Chapter 2 Stranger's apartment

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

Cheryl squinted as she tried to adjust her vision to the bright lights. Her hand moved slowly to massage her aching head.

"Want to drink?" Someone helped Cheryl to get up from a lying position. He held out a glass filled with water which Cheryl immediately gulped down.

Her throat felt dry. As the water began to move down her throat, Cheryl let out a low moan as she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your head hurts? I have some painkillers that can help relieve your headache. You want some?"

Cheryl lifted her head to look at the man who had been restraining her back so she could sit and drink properly.

Cheryl's eyes blinked repeatedly. A flash of images of what had happened to her flashed through her head.

“Vero,” Cheryl mumbled in a low voice, “where is Veronica?”

"She's taking a shower upstairs," that man removed his hand from Cheryl's back and sat in front of Cheryl's bed, looking at her intently. "She'll be down in a minute."

Cheryl grimaced softly. She rubbed her rumbling stomach. Her cheeks heated up when she heard the laughter from the man in front of her.

“I have some steaks. You want?"

***

Cheryl watched a man skillfully move his hands to cut the steak, grill it, and add oil, garlic, and other spices. His broad back, clad in a black t-shirt with a few tattoos sticking out at the top of his neck, looks very broad when looked at from behind.

Cheryl wasn't sure of her memory, but she seemed to have seen his's face on Veronica's social media a few years ago. And if Cheryl is not mistaken, she remembers the caption on the photo that Veronica uploaded was 'Boyfie'. In fact that Veronica is currently engaged to Mateo, Cheryl's older brother, and it seems that the man in front of her is Veronica's ex-boyfriend.

If that is right, Cheryl swears that Veronica's taste in men is always pretty good. Starting with Mateo—her brother, then now Veronica's ex-boyfriend, who was standing while serving mouthwatering dishes. Damn!

"Fael, what are you cooking?" Veronica came down the stairs at the end of the hall, drying her wet hair.

Fael? Is his nickname Fael? It's hilarious.

"Only steaks are available in the fridge. Do you want anything else?" That man greeted Veronica and hugged her waist like they were used to doing all that.

Veronica shook her head briefly. She glanced at Cheryl who was sitting at the dining table not far from the kitchen. "We sure love your steak." She said while helping to stir the steak sauce on the stove.

"Yeah, it looks like Cheryl is already very hungry," he glanced briefly at Cheryl who was sitting with her chin up, "After you managed to escape from being chased by these people, did you become hungry?" he asked, glancing amused at Cheryl.

Cheryl tried to avert her gaze as soon as possible. She couldn't allow the ridiculous look on her face when she was looking at that sexy… man!

She was unable to give an answer to his joke because she was too embarrassed to remember the sound of her stomach when she was hungry. This is the most embarrassing thing in her entire life.

Cheryl looked at Veronica, and she immediately understood her confusion.

"Cheryl will love your steak." Veronica put her arm around that man's waist again, and Cheryl swore that now her hands were numb as if she wanted to do the same.

Damn! That's the second swearing.

"What happened?" He asks with a serious voice. He seemed to be curious about what had just happened.

Honestly, Cheryl was also curious about what just happened to her. Starting from the pursuit of mysterious people, attacks that almost made her get a car accident, then a gunshot that made her car window shatter.

“I don't know,” Veronica shook her head briefly, “Cheryl and I had just exited the Alejandro International Skyscraper Building, but halfway to my house, three black cars chased and followed us. They tried to run into us, but Cheryl managed to escape from their pursuit.”

Cheryl's memory flashed back to the horrific incident a few moments ago.

“Somehow, one of them managed to overtake Cheryl's car. I didn't really pay attention because I was contacting you at the time. Then all of a sudden, they make Cheryl lose control and crash into a nearby car. I saw a white car hit the road divider. There was a puff of smoke coming out of the car. Then suddenly, there was a gunshot. Cheryl's windshield shattered from the gunshot."

“Did you see their faces? Maybe you know them? Or maybe Cheryl knows them?” That man asked quickly.

Cheryl saw Veronica's head shake briefly. Not only Veronica but Cheryl didn't know these people either.

“I will try to find out what happened. However, for now, I suggest you and Cheryl don't go alone without bodyguards. If you can, reduce activities that require you to be outdoors. We still don't know who they're harmed. You or Cheryl."

Cheryl listened seriously even though she knew that the advice wasn't given directly to her but to Veronica.

"I'll call Mateo and tell him we're staying here for the night."

“You want to make your fiancé come here and destroy my apartment?” He laughed briefly.

Cheryl's stomach churned. She's hungry!

"Your food will be ready soon, Cheryl!" said the man in the kitchen. He smiled briefly at Cheryl before returning his focus to the stove and pan in front of him.

Cheryl lowered her head deeply. She is ashamed. Very very ashamed.

All this time, the servants at her house called her a spoiled princess who was picky about food. Cheryl had never done anything embarrassing like this before. However, in just a short time, Cheryl had done two embarrassing things in front of a strange man who was currently staring at her with an amused smile.

"Don't be shy. Rafael is not a serious guy. He likes to joke, and I'm sure we'll soon eat and laugh together." Veronica whispered softly. She walked away from Rafael and chose to sit next to Cheryl.

Rafael. Cheryl repeated the name Veronica had said in her heart.

"Seems like that," Cheryl briefly at that man, and instantly, a short smile graced his handsome face when he found Cheryl watching him.

Cheryl hastily averted her gaze. She didn't want to look like a stupid donkey who deliberately stared at the face of the man named Rafael with her mouth wide open.

"Rafael thinks we shouldn't be going alone for a while." Veronica propped her chin with an annoyed look.

Cheryl exhaled slowly. She knew how Veronica was feeling right now.

As the daughter of the Alejandro family, Cheryl has often experienced terror and mysterious attacks from an enemy of her parents' business. And seeing how Veronica reacted, it seemed that she had also experienced a similar terror considering that she came from a large political family in the United States.

"I will not tell this incident to my parents. They could tie my feet and not let me out of the house all year round.” Cheryl shrugged curtly.

"You think I'm going to tell my parents?" Veronica snorted softly, “I like the idea of ​​staying home all year round, but I don't like being forced to go with bodyguards wherever I wanna go. They make me uncomfortable.”

Cheryl nodded her head. One of her deadly mistakes was driving her own car without allowing her personal bodyguard to go with her.

"We'd better keep tonight's incidents as a secret."

“Yeah,” Veronica nodded slowly, “you don't have to worry. It's just a small, meaningless terror. No one needs to know about this incident."

"Warn your ex-boyfriend not to tell anyone about what happened tonight," Cheryl said while glancing at Rafael from the corner of her eye.

Veronica laughed softly. She's too relaxed. She didn't look like someone who had just gotten terrorized.

"Rafael and I aren't as close as you think," she explained calmly, "but I'll make sure that Rafael won't tell anyone about this incident."

"Whatever," Cheryl rolled her eyes.

Even though Veronica is her future sister-in-law, Cheryl prefers to talk with Veronica as her best friend. They still talk like two female friends, often staying at each other's houses, and they still joke and tease each other like the old habit before Veronica had a love relationship with Mateo.

“Forget about tonight. Think of it as one of the most enjoyable stressful experiences. After all, Rafael said there were no fatalities in the accident. Rafael will also try to keep news of tonight's attack away from the media. No one will highlight this incident.” Veronica spoke confidently.

“How can I think of tonight's events as an enjoyable experience? I just destroyed my own car.”

"Come on, Cheryl!" Veronica covered her mouth with an amused look in her eyes. "I'm sure you'll have a new car tomorrow morning." She said while laughing softly.

Cheryl rolled her eyes for a second time. She knew Veronica was joking, but she thought Veronica's idea was quite a genius. Maybe she should consider buying a new car that is the same type as the car she just destroyed.

"Come on, let's not talk about it anymore. Now tell me, what do you think about Rafael?” Veronica asked while raising one of her eyebrows.

Cheryl frowned, "What?" She glanced at Rafael for a moment, then looked back at Veronica who was resting her chin with a mocking smile.

"He's an interesting man, isn't he? I know you've been watching him for a long time." She gave an amused look as well as an annoying mocking smile.

Cheryl looked at Veronica frantically.

Oh no! How did Veronica know that Cheryl had been watching Rafael from the corner of her eye for a long time?!

"What do you think?" Veronica asked again while raising her eyebrows, “would you be willing to trade that sweet Carlos for the dazzling Rafael?”

Cheryl swore that she was glaring perfectly at Veronica.

How could Cheryl exchange her sweet boyfriend for a foreign man she had just met? No, absolutely not. In fact, even if Cheryl admits that Rafael has an attractive handsome face and a seductive sexy body, Cheryl still will not exchange her boyfriend with that man. Never!

"Are you crazy?" Cheryl narrowed her eyes, "Is your ex-boyfriend too hard to find a new lover so you should promote him?"

Veronica snapped her right finger, " Does it seem to you that with his attractive appearance and handsome face, Rafael once had a problem finding women?"

Cheryl glanced at Rafael who was still busy with the kitchen utensils. For a moment, she repeated Veronica's question silently. His attractive appearance and handsome face made it clear that Rafael had no trouble getting women. After all, it seemed that Rafael also came from an upper-class family, considering that he could pick up Veronica in two helicopters in just a short time. And lastly, Veronica couldn't possibly have a relationship with random men. Anyone who befriends or is in a romantic relationship with her can be ascertained as a person who comes from the same circle as her.

"Your food is ready!" Rafael exclaimed from behind the kitchen table.

Cheryl hastily straightened her back. She squinted at Veronica to give a warning sign to keep her from talking some shit in front of Rafael.

Veronica smiled. Briefly, she took her eyes off Cheryl and started helping Rafael to bring three plates of steak to the table. “It smells so delicious! I can't wait to taste your dinner." Veronica compliments Rafael's cooking.

Honestly, Cheryl had been thinking the same thing ever since. The smell of Rafael's cooking was so delicious, it made her stomach churn again with hunger.

"This dinner is more suitable to be called breakfast," joked Rafael. He walked over and placed a plate of steak with sauce and vegetables neatly arranged. “I hope you like this food, Cheryl.” He said with a smile.

Cheryl nodded slowly, then started reaching out to cut her steak.

Cheryl's eyes immediately narrowed with a look of surprise as soon as her tongue touched the soft meat covered in Rafael's black pepper sauce.

Too delicious. Rafael's cooking was perfect.

"Are you a chef?" Cheryl asked spontaneously.

Veronica and Rafael immediately stopped their activities and looked at Cheryl with two different eyes. Rafael looked a little surprised, while Veronica gave an amused glance while giving her a mocking look.

“Actually, I—” Rafael's sentence was cut off when the apartment doorbell rang in succession.

Not only did the bell ring, but they also heard repeated knocks on the door two seconds later. No, they were not knocking but banging on the door as if to force it down.

“Who came so early, Rafael?” Veronica frowned. She showed a look of suspicion and wariness.

Rafael stood up, "I rarely receive guests in this apartment except when you want to visit."

Rafael's answer made Cheryl and Veronica even more worried.

They had just gone through some awful terror, and now Rafael's apartment had a rather…suspicious guest.

"Don’t open it! You can call security to get them out.” Veronica makes suggestions.

"Don't worry," Rafael smiled calmly.

Cheryl and Veronica also got up and followed Rafael who had already walked towards the main door.

Cheryl saw Rafael turn on the intercom screen on the door. But Cheryl has not been able to see who the guest on the screen is.

Rafael laughed softly, "It turns out that we have an important guest." He said as he opened the door.

Less than two seconds after the door opened, Rafael suddenly received a kick in the stomach which caused him to fall backwards and fall to the floor.

Cheryl and Veronica screeched in fear.

Cheryl's heart seemed to stop beating when she saw Rafael getting attacked. They just managed to escape from the mysterious terror carried out by three men in a black car, and now Rafael is suddenly attacked at his own apartement.

Cheryl's hands trembled, she didn't know what to do when several people in black walked into Rafael's apartment.

However, Cheryl's eyes immediately widened when she recognized the man who had just lunged at Rafael and kicked him with his leg. Even now, that man was beating Rafael with both hands. He punched Rafael in the stomach and face blindly without caring about Veronica's hysterical screams.

Oh no… it looks like Cheryl is in big trouble right now.