In the vast expanse of that dark night, someone else was also getting all restless.

"So you are completely sure about it?"

"Yes, Sir. A cent percent. His car was parked outside his new apartment. And I checked with his guard as well. He hasn't gone outside his place after this evening."

"What about the girl?"

"She was still in office."

"That's good. Keep a good eye on them. We need to watch them tightly. Especially the girl. Even though Raymond is avoiding her, I am pretty sure she must be going out of her ways to meet him somehow."

"I doubt that sir. She is completely busy with the new project. That's what I have heard."

"She better be. Anyways that's my son's company, to begin with. Let her shine as much as she wants. Eventually, I will snatch it all away from her. She is like that eclipse which I don't want my son to face."

"Sure sir."

"And any suspicious movements or anything that you have noticed?"

"None that I am aware of sir. But Akira has started taking dance lessons near her house."

Sebastian went into deep thought and then said,

"Check all the crew and participants in that dance group. Did Raymond visit there by any chance."

"No, Sir. I haven't seen him around there."

"That's a relief. But still, keep an eye on that girl."

"How is the progress with Raymond by the way?"

"He has given us two of the files yesterday. I have submitted it with our finance and legal team to go through it. They will directly update you in a day or two."

"Fine, then that would be all. And yes, don't forget to wire money into the doctor's account. We need to keep that bitch happy."

"That I have done today morning itself."

"Good job !!!"

Saying that Sebastian Walker, the lone wolf, disconnected the call.

Sitting in his study room, he took a deep breath and then looked at the picture of Raymond and Katherine which was taken almost more than a decade back.

Neither he was emotional, nor he was taut. There was a strange emotion in his eyes, that probably only he was able to understand and comprehend. Then he slowly got up from his chair and walked towards the drawer.

He pulled the right-side drawer out and there she was.

The picture of the woman, whom he loved more than anything else in his life. The picture of the woman, with whom he couldn't be close because of his unfortunate fate. The woman who still ruled his heart and hovered constantly over his mind.

He gazed at her picture for a couple of minutes more. Slowly the face of the man which had been hardened by his misfortunes and passage of time tuned all soft. The crinkles around the corner of his eyes narrowed down as he closed his eyes to click a picture of her to store in his memory.

With time, his fortunes had multiplied in manifolds but the loneliness in his heart still remained the same. All gaping, all unattended.

All silent stood the man, rendered all helpless, the man who was known for nothing but his fiery aura.

---

Holding her all tight in his arms, he slowly detached from her for a second and then again gave a soft kiss on her lips, as if his business was still unfinished.

Kissing softly on her nose, he ran his fingers all along her spine and said,

"Someone looks very reluctant to leave me."

"Aaannnn Raymond."

She whined and pounded her fist softly on his chest and then said,

"Stop teasing me."

"How can you ask me such a thing?"

"Why can't I?"

"It's like depriving someone of the little joys of their life."

"Oh please !!! Since when have you learned to make such loopy talks? Last time we met properly, you were all whining about my bright and enlightened life sans your presence."

"Well, I really wanted you to be happy you know. I really wanted you to have a normal and blissful life with someone."

"So you were ok to watch me go with someone else? Would you have been able to live with the image of me holding someone else's hand? Would you have been able to see me hugging someone like this or ..."

"Ok Ok. I get the point."

"I wouldn't have. But I just thought that it would have enabled you to stay happy."

Akira pouted and unclasped her hands which were around him and said,

"You are really really clueless about what makes me happy."

"Well, I am not that clueless you know."

He said with a smug smile on his face.

"Really then tell me what will make me happy now?"

"Well probably completing something which I had left midway one night?"

"What?"

She asked raising her eyebrows.

"I missed giving you a proper bath that night, but I am not going to miss tonight."