Chapter Six

Chapter Six

They got to the venue of the meeting right on time.

The venue of the meeting is an executive restaurant, expensively polished, she has never in her entire like be to a place like this and it is obvious with the way she keeps staring In awe, she realized that this is a meeting that will be held over dinner," I'm going to eat in this exotic restaurant" she thought

" You're welcome Sir and Madam" someone said to them she turned to see a man in his fifties, looking dashing in his tuxedo, " this way please" he said guiding them towards the right-wing of the building. 

Rafael and Crystal followed him, he directed them to a table where they are greeted by an elderly man and woman.

"Please have your seat" they said. Crystal sat close to Rafael, their thighs almost touching, she can feel the heat emanating from him and she glanced at him to see if he noticed, she found him staring at her and she quickly averted her gaze. 

" I am Marcus Ornelli and this is my wife, Serene" 

 " We've spoken much over the phone and you've met with my manager but we've not met in person" he added 

" It's nice to finally meet you sir" Rafael said in an all business tone 

" The pleasure is all mine" Marcus replied

"Dinner or business? Marcus asked

" What? "Crystal said at the same time Rafael replied with " Dinner" he glanced at Crystal and repeated " dinner".

He needed to know this couple more and figure out a way that he can get the Tripolis without getting married, getting to know them will be done over dinner.

" Oh, that's great, my thoughts exactly" Marcus said and they each placed their order.

" Your fiancee? Serene asked and Crystal blushed, this is the second person that day referring her to be Raphael's woman

" My assistant" he answered brusquely.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, you both look more like couples, it's my mistake and I'm sorry"

Raphael shrugged off the apology and Crystal dug into her food immediately it arrived, the food tasted so delicious and expensive and for a moment, she was so happy to be Rafael's assistant, she didn't care about anything else.

" So tell me about you" Marcus was saying and that question caught Crystal's attention, she want to know more about Rafael and she find herself waiting for his reply.

" Nothing much to tell about me, grew up with a father alone who left all of his property for me to manage when I was eighteen"

" What about your mum? Serene asked her voice filled with concern

" She left us when I was ten" Rafael said

" Oh dear" Serene whispered,

"It's okay, it's been a very long time anyways,I don't even remember what she looks like anymore" Rafael said unfeelingly .

Crystal was shocked by this revelation, she looked at Rafael and wondered how he grew.

" What about you dear?Serene asked Crystal

"My mum is dead, she died when I was 10" Crystal replied.

" Oh my god, I'm sorry" echoed Marcus and Serene.

" But why are we here relieving such painful memories, please let's eat and enjoy ourselves" Marcus said.

" That's right" replied Crystal as she ate the French fries that she ordered. She couldn't help recalling the day her mother died and how she died, she can never forgive that murderer who's walking free and unscathed while she is left in this world to grow without a mother, the memory of it is just too painful for her.

" Are you okay? Rafael asked her, she glanced at him and found him watching her with an expression she can't comprehend nor define.

" Yes,I am and you?" she answered. 

He nodded and picked up his wine glass to take a sip.

When they were done with their meal,the waiter came to clear their table, Marcus helped his wife to clean a morsel from her lips and she looked at him and smiled lovingly at him, he returned the smile and poked her on her nose and she laughed outrightly, Crystal couldn't help noticing the love between the two, she is envious of them, she wished her dad had loved her mum that way, she once wished for that kind of love herself but after being betrayed countless times,she stopped hoping to have such love.

"You both looked so in love, how long have you been married? "Crystal found herself asking.

" We are forty nine years in marriage" Marcus replied

" We'll be hosting a party soon when we clock fifty years, we hoped to see you there"

" Of course" Crystal replied in a cool tone.

" Forty nine years and you still love each other this way? " She asked looking at them.

Marcus laughed at her question.

"I love her more now than ever before, don't get me wrong,I love her then,she charmed me and since then I've been trapped in her nest of love" Marcus replied unashamedly

" We married quite early" Serene said 

"I was 18 and he was 20, just a lad then, we built our Castle which we named "Tripolis" since we have no kids of our own to inherit it and continue the love story, that's the reason we would prefer a young couple in love to have it, she gazed at Rafael.

"Are you in love with someone? She asked him.

Rafael shifted in him chair uncomfortably.

" You sure do have someone in your life that you wish to spend the rest of your life with, don't you? Crystal chipped in.

" Er...yes"Rafael replied

Serene heave a sigh and Marcus smiled.

" very well then" Marcus said bring out a paper and laying it on the table.

" This is the first step to having the Tripolis, go through this paper, this is the original and there's only one of it, so please keep it well" Marcus said handling it over to Rafael. 

" What is it about?" Rafael asked taking the document.

 " It contains everything concerning the Tripolis" Marcus replied.

"The business aspect, the house and all properties connected to Tripolis, also terms and conditions, please go through it carefully and if there's anything you need to change you can let us know"

" I will" Raphael replied

" Very well then, I hope when next we shall see it will be with your bride so we can finalize this deal"

" Hopefully" Rafael replied

" I like you and I honestly want you to have the Tripolis but I also have to make sure it's in good hands, it means a lot to I and my wife" Marcus said and took a quick glance around.

+ I guess it's time we take our leave" Marcus said standing up, he shook hands with 

" Let's be on our way, I'll drive you home, it's late already" Rafael told her after Marcus has left.

" So, you're getting married pretty soon" Crystal said when she has sat down in his car, Rafael started the ignition

" I have to get the Tripolis" he replied.

" So you're getting married because of that? Crystal asked surprised

" Got a problem with that? Rafael shot back at her and Crystal kept quiet.

Who is Rafael Manuel Jr? She thought to herself, he would do anything he set his mind on, she pictured him as a young boy deserted by his mum, she knows how painful it is growing up without a mum, though in her case, her mum was no more but his mother actually left him, to think that her own mother was still with her Dad solely to protect her, she wished though that she hadn't stayed, that she had left that monster of a man, she recalled their constant quarrels, most times it's because of her. 

She glanced at Rafael on the steering, he has drivers but she wondered why he always drive himself, why paying those drivers when he do most of the driving?

" Why do you always drive when you have drivers? She voiced out

"I use driver when I want to" he replied

" But you seldom use them" she said

" That's because I seldom want to use them, besides I love being in control, drive at my own pace"

" Hmmmm, so being in control is the issue here, hope you're not a control freak" she stated

" I am not a control freak" Rafael replied saying each word through gritted teeth

" Don't seem like it to me" she countered relaxing in her seat but the screeching if the car tires made her jerk right back up with eyes wide opened 

" what the heck was that!" She yelped facing him as the car came to a halt

" Get out" he said

" What! What do you mean by get out? She asked

He lean over and opened her car door" I mean get the hell out of my car"

" But...but....why" she stammered ,  he said nothing, he just pushed her out and drove away

Crystal stood there alone, fuming at his arrogance, how dare he treat her such, she checked the highway but there was no sign of car coming, it's pretty late already to be in the side of the town for a lady can be dangerous, she decided to walk till when help will arrive, though she wondered were that help will come from.

She had walked a few kilometers when she heard the honk of a car behind her, she quickly raised her hand to stop whoever it is, the car slowed down and the driver came out. 

"Mark?" She asked surprised

" Get in" he said,

" I'd rather walk than to ride in your car, did my father send you? She asked infuriated.

" Your father did not send me, I followed you" he said

" You what? Are you now stalking me?

" I am not stalking you" Mark replied, a look almost akin to hurt flashed across his face before he quickly masked it.

" So, why are you following me? Never mind, I am not going to ride with you, I'd rather walk "She replied as she turned to keep moving but he suddenly grabbed her hand.

" Let go of me this instant!" she screamed  trying to disengage her hands, another car stopped beside Mark and in a twinkle of an eye, the driver came out and punched Mark.

" Who the hell are you? Mark asked

" You heard the lady,let go of her this instant" Rafael said.

Crystal was surprised, 

Why was he back? She tried to stop him as he made to punch Mark for a second time.

" I know him" she screamed at Rafael to stop him from giving Mark the beating of his life.

" Get in the car" he said to her

She hissed in anger and made to leave but he grabbed her and pushed her in the car, he got into the driver's seat as Mark screamed obscenities at him.

" So you think you can just push me out of your car when you feel like and pick me up when you so feel like it, should I remind you that I am not a doll? " She said

His gaze raked her and she felt it even in the darkness.

" I so know that you are not a doll" he said, his voice suddenly husky and she wondered at the sudden tension between them. 

They drove the rest mile in silence, he stopped right in front of her house .

She stepped down without a word and went inside aware of his gaze on her.

Then, he backed out of the drive way and drove away.