Capítulo 14: Meeting
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CHAPTER 14 — Meeting
Damien walked into his mansion, feeling exhausted after pulling an all-nighter thanks to Raphael disturbing his work the previous day.
As though that wasn't enough, he had three consecutively long meetings that Saturday and barely just managed to make it back from work.
A soft sigh escaped his lips as he pushed open the doors to his home. Quickly, his gaze met a slightly older man in his early forties, who lowered his head to him with a hand placed across his chest.
"Welcome home, sir," the butler greeted, grabbing his coat from him. "A document was delivered to you earlier today by Mr. Davion. Something about the ZetaWorks Project. It's waiting for you in your study on the table. He said it was urgent."
Giving a nod, Damien handed him his briefcase, his expression never changing. "Thank you, James. I'll take a look at it immediately."
Without wasting any more time, Damien turned towards the left path leading to his study.
His strides were purposeful as he made his way towards the office with one thought in mind—complete the ongoing project and finally take that long-awaited rest.
The slightly dim hallway greeted him, welcoming him into their soft ambience. 'Hmm. Leave it to Davion to pay me back for suffocating him with work yesterday.' Damien grumbled inwardly.
It wasn't until this morning that he was left with a series of complaints from his vice concerning the work he shoved at him the previous night.
'I should prevent Raphael from taking over this night so I can catch some quality sleep.'
No sooner had he said that than his feet came to an abrupt halt in front of his study door. Taking a deep breath, Damien placed his hand on the doorknob getting ready to turn it and open the door.
However, just as his hand clasped the cold brass knob, a shift occurred within him. A sudden surge of pain pierced through his head forcing a slight gasp from his lips as he felt his vision blur and his body tremble.
With his free hand, Damien reached up to massage his temples.
"No, not now…" Damien grunted when his eyes suddenly closed and his hand on his head clenched, falling to his side.
Then, he heard a voice in his mind, a voice that was not his own. "Sorry, Damien. I need to take over for a while. Don't worry, you'll be back soon."
Raphael.
One…
Two.
Three seconds passed and suddenly a crease formed between his brows as his eyes flew open—a pair of dark emerald-green orbs staring intently at the door before him.
He tried to resist, but it was too late. Raphael had already taken over.
"Tsk boring, Damien," Raphael tsked as he unclenched his left hand and let go of the doorknob.
With a sly smile playing on his face, Raphael turned around, ignoring the office door, and walked to the other end of the hall instead, opening a hidden panel and entering a secret study room.
The second he stepped in, he was greeted by an office with a warm ambience, lovely lights, a big couch in the middle of the room, a TV, and a work table as well as a small bookshelf.
Unlike what Damien's office should have been like—a room lined with dark mahogany shelves, table and chair and the scent of books mingling with leather—his was a stark contrast to the rest of the house.
He locked the door behind him and went to the desk. His eyes glistened with a mix of mischief and allure as he immediately opened a drawer, seeking out his secret phone.
"Nice that Ace can be up and doing," Raphael pointed out. He knew he could always trust Ace with these kinds of requests.
He checked his phone and saw a message from Kiera. Earlier on, he sent her a text indicating his number. Now that they had each other's, he was eager for what her plan would bring.
The message was concise, and it read: "I've set up a meeting for 2 PM, El Castia. Don't blow it up!"
Glancing at his watch, Raphael's heart skipped a beat.
"1:45 PM." A curse slipped from his lips. "Shit… I have to hurry," he muttered as he tucked the phone away and rushed out of his secret study room.
Once out, he ensured no one saw him and headed straight for the living room, the butler barely casting a glance as he passed.
'Um, what's up with the Master? I thought he had urgent work?' His butler pondered.
The drive to their meeting place was a blur as Raphael's mind raced with possibilities. 'I'll finally get to see her, and maybe I'll be able to get her number this time and apologise for everything.'
*********
~El Castia Hotel~
Meanwhile, Skai arrived ten minutes before the speculated time and lounged in a secluded corner of the lobby.
Already keen on Kiera's tardiness, she took out her phone and quickly checked her notifications before clicking on her Instagram.
Her eyes flicked casually over her Instagram feed, but her mind was elsewhere, alert and calculating.
She checked her phone and saw the time: 1:58 PM. She scanned the lobby for the umpteenth time, her eyes looking for Kiera, her dearest naughty friend who was concerned about her.
"Kiera…" Skai grumbled. She had better things to do than wait for her naughty friend. "Tsk, I might as well just order a drink while I wait," Skai concluded and beckoned for the waiter.
No sooner had she gotten engrossed in her order than Raphael arrived, his eyes scanning the luxurious lobby in search of her.
'Damn it! I forgot to ask her what table was booked or reserved for this meeting.' Just then, he stepped inside, sweeping his gaze across the luxurious lobby when his eyes landed on her.
She sat poised and waiting.
There was a palpable buzz in the air—the chatter of affluent guests mingling with the soft clink of cutlery and glasses—but that did not matter anymore.
He was captivated by her beauty as his heartbeat increased exponentially, and with it came a sudden pain coursing through his head.
Raphael's eyes went wide, shock registering inside.
'Fuck no!'
At the same time, Skai's eyes darted around, immediately connecting with his—a tall, handsome guy with dark brown shoulder-length hair, dark emerald eyes, and a sexy vibe.
Badum! Badum!
She had least expected him to be here but now…
Now she understood.
He was handsome, but dangerous. Skai felt a mix of excitement and fear as she waited for him, knowing fully well what game was at play here.
"Kiera."
Her eyes lit up slightly as she saw him coming towards her. For some reason, he looked like he was in a hurry, and as he did, his eyes sparkled with mischief.
Just a few feet away from her, he suddenly stopped. His eyes fluttered to a close briefly.
Damien blinked and shook his head, looking confused and disoriented for a brief moment until his sight settled once more and his gaze held her.
However, this time, his expression was different. A look of surprise and curiosity spurred in his eyes like a different person.
Gathering his thoughts, Damien looked around quickly.
'And why did Raphael bring us here?' He asked internally.
At the same time, his eyes settled on Skai again, and this time, they were clearer than before. He recognized her from before, at the company, after his meeting with his vice.
Damien's lips tugged upward at the corner, a dangerous smile creeping into his eyes as he closed the distance between them.
As soon as he arrived in front of her, Skai shifted in her seat as she watched him, waiting for him to say something. Instead, he sat across her like he had just woken up from a sleep of some sort.
'Now I know why he came out and why she looked familiar.' Damien noted inwardly. 'I'll play your game, Raph, next time you won't mess up my schedule and plans.'
Unable to bear the silence between them while concealing her anger at being played by Kiera, Skai spoke first, "Uhmm... hello?"
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