Scarlett's lips curled in a smile as she saw Akira's face fall.

She took a step ahead and came close to her and said.

"So go ahead, Miss Akira and flirt around the whole day with my man, because eventually in the night he has to come back to me. I am his nest Akira. I am his home. A home where we will start our family together. Do you think you can sway him away and turn him away from me and my child? Think hard Akira, because deep down even you know you can't. So be my guest whenever you please, but I will always be there to make sure that you don't overstay my welcome", Scarlett said and moved back to her car.

Akira stood there all dumbstruck.

Scarlett's words echoed in her mind like the words of eternal truth.

She felt like the ground beneath her was moving.

She felt her entire world was crumbling apart.

When Raymond saw Akira leaving, he came out of the car. He looked at her and in one instant he knew that Scarlett had destroyed her. He could clearly see her feeling crushed. He instantly regretted his decision of listening to her and going back.

She was again drenched completely and her teeth were chattering all cold. Even though her face was was all drenched with the water from the rain, he could clearly see the tears rolling down her face.

He moved closer and said,

"Come back into the car. You will catch a cold because of this rain".

She looked up to him and asked,

"Why do you care so much for me Raymond. Just why?"

And just like that all her strength, all her guts were washed away with the raindrops. He stood there in silence at first but then moved a bit forward. The intensity of the rain had reduced a bit and under the street light now he could clearly see the red mark on her left cheek.

He moved his palm softly and touched her bruise and said,

"From now on you are not going to fight any battle for yourself. All your battles are mine now. Do you understand that?"

"But... "

"No, ifs or buts are allowed now. You are my responsibility and only mine. You need to promise me now. Right now Akira", he said and looked into her eyes like they were an endless abyss.

"I promise", she said and looked back into his eyes.

The rain had almost slowed down by then and all that was left was a cool breeze and a gentle drizzle. He ran his thumb slightly on her cheeks and asked,

"Does it hurt?".

She smiled a bit and said,

"I would be lying if I said it doesn't. Wouldn't I?".

"Don't worry I have a balm for it", he said and smiled and moved towards her reducing every inch of the gap in between.

He placed his hand on her waist and then leaned on her and started kissing her left cheek tenderly. He planted his kisses in a line, one after the other in succession, covering every inch, every centimeter of her skin. He wanted to take away all the pain that she felt and make them his own. He had decided that before being her lover he had to be her protector, her shield.

Slowly his hands moved under her shirt as he continued his ascension.

He knew that his touch always left her breathless and he enjoyed seeing her all defenseless in his arms. He paused and smiled and quickly turned her such that her back was resting on his chest. He then embraced her from behind. His one hand on her waist and one on her chest and held her tight, like he was afraid to let her go. He buried his head low touching her neck and said,

"I want to finish off the homework that I left halfway".

Akira understood what he meant exactly. She blushed all scarlet and turned back and said.

"I think I should wait".

Then she looked into his eyes trying to comfort him because she knew that he would definitely be disappointed with her answer.

He looked at her and pursed his lips all disappointed and said,

"Fine !!! I agree with that. But then you have to do something else for me. Are you ok with that?".

"Anything. Just say it", she said and hugged him back.

"Then come to my place with me today", he said and held her hand and dragged her towards the car.

"No Raymond No", Akira said and resisted.

"You cannot back out now. You promised", he said and started the car.

"I cannot let anyone point a finger at you and she dared to touch you. It needs to be addressed", he said and then turned the heater in his car to warm her up.

He looked at her and said,

"Just promise to stay with me and I will show you how much I love you, how much you mean to me".

She smiled and looked at him but her insides were scared as hell.

Raymond's car sped through in the darkness towards his home.

---

Scarlett reached back home all fuming and started throwing away everything that she could find in her way. Although she smiled and mocked Akira before she came back, deep down she knew that she had already lost the battle. She had fired all her shots to scare her away but she knew that they were all blanks. Although she had the biggest weapon lying in her stomach, that girl had done a clean sweep, leaving no place for her to even crawl back.

Unable to accept the defeat in the hands of a mere intern, her pride turned all the more vengeful. It was hardly ten minutes that she had arrived and she heard Raymond's car arriving. She immediately marched out, wanting to the reprimand him, make him answer her questions which were raging like a fire inside her heart, burning her insides.

But then she saw Akira getting down from the passenger's side and she just halted. The jolt that she had received earlier was massive but this was just below the belt.

He had brought her home. He had brought her to their nest.