As they both walked in inside, they saw Sebastian sitting on the couch in the main hall, like a lion, ready to pounce on his prey. He had an air of weird energy around him and they both could sense it. Like he was in someway ionizing the air around him with his shrewdness and negativity. Just by looking at him, Raymond could deduce that tonight was going to be bad.

His monstrous eyes gleamed the moment he saw Raymond entering his place. It had been years that Raymond had even set foot in that house.

Raymond glanced at David and he nodded just to confirm Raymond that it was Sebastian in the room, even though Raymond could sense it from the air of authority with which he was sitting.

As Sebastian saw him come closer, he could see that his own son was looking at him like he was someone who was morally repugnant from all aspects. But being a father, he knew it well that how the whole thing was. So ignoring the hatred harboring in the heart of his son, he welcomed him inside and asked,

"How was your flight?"

Raymond sat on the sofa opposite to Sebastian and looking straight into his eyes, he said,

"Can we cut the chase and get started with the formalities? I am not here to have a banter with my dysfunctional family".

Sebastian was rendered aghast by his bluntness, but nevertheless, he asked,

"Wouldn't you at least have a drink with your dad on his birthday?"

And suddenly Raymond recollected the date. It was the 22nd of September.

Somehow he had forgotten it.

Not that he wished him every year earlier, but at least this was one of the days when he remembered Sebastian as his dad in the back of his head.

A sudden awkward silence spread in the room and gauging that, Sebastian said,

"I am not expecting any gifts from you or birthday wishes. Just have a drink with me. You can at least do that for your old man", saying that he just moved his index finger and his butler came forward with a bar stroller containing a selection of finest scotches from all over the world.

After all, he was Sebastian Walker, A man with a fine taste in everything.

"On the rocks !!!", Raymond said looking at the butler and then looking at David he said,

"And my friend here won't be drinking as someone needs to stay sane here. After all, we are here to discuss the legal terms".

"You always have your guards up against me, don't you?", Sebastian asked sarcastically.

"When you are in the picture, I need to triple check everything. Shouldn't I?", Raymond asked and passed out a sarcastic smile.

The butler prepared only two scotch on the rocks and handed one to Sebastian and the other one to Raymond and then went back to the kitchen area to instruct the cook to prepare for some snacks.

Raymond's eyes moved around the house in a cursory glance, trying to see if anyone else was present there apart from them. But the whole house sounded all silent.

"So you are not celebrating your birthday today? No big lavish parties and unlimited alcohol? It's quite a surprise to see you sitting here all alone. That's' so not you"

"I have my own ways of celebrating, my son. It need not be the same old fashioned way of celebration year after year".

But in reality, just because Raymond was coming to visit him, he had canceled the lavish party which he was throwing at the Grand Plaza, just to be able to spend some quality time with his son. He didn't care about the hostility, he didn't care about his rage. All that he cared was to be able to see him all sound and safe.

Then, taking a sip of his drink, Sebastian asked,

"I heard you met that girl in London?"

Raymond heard the question and was instantly enraged. He didn't like that way Akira was getting addressed by him. He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to recompose himself and said,

"That girl has a name - Akira. Probably it would be better if you address her with a name and not like some unknown random person holding no importance whatsoever".

Sebastian saw the rage growing inside of his son and he could see that he was trying hard to contain it and was trying to talk with him as politely as possible.

"So I take that as a YES", saying that he turned towards David and gave him a disappointed glance.

Raymond heard him but chose to stay silent.

"Did you tell her why you were flying back alone?"

"No"

Then Sebastian looked at David again with a question mark on his face and he blurted out immediately,

"No, she doesn't know about any of this. Raymond just left and told that he will meet her later. No reasons have been given".

Taking a deep breath, then Sebastian asked,

"And I assume that you have been made very much aware of the whole scenario by your friend?"

"Yes, I am aware. But I am interested in knowing as to why you have so much hatred against her? Why you cannot let me be with her. I simply do not understand in what way will she destroy me?"

"I have my own reasons and I do not wish to disclose them".

"Is it because she comes from an average family? Is it because she isn't from a rich family with contacts so that you can't expand your company profile?"

Sebastian was deeply wounded with his words. So after taking a brief pause, he said

"Mark my words very carefully Raymond. When I say that she isn't suitable for you, then I mean it. I have no care in the world about what you do in your personal life or who do you play with. But I will not let you play with this girl".

"You and this girl... It cannot happen".