Chapter 38: THIRTY EIGHT

CELESTIA

There were a few instances in life when I was truly happy and I could count them on my fingers. Yes, I had lived a privileged life where food, clothing, security, and shelter were in abundance, and in comparison to the miseries of the world, I was blessed.

Though when it has come to struggle, to each their own.

I lived a muted life where there was no connection from soul to soul. Even the days I felt happy for any reason, happiness meant nothing when I didn’t have a friend to share with. The sadness weighed more and on my soul when the tears never came to my eyes.

When your existence meant zero to this world, when the only heart beating in an empty house belonged to me, it wasn’t something easy to take. The brain starts to become a cold fireplace where panic resided like a heap of ash. And the worst part was that I didn’t even know the difference between sadness and pain when all I felt was frozen inside out.

Until one day—one night—everything changed and I was yet to know for better or worse.

The kind of generosity in which Raffaele treated me with weighed more and more. He apologized today, reprieved, and gave me a simple day of happiness and bliss than what I have been chasing for years. Unfortunately, it was gone as quickly as it came.

When he commanded me away, it wasn’t his action that only hurt. Forbidden curiosity leaped, unsheathing its claws and pierced into my mind.

Who was Miss Esme? I wondered as I strolled down the stairs, hoping to catch a glimpse of this mysterious woman. But the ground floor was as empty as it was when I had entered.

Dejected, I tried to unhook my head from irrelevant thought and journeyed towards the villa. Why should I be worried about the people in his life? The man owned Vegas, and given his looks and status, catching the attention of any woman was not wholly improbable.

I had mindlessly walked the vast ground and when the strong, illuminating lights from the villa shone over my eyes beneath the inky sky above my head, senses returned. I didn’t even realize when I had reached.

Looking back at the distance I had covered, I dazedly ripped away from my vision and gazed ahead into the villa.

“Uh…have you seen, Lila?” I asked a maid upon entering as she passed with a tray of dried flowers for disposal.

“She went back to her quarters.”

Before I could ask her any further, she had gone.

I slowly recalled my conversation with Lila this morning. She had told me that she was called early morning for serving duty and probably worked the entire day. So it would be unfair to disturb her with nonsensical talks.

It would be better if I retire back to the room.

And so I did. I took a quick shower, paced around the length of the room for a bit but my mind seemed to be spinning around Raffaele’s office. It snagged and tugged at me constantly and drove me crazy.

What’s the worst that could happen if I go back? I thought for a second.

I could make an excuse. But what would that be?

Unanswered questioned piled on top of each other and wrecked my nerves. I deduced that if I stay a second more alone, I would be officially crazy. And I decided that it was better to face the consequences than turn into a lunatic. Perhaps, playing with fire was rapidly becoming my second nature. Or maybe, I have grown used to Raffaele’s temper. Either of them were perilous.

Striding down the staircase, I bolted through the opulent villa and dashed towards the entrance. As expected, a guard stopped me right outside the foyer. “I need to go to the office right now.”

He scowled for a second. “Sir didn’t allow—”

“You saw me with Raffaele in the morning, right? He took me the office building for some work.” I used all the confidence in the world. It came easier and naturally, given the way I have often faked my identity into strange and unknown places. “Now, if I don’t go back, it will be a bigger problem for both you and me.”

He didn’t seem to be convinced. “I have to ask sir.”

“Fine, go ahead and call him,” I bluffed, crossing my arms in front of me. “But he is meeting with a client and won’t pick the call.”

The frown deepened and he actually went ahead and dialed his number.

Shit. Don’t pick up. Please, don’t pick up.

I put on a brave face and crossed my fingers discreetly, hoping to God to get lucky for once in my life. When the call went to voicemail, the hammering heart in my chest slowed a little.

“Told you. Can I go now?”

He stiffened for a bit, tucking the phone back into his pocket. “I will go with you,” he declared. “Sir would not be happy if you get lost.”

I rolled my eyes and huffed. “Be my guest. And just so you know, the main gate for entry and exit is in the opposite direction.”

The guard didn’t retort and walked by my side in military discipline. With every step I took towards the destination, my pulse spiked anew. I could dupe the guards or anyone else—but what about Raffaele? What would I say if I come across him? And would he still be busy with the guest?

Focus, Celestia, focus.

“Does he know you are coming?” the man’s voice pulled me out of my tension.

“Huh? Yes, and no.” I shook my head, berating myself how stupid it sounded. “He asked me to do something important and I accidentally left it on the table. It’s an important document and Raffaele knows.”

Thankfully, he didn’t question any further as we reached the office building. There was another guard by the entrance, different than the one I have seen earlier who watched us approaching with the same wary look. For God’s sake! I avoided his gaze with an air of confidence and stormed inside the building with the previous guard on my heels.

“I can find my way in,” I stated, stopping at the foot of the stairs.

He didn’t argue much and slightly nodded. “Okay.”

As I took the stairs, my heart raced. The sheen of sweat coating my skin dampened with every step as I dashed upstairs. Rationality had already left my brain a long time ago, and I was acting on my instincts like an animal.

How would Raffaele react if I dive into his privacy and pry over his ‘meeting’?

Unlike his villa, the office building was bland and housed only a couple of spacious rooms. Therefore it wouldn’t be too difficult to spot him. The first two rooms were empty but the last room at the end of the floor that caught my attention. Voices were heard and made it evident in someone’s presence.

Cutting off the sound, I slowly padded towards it as the voice deepened. Cultured, masculine, and raspy—undoubtedly it was Raffaele’s. There were other sounds too, but it was difficult to make out until I was actually at the door and pressed my ear to the wood.

The faint echo feminine murmur reached my eardrums—something between a grunt and a moan.

Were they fucking? Then there was a slapping sound, followed by Raffaele’s gruff baritone.

After a brief pause, I heard the noise of steel clacking against the floor. Everything was confusing the hell out of me.

So I braved and knelt by the keyhole and peeped into the room to discover the source of sounds. What I saw—witnessed—took the breath out of me. I was not ready for the visual, however, insignificant and obscuring it was.

There was a woman—as naked as the day she was born—bent over some kind of weird wooden structure. So far as my eyes could perceive, her hands were secured. The sight was hallowing, no doubt. What feared and doubled my heartbeats was the action. Raffaele was standing by her frame and in a flash, his arm swung and struck her butt with a stick.

A yelp left her lips as she mumbled something.

“What are you doing?” Someone yelled as my head whipped towards the guard at a distance. Unfortunately, it startled me so much that I tried to get on my feet and slipped.

The giant plant pot behind me toppled and crashed, messing the floor and causing a loud crash.

“I…I…” The excuse disappeared down my parched throat. I was ready to bolt before the guard could catch me, but something else happened too.

The door wrenched open.

I froze on the spot as if someone cemented my legs to the ground.

A pair of fierce brown eyes glowed and pinned. It scorched me, blackened me, and threatened to destroy me.

And all I could do was stare back at him.

Well, the cat is out of the bag now. Are you excited?