CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: SERVED BY THE DEVIL

Rage surged through Isabella, a violent rush of blood passed through her veins so that it was almost impossible to hide the anger that showed evidently in her flushed face. She clenched her fists as she pressed her lips tightly together, forcing out a smile that took the several years of giving a false smile to the camera to perfect.

"Hi, Natalie." The words rolled out of her lips, coming out more hoarse than she has intended.

She had read the obvious sarcasm in Natalie's voice, and she knew that it wasn't a coincidence at all that they had showed up at the party wearing the exact same dress. Someone had snitched. Natalie was obviously trying to rile her up.

It didn't help that Rafael whose only compliment to her dress was a hurried nod now had his eyes fixated on Natalie almost sheepishly, eyes almost bulging out of its socket, she could almost envision a drool falling out of his slightly parted lips.

"Natalie," Rafael's voice, deep and hoarse called out Natalie's name as if it was the only name he had learnt to say, and wanted to say. "You look gorgeous."

Natalie watched, struggling to steady herself as Rafael's voice caused a stir in her insides, a violent beat in her heart—the heart that belongs to Alina, that a part of it still wanted Rafael. 

 Her eyes beamed with smiles on the outside, but on the inside, a sharp calculative gaze passed from Isabella to Rafael. She took note of everything, and everything had gone just as she had planned. What is a revenge plan without a little fun, after all?

She giggled softly when Natalie stepped forward, snaking her hand around Rafael's arms possessively.

"Indeed, a coincidence." She said finally. She still wondered how Natalie had come to know what she had planned to wear that night. "Rafael and I," Isabella continued, looking around the exotic garden located somewhere in the heart of the De Luca estate, which had been decorated for the sake of the birthday party. "It seems like we have come a little late, the party seems to be at its peak already."

Natalie's smile broadened, she made a show of running her hand through the strands of her dark, silky hair, entangling her fingers with the hair as she pushed a handful over her shoulders, a gesture that causes Rafael's throat to go dry. This, of course did not go unnoticed by Isabella.

"No," Natalie said, the rich Italian accent rolling effortlessly out of her lips. "You came at just the right time."

An imposing presence interrupted the conversation. Lorenzo De Luca approached, wearing a crisp, white suit whose cost made no attempt to hide. His hair had been perfectly styled and combed to the side, slightly masking one half of his face. His dark eyes, the same shade as Natalie's danced around their sockets as he took in Rafael and Isabella. He came, bearing two glasses of red wine.

"Hello, sister." His deep, crescendo voice rolled out the Italian accent as he held out one of the glasses for Natalie.

"Lorenzo." Natalie said as she reached for the glass, eyes glued to Rafael's face. 

Lorenzo's free hand sent around Natalie's waist and he landed a soft kiss on her right cheek.

"I can see we have new business partners." Lorenzo said, facing Rafael.

"Yes," Natalie chipped in. "I am working with Rafael on the Barrett development project." She said, beaming with smiles.

Isabella, feeling pricked by the undertone of intimacy she may have sensed from Natalie's submission wrapped her arms even more securely around Rafael's arm. "Actually, Rafael and I have been working on the project long before now."

Rafael stepped forward, carefully peeling Isabella's arm off. "Happy birthday, Lorenzo De Luca." He said, extending his hand for a handshake. 

The rest of the night progressed rather peacefully. The more the night passed, the more evident it became that this was more than just a birthday party, it was more of a business transaction. 

The rich and powerful never hosted an event just for the fun of it, and this was a clear example.

Isabella spent the night watching Rafael like a hawk, making sure to sever any chance or situation that would have Rafael ending up alone with Natalie.

Natalie watched, and took note of this from her place beside her brother, her lips curled into a smile.

She had always been one step ahead of Isabella, and she would always be.

Holding the glass of red wine in her hand, she twirled it, watching the red liquid dance around in the glass cup before she brought it to her lips and emptied the content of the glass into her throat at once, not giving the rich, fruity taste time to settle on her tongue.

Natalie rose from her seat and walked up to one of the butlers, eyes still on Isabella, she whispered something to him.

Rafael had stepped away from Isabella to answer a phone call, the short distraction was enough time for the butler to approach Isabella with the drink.

Satisfied that Isabella had gotten her drink, Natalie poured herself another glass of red wine before she disappeared into the night, away from all the buzzing in the party, somewhere she knew that Rafael was going to find her.

A small walkway created a link from the exotic garden to the large swimming pool that was an extension of the ocean—a serene atmosphere, somewhere away from all the buzzing and the pretense in the party. Natalie's hills echoed through the empty pathway as she strolled her way to the bridge that overlooked the water, wine glass in hand. 

She knew he would come. If not for anything, he would feel the pull, and he would come.

Natalie was right. She had barely leaned on the railing for five minutes when the presence behind her distracted her.

"Natalie?" She heard Rafael's deep voice.

Unsure if she had all it took to face him and not blow her cover, Natalie stood still and let Rafael's name roll out her tongue instead. "Rafael." She called in the most steady voice she could muster.

Rafael stepped forward, the erratic beating of his heart almost colliding with the soft sounds caused by the ocean wave.

He could have sworn he saw Alina standing here. Once again, he questioned the unexplainable pull he felt towards Natalie, the strange attraction that drew him to her. Perhaps, he felt the same thing he felt for Alina for her. He brushed the thought away immediately as he approached her, leaning on the railing beside her. He took note of her hand, the way she held her wine glass and twirled it in her hand, slightly tilted. He also took note of the bracelet.

"What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"It was suffocating there." Natalie said, letting out a slight chuckle.

"Makes two of us, then." Rafael said, laughing.

"You know," Rafael said, leaning forward. "There is someone I once knew who would appreciate this serene atmosphere, she loved views like this." 

Natalie turned to him. "Loved?"

Rafael nodded, "She is no more."

Natalie felt a thud in her chest. 

"She died two years ago. I've never remained the same since then." Rafael was shocked, finding himself able to talk about Alina to someone else after her death.

"She must have been very special to you." 

Rafael lowered his head. "Yes. She was very special."

Natalie blinked, almost letting her mask slip off in the moment of vulnerability. But she was quick to pick it back up, squash any form of hope that was starting to rise in her like a burned out stick of cigarettes.

The sounds from the party came faintly to them, almost drowned by the sound of the ocean in front of them, but they could still hear when the music changed.

"Do you want to dance?" Natalie asked Rafael who wasted no time giving in.

Natalie almost regretted her decision when Rafael's hand wrapped her waist almost possessively, his eyes held hers so that she was unable to look away even if she wanted to. At that moment, she felt like Alina again, she felt like her fake identity had slipped and instead of Natalie's dark, eyes and straight face, he would see Alina.

Her heart beat heavily against her chest as tension rose in her, stirring emotions that she thought were long forgotten. Standing this close to Rafael brought them all back.

Relieved washed through her when a loud thud from the party interrupted the moment abruptly and caused them to separate. The thud was further accompanied by sounds of murmuring and screams.

Natalie's lips curled into a smile. If she thought correctly, her plans had already started working.