Chapter 147: I don’t like this guy
A series of calm nods felt like a silent language of clinical relief.
"Classic fatigue. The body has a way of demanding the debt we owe it. She needs rest, Julian. Absolute, uninterrupted rest."
"I told you," he murmured under his breath, brushing his thumb lightly over her hand. "You’ve been pushing too hard." Amara smiled faintly.
Concern. Real concern. Too real. He hesitated outside the office door. Then knocked. "I’m sorry... is this a bad time?" Julian’s gaze snapped up instantly.
His hands. Slightly tense. Amara looked at him, composed again despite the fatigue.
A small pause. "You can leave it there. I’ll check it later." Raymond nodded quickly. "Alright, madam." But he didn’t leave. Not yet.
"Well," she said, "Janet already told me you’re great." A faint smile. "You’re hired... Raymond, right?"
"Welcome to the team," Amara said. "Janet will take you through everything. Welcome to Ara Clothing." For a moment, Raymond’s face softened. Genuinely.
Their eyes met. Julian’s gaze. Cold. Warning. Unspoken but clear. Raymond’s smile faltered for just a fraction of a second. Then. He forced it back. Polite. Neutral. Safe. "Yes, sir," he said lightly, though Julian hadn’t spoken.
But his jaw tightened slightly as his gaze lingered on the closed door. Because now. It wasn’t just a feeling. Something about Raymond Read. Was wrong. And worse. It was personal.
"I feel the same way," she admitted. "There’s something about him... I just can’t place it." Her brows knit slightly. "But we’ll see. I’ll keep an eye on him." Julian didn’t look convinced.
"That face is not going to work on me," Julian said flatly. She didn’t say anything. Just... held the look. A second passed. Then another. Julian sighed.
"I’m craving spicy chicken legs." Julian blinked.
"Nope," she said, shaking her head. "Chicken legs. The tiny part." He stared at her. Confused. Concerned. Trying to picture it.
"That’s what I want," she said simply. Then, with a small shrug..."I mean... the baby, not me, actually." Julian stared at her for a second longer.
"But first, you need to eat something proper."
"...I’ll get the chicken legs." He leaned down, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before heading out. And just like that. He was gone. Inside the office.
But she wasn’t alone. Across the hallway. Raymond stood just out of sight. Watching. Not openly. Not carelessly. But often. Too often. Every time someone passed. He shifted.
Not like an employee checking in. Not like someone curious. Like someone... waiting. Watching. Studying. Something in his expression tightened each time he saw her. Something unspoken. Something buried.
Raymond stiffened. Just for a second. Then he turned, adjusting his glasses quickly, composure snapping back into place.
"You don’t have to worry about that," she said finally, her tone calm but firm in a way that didn’t invite arguments. "If she didn’t like your work, trust me..." A small step closer.
"Yes, I understand."
"Not with her." Another step. Closer now. "Not with me."
Raymond’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but his expression remained polite. "Yes," he said again. "I hear you." But Janet didn’t miss it.
Still. Quiet. Until she disappeared around the corner. And then. His expression changed. The polite smile dropped. The softness faded.
—
Slow in. Slow out. Another kick. Stronger this time. Sharp enough to steal the air from her lungs.
Then another. Relentless. For a moment. That beautiful feeling of life inside her twisted into something else. Something that made her chest tighten. Is this normal...?
Amara straightened slightly, forcing herself to breathe through it. "I’m fine," she said, her voice controlled despite the discomfort. "The accounts look great, Raymond. You can leave."
"I said I’m fine." Her tone sharpened slightly now. Not rude. But clear. Still. He kept coming.
Her body was reacting before her mind could fully catch up. "I’m fine," she repeated, quieter now....but edged with discomfort. "You can leave."