Eager preparations

RAPHAEL

“I fucking knew it!”

I winced before pushing Roman away from my ear. “Do you have a loudspeaker lodged in your throat?”

His eyes shone like jewels. “I knew she just needed more money, or some time to think about it! Cause that amount you offered was just too crazy to push away.”

Excitement jumped around in my stomach, but I threw Roman a look. “I thought you said I should have increased the amount, and that I was the reason she—“ 

“Come on, we’ve passed that,” he grinned, looping his arm around my shoulder. “I am so excited. Do you have any idea how worried I have been?”

“I am happier than both of you.”

We turned to Kane at the same time.

“At least I wouldn’t go through the stress of digging out her location,” he said, shrugging. “Just thinking about it makes me feel relieved.”

Roman said something funny that made them both cackle like kids, but I wasn’t even listening. They walked toward the door, talking excitedly. Roman was doing more of the talking.

“Um, Kane,” I snapped my fingers, pulling his attention. “Please, ensure you have a car ready to pick her up tonight. Something luxurious, please.”

Roman followed him out of the office, and I collapsed in my chair, grinning like the world was mine.

The heat in my chest was like a raging fire, pulsing through my veins like molten metal. How could one phone call get me this excited?

I tried to dig into more paperwork, but my mind refused to shut up. Instead of deceiving myself by staring at the screen, I grabbed a bottle of tequila from my office bar and busied myself with it.

Four months was just okay for me. For us. Roman had no intention of flying back anytime soon. He wanted to see to the end of whatever this was, just like me.

I wanted to tell myself the attraction was mostly physical, but thinking about it made me realise what a lie that was. I had loads of omegas throwing themselves at me from all corners. If I wanted to have sex with thirty different omegas in a day, I could do that. So what was so special about Alina?

Enchanted pussy, or whatever Roman called it. A text from my phone made me glance at it. Alina had sent the account details, and thinking I had forgotten, she added that I should not send it yet, as we discussed.

By the time I was down two shots, Roman burst in through the door.

“Raph, I think I need a haircut.” He looked at his reflection on his phone screen. “What do you think?”

“She won’t be seeing you. I should be the one bothered about a haircut.”

He furrowed his brows. He didn’t seem pleased to hear that. But, of course, I would have to be the one at the front all the time. She had no idea about the twin situation, and the contract would paint it as if she would be a mistress to me—just me.

Wait… mistress? That didn’t sound like it.

“Raphael!”

“Huh?” I blinked at Roman, frowning. “Can you stop screaming so close to my ears?”

“I said we should go get a haircut then. Both of us. Since she will be seeing both of us.” When I shot him a look, he added, “Not at once, I know. I want to make sure one of us isn’t wearing well-groomed hair while the other looks charred. By the way, we need to look fucking sexy.”

I grunted, but I knew that I wouldn’t win. So I called Kane and asked him to come over and give us a haircut.

Moments later, he walked through the door, holding a small bag. “I do everything around here,” he grumbled.

Roman chuckled and slumped into the nearest chair. “Just cut mine first. I’d love to pick the style.”

*^*^*^

Evening came too fast, and soon, it was night. My body was buzzing with excitement and adrenaline. I couldn’t stop my fingers from twitching, and my heart wouldn’t stop slamming hard against my chest. Kane had gone to the location she sent, and from what I noticed, it didn’t look like a house—it seemed like a mall of some sort.

Smart girl. Because I had plans to know who that husband was, and what he must have done to make Alina want a divorce. I'd have enough time for that.

I walked around the dining table, arranging the flowers better, even though they were perfectly set. This was Kane’s idea. A candle-lit dinner to welcome her, and then showing her the luxury of my estate. You know, something to make her feel like she would enjoy her stay here, and also to boast that I could comfortably take care of her.

Roman walked up behind me and helped arrange my collar. I wore a simple flannel shirt with a white vest beneath, and the sleeves were rolled up to my elbows. Ironed pants and a Richard Millie on my wrist completed the look.

“I really wish I could be here with you guys,” Roman, in his usual grumbling tone, sighed heavily. “You are going to be alone with her.”

I eyed him. “Yes, I will.”

He followed me to the kitchen, where I planned to check on the cooks preparing the meal we were to have.

They bowed and offered their greetings before going back to work.

I looked back at Roman. I hoped I looked as good as he did. Kane had done wonders with our hair, and from where I stood, Roman’s green eyes shone like precious stones.

“You look good,” I murmured, nodding as I gave him a once-over.

“Oh, I see what you’re trying to do. You are really fueling your ego, and using me as a mirror to do that.”

We both chuckled and went back to the sitting room, walking out onto the balcony. The sun had completely gone down now, and the estate’s lights had come alive, painting the space in warm hues of gold and white.

Roman wanted to say something. I saw his lips move, but our eyes drifted to the gate at the same time, where the black limousine Kane took was passing through the security checkpoint.

“Shit!” 

Roman ducked and ran through the balcony doors, and I was hot on his heels.

“Go, go!” I whispered fiercely, pointing at the stairs. After he dashed upstairs, I took deep breaths and stepped outside.