Lila flinched at the sound of the door slamming shut, the wood trembling from the force. Only then did she released her breath, wiping the last of her tears on her sleeves. He may have left but his presence still lingered, frustrating her to no end with the way her mind wouldn't stop replaying what had happened. The way he pinned her against the wall with his body, the way his lips pressed hard against hers, with his hand on her neck, as if he was trying to penetrate into her very soul.
How stupid she was, to think that he had truly moved on. How stupid she was, to have let her curiosity lure her here, into his lion's den. Letting out a deep breath, she pulled herself away from the wall and head towards her bathroom inside the walk-in closet. Only to have stopped in the middle of her tracks when she found the hidden door that was disguised with similar moldings on these walls, that would've led into his room. Pursing her lips, she softly twisted the lock, just as not to alert him or worse, Angie, next door.
Once she made sure the hidden door was locked, only then did she head into the bathroom, decorated with sleek white marble tiles. The whole place screamed luxury, and the bathroom was no exception, with the beautiful white bathtub overlooking the gardens and the blue lake, then the shower decorated with white marble and a shower-head that mimicked the sound of the tropical rain. Not to mention the freshly-cut gardenias by the sink, picked from the gardens.
She ignored the pang of nostalgia in her chest at the memory of Nate, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her tight against him as she tried to apply her mascara, trailing little kisses on her neck all the way to her shoulders, making her giggle. She sighed as she stripped, letting her clothes fall to the ground as she stepped into the shower. Her eyes drifted to the bathtub across, remembering the last time they were here, he had made love to her at that very same place. If she closed her eyes, she'd still remember the way he looked when she entered him, the way his hands held onto her waist as she moved, his eyes, bluer than ever, looking dazed with lust and love.
Now it was all gone.
By the time she finished scrubbing herself clean, she wrapped herself in a towel and head back towards the walk-in closet attached to the bathroom. Unsurprisingly though, the closet was still filled with some of the old clothes that she had left, untouched. She didn't have the time to throw 3 years' worth of clothes into her suitcase, so she grabbed only the pieces she couldn't part with. All these years, she had thought that Nate would've thrown it all way, since she hadn't received any packages nor news from him. She wondered what he would've told Angie, if she stumbled upon her closet. How had he manage to keep this from her, she didn't know.
Still, aware of the time ticking down on her, she immediately walk towards her suitcase that was placed by the entrance of her closet. Lila took out the dress amongst the other clothes that were neatly packed with the help of Addie, her close friend and publicist. She had been hesitant to wear things, thinking it would be too revealing, but Addie had insisted, claiming that if there was a time to wear a dress like this, it would be now. So she relented. Unzipping the garment bag, she slowly put it on.
While Lila was getting ready, Rafe paced in his room, his phone pressed into his ear. He was speaking with his assistant, checking on the shipment that was due to arrive, when Russo's next words stopped him cold. "Sir, for some reason, we can't erase the footage," Russo reported, his voice tense.
He frowned, "What do you mean you can't? Those systems are easy to hack, even a kid could do it, and we have the best hackers on our payroll."
"Well it seems like Nathaniel Hawthorne have even better hackers, because we've tried everything."
"Try, Russo." he ordered, "I'm not letting him get away with this."
"Sir, with all due respect, don't you think some journalist would've had the footage by now, if our team couldn't even erase it? Besides, it had been weeks."
"I don't think a journalist would've waited all this time to reveal something so scandalous." Rafe said as he paced, it helps him think. "Nate certainly have something to do with this. Keep me posted on what you can find from your end, Russo, and I still want you to try erase the footage. I don't like it lurking around for anyone else to find."
"Yes, sir. I'll get into it."
He tossed his phone onto the table and walked over to the briefcase resting on his bed. It had been packed inside his suitcase, but it was the first thing he unpacked after ensuring there were no hidden cameras or bugs inside his room. Rafe was never the man to take any chances, especially when it involved Lila and his friends.
He scanned his fingerprints, unlocking the leather briefcase to reveal the guns and knives he had personally packed for this trip. He selected a handgun, screwed on a suppressor before tucking it into the waistband of his black trousers. Then he selected a few more knives, one for his jacket pocket, another in his sleeves and then one hidden within the lining of his custom-tailored suit. The only ordinary thing in his suit pocket was his phone. He didn't trust Nate nor his family, never have, so it was best to be safe than sorry.
Closing the door of his room behind him, he found Charlie speaking to one of their old mates from school in the hallway, laughing at some shared joke. The sound of his door clicking shut caught both their attention, causing Rafe's lips to twist. It was Vikram Desai, son and heir to the Desai industrial empire. Dressed in a dark blue suit, Vikram exuded a natural charisma with his warm, natural tan and dark tousled curls.
He was the first to extend his hand to Rafe, "Raphael, it's so good to see you! How long has it been, man?"
Rafe shook his hand, mustering a business smile, "Years. How are you?"
"Great! Though I truly miss the good ol' days." he said with his hand on his chest, before pointing his thumb at Charlie, "I was speaking to Charlie, he said you guys came here with Lila?"
"Yes, she asked for a ride. Her flight was delayed and she couldn't make it on time with the rest." Rafe lied. There were plenty of flights she could've taken from London, but she just didn't want to. "What about you, man? Did you arrive with the others?"
"Well, duh. I've never been to Nate's island, and I certainly don't want to spend extra energy wondering how I'm going to get here." he explained, his Indian accent thicker than before.
Vikram joined the family business in Mumbai as soon as he shed his college graduation gown. He hadn't minded though, it was easier to step into his established legacy than working for someone else or building something from scratch. He had never felt the need to 'carve his own path', nor he understood why some of their peers, like Charlie, felt the need to do so.
"But Rafe, guess what?"
"What?"
"I was in London a few days ago, and guess who I met there?"
"Lila?"
"Yes!" he exclaimed, "I saw her play at the Royal Albert Hall and must I say, she is amazing! Have you seen her play?"
Rafe ignored Charlie shooting him a look, replying instead, "Yes, a few times over the years, by invitation."
"She certainly hasn't invited me to watch her perform. I just happened to attend a charity gala where she was performing." Vik commented, turning to Charlie, he asked, "Have you seen her play?"
"Only with Rafe."
"Right, I forgot you 3 are thick as thieves." Vik said, "Which reminds me, why do you think she's here?"
"Why wouldn't she be?" Rafe asked back, his tone more defensive than he intended.
"Well," Vik shrugged, "doesn't she have some complicated history with the groom?"
"Vik, we're adults." Charlie patted his shoulder reassuringly, "I bet whatever conflicts they've had, stayed in the past."
"Right, you're right."
"We shouldn't loiter here much longer or we'd miss the appetizers." Charlie said, changing the topic. "I don't know about ya'll but I'm hungry."
"Not gonna lie though, I don't think it's going to start early." Vik replied, following Charlie as they made their way through the hallway and down the stairs, with Rafe trailing quietly after them.
"When I'm getting married," Charlie declared, "I certainly wouldn't make my guests wait this long. It's just appalling."
Rafe tuned out their conversation as it shifted to something about the filming conditions in exotic locations while they descended the stairs. The soft glow from the wall sconces cast their shadows on the walls, as the grand chandelier sparkled overhead. Below, he could already hear the faint strains of classical music, mixed with the hum of voices chatting.
Somehow Vik missed Lila standing at the foot of the stairs, all alone, what with him busy telling Charlie about his current business venture. Charlie managed to sneak a look at Rafe, who was trailing after them behind, his lips slyly twisting before discretely ushering Vik towards the party outside. Rafe slowed his steps, as they disappeared, like a man hypnotized.
"Are you waiting for someone?" Rafe asked, causing Lila to turn and catch her breath. She had seen him in a suit countless of times and yet, for some reason, with him standing there, the chandelier sparkling above him, she couldn't help but notice how much more handsome he looked. He resembled a duke, a man out of the historical romance novels she devoured.
Rafe felt his lips widening at her bewildered expression, her bottom lip hanging lose. It took awhile before she composed herself, shyly pursing her bottom lip before she answered, "Yes."
"Who?"
"You."
"Why?" he asked, descending the last of the steps to stand right in front of her. "Why are you waiting for me, Lila?"
"Can't I wait for my only friend?"
"Something happened."
"Why did you assume so?"
"You seemed nervous." Rafe explained, his eyes drifting towards her fidgeting hands. "You're fidgeting."
She immediately stopped, letting it fall to the side. Only then did Rafe truly notice the dress she was wearing, a dark blue strapless silk gown with a heart-shaped neckline and a daring slit down the front. Her dark hair in soft waves, cascading to one side that reminded him of the moonlit waves, gently crashing against the shore. And her lips, he had never been so captivated by a woman's lips, in a shade as deep as the blood he so often spilled. It made him feel this overwhelming urge to spill the blood of her enemies, just to see her like this.
He tipped her chin, his patience starting to thin. "What happened?"
Her beautiful green eyes gazed back at him, causing him to momentarily forget his name until her voice, defiant as ever, entered his ears. "Nothing happened, Rafe, I promise. At least nothing I can't handle."
"Then why do you look so sad?"
"I was feeling a little bit nostalgic, that's all." she shrugged as if it was no big deal, but Rafe didn't believe her one bit.
He moved closer, his hands gently cupping her jaw, pulling her in just a little closer. Her rosy, floral scent enveloped him, intoxicating his senses. "Just say the word," he murmured, his voice low and smooth, "and I'll take you far away from here."
"Where?" she replied, dazed.
"Anywhere you'd like, you can disappear for awhile."
That sounds heavenly, she wanted to say. But she didn't. Instead, she stepped back, her back hitting the wooden handle of the staircase. "I can't just leave, Rafe."
"Why not?"
"Closure." she said, her voice hardening. "You might not understand it, but the way Nate and I ended things, it wasn't healthy for the both of us. I owe it to Angie, at least, to finish things off with Nate properly."
"What happened, Lila?" his voice dropped an octave, a quiet intensity in his tone. "You have to tell me or I won't be able to help you."
"I don't need your help, Rafe." her eyes narrowed at him, her voice sharp, but there was something in the way she said it, something that made her words tremble just a bit. "What makes you think you can fix this? I've known him..."
"No you don't," he cut her off, gripping her wrist, pulling her closer. His breath, warm against her skin as he looked down at her, the tension between them crackling. "You don't know half of the things he's capable of."
She looked away, her eyes fluttering closed just as a rush of shame flooded her. Her voice was barely a whisper when she confessed, "He told me he loves me still...that everything with Angie was just for show. He's doing all this so we could be together."
"What an utter load of bullshit." Rafe's voice was sharp, almost a growl, but his gaze never left her.
Lila opened her eyes, meeting his dark brown ones, the intensity of his expression catching her off guard. She had never seen him like this, he was always so calm, cool and collected. "I can handle this, Rafe," she said, her voice a little breathless. "I mean it. Don't meddle in things you don't need to meddle with."
"At least tell me you don't still harbor some sort of feelings for him." his words were low, but there was an edge to them, as if he was daring her to say otherwise.
She shook her head, but the way her lips parted, the hesitation in her eyes, it made him pause. "If there was, it stayed in the past. I've thought about it...long and hard."
Rafe let out a slow, steady breath, the tension between them was almost too much to bear. Then he pulled the wrist he was gripping toward him, looping it around his bicep. His lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, "Then let me have the honor of accompanying you to this party." He relished in the soft shivers he sent down her spine.
"Thank you, Rafe, really." she said, as they moved towards the party.
"Why?"
Though they were standing right at the entrance of the garden party, Rafe barely seemed to notice its grandeur. His attention was rightfully stolen by the woman on his arm. "It seems like ever since we arrived, all you've done is make sure that I'm okay. It's more than what a friend would do. I just don't want you to go through all these trouble." If only she knew how he never considered her a friend, not even once.
"Don't worry about me, Lila." his fingers brushed lightly over hers, a subtle, electric touch that made her skin tingle. "There's no trouble. But if you feel uncomfortable with me meddling, I'll stay out of it."
"Promise?" her voice faltered slightly, betraying the flutter she felt in her chest at his comforting touch.
"Promise." he gave her fingers a few more comforting taps, but the way his hand lingered on top of hers was anything but casual. He led her down the stairs like a dark prince would, with his touch searing into her skin, a stark reminder of his presence. "Let's look for the others."
Something shifted within her as they descended the steps towards the garden. She had noticed Rafe in a way she hadn't before, smiling to himself, his gaze fixed on the steps below, lost in some thought she couldn't decipher. For the first time she felt this tightening ache in her chest, wanting to know what was running through his mind. How easy it felt when he held her, it was something between them had changed. She couldn't make sense of the pull she felt.
Charlie and Vik was already waiting for them when they approached, their old friend, Nia, standing right next to them. She released Rafe's arm and immediately walked into Nia's waiting arms as the heiress squealed. Nia had always been one of the most stunning women of their grade, with her natural Southeast Asian tan skin, piercing eyes, and that long, silky black hair that she styled into a ballerina bun for the night. An Indonesian heiress, she was sent to study in the States when her family was embroiled in some political drama. Now, last Lila heard, she was engaged to the son of some powerful politician.
"I can't believe you're finally here!" Nia squealed, her long legs bouncing as soon as she let go, confusing the men staring at them with bewilderment. "I've been waiting for you to come to Indonesia to perform, girl!"
"It must have slipped my mind..."
Nia waved her hand in the air as if it was no big deal. "So how's everything?"
"Nothing much," Lila shrugged. "What about you?"
Nia was wearing a red dress, covered with a black shawl with beautiful patterns. "Same old, engaged now, but who cares?" She said, flashing her large diamond ring.
"Congratulations!" Lila cradled her friend's hand, not daring to touch the diamond. "It's gorgeous."
"I know, he chose well." she beamed with pride. "Anywho, Vik was just telling me that he saw you in London just days ago."
"Yes, I actually came from London, so I'm still a little bit jetlagged."
"Girl, you certainly don't look it." she gushed.
"My flight's not as long as yours, though."
"Girl, I fly private." Nia said it like she was telling her some scandalous secret. "There's a bed and everything, so it's certainly more comfortable than flying commercial, if you ask me."
"That's true." Lila replied, making a mental note not to mention that she had never flown private ever since the tragedy that drove her mother to move them to the States. She might be one of the most successful pianists in the world, but classical musicians don't make as much money as pop stars do. She didn't mind it though, it gave her a comfortable life away from her family and that's all that matters.
Rafe watched them both as they sashayed away, catching up, grabbing a flute of champagne from a passing waiter. He joined Charlie and Vik, taking a sip as they chatter about work. Everything seemed normal for now, but he already couldn't wait for the night to end. If there was one thing he hated the most, was surprises.
And it looked like he didn't have to wait long. The music was slowly fading away, completely stopping as a spotlight suddenly illuminated the steps leading into the manor. Conversations dwindled into a quiet murmur before fading into silence. Everyone had turned their attention towards the entrance to the garden.
A middle-aged man, dressed in a sparkling black suit stepped forward with a microphone in hand. Flashing a warm smile with a jovial tone, he spoke into the microphone. "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and a very special welcome to the engagement party of the charming Mister Nathaniel Hawthorne, the man we all know and admire...and his beautiful bride, Miss Angeline St.Clair!" he paused as the audience gave a round of applause, before continuing with a grin, "I hope you all have been enjoying the champagne and those delicious hors d'oeuvres, but before we get too comfortable, let's get to the best part of the evening! Please join me in welcoming...Mister Nathaniel Hawthorne and his alluring bride, Miss Angelina St.Clair!"
He stepped away just as the main couple walked into the spotlight. Angie glowed like how a bride should be, with her arms around Nate's, displaying her diamond engagement ring that used to belong to his mother, as she turned towards her fiancée, giving him a look anyone would attribute to love. Applause and praise rained all over them, clicks of the cameras went wild from the few photographers they've hired for this occasion.
Nate, acutely aware of the cameras aiming at them like vultures to a carcass, met Angie's loving gaze briefly, flashing her a smile before looking away and leading them down the steps. His eyes were empty, Rafe noted, but it seemed like either Angie didn't notice or she didn't care, as he led her towards the photographers and a few journalists, standing by, waiting with their questions.
"Should we begin?" the Hawthorne family's publicist asked Nate.
Angie turned to her fiancé, squeezing his bicep gently for his attention just as a cold, unsettling feeling settled in her chest. "Nate, are you okay?" her voice was soft, but there was an edge of concern beneath it.
He didn't bother looking at her. His gaze was firmly fixed on the journalists, and with a sharp, almost dismissive nod, he told them to begin.
Angie did nothing but smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. The tightness in her chest only grew, causing a sense of unease gnawing at her gut, telling her that something's wrong. The thought echoed in her mind when the journalist started asking the question they've rehearsed and Nate, answering them flawlessly.
Aware at the bright flash of the camera flashing at them, she forced herself to push the echoing thought away. Later, she told herself, she'll deal with this later when they're all alone. For now, she masked the turmoil like an Oscar-winning actress, with all the ease and elegance she was trained for, acting as if they had the most perfect relationship known to mankind.