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“Mar! What are you saying?” Sophie thought her friend had lost her mind, “Are you crazy.”
“No, I’m not. 1… I no longer want to go on that date with Rafael,” she mumbled.
Rafael didn’t know what to say.
He had somewhat guessed that this decision was based on the nightmare she had last night. The problem was that he was trying hard to be her friend so that she could open up. He wasn’t planning to force her.
Trust can’t be forced on someone, it must be earned.
He was trying hard to go slow with her. But every time either her smile used to entangle him in its charm, or her chubby body used to do things to him in unexplainable ways.
He could hear the two women arguing with each other. Poor Sophie was asking her to take back her decision.
“Don’t tell her that!” he snapped at Sophie, “If she doesn’t want to go then let it be. Take your time, princess.”
a
The last statement was told in a very friendly way. He looked the least bit offended.
“Wh… what… you don’t mind that I said no to your date? Marissa asked him in disbelief.
Her eyes searched his face for any sign of disappointment. Even with Valerie, he was known for his cold demeanor with everyone else. But all she could see was a soft smile on his face, “For me, your happiness is more important, Marissa. By the way, if you allow me, can I take kids with me?”
When both the ladies didn’t respond, he tilted his head sideways, “To the hotel where I’m staying. Nothing fancy. Just daddy and the kids having their time.
Once again there was confusion on her face. Till yesterday she was all easy for sending the kids with him. What if Valerie and Nina were in Kanderton?
Her mommy antennae were in action. Her protective instincts were flaring up at the thought.
“Can you make sure that they don’t go outdoors like… not going outside the hotel.”
“Sure, mommy,” he said softly and kissed her cheek.
Marissa felt bad when he asked the kids if they wanted to accompany him. Alex gave her the look and this time Marissa nodded at her son, pleading him silently to give one chance to his father.
What would Rafael feel if, after Marissa, Alex would also reject him?
Rafael was laughing in the bed along with the kids while watching TV when a loud knock on the door startled them.
“Come in!” he called out from there. Kids were already excited by the room service and the
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hotel suite décor.
The suite must be bigger than their home.
“Oh. I was dying to meet them!” Joseph came inside and the girls who were giggling while teasing Rafael got serious abruptly.
“Hello, dear ones!” he extended his hand towards the black–haired girl who had a striking resemblance to Marissa.
She shyly held Joseph’s hand and gave a nervous glance to her father.
“This is your uncle Joseph, children. And he is here to meet you all today.”
Joseph studied Ariel who was looking at him with an attitude, “My, my. You are a beauty, little
one!”
He shook Ariel’s hand and then turned to Alex. Rafael had already told him about his son’s reserved nature and Joseph didn’t want to impose himself on the little boy.
“Hello. Alex here!” the boy came to him and shook hands as if someone had pushed him to do
that..
“Hey, Alex!” Joseph greeted the little man cheerfully and then turned to the girls, “What are all watching?”
you
Both the girls started talking at once and poor Joseph couldn’t understand what they were
trying to say.
. He raised his hands awkwardly trying to shoo them, but they were not ready to listen. He threw
a pleading glance to his friend who was enjoying his helplessness.
“Help me!” looking at his friend, he mouthed silently.
But Rafael just shook his head, enjoying the situation.
Abigail told Joseph about the books she was reading nowadays while Ariel started telling him about the cartoons she just watched.
Joseph’s eyes were wide with panic until his eyes landed on the small man who had amusement in his green eyes that looked exactly like Rafael’s.
The boy had taken attitude and the demeanor from his father. He was holding the TV remote which he put aside before approaching the girls.
“Abi. Ariel. He called his sisters one by one. There was something in his voice that made them go quiet.
“Speak one by one just like Mom has been teaching
Joseph was impressed and could see the leadership skills in him even before starting school.
After a few minutes, Joseph spent the best time with the kids. Even Alex was talking to him like they had been best friends.
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men were now enjoying their non–alcoholic drink in the presence of kids.
“Don’t treat him as your son,” Joseph said resting his head on the sofa, “treat him as a man.”
“He is too grown up for his age, Jo,”
“That’s because he has seen his mom more closely and has become sensitive. For his mom, het doesn’t take himself as a boy or her child. He is a man, and he took this role a long time back when he was a baby.”
Rafael agreed to what Joseph said. The girls had him wrapped around their little fingers, but their brother and mom were giving him a tough time.
“I said I can’t go on that date. Sorry, but your office has snakes, Rafael.” Marissa’s voice echoed in his head.
With a scowl, Rafael grabbed his phone..
“Who are you calling?” Joseph straightened to place his glass on the table.
“I’m calling Dean,” Rafael was waiting for the call to be picked, “Need to announce an off for MSin Kanderton branch tomorrow.”
“Off? On Monday? Why?” Joseph inquired, puzzled.
“My girl thinks there are snakes in MSin. There should be proper fumigation in the building.”