Chapter 8

Terry's Apartment

Chapter Eight: "Siri call me a taxi."

Grayson's POV

"Why am I here again?" Ross asks for the fifth time since we got to Terry's apartment building.

"You are here for support. And am your boss, so you do whatever the fuck I say." I open the door and get out of the car.

"Grayson!" Ross calls after me, but am already on my way into the building. I hear Ross start to run after me. "Fuck you for making me run." He says after catching up to me.

"What are friends for." I smile at him and press the button for the elevator. The elevator doors open and Ross and I get on.

"What are you going to do if he still rejects you?" He asks.

"I will try and try and try again until he says yes." I shrug at the same time the doors open. "Here we go." We both walk towards the apartment and just stand outside. A girl from the opposite apartment comes out and freezes upon seeing us.

"Oh My Goodness! Grayson Hughes?!" The girl starts hyperventilating and frankly, she is creeping me out. She comes closer to us and as big as I am, I hide behind Ross.

"Miss? Please go away!" Ross says putting his hands in front of me like one of those celebrity security guards. The lady shrugs her shoulder and walks away. "Must be nice being you."

"Not really." I knock on the door three times and patiently wait. My heart starts racing and my palms begin to sweat. Why am I so nervous?

"Coming." A voice comes from inside but it doesn't sound like Terry. Must be his friend Danny. The door opens revealing my prediction, Danny.

"Hello."

"Can we come in?" I ask him politely.

"You know what? Yes. Yes you may." He answers with an evil grin. Ross and I enter the apartment and for a couple of people who are struggling financially, this place looks pretty decent. "Have a seat. I'll go get Terry for you."

"The place is so adorable." Ross states with his eyes roaming around the place.

"Yeah. It screams Terry." I chuckle at my statement knowing how true it is.

"What's so important?" An annoyed Terry comes from the hallway being dragged by the arm.

"Here you go." Danny pushes Terry into the small living room. After stumbling into the room, Terry catches his balance and stands up straight.

"Hi. Hey Terry. I'd like you to meet my friend Ross Williams." I stand up grabbing Ross's shoulder motioning him to stand up. Ross puts his hand forward and Terry takes it and they have a proper handshake.

"Hello." Terry says letting go of Ross's hand.

"We were actually on our way to the office when we decided to just stop by." I say sitting back down on the blue couch with Ross, as Terry and Danny sit on the white chairs by the window.

"Wow. Nice place you got here." Ross starts making a conversation.

"It's all from Goodwill. Don't let it fool you." Terry responds coldly.

"Well Goodwill has some nice things I've heard." Ross says trying to lighten the tension.

"Yeah, great. Excuse me." Terry says and gets up from the chair and out the door he goes. After the door is slammed, I excuse myself and go after Terry. I open the front door and close it behind me. I become face to face with a very angry Terry.

"What the hell is the meaning of this?" He starts off. "Why did you bring your friend to my  apartment?"

"Oh come on, Ross is harmless. He's just my friend." I respond, trying to keep calm. "He just wanted to see the man that means so much to me."

"Stop right there. I have already told you, I am not interested in you. Why can't you just get that?" Terry says as he turns around and walks away. At this point I am too hurt to go after him.

How can he not want me that much?

"Let it go." Ross tells me on the phone since after that rejection earlier today, I didn't want to go in to work. For the first time since I started my company, I missed a day of work. I am currently laying down in my bed, haven't eaten or done anything today.

"The more he rejects me, the more I fall for him, the more I want him, the more I crave for him. And each time I look into those beautiful eyes of his, I find myself dumbfounded." I explain.

"Pigs must be fucking flying. The play boy himself has fallen deeply in-love." Ross starts laughing.

"You know frankly, I don't believe it myself."

Terry's POV

"What the hell was that?" I scream at Danny for letting those people in our apartment.

"What is your problem? The guy is into you, can't you give him a chance?" Danny says plunging himself onto the couch.

"I have a boyfriend! Why can't everyone just get that?" I say sitting next to him.

"If you had a boyfriend who cared, maybe it would make a difference. But your boyfriend has not called in like what, two weeks? He doesn't know what the hell you're going through to come and tell off Grayson to back off. And that's the guy you are saying no for?" Danny explains. Ray used to care, I know if I just remind him of those times he could get back to that Ray.

"What you did today, was not okay." My voice sounds serious now.

"Am sorry for letting a stranger in who gives a shit about you when your own boyfriend doesn't." He says and goes to his room.

"Ugh!" I lay down on the couch not sure how my life became so dramatic. I take out my phone and dial Ray's number. It rings twice before he picks it up.

"Hello?" Ray's voice comes through the phone.

"We need to talk."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah. But I need to talk to you, in person."

"Babe you know work...."

"Raymond if I don't see you this weekend, it's not going to be good." I say sternly.

"Okay. I'll try my best to keep Sunday open. I'll see you then, but now I have to go."

"What else is new!" I say as I hang up the phone, and I'm pretty sure he heard me. I used to think he was cheating on me. Hell, everyone used to think that. I did some digging, and after following him like a maniac for like a month, I found out that he really is just a workaholic. He works with computers at a bank, I don't even know which one. He's in all the time, even when he is at home he is on the phone with somebody who is at work trying to fix things.

Maybe I can end things. I wish I could say I care about him, but the truth is I don't. I have been having feelings for Grayson ever since I saw him. But it's not fair. It's not fair to Raymond cause he still wants me. My dad wanted my mother, and when she rejected him he went downhill. I don't want that to happen to Raymond; he's a nice guy. Maybe when I see him the sparkle will spark again. Maybe my feelings of hate for him will turn into love. Maybe he will be so amazed by me that he will change for the better. Who am I kidding, nothing comes in between Raymond and his work.

Sunday Morning

Raymond Cole

As the taxi currently drives me to Raymond's house, not only am I nervous but am about to pass out. I try to control my breathing to a normal pace but am failing miserably.

"Sir?" The taxi driver calls out to me.

"Yes, what?" I shake my head coming back to reality.

"Your destination." He says as he looks out the window.

"Oh, right." I pay the guy and get out of the car. As I make my way towards his house my palms start sweating. I haven't seen Ray in a really long time. I mean yes we have talked on the phone, for like two seconds, but this is in person. By the time I make it to his door, my heart is beating so fast I can't keep up.

"Baby!" Ray opens the door cheerfully as he comes towards me. This is a good sign. I open my arms to hug back. As we embraced, I notice it's gone. The spark. The feeling I used to get the first month on dating Raymond.

"Hey Ray. Feels like I haven't seen you in like forever." I spit the words out very cold.

"I know you are pissed as fuck but......" As he trails off, he opens his house to the most beautiful scenery of candles and rose petals all over. "For you." He says kissing my temple. I cover my mouth in awe yet am thinking 'Grayson can do it better' to myself.

"Raymond, this is amazing." I give him a small kiss on the lips. I walk around in the beautiful petals, but all I feel is hatred. Before I could say another word, the door rings interrupting our moment. His maid Mrs. Roberts walks through from the kitchen and answers the door. A man walks in who is looking very stressed.

"Sir, it's Mr. Howard." Mrs. Roberts announced and leaves the living room.

"What's the problem?" Ray asks.

"Sir, there are some numbers that are not adding up and I think Helen, your assistant is the one who messed them up." The Howard guy says.

"That means I'm also going to be in trouble. Did you bring the computer?" Ray asks. He is not about to start work on a day I specifically told him to clear it.

"Yes sir." The guy starts getting out his computer, papers and other things.

"Really Ray?" I ask now that I am irritated.

"Go upstairs in my bedroom, wait about 20 minutes and I'll be right up." He winks at me. I know he's lying, it will probably take hours, but at least I'll be in the same house as him.

"Fine babe." I kiss him one more time and head upstairs. Aww, he even decorated his room. Roses and candles and champagne. What am I thinking? Ray isn't always there but when he is he goes all out. I should give him another chance, we can work this out. As I look around the room to waste time, it's not doing me any good. Maybe I should take a nap, then it will be quicker. I make myself comfortable on the bed and get some shut eye.

By the time I wake up, my body is exhausted. I look over to his clock... Are you shitting me? Excuse my French. 4:15 pm. I came here 10 in morning. I slept for six hours. I shuffle myself out of bed and down stairs to see Ray.

"Ray?" I call out as I reach the foyer. "Babe?"

"Mr. Terry?" I hear Mrs. Roberts calling me from the kitchen. I enter the kitchen, to see her washing some dishes.

"Where is Raymond?"

"Umm.. He went to work. After you went up stairs, 10 minutes later he decided to just go in to work. He said the problem was bigger that he thought." She explains. I can't do it. I can't be with him. I walk out of the kitchen, and the house. I am so stupid. Why the hell would I think he would take work off for me? The man loves his job, and I can't come in between them.

"Siri call me a taxi."