RULE NO.25

30.The Nerve

Ray's POV

I just sit back, wondering what in the hell made me think it was a good idea going out for lunch with this maliscious old woman, even though she looks at least a decade younger than she actually is. Her words and deeds seemed too calculated for this meeting to just be a friendly outing. She had something up her sleeve and I am going to find it out if its the last thing I do. It's obvious there is some bad blood between this old hag and Brianne and if she is planning to harm her in any way, she will have to go through me first.

"Unfortunately, I do not like old and wrinkled products" I reply to her snarky remark, feeling a weird sense of triumph at the tiny spark of anger that glowed in her eyes.

"I'll make you regret those words" She says in a voice laced with maliscious intent, before she stands and saunters out of the little establishment like she had a pack of wolves on her tail.

I just sigh and rub a hand on my shaved head, wondering how things had gone from good to bad in such a short period. Now I know for sure that I'll have to ask Bri about her "aunt" because that woman seems anything but.

I left the little restaurant and headed for my office, hoping to actually get something done this time.

After a full day of reading, signing and reviewing documents, I head home, still waiting for a call or message from Bri. Did I mess up that bad? The issue didnt seem that serious, after all we had wild make-up sex to all night to make up for it and based on all the activities that took place between the sheets I assumed that all was forgiven.

After dinner, I take a quick shower and prepare for bed, still thinking about a dark skinned, long legged woman with a fiery attitude and sharp tongue. I pick up my phone and look at it for what seemed to be the millionth time today, she still hasnt returned any of my calls or text.

My hands itched to try again one last time, but I suppress the urge and try to sleep.

The next day dawns pretty early and I submerge myself in work to keep my mind occupied. I promised myself I was going to give Bri some space to think, and it was proving a Herculean task to keep.

If Tony, my bestfriend and cousin knew what I was going through he would laugh at me until I bury my head in embarrassment. He is very popular, as are all the Jagamolu's, but he is reputed of being a notorious playboy.

"Hey cuz, miss me?" The very devil himself says, sauntering into my office without so much as a knock.

"Speak of the devil..."I mutter to myself, too exhausted to even say anything else.

"What? Are you not excited to see me?"

"I see you every single day Tony, Its hard to feign excitement when you are always a pain in my ass" I reply, chuckling lightly at his feigned look of surprise.

"You better not mean that or I'll report you to your new girlfriend" He says smiling cheekily.

"How do you know about that?" I ask, slightly surprised because I had yet to gather the courage to tell Tony about my budding relationship with Bri, mostly because I dreaded the endless teasing that will ensue. Tony can be like a dog with a bone, biting, chewing and slubbering on it even after it becomes mangled and useless and thats the last thing I need, to be made his new topic of ridicule.

"Who doesn't know about that? Everyone saw her at the party! There are pictures of the two of you on every magazine! How could you hide such a such a piece of candy from me?" He says, trying to pout adorably but ending up looking like a constipated wolf.

"Because of that!" I reply, pointing a finger at him.

"Because of what?" He asks, looking at me with a raised brow, clearly confused by my statement.

"You barely know her and you are already calling her a "piece of candy". You like to objectify women and the last thing I wanted was for you to laugh about what is going on between us, what I fe...." I reply in a slightly raised voice, ending my speech lamely as I realize I almost confessed my feelings for Bri.

"Woaw Ray...calm down Bro. I would never objectify this lady if she means something to you. We only do that when we just want to bang them" he
replies, raising both hands infront of him as if to ward of my rising anger.

"No! You do that and I try as much as possible to let you know that not every woman is a piece of ass, but you never listen" I yell, passing my frustration at him.

"I am sorry bro, Its obvious something is up with you, so I am going to leave before I get caught in the cross fire" He replies, sounding like he was also holding onto his  anger by a tight leash.

As he turns to leave, I yell;

" Wait! I am sorry"

He looks at me over his shoulder with a hand on the door nob.

"I didn't mean that" I say, looking at him and sighing softly as I try to relax my tensed muscles.

"Yes, you did"

"Well, I did, but I didnt mean to hurt your feelings. Look, I need someone to talk to, okay? I am losing my mind. Please Bro, dont leave" I say, rubbing my hand against my head, trying to ease the throbbing I feel against my temples. If anyone could listen to and give me advice in my worse mood, its Tony. We were practically tied at the hip as boys and were practically raised as brothers, I can count on him to give me the butter truth, even when I dont want to hear it, which is usually 90% of the time.

He walks back towards my table and takes the seat infront of me.

"Okay, I am all ears" He says, reclining in his seat and folding his hand against his stomach.

So, I begin my tale, starting from how we met and how she challenges me every chance she gets.

"So, you are telling me, that there is actually a woman on earth that is with you not for your money or looks?" He asks, sounding genuinely surprised, I just chuckle and continue my story.

I tell him of our argument, our make-up sex, not in detail though and my attempts to reach her and apologize again if need be.

"Nah bro, if you leave a woman to stew for too long, you'll have a hell cat with long claws raking at your face when you feel she has 'calmed down enough' "

Thinking about it, I realize he is right, Bri is a very proud woman, she would not want to make the first move if she feels I am wrong, she could wait even a year if she feels I need to apologize first.

"You are right man. How did I not realize this since" I ask, rubbing a hand across my face and exhaling softly.

"Thats because you are not me, bro. They dont call me the cassnova for nothing" he says, smiling widely.

I just chuckle, then my my brows furrow as I remember one last thing.

"What is it bro, tell me. What's bothering you?" He asks, leaning forward to place his elbows in my table.

"I met Bri's aunt" I say.

"Wait. What?! You guys are really moving that fast huh?"

"No! Its nothing like that, or maybe it is, but thats not the point. Argh! Dont interrupt okay? Let me finish first then you can comment" I tell him, he just nods and motions for me to continue.

I tell him of my encounter with Bri's aunt, the innuendos, the endless weird statements and the odd vibe she gives off.

"The way I see it...either your girl is hiding something and the aunt wants to spill or its the old bat with the secret"