The Return of Raymond West.

Chapter 7

Upon hearing what her fat just said Deborah's voice rose again, her face flushed with anger. “You're supposed to obey my words, not his! Why are you treating your daughter like this? Am I just a toy to you? Something you can trade away?”

Marcus's jaw tightened. “Stop with the insults, Deborah. That's enough.”

He turned back to Raymond, his voice quieter now. “It seems you two need to leave soon. The media will be all over this place. Assassination attempts are big news in this country, and you know how they are. Deborah, you're the director of Silverstone Enterprises now. The last thing you need is pictures of you in this state plastered all over the news.”

He gestured toward the street. “Both of you should go somewhere quiet. Talk. Get to know each other. And I'm sure you don't want people taking pictures of the two of you together in a situation like this.”

Deborah's face was still flushed, but she knew her father was right. The media would have a field day with this. She couldn't afford that.

She nodded reluctantly, her lips pressed into a thin line.

Marcus smiled faintly. “Good.” He turned to leave, then paused. “Oh, and Deborah—I'm traveling for business. I'll be gone for a while. So this is the time you have to get to know each other.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked back toward the mansion.

Deborah stood there for a moment, her arms crossed, her face hard.

Then she turned to Raymond. “Get in the car.”

Raymond nodded and walked toward the Rolls-Royce.

He moved toward the front passenger door, but Deborah's voice stopped him.

“Don't even think about it,” she said sharply. “Get in the back. If people see you sitting in the front, they'll take pictures and start spreading rumors. Go to the back.”

Raymond didn't argue. He just opened the back door and slid inside.

Deborah got into the driver's seat, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.

The engine started, and the car pulled away from the mansion.

They drove in silence for a few minutes, the tension thick in the air.

Then, just as they moved a short distance from the estate, a bright red customized limited-edition Ferrari screeched to a stop right in front of them.

Deborah slammed on the brakes, the Rolls-Royce came to an abrupt halt.

Before anyone could react, a large truck pulled up behind the Ferrari. The back doors opened, and six men stepped out, each one carrying part of an enormous flower bouquet

The six men carefully arranged the massive flower bouquet in front of Deborah's car, positioning it like a monument. The flowers were stunning red roses, white lilies, orchids, and exotic blooms that must have cost a fortune. The arrangement was so large it nearly blocked the entire windshield.

The door of the limited-edition Ferrari opened.

A man stepped out.

He was tall, impeccably dressed in a tailored charcoal suit that fit him like it had been sewn directly onto his body. His hair was perfectly styled, his watch gleaming gold on his wrist. His smile was wide, confident, the kind of smile that belonged to someone who had never been told "no" in his life.

This was Darlington Hayes.

He walked straight to Deborah's car, his shoes clicking against the pavement, and knocked on the window.

Deborah hesitated for a moment, then sighed and opened the door. She stepped out, her arms still crossed, her face tired.

Darlington's smile widened even more. “Thank goodness I wasn't late," he said, his voice smooth and warm. “I thought I should surprise you today. To confirm my affection for you. My love. Everything I feel for you, Deborah. I wanted to confess it properly, and I came up with this little gesture.”

He gestured grandly at the enormous bouquet behind him.

Deborah stared at the flowers, then at Darlington. She didn't say anything. She just stood there, her expression unreadable.

Darlington's smile faltered slightly. “Is everything alright? Why aren't you responding? Don't you like the gift?”

Deborah blinked, finally finding her voice. “Darlington, I... I wasn't expecting this.”

Darlington laughed, the sound light and easy. “That's the point of a surprise, Deborah. I wanted to sweep you off your feet.”

He stepped closer, his eyes warm and earnest. Darlington Hayes came from one of the most reputable families in the country. Old money, influence, connections that stretched into every corner of the business and political world. He was successful in his own right, too running a tech empire that had made him a billionaire before he turned thirty.

And he had been pursuing Deborah for years.

Deborah opened her mouth to respond, but then Darlington's gaze shifted past her.

His smile froze.

He was looking through the window of the Rolls-Royce, into the back seat.

Raymond was sitting there, calm and still, his hands resting on his knees, his expression completely blank.

Darlington's eyes narrowed. "Are you... carrying someone in your car?” His voice lost some of its warmth. “Who the hell is he?”

Deborah tensed.

At that moment Raymond opened the door and stepped out.

He moved slowly, deliberately, his tall frame unfolding as he stood to his full height. He closed the door behind him and turned to face Darlington.

The two men stood there, staring at each other.

Immediately Darlington's face hardened. His jaw clenched. “Who the hell are you?” he demanded, his voice rising. “And what are you doing in her car?”

Deborah's mouth opened, but no words came out. She glanced at Raymond, then back at Darlington, her mind racing.

Raymond's expression didn't change. He just looked at Darlington, his voice calm and even.

“I'm her husband.”