RAFAEL
“The news didn’t come from us,” Jacob insisted, referring to the recent news, mentioning the figure of my initial five billion offer, which had already been raised to seven. “We were surprised as well. But we will investigate. I assure you that.”
“Please. We can’t always trust the people around us, Mr. Estrella, but I’m not accusing anyone. We just need to be more watchful,” I said frankly. My competitors would try to do anything to cripple me.
“But Rafael, is Ms. Gibson alright? She has been gone for more than several minutes.” Emilio looked at his wife.
“She seems very much lively to me,” Jocelyn said, facing me as well. “I like her, Mr. Sebastian. Very sensible girl and wise. Thank you for taking her here. It’s not very often I meet someone I can talk to.”
“Really? What did you talk about?” Emilio queried curiously.
She patted her husband’s knee, chuckling. “Something that boys shouldn’t know.”
I checked my wristwatch. It had been ten minutes since Savi went out. “I’m going to check outside.”
“Oh, there’s no need. We are all leaving anyway,” Jacob said, gesturing a hand. “This has been a productive evening, Mr. Sebastian.”
“Indeed,” Emilio agreed. “But I have to be honest. What you require is highly ambitious. Taking eighty percent of the stake is something I should discuss with the rest of my board,” he told me.
“But I liked what we heard so far. Let’s be real, Emil. This is the reality,” Jacob added, stopping drumming his fingers on the table. “I’m not in the position to say anything about the other studios, but what Sebastian Entertainment offers is generous. We know we can’t sustain PeekFlix in this fast-moving industry if we lack resources. Mr. Sebastian is giving us that.”
I glanced at my watch again. I already knew and memorized what they’d been discussing because I’d already foreseen this meeting’s outcome. I created the entire proposal, after all. But I was more concerned that Savannah still wasn’t coming in that door.
“We will need three days to discuss our final decision,” Emilio concluded. “Sue will call your assistant or your brother.”
“Fair enough,” I agreed. “If there is anything else you need clarifications for, Carter will answer that.”
I’d waited for months for this, so three days should be nothing. If I was fortunate, we’d close the deal earlier than expected. My father wasn’t the type to wait. He and my grandfather had grown the business by sticking to their principles.
In three months, he should step down as chairman. As PeekFlix was a part of my ticket to succeeding in his legacy, I had one more mission. My views about marriage still hadn’t changed. I still thought it wasn’t for someone like me, but as the firstborn, I ought to carry out the customs. A few more weeks should be good enough before his retirement, considering I still needed to find a suitable wife.
Going back to the current situation, Savannah should be here by now. The restroom was literally just outside this private dining room.
“But will you excuse me, gentlemen, and Jocelyn? I’ll just check on Savannah.” I sprang up because I’d run out of patience. Thinking about Savannah suddenly became an unhealthy habit. She looked ravishing tonight that I was already having a hard time controlling my nerves and the discomfort in my crotch, as she had been giving me a headache lately.
“Oh, I’m sorry. We’re just going on a loop here.” Emilio laughed, finally standing up. “We’re leaving as well. My daughter is also here.”
“Your daughter is here?” I sensed the pitch change in my tone. Could Savannah have run into them?
“Did I forget to mention? If only you weren’t in a relationship with your bella dama, I would’ve introduced you to my Sofia. But forget it. That is insensitive of me.” Emilio smiled as though his daughter was someone he should be proud of.
Savannah wasn’t in any relationship with me (although I’d constantly thought of fucking her but resisting myself doing so). Still, his daughter would be far from my interest. She was just someone who destroyed her friend’s marriage.
“We shall head out together,” Jocelyn suggested.
We shook hands as an indication of progressive business collaboration. Jacob was now discussing his admiration for The Zion’s Code with Emilio as we headed out, how the story started, and how epic it would be when the franchise would turn into a motion picture.
But as I scanned the restaurant for a brown-haired woman in a blue satin dress that barely covered the small of her back, Jocelyn abruptly halted and held onto her husband’s arm.
“Hold on, darling. Isn’t that our Sofia?” she asked anxiously, looking up to the people quarreling in the left corner of the restaurant.
“Your girlfriend too.” Jacob inserted, looking over at me. “And Edward Reed. Does she know them?”
I was right. Savannah ran into them, and right now, Reed had his filthy hand wrapped around her wrist, tugging her toward him as though he was going to do something that might hurt her.
She wasn’t even my wife or girlfriend, but rage surged from the innermost of my chest.
Ambition and the need for my father’s approval drove me to be where I was, and despite his bizarre standards, his approval motivated me to achieve my objectives.
It was jealousy and possessiveness that had no place in my life. The sickening feeling was new and gave a bitter taste to my tongue. Unacceptable, yes, but I knew that ignoring it, as I’d always used to do, wouldn’t help ease the frustration. But at that very moment, I knew what I wanted.
Her.
The shouting and arguing in that part of the restaurant had gotten out of hand. And while I was contemplating the foreign sentiments in my chest, Reed had already dragged Savannah outside. Emilio’s daughter and some of their friends followed after them.
“Do you know what’s happening?” Emilio asked me, but I had no time to answer him.
I clenched my fist. “Ask your daughter.”
As I rushed out, my line of sight had dimmed, and my steps were getting denser by the second. I couldn’t think straight that as soon as I saw Savannah being pushed to the wall, I charged at the prickhead, rammed into him, and took him down.
SAVANNAH
“You shouldn’t have done that,” I said soberly as we drove to West Clinton. I asked Rafe to take me to Riley’s apartment.
“He was asking for it.”
“But it won’t be good for your image. What if Sofia tells her parents? It might cost you this deal. We’ve already gotten caught in a false rumor. My friends already think we’re dating.”
“That’s my business to take care of.” He maneuvered the steering wheel to the right—aggressively that my heartbeat sped up, but he still made a cautious turn. But this wasn’t the direction to Riley’s apartment. It was the road back to the office.
“Where are we going?”
He didn’t answer the question and asked something else. “Why are they at the restaurant?”
“Those were my high school friends. They’re discussing our class reunion next week.”
He ran his thumb over his bottom lip, which had enticed me from doing so myself. “Are you coming?”
“Answer my question first. Where are you taking me?”
“My office.”
“Y-your what?” I sighed deeply. I didn’t know what was going on anymore. “Why would we go there? I’m tired, Rafe. I just want to rest.”
He glanced at me. “Then you will rest. Now, answer the question.”
“Honestly, I don’t know.” I swallowed dryly. I was suddenly in need of a drink. “There’s nothing else for me, especially after what happened tonight. It’s embarrassing that you have to see that.”
I looked down at my phone. Edward’s messages and missed calls had kept coming since I left that restaurant. Didn’t he get what he wanted? He would be living the life he chose now. What did he want from me now? I read his first message.
So, is it true? You’re dating that man of all people? You know he is our competitor. Rafael Sebastian is a vicious man accusing Brett of being a thief.
You can date anyone. ANYONE. Except for Rafael Sebastian. Understand me?
Answer the call, Savi.
Where are you staying tonight? Let’s talk.
You’re still my wife! And while you’re still married to me, you’re my responsibility, so I’m telling you to listen to me. That man is NO good. He only fucks women, throws them away, and nothing more. You should know better.
ANSWER THE CALL.
Another call came in, but I hit the ignore button.
Didn’t he throw me away?
There were more messages, but I deleted them without reading the rest. I wasn’t interested in whatever he had to say.
He must be kidding. We were still married only on paper. Period. He gave up on that responsibility right when he betrayed me. He was also the last person to tell me who to date.
Heat crawled all over my skin over my agony and irritation. I didn’t know if the wound and pain Edward and Sofia gave me would ever heal. I wiped the lone tear that had already run down my cheek.
“Do you still love him?” Rafael whispered.
“I ask myself that, too.”
“And?”
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. My chest began to feel heavy. “Edward was the man I woke up to every morning for several years. The only man I dreamed of having a family with and growing old with. He was the one I called to wherever I was in pain or trouble or if I was tired or needed a ride on a rainy day.” I chuckled without mirth between silent cries. “He was always there for me, one call away. Who should I call now, Rafe?” I shifted my head to his side. “Who would I run into if I’m in pain like this? Where should I go when the home I’ve known for five years isn’t there anymore?”
Rafe pulled over to a curb in front of a luxurious office building on the East Side. It took him a few moments to speak.
“You still love him,” he grumbled.
“I said I don’t know.” I buried my face in my palms and cried. Why was it that I always did this in front of him? But I couldn’t stop myself from opening up to him more. It was as though he understood me.
“Hush.” He unbuckled his seatbelt and took my hands from my face. Then he brought them to his lips, just like he did earlier. He kissed them lightly and alternately. “You’re always like this whenever you’re with me. Why is that, mm?”
I sniffled, pouting. “You still didn’t tell me why you brought me here.”
“I have something to discuss with you. But you need to calm down. I’ll take you home when you’ve finally relaxed.”
I nodded.
“Come.” He got down. He pivoted to my side to hold the door for me. He then offered his hand, so I clasped my palm to his. His hand was slightly rough, but the feeling of this simple skin contact was pleasant.
“Thank you,” I said when I let go.
“Have you been to my office?”
I shook my head. “I’m new, so I have no business there yet.”
“Then consider this discussion a business.”
He led me to the lobby, holding the small of my back while contemplating what it would be about.