SAVANNAH
Friend? Knowing this now wasn’t strange because having a friend wasn’t impossible. But this was still surprising because Rafe mentioned several times about having no friends.
I wanted to ask her how they became friends because I’d only just learned a few things about Rafe’s life, but it’d be rude, so I shook her hand instead.
“Yes, I’m Savannah.”
“Rafe’s girlfriend, I heard.” She flashed a grin. “You don’t mind if I sit for a bit, right? My parents are busy doing their own thing right now.” She leaned forward and whispered, “They love coming to any of the Sebastians’ events. I get to meet new people, so I came along.”
Alright. She was friendly. Or maybe she thought they were friends because her parents were acquainted with Rafe’s. For some reason, my heart started pounding against my ribcage. I didn’t have a good feeling about this.
Well, she was already sitting.
“So, how did you know Rafe?”
“Um, it’s a long story, actually.” A story that wasn’t her business to know.
“I’m asking because he’s difficult, isn’t he?”
I frowned. “Excuse me?” Did she sit there so she could interview me? People who meet for the first time shouldn’t be inquisitive.
I didn’t find Rafe difficult at all. He was obviously out of my league, but it wasn’t an issue. He was different from anyone I’d met. That was why I fell in love with him.
I’m sorry” She waved her manicured fingers. I’m just really curious how he’s finally telling everyone he’s got a girlfriend. He is not the type to get girlfriends.”
I clenched my fist under the table. I was really trying to be civilized. What annoyed me the most was she really knew that part of him. Who was she, really?
“Yeah, maybe we’re talking about different people.”
She laughed at me, and it was soft and high-pitched. She was still so poised.
But seriously. Could this get any weirder?
“I’m just kidding. I’m just curious because they are talking about you. It’s juicy!” She wiggled her shoulders.
“Who are they?”
“Just people who want a piece of him. In both business and love life, I mean. I guess those women will stop trying now.”
Okay. I felt a little more curious now, and I’d be crazy if I didn’t ask her since she was the one who started it. Rafe wouldn’t mention any woman after him because he probably didn’t care.
“How about you?”
She blinked. “What about me?”
“What do you think about Rafe?”
She waved her hand again. “Nah. It’s casual and a one-time thing. He wasn’t interested.” She sighed.
A one-time thing? Rafe actually fucked this woman? Oh, God. I didn’t want to hear this or meet any woman he fucked in the past. Surely, it meant nothing to Rafe but meant something to her.
Thankfully, the drinks arrived, delivered by the waiter Rafe was talking to. I took a sip of a cocktail to relieve my stress.
“I manage my father’s business,” Erin went on, “It’s a production company, and Rafe is one of our major shareholders. Thank you!” She snatched the other drink that must be for Rafe. “Mm. I know this taste.”
I sighed. I glanced at the buffet, but Rafe wasn’t there.
“What about you, Savannah? What do you do for a living?”
“I work for Carter. His executive assistant.”
“Oh. That’s probably how he met you. Well, you look… different.” She took another sip. “Different from us.”
I groaned inwardly. “What is that supposed to mean? And who’s us?” I swear she was beginning to piss me off, and she wasn’t aware of it.
She was still beaming - that was the most annoying of all. “You look like someone he wouldn’t date, but here you are. His taste probably changed, or maybe I don’t really know him. It’s totally bewildering.”
I patted my forehead. I had had enough. “I don’t think I like the sound of that.”
“Oh, no. I didn’t mean to offend you. It was a compliment.”
“How is that a compliment?” my voice rising.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” Her voice softened, reaching her hand to me. “I’m just getting the vibe that maybe he can’t choose a woman all these years because he has a preference. You are just so different from—”
“Erin!” Rafe growled, appearing at last. A waiter was with him holding a tray of food and another batch of drinks. The poor server must’ve sensed the tension, so he swiftly left after leaving the tray.
Erin’s face reddened. She stood. “Rafe!”
“What nonsense are you fucking telling Savannah?”
Now, her face paled. “I’m just trying to make a friendly conversation.”
“I asked you to leave this alone,” he said emphatically, still keeping his voice low.
“Well, I can’t.” She crossed her arms. “I have to know if it’s true.” She glanced down at Me. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Oh, you didn’t?” Rafe rushed his fingers through his hair. “I asked you, Erin. I fucking asked you to stop keeping tabs on me.”
“Of course we are!” she hissed. “I’m just looking out for you.”
“By intimidating my girlfriend?” he fired back.
I caught Rafe’s arm. “Hey. What’s going on?” Because I was so confused.
“Erin is Gill’s best friend,” he answered me, still glowering at her. Erin scoffed.
“What? Is Gill here?” I questioned.
“She won’t come,” Erin answered. “She will never until you come into your senses,” she said to Rafe. “And since when did I listen to you? You let me do what I want anyway.”
“Because you are giving me no choice!” Rafe raged.
“Can we talk? We need to talk. I want to know what’s going on with you.”
Oh my God. Didn’t she say they had a one-night stand? How could someone do that to her own friend? I couldn’t believe Rafe would do that too. My stomach twisted in distaste.
I clasped my mouth. I wasn’t sure what was going on anymore. Was there anything else Rafe wasn’t telling me? I understood he needed time to open up about everything, but this was different.
“Um, I think I need air. No, I actually want to go to the restroom.” I sprang up to move away, but Rafe caught my arm.
“I’ll come with you.”
“I don’t think so.” I wasn’t sure what to tell him anymore because I was panicking inside.
“Savi, please…” He looked tortured.
“I’ll give you two a moment.” I jerked away from his grasp and marched somewhere… somewhere far from them to breathe. I heard someone calling my name, but I ignored them.
After I washed, I went outside to the mansion’s porch to chill. It was dimmed and a little quiet. The skies were clear, clusters of stars were above me, and the sound of the beach waves calmed my senses.
I started reflecting on myself.
All my life, I tried to look at everything with positivity — not letting hate or anger take over me and tried not to pry over sensitive matters on people around me. I also learned who to trust. It has worked so far. I was in the right direction.
Right now, I wasn’t sure anymore. This was the first time I didn’t know where to look and what to expect. I was getting lost in this uncertainty.
This home, these people, weren’t my world. I didn’t belong here. I was only sucked and thrown into a fairy tale without a known happy ending.
This was what bothered me the past few days. Everything was happening too fast. I needed to pause and take it slow.
“Savi?”
I didn’t know I was already crying when Carter appeared to the light from behind me. I wiped my tears right away.
“Carter, hi. I’m sorry. What is it?”
“I just want to check on you. Anya saw you ran here alone, and she’s worried. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. Just getting some fresh air.”
“It’s cold out here.” He leaned on the terrace fence and folded his arms. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“I’m really okay,” I lied.
“No, you’re not. Wesley will kill me if he finds out I didn’t look after you.” He smiled.
I laughed. “Wes will definitely not. You’re his boss.”
He shrugged. “We’re all friends.”
I shifted my eyes back to the sky. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Is it Rafe?”
“I guess things like this happen. I just need to breathe.” I heaved a sigh.
“All this… stuff. Is it taking its toll on you? Is my family too much?”
“No, your family is great. It’s me. It’s…” I halted. No one knew what was happening with Rafe, so this shouldn’t come from me. “I just wish I was more prepared.”
“About what?”
“About everything. I’m sorry if I can’t say anything. But thank you for the offer.”
“It’s fine. Your privacy. You should go back inside. You’ll freeze out here.”
I hugged myself, rubbing my bare arms. “It’s a good cold.”
“You’re not good at lying.” Carter took off his suit jacket and gave it to me. “Wear this.”
“Thanks.” I hung it on my shoulders and let its warmth cover me.
We allowed a few minutes of silence, just staring at the stars and listening to the distant sound of the music inside.
“Is it about Erin?” he asked after some time.
I gasped. My heartbeat sped up. “Do you know her?”
“Not much. Rafe is never really open about his private life. But seeing how you reacted, it must be her. You shouldn’t care much. She’s just a stalker.”
“Stalker?” I frowned. I guess he didn’t really know about Gill.
“It’s annoying, really. At first, we really thought they were together. She appeared everywhere he was. Every family occasion, she’s there.” He shook his head in dismay. “Rafe kept denying Erin was nothing to him, yet she was always… everywhere.”
“I didn’t see her before, nor did he mention her.”
“Because this is the first family event you attended. They often meet in meetings and field work.”
I nodded. “She mentioned her company.”
“Yes, and I thought this wouldn’t be a problem because I assumed there’s really nothing between them. Rafe wouldn’t bring you here if he’s involved with anyone.”
They fucked once. Or was it really once? She was Gill’s best friend, but she had the hots for Rafe too. I wanted to know more and ask him, but he would probably tell me the same answer he had told his brother.
“I think I’m going to rest.”
His eyebrows knitted. “Hey, you didn’t even eat.”
“I’m not hungry. Can you tell your brother when you see him?”
He tensed up. “But Savi—”
“Good night, Carter.”
I didn’t want to hear the rest of his speech because my heart was already shattered, and no food or advice could put it back into one piece.