"Why did you return? Did you forget…," Joanna paused what she wanted to say when she raised her gaze and saw that the one standing at the door wasn't Amos but Raymond.
"Ooh… it's you," Joanna replied. She made her disappointment evident in her expression and voice.
"Are you disappointed to see that it's me?" Raymond asked. His charming smile was long gone.
"Of course not," She forced a smile.
"Although I am happy to see you, I can't help but want to know what you are doing here so early. Don't you have classes or something…,"
"Surprise!!!" Someone jumped out of nowhere and shouted startling Joanna in the process.
"Hey! I told you not to do that. Look at how startled she is because of your prank," Raymond scolded the giggling guy in the blue shirt.
"She always has this badass aura whenever I see her that is why I never thought she was the type to get scared easily…,"
"Try standing here and I repeat the same thing and let's see whether you won't have a heart attack," Joanna said. She stylishly removed the hand she had placed on her chest.
"I don't think you would ever have the pleasure to see me that way because I am a proud werewolf," Derrick replied with pride as he tapped his nose.
"Good for you," Joanna replied.
She gazed at the guy from head to toe. She took note of his distinctive features and the way he dressed.
"Why are you staring at me like that huh?" Derrick asked, cupping his face. "Don't tell me that you have already started falling in love with me…,"
"Me, fall in love with you?" Joanna scoffed. "Unfortunately I have seen way more beautiful men that it's impossible for me to blindly fall in love with you," Her response was brutal.
Raymond couldn't resist laughing when he saw how mellowed Derrick became following Joanna's remark.
"Ray, you only told me that she was pretty, why didn't you tell me that her mouth wasn't as pretty as her face?" Derrick whispered into Raymond's ears.
"I never told you that she was pretty but you saw and confirmed that for yourself. And I am happy to see that you have met your match," Raymond whispered back.
Watching them whisper to each other made Joanna frown, especially since she could not guess what they were discussing.
"What are you both whispering about? Are you acting so mysterious because you are planning to gang up on me…,"
"Of course not," Raymond denied, pushing Derrick away from him.
"That would have been nice but that's only if he would have agreed to that," Derrick muttered.
"Did you say something?" Joanna asked with squinted eyebrows. Although she didn't hear what he said, from his expression she knew he didn't say something pleasant.
"I said your house must look as pretty as you right?" Derrick lied. "I can't wait to take a tour of it," Derrick said.
He pushed Joanna out of the way and ran into the house before she could stop him.
"You can't…," He was already inside the sitting room when she turned around to stop him.
"Wow…," Derrick couldn't resist exclaiming in astonishment when he set eyes on the interior of the house.
Having great taste in fashion and designs he could make a rough estimate of almost everything inside the house.
"It's so beautiful and spacious. Just like a mini palace," Derrick complimented.
[That is because the one living here is the King. Everything he uses must be of the highest quality and nothing less]
Joanna smiled seeing Derrick's bewildered expression.
"Rick, why did you barge in without being invited? Don't you know that it's a bad ethic to do such a thing…,"
"Miss Joanna doesn't mind so why are you overreacting huh?" Derrick snapped. Raymond's scoldings didn't stop him from admiring the room.
He walked away from where they stood.
"You know my name? I don't remember telling you my name so how…,"
"Because he can't stop singing your name, that is why, am I right, Ray?" Derrick asked. He secretly winked at Raymond.
Joanna diverted her attention to the guy by her side.
"He tends to exaggerate things so don't believe what he says. Also, I am sorry for his behaviour," Raymond apologized.
The smart guy didn't agree or reject Derrick's claims.
"I had believed it would be awkward to come to a single lady's home alone, that's why I brought him. If I had known he would be this way I wouldn't…,"
"I am fine with him as long as he doesn't turn the house upside-down or destroy things," Joanna replied halfheartedly.
"How did you know that is exactly what I wanted to do?" Derrick asked.
Joanna and Raymond turned and glared at him at the same time.
"Relax, I was just kidding. I am not crazy to want to make such a beauty an enemy," He said grinning.
He turned and looked at the picture frame hanging on the right wall.
"Aren't you living alone so why do you have a man's picture frame here? And you both look very intimate at that…," He said. He glanced behind after he finished talking.
"Is he your boyfriend or your husband?" Derrick asked. He smiled when he saw Raymond let out a dry cough the instant he finished talking.
"Sit down while I get you a glass of water," Joanna offered before she hurried to the kitchen.
Raymond's coughing ceased the moment she was gone. "Hey, didn't you promise to be well behaved so why are you…,"
"And aren't I being well-behaved?" Derrick interrupted.
"Also, it looks like the loser had already been determined before you even got to put on a fight," He said as he pointed at Kayden and Joanna's picture frame hanging on the wall.
"How are you going to overturn the result without my help huh? Tell me," Derrick said seriously.
"That doesn't…," Raymond resumed coughing again when he sensed Joanna's presence from afar.
"Have this," She said and handed the glass of water to him.
Raymond collected the water and gulped a mouthful. He took a proper look at the lady who was gazing at him.
"I can see you are not using the clutches anymore," He commented.
"Does that mean you are feeling much better?".