmaine heard him and a flash of unjustified fury and jealousy pierced her.  Looking at him with indifference, she asked, "I'm sorry Mr. Lam, can you repeat what you just said?  I didn't hear you the first time."  She did but she wanted to hear him say it again.  It was her way of reinforcing her hatred for him and to be reminded of exactly what type of guy he really is.Raymond lifted his eyes to her and met her cold hard gaze.  Flushed with shame, he repeated hoarsely and louder, "We had sex.""Thank you."  Charmaine looked away abruptly.Unaware of the tension in the room, Wayne continued with his interrogation.  "You had sex.  At any time did Fala Chen say no?"Raymond shook his head, "No.  Not before, during or after."  His eyes glimpsed at Charmaine to see her reaction.  She sat rigid in her chair, looking at him with a blank expression.Leaning down on the conference table, Wayne asked, "If it's consensual then why did she accuse you of rape?"Raymond's jaw hardened with anger.  He pounded his fist on the table and hissed, "Because she wanted me to pay her afterwards!  I said no and she didn't like that."Wayne pinched his chin in thought while he repeated, "She wanted you to pay her?  For sex?""Yes!" Raymond said tersely.  "Of course I won't pay her!"Wayne scribbled more notes onto his notepad.  When he was done, he looked up at Raymond, "Mr. Lam, did Fala Chen make any threats to you at all last night after you refuse to pay her?"Raymond thought for a second as he tried to remember every detail.  "No.  She just grabbed her purse and left.  Next thing I know, I've been accused of rape."Throughout the questioning Mr. Chan remained silent.  Now that the questions were nearing an end, he spoke, "Wayne, you have to help Raymond out of this.  I for one don't believe that Raymond is capable of raping anyone."Wayne studied Raymond for a brief second then nodded his head.  "Mr. Chan, do you have any information on Fala Chen that you can give me?"Mr. Chan pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket and slid it across the table to Wayne.  "There's her contact information.  Are you going to call her?"Wayne scanned the small piece of paper and then passed it on to Charmaine who tucked it into a folder.  "We'll try.  Right now we have to get to her before she goes to the cops.""She won't go to the cops.  She's only after money.  I know that for a fact," Raymond asserted with confidence.Raymond's self-assurance piqued Wayne's curiosity.  Leaning back against his chair he asked, "How do you know?""Because if I did really rape her as she claimed I did, wouldn't she go to the cops first to have me arrested?  Why would she just leak the incident to the paparazzi?"Mr. Chan's phone suddenly rang.  Taking out his phone and looking at the caller ID, he immediately stood up, "I'm sorry but I have to take this call.  I'll only be a minute.  You guys continue."  He stepped out of the conference room.Wayne turned to Charmaine, "Do you have any questions for Mr. Lam?""I do," Charmaine replied and turned her attention to Raymond.  Locking her eyes on him, she asked coolly, "Who initiated the sex?  You or Fala Chen?"Raymond squirmed in his chair.  He didn't know how to answer the question.  He had already hurt her once and although she broke up with him, he was still uncomfortable talking about intimacy with another woman with her.  "Does it matter?" he asked in a strained voice."Yes, it does," Charmaine replied simply.Raymond glanced over at Wayne and saw the man waiting for his response as well.  "I did," he answered quietly.Charmaine suddenly turned her attention back to Wayne.  "I don't have any more questions and I would like to personally talk to Fala Chen about settling this matter, if that's alright with you?"Surprised by her request, Wayne asked, "Why?"Before Charmaine had a chance to respond, Mr. Chan returned to the room.  He walked directly to Wayne and said anxiously, "I need to speak to you about another matter with higher urgency.  Can we speak alone?"Wayne nodded his head and walked out of the conference room with Mr. Chan.Alone in the conference room with Charmaine, Raymond stared openly at her.  How could he ever think that he could forget her?  His feelings for her were still as strong as it was two years ago.  He wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms, to kiss her and beg for forgiveness.  Instead of doing all that, he said softly, "You haven't changed at all."Ignoring his comment, Charmaine concentrated on the notes in front of her.  She could feel his gaze on her and although it shouldn't but it affected her in many ways.  Too many ways, she thought angrily.  Raymond Lam had hurt her and if she was smart she would quickly wipe away any lingering feelings she still felt for him."Charmaine," Raymond said her name with aching tenderness.  "I'm sorry for what happened."Charmaine finally looked up at him and with anger flashing out of her eyes she seethed, "Mr. Lam, I think it would be best to save whatever you have to say for when Wayne and Mr. Chan returns.""Can you ever forgive me?" Raymond asked plaintively.Charmaine's eyes hardened and in a cold, clipped voice said, "I will never ever forgive you."