CHAPTER 11...
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"You missed me?" Raphael asked in surprise.
Mabel furrowed her brows and stood up from the floor.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Sorry I pulled you down with me!" She uttered sharply and walked away.
Raphael watched her leave and he chuckled seeing her run into a corner as she felt so embarrassed.
"I don't think I've got hearing defects... She definitely said that" He blurted with a smile before standing up from the floor.
~~~~
Mabel hurried back to her car after retrieving her phone.
Her mind went completely blank as the words she said to Raphael constantly replayed in her mind. Her eyes blinking nervously.
She placed her hand on her chest which was beating heavily.
"Am I suffering from arrythmia?" Mabel asked looking out through her car window.
She looked back at the restaurant entrance door and her heartbeat raced even more as she hoped Raphael would walk out of that door.
"I'm losing my mind... There's no way on earth, I'm thinking of him!" She exhaled covering her face with her palms, feeling so embarrassed.
Her gaze fell on her chest and she frowned.
"You can only be arrythmia! There's no way you're beating for...." She bit her lower lips holding herself back from uttering Raphael's name.
She suddenly got distracted by Henry's text message.
(I had a beautiful time with you... What are your plans during the week?)
Mabel read the message and dropped her phone tiredly.
"I'm really not ready for this..." She groaned tiredly.
~ THE BU RESIDENT ~
Charlotte was seated at the dinning table with her parents as they ate in silent.
Suddenly her Dad wiped his lips with a napkin, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention.
"Secretary Shin, what has my daughter been up to lately?" Mr Bu asked with his gaze on his table.
Charlotte dropped her chopsticks on her plate, feeling irritated by where the question was heading.
"Aside from her constant phone calls with reporter Lee, she is laying low!" Secretary shin reported politely.
Charlotte furrowed her brows angrily. She knew she was about to get chewed out by her father.
"Dad, I can't believe you've placed someone to monitor how many times I make a phone call... Can't I even make a phone? Why does it bother you who I call?" She fired defensively.
Her father scoffed and looked up at her.
"Don't raise your voice when talking... You can still state your point or ask your question without raising your voice..." Mr Bu uttered in a calm but cold tone.
Charlotte exhaled sharply and looked away angrily.
"Honey... Why are you keeping tabs on her phone calls? I don't think Charlotte's phone calls will affect your elections in any way... " Mrs Bu sided while holding her daughter's hand.
Mr Bu glared at her and turned back to his daughter.
"Charlotte your birthday is coming up in a few days but I'm giving you an opportunity to make a choice before then... Will you be leaving the country or will you be joining my law firm? You've stayed home long enough, you've passed your bar exams years ago... You refused to practice or make any use of yourself. You're turning 28 in a few days time and you've not worked not a single day of your life... I might have spoiled you to this extent but if it's going to taint my election, I'll get rid of you"
Charlotte cletched her fist angrily.
"Dad you're choosing your election over me... Why do you suddenly want me out of the country? Who do I live with? You never allowed me to travel not even for a single day and now you want me out? You're suggesting I join your law firm, dad you know I don't wish to work there... You've always told me, you never want me to work in a place like that and now you want me there!" Charlotte gasped in disbelief.
Mr Bu placed his hands on the table, clenching his fists.
"It wouldn't have come to this if you hadn't used your resources for something useless. You have nothing to worry about if leaving the country is what you wish for, I guess you would rather leave the country than work for your father... I spoiled you way too much! Get your things ready, you're leaving immediately after your birthday party!" He said and left the table angrily.
Charlotte turned to her mother with tears in her eyes.
"Mum, what has come over Dad? This morning, he was all cheerful and now, he's looking and sounding very grumpy... Did I do anything to offend him?" She asked sniffing.
Her mum patted her shoulder.
"What did you assign reporter Lee? Do you like Mr Kris that much? I don't think your dad likes him one bit not after what happened years back days after your birthday party..." Mrs Bu uttered.
Charlotte looked at her curiously.
"What happened mum? Did they both get into a fight?"
FLASHBACK •••
Days later after Charlotte's 23rd birthday party...
Mr Bu invited Raphael over for some drinks.
"It's an honor to be here, Mr Bu!" Raphael said politely picking up his glass of wine.
Mr Bu laughed loudly as he stared at Raphael with so much admiration.
"Raphael, I'm a simple man so I'll go straight to the point! What do you think about my daughter?"
Raphael almost choked on his drink.
"Sorry... Mr Bu, your question... I didn't get you" Raphael asked wiping off the spilled drink on his lips with his handkerchief.
Mr Bu smiled.
"I find you to be a very hardworking and honest young man. I'm asking if you can be my son-in-law?"
Raphael looked at him in shock. He was cut off guard.
"I'll offer you all the support you need to make it in your business career. I know you're a rising billionaire but I can make you even bigger in just a day!" Mr Bu offered.
Raphael smiled and folded his hanky gently.
"Thank you Mr Bu for seeing such great potential in me but the last I remember, you've got only one daughter and that's Charlotte. I don't know if you're talking about someone else but if it's Charlotte, I see her as a younger sister of mine... Thank you also for offering to help with my business but I wish to build up my career, step by step... I'm in no rush to be a trillionaire" Raphael responded with a smile.
Mr Bu looked at him intensely then sipped on his wine.
FLASHBACK ENDS•••
"Dad said that to Raphael? That's preposterous... Who offers their daughters these days... Why would dad even do that in the first place? Dad knew I had feelings for Raphael already?" Charlotte asked curiously.
Her mum chuckled.
"I don't think your dad brought that up cos of you? Something tells me, he had something else up his sleeve... Too bad he didn't share with anyone but not to be bothered... I would advise you to think again on your decision. Leaving the country might be a safe heaven for you but I'll tell you to think again... I will go calm your father down" Mrs Bu said and left the table.
Charlotte leaned back on her chair, her mind crowded with thoughts.
Dad isn't that petty to hold a grudge against Raphael for not accepting to be my husband... I don't think mum knows the full story behind it but it's obvious Dad doesn't like me hanging around with Raphael?
~ SIMONE'S APARTMENT ~
Simone, Violet and Raphael dropped by at Simone's place after dropping Josh off at Raphael's place.
"You quickly said no to Josh when he asked if he could join us in coming to your place... How mean!" Violet uttered sarcastically as she fell on a couch, grabbing the softiest pillow on it.
Simone rolled his eyes, obviously not giving a crap about what she said.
"It was supposed to be our day but Raphael joined him in our crew and the first thing he does is seduce you with his Californian flirtatious eyes... I know you aren't falling for it obviously but he shouldn't see you as cheap just cos you're always hanging out with Raph and I!" Simone uttered justifying his actions.
Violet scoffed irritatedly. "Why do you care if he flirts with me or not? Can you just stop being so overprotective of me like your little sister"
Simone looked at Raphael, hoping he would jump in and help out.
"It's fine... Josh didn't even complain when Simone said no... Josh isn't petty, he's not even going to remember tomorrow that Simone said anything offensive today. Simone can you go easy on the poor guy. He's a man of God, He doesn't flirt!" Raphael defended.
Simone grunted frustratedly. "Not you too, Raph! He's only a theologist not a man of God and I clearly saw him flirting with her and she was totally into it! She reciprocated!"
Violet threw the pillow she was holding at Simone.
"I wasn't reciprocating nothing... Don't make Ralph look at me with those silly eyes!" She half yelled trying to cover up her tracks.
Simone was way too consumed in his jealousy to notice Violet signals telling him to stop.
"Are you worried about Raph or Josh? Which of them are you into exactly?" Simone fired without even thinking.
Raphael's phone started ringing. He left the noisy sitting room and headed to the bedroom without being noticed.
"Raphael, of course!!" Violet yelled letting it out of her chest.
Raphael looked behind him the moment he heard his name but he shut the door behind him pretending to have heard nothing.
Violet looked around the room but no sight of Raphael. She sighed with relief.
Simone dropped the pillow he was holding on the floor.
"I would grab us a drink!" He uttered in low tone and left for the refrigerator.
He grabbed the refrigerator handle and pulled it out with force, covering his face with it. Hot tears roll down his cheeks.
He has always known Violet to be into Raphael since their highschool days but he has never heard her blurt it out before.
I guess that's why it hurts so much! Hearing her say it after decades... He said in his head as he heard his heart breaking in so many pieces and it each hurts as they tore apart.
"It still doesn't stop me from loving her any less!" He mumbled sniffing back his tears.
"Sim, what's taking you so long? Did the drinks get stuck in the fridge or you got stuck?" Violet asked sarcastically.
Simone quickly wiped off the single tear that dropped from his eyes. Grabbed a few bottles of soju then shut the fridge.
------------
Raphael walked to the balcony in the bedroom before taking the call.
The call was from an unknown number. Ever since Rein's incident, Raphael never left any calls from unknown numbers on his phone missed.
"Hello, who am I speaking with?" He questioned calmly as he listened carefully to the background of the caller.
"Em... Raphael... You took the call?" Mabel stuttered a bit shocked on hearing his voice.
Raphael raised his brows in surprise.
"Miss Mabel... Who were you hoping to pick up? Mr Simone? Should I give him the phone?" He questioned nonchalantly.
Mabel scoffed silently at her end. Raphael smiled.
"It's fine. The CEO is back so I guess I'll speak with you now. My manager took the week off so I'm calling to confirm the email sent to me regarding the art gallery opening ceremony!"
Raphael grabbed himself a chair and sat down, he knew their conversation wasn't ending anytime soon.
"What bothers you about the email? You don't have to give us the authorization of your photo if you don't feel like our offer. We can only place your photo in the gallery if you give your approval"
"Em... I'm fine with the offer. I find something a bit disturbing. I know myself to be one of the biggest stars who signed with your studio but how come my photo isn't going to be placed in the center room! I heard no actors or actresses were offered the center room. If you don't mind me asking. Whose photo are you placing there?" Mabel asked curiously and Raphael went mute.
He stared at the sky.
"Will you free in two days time?" He asked.
"N..no, I don't think so. It's Charlotte's birthday in two days time!" Mabel uttered and Raphael his eyes in shock.
Charlotte's birthday party was the first vision he saw in Mabel's future.
"Mabel, can you meet with me tonight?" He asked anxiously.
"Why?" She asked curiously.
"I need to share something very important with you!"
"Can't you share it over on the phone?" She asked slowly, hoping he wouldn't agree to it.
"Let's meet up at the Ocloud hotel! You should be in a male disguise... I'll text you the room number!" Raphael said and hung up the call.
He dashed out of the bedroom. Simone and Violet looked up at him confused.
"Guys, I need to go somewhere! Let's continue our welcome back party tomorrow!" Raphael said hurriedly and left the apartment.
~ OCLOUD HOTEL ~
ROOM 101...
Mabel and Raphael arrived at the hotel. Mabel took off her disguise already. She was putting on a jacket on top of her curvy nighties, her beautiful flawless bowlegs were on display.
"Mabel, don't be scared when you see this but I want you to look into my eyes and tell me if you see any changes!" Raphael stated sitting up close to her.
Mabel's heartbeat was racing a Marathon. She almost lost her breathing due to the rate of how fast it was beating.
Raphael's seducing cologne and smell wasn't making it any easier for her.
She looked into his eyes but all she could think of was ripping his shirts off.
"Did you notice anything?" Raphael asked calmly, he wasn't having it easier either, his chest was pounding, Mabel's beautiful eyes were playing dirty tricks with his mind.
She did the triangle eye method on him.
(triangle eye method is a non-verbal flirting technique where you subtly move your gaze from one eye to the other, then down to the mouth, and back to the first eye, creating a triangle shape on the person's face)
Raphael melted just watching her eyes do that.
"Why are you doing this to me?" Mabel asked almost losing her mind with his beautiful eyes staring right into her soul.
"Huh!" Raphael gasped.
Mabel stood up from the couch placing her hands on her waist.
"Mabel, what's wrong?" Raphael asked.
She turned to him frustratedly.
"I can't think straight when you're around me! I'm losing my mind right now..." She half yelled holding herself back from grabbing his face.