SAVANNAH I kept myself busy the entire day, avoiding Edward. He was preoccupied with work, so I assumed he had no time for a coffee break. No one in the office knew about our marital issues, but I refused to tell anyone—not even Emma. Brett, who was also my boss, seemed clueless, but if he knew, he was still usually professional. “Ms. Reed?” But Brett wasn’t friendly, either. We didn’t dislike each other, but we didn’t like each other either. “Ms. Reed,” Emma’s voice pushed through my disarrayed mind. “I’m sorry. What is it?” “Are you okay?” “I’m fine. Where were we? Oh, it’s our, uh, current biggest project.” “I’m sorry. I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but it’s almost seven. Didn’t you say you have an appointment?” “Seven?” I checked my watch. God. I didn’t notice. “Ms. Reed, we still have three days.” She looked at my face curiously. “I was watching you, and you weren’t stopping. Your eyes were glued to the computer all day. Everyone went home.” I looked around our o
RAFAEL“Congratulations!”My family uttered simultaneously at the dinner table. Julian announced he’d successfully impregnated his young wife. It had been six months since their wedding.His wife, Anya, was one of my best composers and songwriters, despite being new in the industry. The songs she wrote for pop star Ophelia Grant hit seven hundred thousand sales on the album and half a billion in audio streams. She now had offers to write songs for an upcoming animated fantasy film.Their story was similar to those of romantic comedy movies. Julian was Anya’s music professor at Whitlock School of Music. I was skeptical about their relationship; I thought Julian was stupid to date his student. But it worked out for both of them. I admired these types of marriages, but it didn’t mean my views about settling down changed if I met someone like my brother’s wife. I didn’t think I could handle being a doting husband or a father. I just couldn’t see myself changing diapers and bathing babies.
RAFAELI sat in the boardroom for ten days in the talk of one of my studio’s biggest film franchises. I initially planned to release the film to PeekFlix when Emilio signed. The premise would be based on the bestselling post-apocalyptic, fantasy, and science fiction book The Zion’s Code Trilogy. The books sold over one hundred million copies worldwide, so Adam suggested I read and consider them for a motion picture. I ended up liking it. With our best directors, scriptwriters, and a set of A-list actors, a big budget, the film should be huge.Movies our studios had produced were listed as the highest-grossing films so far. We’d gained millions of followers globally, so I had a good feeling about it. So, each creative team and department presented schemes for new film productions, artist screenings, scripts, and music arrangements, as well as its events and conferences, in order to execute strategic initiatives.After the series of meetings, I was behind my desk, allocating decisions,
SAVANNAH “Savi?” Wesley called out as he knocked. “Hurry!” “Coming!” I shouted back. I put on a pair of pearl earrings to match my Grecian maxi white dress. The straps hung on my shoulders with a racy V-cut on the cleavage and had a side split at my right upper thigh down on my leg. My back was half bare, but a strip of gold chain connected to the other side to keep it from falling off. I didn’t wear any necklace. I liked the way my neck was also bare. I let my hair fall on my shoulders with the right curls and wore six-inch because it emphasized my butt when I walked. For the final touch, I swiped a red lipstick and hurried outside. I was now ready for the party. “What’s taking you so long?” he complained, but Riley slapped his arm. “You boys should know by now what it means for us girls to dress up,” she said. I grinned. “Yeah, because you’re not bad yourself.” Wes looked debonair tonight in Brioni tux. With a body and handsome face to flaunt, I rarely saw him less than gorgeou
SAVANNAH I looked around before I asked Rafael. “What are you doing here?” He smirked. I wasn’t sure what he was smirking about, but his gaze slightly dropped to my breasts—to my low-cut V line. “What do you think?” I blinked. Was he playing with me? How was I supposed to know that? My only guess was he, too, was an invited guest. Was he some sort of celebrity I didn’t know? Because how could someone be so breathtaking? And how the hell didn’t I know about him yet? If thoughts had a sound, he already heard me squeal. I couldn’t take my eyes off his face. “I don’t know.” I chuckled, shaking my head. I couldn’t believe I had got to see him again. Was this fate? Others would call it ridiculous, but I was the kind of person who believed in that. “I’m here for work. You?” “You work for PeekFlix?” He sounded interested. “Oh, no. But I heard we are looking forward to it.” His eyes narrowed. “Who’s we?” I wasn’t probably making any sense, but that wasn’t so important. I was bewildered
SAVANNAHI sobbed on Rafael’s shoulder for what seemed like forever. His embrace felt good that a silent comfort rushed through me. I fit against him perfectly. He stroked my back, hushing me softly. His hold was strong but careful that it was comforting, making my heart beat faster.When a bit of the ache diminished, I broke back first.“I’m sorry. That’s very unprofessional.”He chuckled, and the sound was light and genuine.I furrowed my brow, confused if he thought this was funny. He probably saw everything back there. I pouted. “Don’t laugh.”“I’m not.” He smiled. “I just think you’re cute.”I hid my face in embarrassment. “It’s just... I want to go home.”“I’ll drive you.” He sprang up and pulled out his phone from his pocket.I stood back up to my full height so I could react. “Wait.” I held his arm, but I wasn’t sure I was allowed, so I released him.I had so many questions. I wished to know if he was Carter’s brother. There should be no other Rafael Sebastian at this party, r
SAVANNAHThe River Café was a restaurant under the Brooklyn Bridge. Its riverside location exhibited the gorgeous New York City skyline views. They offered classic American cuisines and various outstanding wine lists on the menu. The place was one of my favorite spots where Edward bent on his knee and proposed. Everywhere I went, the ghost of my past followed me.Live piano music was playing when we entered the elegant fine dining room. Daniel, the maître d’, greeted him with a firm handshake and a good evening. Rafael answered him warmly.“Have you been here before?” I asked.“Yes, once.”The headwaiter greeted me politely and then led us to the back of the side, where he provided us with his best and most romantic table for two by the window. It took Edward two months to get a table at this place, but Rafael could enter here without one.Daniel asked me if I would like a bottle of their vintage red wine. Rafael answered he would be delighted with whatever he would offer. I thanked t
RAFAEL“Hey, bro.” Carter entered my office after a knock. “You disappeared from the party. Emilio was looking for you.” He pulled a chair in front of my desk and sat.“I went somewhere.” I passed the documents I was working on to Billy. “Give this to Adam.”“You have a ten o’clock today with Mr. Oliver Katrakis of G&E Enterprises, sir. He’s already in the meeting room,” my assistant reminded me, trying to say I didn’t have much time to chat with my brother.“Five minutes, Billy.” G&E Enterprises was a potential partner to open my technology division. Their reputation in the industry was close to my requirements.My assistant nodded and greeted Carter before he left.“I had to make reasons, do you know that?” my brother went on with the questioning. He looked somewhat pissed. I could imagine his restlessness in front of the Mexican businessman. He was still young in the business, after all.“What did you say to him?”“What else should I say? That you had a more pressing matter to atte