Page 21 of The Senator: Raphael

I walk to the dresser and start to empty the first drawer. Then the second. By the time I reach the third, I startle when someone clears his throat. I turn around toward my bedroom door and find Lola next to Raphael.

“Sorry, he was very insistent.” She glares at him, but his eyes are focused on me, and the duffel bag I’m packing.

His face is unreadable, but the muscles on his jaw twitch slightly. I stare at him, anger simmering under my skin.

“You’re so full of yourself that you dare to come intomyhouse after what you pulled earlier?” I hiss and Lola frowns slightly. I’m sure she thinks there’s a lot more than what I told her, and the truth is thereis.

He’s wearing a different suit than before. It’s a navy blue three piece with matching tie and crisp white button-down shirt. It fits him so perfectly it looks painted on him. His posture is relaxed, with his hands conveniently tucked into his pockets, so I can’t read his mood. I wonder how long he practiced this nonchalance to make it look this natural.

“Well, it appears it won’t be your house for long.” He gestures toward the clothes in my hands.

“You know, when some asshole messes with your life, you have to make some hard decisions sometimes.” And I’m not referring just to the scene at the café. My life is dotted with painful decisions I’ve been forced to make because of men.

I notice Lola’s smile and Raphael lips curving up in an amused grin he tries to hide.

He nods.

“What do you want?” I press him. If he tries to kneel in front of me a second time, I’m going to kick him in the balls. Again.

“We need to talk,” he states firmly.

I clench my jaw and squint at him, trying to figure out if he’s dumb or just arrogant. “Wasn’t it enough that I told you no last night? My answer hasn’t changed. So, turn around and move your ass away from me. Far, far away.”

“Do you want me to call the cops?” Lola intervenes. I glance at her, then at Raphael who seems not to hear her. He’s still staring at me, same relaxed posture as before.

I shake my head at my friend, silently communicating that I can handle another prick in my life, but she doesn’t move from the door.

“We need to talk. Privately.” He tilts his head slightly toward Lola, the only sign that he acknowledges her presence.

“No, we don’tneedto do anything,” I stubbornly tell him, even if I am curious about how far he’ll go to get what he wants. I’m guessing not many people tell him no.

He inhales deeply and tilts his head toward the ceiling. It’s the first time since stepping in my bedroom that he loses his composure. It’s not a major fit of anger, but enough to let me know he is losing his patience.

“Please. Just hear me out and give me a chance to hearyouout. Explain to me the reasons why you can’t accept my proposal and I swear that if I can’t convince you, I will personally come back and help you pack. Half an hour in theprivacyof my home. That’s it. Not a minute more,” he pleads. The way the word ‘privacy’ rolls off his lips makes me shiver and not in a pleasant way.

I don’t know if he knows something about me, whether he did some research, dug up my past or whatever else, but the way his gaze pierces my soul makes me feel unsafe in the only place I’ve felt protected in the last eight years.

I consider his proposal. I have to be downtown in three hours anyway, and maybe he’ll give up when I tell him no for the umpteenth time. I don’t care about his reputation or the reasoning behind his insane request, but if this helps me to get rid of him, why not?

“Half an hour, I will hear what you have to say, tell you no, and then you will leave me alone.” I scowl at him, and he seems relieved.

There is almost smug victory in his eyes. Just a flash ofNobody can tell me nothat disappears as fast as it appears. Well, Mr. Wyden will learn a lesson today, and I’m glad to be the one to teach it to him.

“Please, turn around. I’m going to film you dragging her out along with that bodyguard of yours. If she doesn’t come back or call me telling me she’s safe, I will take this video to the police and to every single media outlet I can think of. Smile for the camera, Raphael Wyden,” Lola says with a fake smile.

God, I adore how she looks out for me.

Raphael studies her with an expression I can only consider respect. He’s not annoyed, angry, or anything. He seems impressed that she’s making sure I don’t get hurt and it throws me off balance. I expected a lot of things from him, most of them not good, but not showing respect for someone threatening him.

“It won’t be necessary, I assure you.” He nods solemnly and I almost smile.

I doubt he’ll make me disappear, but I appreciate my roommate effort to keep me safe. “See you in a while. It won’t take long,” I whisper in her ear as I hug her.

Outside, I head straight for the SUV with tinted windows waiting in the shadows of the warehouse in front of our complex. I notice the car isn’t visible from the streets and the plates are mostly hidden from the view. They sure know how to make a luxury car look inconspicuous in a not so stellar neighborhood.

The bodyguard who was with him last night accompanies us to the car, opens the door, and waits for Raphael to help me in before going to the driver side and pulling out into Los Angeles traffic.

It takes us an hour and a half to reach his house in Malibu, and I curse under my breath for it. I didn’t consider the distance and the slow Los Angeles traffic when I accepted. I didn’t even know where he lived until now. We’re from such different backgrounds we might as well be from two different planets entirely.

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