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.

"I needed to do something, first." She said now.

There was a look in his eyes. "It's Friday night and work can wait until tomorrow morning."

They had been working every Saturday, she would fly back from Plymouth, spend the day together trying to keep up with work and settle the project so the construction could start early and they both could rest in peace. And that wasn't going to happen now onwards, at least not for her anyway. "This can't wait"

He paused, blue eyes narrowing down on her. "What can't?"

She swallowed hard, "My resignation."

Shock flashed in his eyes, then went out as it had never happened. "What are you talking about?" his voice quiet. In control. He was always in control, especially when she was concerned.

"It's time for me to move on, Ray. That's all."

"Why?"

The question short at her like a pellet, but she managed a shrug."It just is."

He put his hand on the desk and leaned towards her "What is this really about, Mai? What is the real reason you want to leave?"

She'd faced him down on business issues occasionally, but this... this was personal. Cautiously she leaned back and rose on her stilettos, pushed off the leather chair. She walked to the glass wall looking over the city skyline, which she had come to associate with her success, on top looking down at everyone.

This place had her heart.

"It's time for me to go," she said, keeping her back to him.

"You are unhappy here?"

"No!" She blurted out, and then winced inwardly, should she contradict herself no doubt he would wonder and find out the truth.

He straightened away from the desk, "So what is the problem?"

You are.

I want you.

Damn it, I want you to notice me!

But how do you get a man when he doesn't even notice you as a woman? She was his most intimate confidant, his support system, his best friend, his lover, his... was his. And that was about it. She never behaved overly female around him, like Abigail, she never could become Abigail. Everything was business-like between them. Now she regrets, looking back, perhaps she should have let her feminine side show, let her hair open, wore backless, pulled off the most ridiculous shades of red and she should have strutted around him in the most expensive of dresses. If she had, she wouldn't have been nursing a broken heart.

She wanted to be charmed by him. She wanted to be in his bed and in his arms, playing his silly games of questions and answers. Oh, dear God, it was truly hitting home.

How soul-crushingly pathetic she was.

There was a shimmer of hope that kept her going through all, but today's rejection smothered her. Humiliated and rejected even by Callum, it would be better to leave with some dignity.
"Mai?"

Hearing her name on his lips struck her nerve like never before. She looked over her shoulder and muttered, "Do you know what Ray, I left my date with Collin Arrnot when you first proposed sleeping with me."

"What's that got to do with this?"

Everything.

"I have my reasons for resigning and I think that's all you need to know."

"Is someone giving you a hard time?" He asked sharply. "Is someone from my family? I'll take care of them if they are. Just whisper a word."

"Ray," she sighed, "you know everyone loves me in your family... Your family is great. It's..." She hesitated, wondering why she hadn't thought this through, come up with a suitable explanation. But she hadn't also expected to come here and write a resignation tonight. "I simply want more. This isn't about anyone but me."

One eyebrow rose. "You want more."

"Yes." She had to tread carefully. "Actually I'm going back home, mum needs a helping hand." She fibbed, then thought it wasn't such a bad thought.

"You want to feed horses, run them and pick up horseshit?" Raymond couldn't imagine Mai's manicured hands holding a rake let alone clean horseshit!

"Do you even know how to spell stable?"

"Yes!" She defended. "Just until I can decide what I want to do next."

"And that will give you your 'more'? You looked happy enough before you left for Plymouth."

"I was...I am...I mean..." Oh, hell. She was digging her own grave. She cleared her throat. "All my friends and family are back home, I miss them."

"I didn't know you had any friends."

Her face soured. "Jesus, thanks."

There was a flicker of impatiens. "You know what I mean. I mean you are always working here or are travelling for work with me, I haven't seen you go out to nightclubs or taking days off. You don't go home except for holidays. Your friends and families have never really been a priority."

Sour face and bitter words "I guess all of that changed." Tonight.

He held her gaze. "What are you going to do afterwards?"

"I'm not sure, I'll find something. Or maybe some of the rare friends will help me."

He eyed her. "You have plenty of connections here."

"I'm looking to get away from this type of work."

"And do what?"

"Ray, I have a degree in law...." She took a breath. "In any case, I'd like to leave London as soon as possible so I can wrap up in Plymouth." It shouldn't take more than a couple of days.

He scanned her face. "You are not telling me everything."

"There is nothing to tell. I do have a life and family away from you, Ray, as hard as it is for you to believe."

"Mai."

"Calum kissed me, I kissed him back."

"You, what!"

Mai could almost see jealousy rearing up its ugly head and sing in his ears, satisfaction coiled in her stomach smiling ear to ear.

Then the office door open and Abigail walked in.

A bull charging at the Matador.