Abigail Dunhill.

||Mai||

Mai.

Here we go again.

Mai expelled an exaggerated breath and punched the buttons of the lift for the top floor. Getting called to Raymond's office was a lot like, she imagined, getting called at the principal's office for some trouble. Raymond didn't want her here -an opinion he had made abundantly cleared in the six weeks since Abigail had used your position and had kicked her out of the main office building, on the pretext of managing the field at the Plymouth project. She had told him to shut down the snake even before it raises its hood. And now his suffers. Dunhills are incapable of anything, there are so many setbacks on that project she had warned him not to start it, he's wasting his money now.

Abigail couldn't fire her but had done everything in her power to make her quit. She personally seemed to relish doling out lousy assignments, obnoxious clients and jobs no one wanted and now this jinxed Plymouth project. Today's summon was bound to deliver more of the same. But she'd soon learn that Mai could handle anything she dished out. Mai swallowed her caustic emotions. The lift doors opened to the executive floor. She took a deep, bracing breath readied herself for yet another battle.

Only for you Raymond.

Without any hesitation she pushed open the door to the office and entered in, it was her second home now it felt strange to walking in.

"Mai, you scared me!" Raymond exclaimed and smiled on settling.

Her heart doesn't settle down when she saw the smile, it only increased in pace. The genuine curve of his smile, she had kissed those lips many times. Guilt and grief seized her soul. She took a deep breath again and walked towards his table. She looked at him in his dinner suit that fitted his well-toned body so flawlessly. His commanding presence was of a man born to lead. He was the owner of Merck Group- her lover, her friend Raymond Sawyer.

And as his head of legal counsel, it was not uncommon for her to be here this late at his desk. But now, since the snake was poisoning their relationship, things had changed. Even with today's summons, she had personal reasons to be here and they concerned Raymond or soon-to-be-ex-boss.
"It's late, thought you were coming over at six, how's the project going on, well I hope?" he said cutting across her thoughts in the usual way always did.

She took a steadying breath and looked down at the letter she was pulling out her purse, slowly sliding it on the table. Closing her eyes at his confusion, giving herself a last chance to change mind. Then she remembered this evening. The final straw had been watching Abigail shamelessly flirting with him and him lapping it all up, enjoying the show she put, taking his due.

Mai couldn't blame him for what was on offer if he so chose. They weren't lovers anymore. It was just that she wanted him for herself, even if she had ended it with him. She usually dressed sedately in finely tailored clothes whether she was in office or with Raymond at the Manor. But today she had outdone herself, she'd worn this slinky rose gold evening dress, designed to grab his attention and pulled her blond hair in a chignon, but it was clear nothing was going to happen between her and Raymond.

It was never going to happen.

She'd realized that when he'd caught her eye and she'd smile for all her worth, look the best she could be, he'd turned back to Abigail without a second glance. Rejecting her. Her moment of epiphany had been simple. She had come to decision now. The right decision for her. The only decision for her.

She lifted her gaze " Yes it's late, Ray."

Too late.

He walked towards her around the desk, and sat next to her on the desk, almost as if he sent something wasn't quite right. "I thought you said you are going to fly back to Plymouth today."
It had been her intention, she was so upset, she didn't want to wait until Saturday. She had also almost reached and boarded the plane. Then the sudden gust of cold night wind had slapped her in the face and chilled her to the bones, reminding her that it didn't matter what she wore or what she did, he would never take notice of her more than his friend or his past fling or a brilliant mind at work. She walked fast and marched back out of the airport to her car.