They stepped out of the garden, and instead of heading through the normal entrance, he led her down a quiet hallway she had never explored before. The walls were darker there, sleek and lined with matte black panels, subtly lit by recessed lights above. At the end of the corridor was a biometric scanner.Celia raised a brow, glancing around curiously. “I didn’t even know there was a hallway here.”Rafael grinned, his tone teasing. “You know now. And believe me, there are still plenty of places in this house you haven’t discovered yet.”She let out a soft laugh. “I keep forgetting this is a mansion.”He gave her a look. “A fortress, technically. But mansion works too.”“Wow.”He pressed his thumb to the scanner, and the door unlocked with a soft mechanical click. The panel slid open silently, revealing a narrow staircase leading downward. Cool air met her skin, carrying a faint metallic scent.“Is this where you normally hold those meetings with your men?” she asked as they descended t
Getting up from the study, Rafael made a firm decision, he was going to teach Celia how to shoot and defend herself. It was time she learned how to stay safe in a world that didn’t always play fair.As he made his way to her room, the door suddenly swung open from the other side. Celia was just about to step out, and they nearly collided.Rafael caught her by the waist before she could stumble, and without thinking, pulled her into a tight hug. He kissed her forehead softly.“How are you?” he asked, his voice warm.“I’m good. Never been better,” she replied with a bright smile.“How was work today?”“It was amazing,” she said. “I love it. Everything about the job is really exciting.”“I’m glad you do,” Rafael said, reaching for her hand. They began walking down the hallway together, slowly making their way to the parlour.“Did you take the medications?” she asked, giving him a knowing look.“I did,” Rafael replied smoothly. “You can ask her.”“Who is her?” she asked with a raised brow
At work, Celia was having a whirlwind of a day, busy, demanding, yet surprisingly exhilarating. Her mind felt sharp, her energy high. She had just wrapped up her final meeting and returned to her desk to finish some outstanding tasks. By the time she completed her to-do list, there were still two hours left before official closing time.With nothing urgent on her plate, she decided to use the downtime to socialize and get more familiar with her colleagues. She allowed herself to relax and engage in casual conversation, sharing a few laughs and learning about everyone’s roles. The hours passed more quickly than she expected.Finally, it was time to leave. She gathered her things, stepped outside, and pulled out her phone to request an Uber. A moment later, headlights flashed nearby, and a familiar car slowed beside her. The window rolled down to reveal Viktor behind the wheel.“Don’t you want to leave now?” he asked, arching a brow.“Yes,” she smiled, “I’m waiting for my Uber to arrive
Back at Rafael’s mansion, he remained sound asleep until the clock struck 10:30 a.m. As predicted, the pain in his knee had lessened noticeably. With a groggy stretch and a small grunt, he swung his legs off the bed and carefully stood, testing his weight. After brushing his teeth, he strolled down the hallway and stopped by Celia’s room. He knocked lightly.Silence.He waited a moment before knocking again, a little firmer this time. Still, no answer.He frowned and pulled out his phone to call her. It rang twice, then went unanswered.“Did she fucking leave for work?” he said to himself, rubbing a hand over his jaw.He turned and made his way downstairs to the dining area, where the chef promptly served his breakfast. She gave a cautious smile as she placed the plate before him.“I was expecting you to ask me to bring this to your room, sir,” she said, her tone respectful but edged with a nervous tremor. The staff never really talked much with Rafael, not because he mistreated them,
Celia slipped her clothes back on and quietly left the room, returning a few moments later with a bowl of warm water, carefully mixed to the right temperature. She dipped a soft towel into it, twisted it, and began to gently clean Rafael’s body. Bathing him completely wasn’t an option with the bandages covering his knee and side, so she worked around them with delicate care, her touch slow and considerate.Rafael watched her through half opened eyes, his expression softening. “This reminds me of that night,” he said.Celia didn’t look up. “What night?” she asked, feigning innocence even though a knowing smile appeared at the corners of her lips“The night we met,” he said quietly, his voice laced with something almost nostalgic. He reached out and ruffled her hair gently, like she was something precious, a soft smile playing at his lips.She laughed, brushing his hand away playfully. “That night changed everything.”“Yeah,” he said, his gaze fixed on her. “My life is different now.”“
The chef soon came in, balancing a tray of steaming dishes and carefully setting it down on the table nearby. The rich aroma of spices and fresh herbs filled the room. Rafael’s eyes lit up immediately.“Wow,” he murmured, a wide smile tugging at his lips as he took in the sight of the meal.“She made it,” the chef said proudly, nodding toward Celia, who was still curled up on the bed with her legs tucked beneath her.“You did?” Rafael asked, a spark of amused surprise dancing in his eyes.Celia gave a modest nod, her lips curving into a shy smile.The chef gave a brief grin, clearly pleased with the reaction, and quietly slipped out of the room to give them privacy.Rafael reached for his fork, ready to dig in, but Celia reached out and gently caught his hand mid-motion.“Your medications first, baby,” she said firmly, her voice sweet.Rafael let out a dramatic sigh, his shoulders slumping. “I don’t need them. I will be fine by tomorrow, latest.”“You still have to take them, strong m