Chapter 39 (1/1)

Charmaine closed the file she had been reading.  She rubbed at her strained eyes and slowly brought her fingers to gently soothe her temples as well.  She was going over Ron Ng's rape case.  After studying the victim's testimony for the past three hours she was still unable to find any loopholes in it.  Everything the victim said was pretty much straightforward.  Plus, there were a handful of witnesses that saw her run frantically out of Ron Ng's apartment with shredded clothes, further attesting to her claim.  Proving Ron Ng's innocence may be a bit more difficult than Charmaine first anticipated."Charmaine?" a feminine voice called out to her.Charmaine looked up to see the receptionist, Nancy Wu, hovering by the door.  With a friendly smile, she said, "Are you looking for me?"  Nancy's eyes seem to light up and there was this exhilaration emanating from her that made Charmaine's eyes pull together in inquiry.  "What's going on?" she asked warily when Nancy's smile transformed into a roguish grin.Nancy giggled and stepped aside.  To Charmaine's horror, Raymond appeared and without waiting for consent, took a step into her office.  "Mr. Lam said he wanted to come and personally thank you for helping him with his case."Keeping her eyes on Nancy, Charmaine said gruffly, "You know I don't see anyone without an appointment."Nancy saw the tightening of Charmaine's jaw, a telltale sign that she was unhappy at the intrusion.  The smile that was on Nancy's face disappeared and was replaced by nervous uncertainty.  "Ch-Charmaine.  I'm sorry.  I just thought…"Angered at herself for taking out her displeasure at seeing Raymond on Nancy, Charmaine immediately softened and said softly, "Its okay Nancy.  Thanks for showing him in."Nancy cast a tentative glance at Raymond, who returned a casual smile, before easing back out of the room and closing the door behind her.With only the two of them in her office now, Charmaine dropped all pretense.  She leaned back against her chair to glare up at Raymond.  "What do you want?" she asked icily.Ignoring the killing look on her face, Raymond proceeded to slowly sit down on one of the guest chairs.  "Thank you for helping me.""You paid us to represent you and we did," Charmaine said tersely in response.Raymond leaned forward until his elbows were resting on her desk.  Holding her gaze, he said softly, pleadingly, "Charmaine, I'm sorry for what happened in the past.  I didn't mean to hurt you and I don't even know why I let her kiss me.""I don't want to talk about the past," Charmaine bit out before he could continue.Seeing that he wasn't getting anywhere with her, Raymond tried a different tactic.  "I know there's no possibility for us to ever be together again after what I did.  I came today hoping that we can at least be friends."Charmaine gave him a scathing look and hissed, "I don't think I want to be friends with you."Hurt by her cold refusal, Raymond asked desperately, "Why?  Do you really hate me that much?""You should know the answer to that," Charmaine responded quietly, her hatred of him clear on her stony face.Raymond lowered his face and covered it with his hands.  He had already known what her response would be and was prepared to persuade her to change her mind.  Yet, hearing her say it out loud shattered him.  Removing his hands, he asked bleakly, "Can you ever forgive me?"Charmaine wasn't prepared for the tears she saw brimming at the edge of his eyes.  Never had she seen him so emotionally distraught.  Then again, he's an actor and actors are good at displaying a variety of emotions.  Right now, Raymond was trying to get her to bend to his will.  Perhaps he thought a few tears would do the trick.  But nothing can ever turn back time and take away the hurt he had caused her.  Absolutely nothing.  Hardening the small sliver of compassion she was beginning to feel, she said brusquely, "Can you leave my office?"Raymond shook his head feverishly.  He came with a purpose today and he wasn't going to leave until he's gotten what he came for.  Although he would prefer that she forgave him and they immediately get back together and pick up where they left off two years ago.  However, he knew that wasn't going to happen, at least not any time soon.  What he hoped for now was that she was willing to be friends with him.  Having her as a friend is better than not having her in his life at all.  "Charmaine, all I'm asking is for us to be friends.  Can't you give me that?  We don’t have to hang out together or anything like that.  I just want to be able to say hello and ask how you're doing when we do bump into each other.  Is that so much to ask for?"It wasn't.  Charmaine knew that.  She couldn't understand why she was hard set on shutting him out of her life.  What happened was in the past.  She had already moved on from it.  To continue fighting him would only mean she still have feelings for him, which she did not.  Letting out a shattering breath she said lowly, "You're right.  Although you and I can never be together again that doesn't mean we can't be friends."Raymond's face lit up.  He stood up anxiously and with his palms pressed down on her desk, he leaned over and asked, "Do you really mean that?"Something fluttered in Charmaine's heart when she saw the overwhelming happiness on Raymond's face.  It reminded her of the times she spent with him and how truly happy they once were.  Pushing aside the unwanted memories for fear of weakening towards him, Charmaine managed to smile casually and said, "Yes.  When have you known me to back out of my word?""Thank you," Raymond said hoarsely.  While he may appear to simply want nothing more than her friendship, deep down there was a hidden agenda.  He vowed to regain Charmaine's love and trust in him.  It was going to be a rough road ahead but he believed with patience and his undying love for her, and not to mention proving to her that he was worthy of her love, she'll eventually change her mind about him.  When that day comes, he will then be truly happy.---------------------------------------------Ron swaggered down the curving staircase to stop shortly when he noticed his father at the bottom of the landing apparently waiting for him.  His steps slowed when he saw the scowl on his father's face.  Sighing heavily, he prepared himself for another lecture from his dear old dad, as he made his way down the rest of the stairs.  "Looking for me?" he asked cheerfully.Damien's scowl deepened until his face was nothing more than hard lines.  "Where were you all of last night?" he seethed.Ron shrugged and walked past his father into the living room.  Picking up a magazine from a nearby table he dropped himself onto the sofa and flipped it open.  "I was out drinking with some friends."Damien walked to stand in front of him.  Suppressing his anger, he said in a controlled voice, "You have been charged with rape.  I suggest you stop hanging out until the trial is over and done with.""Am I supposed to put my life on hold until then?" Ron asked heatedly."Yes!" Damien's answer was loud and clipped.Ron threw the magazine aside and jumped up to face his father, "Come on Dad!  I can't stay locked up at home until then.  It'll be months before an actual trial date!""That's the least of what you deserve," Damien snarled through clenched teeth.Ron gave his father a puzzled look and asked nervously, "What is that suppose to mean?"Damien's expression hardened.  Narrowing his eyes at his son, he said eerily, quietly, "You can lie to the world all you want but I'm your father and I know you best.  I know exactly what you're capable of."Ron looked away from his father's intense gaze and mumbled, "I don't know what you're implying.""Don't you?" Damien countered.Ron forced himself to look at his father.  Putting up a brave front, he said loudly, "I don't.  Why don't you just come out and tell me instead of playing these mind games with me?"Locking his gaze on his son, Damien walked towards him and stopped when he was only a foot away.  "I know what you did son.  You did rape her didn't you?"