-32-
Rafae l
Today went a lot better than I had planned. The sun was setting, casting a warm, golden light over everything, and I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. Yasmin had agreed to move in with me, and we'd decided that our engagement should be a real one instead of the fake charade we’d been keeping up. I desperately wanted to tell her that I loved her, that I was in love with her, but I didn't want to overwhelm her or make her feel pressured to say the same.
I watched her, feeling a warmth spread through me. Every moment with her felt precious, and I couldn't get enough. It was a warm day, and a walk sounded like the perfect way to spend the rest of the evening.
We packed up our gear and returned it to the counter, exchanging friendly banter with the range staff as we did. Stepping outside, the fresh air was a welcome relief from the enclosed range. The sky was a dull blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds, and the sun was descending but I could still feel its warmth.
"So," I said, turning to Yasmin with a grin. "How about we get some ice cream?"
Her eyes lit up. "Ice cream sounds perfect."
We strolled to a nearby ice cream parlor, one that had been around for decades and had the best homemade flavors in town. The bell above the door jingled as we entered, and the sweet, creamy scent of ice cream enveloped us.
"What are you having?" I asked as we approached the counter.
"Hmm, tough choice," she mused, scanning the array of flavors. "I think I'll go with chocolate. What about you?"
"I'll have the chocolate mint," I said, handing over a few bills to the cashier.
"You're one of them," she laughed when I shot her a confused look. "I don't believe mint and chocolate should go together."
"It's quite nice," I told her as we waited. "You should try it."
She shook her head immediately. "That's never going to happen, just like you refuse to try pineapple on pizza."
I couldn't argue with that. "Touche."
Just then we were called to collect our ice cream. With our cones in hand, we stepped back outside and began walking down the tree-lined street.
"So," I began after a few moments of companionable silence. "Tell me about what it was like growing up with your brother and sister."
Yasmin licked her ice cream thoughtfully, I had to look away to shake off the spicy thoughts that crowded my mind with just one lick. "It was chaotic. There's always something going on with three kids in the house. My sister, Amirah, was always getting into trouble, and my brother, Khalid, was an overachiever. I was in the middle, trying to find my own path."
She chuckled softly. "There were a lot of fights, a lot of laughter, and a lot of love. I can't imagine growing up any other way. What about you? What was it like being an only child?"
I took a deep breath, considering her question. "It was... different. I had all the attention from my parents, which was both a blessing and a curse. They had high expectations for me, and I felt a lot of pressure to meet them. It was also lonely at times. I didn't have anyone to share my experiences with, no siblings to confide in or fight with."
Yasmin nodded sympathetically. "That sounds tough. Did you ever wish you had siblings?"
"Sometimes," I admitted. "I always wondered what it would be like, but I also learned to be independent and self-reliant. It made me who I am today."
"That's true. I believe everything happens for a reason, who's to say having siblings would have been great for you?"
"You are right about that," I bit into a chunk of the ice cream, letting it melt into my mouth. "Either way it would be great if we had at least three kids."
"It would?" she paused, staring at me.
"Yeah," I continued, standing beside her. "I'd be happy with however many children you want to give me, but I think three is a good number."
"Do you?" she asked, a wide smile now on her lips. I blinked slowly, running through what I said, trying to figure out why she would be smiling so brightly.
"Yeah, why are you smiling?"
"I don't know," she shrugged. "It might be because you keep mentioning having kids with me."
"I do?"
She laughed. "You do, and you need to stop. There's no need to get my ovaries all worked up like this while we're on a sidewalk."
"I..." I wasn't sure what to say to that. "Should I wait until we're alone?"
She burst out laughing.
**********
As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a golden glow over everything, we headed for the car. The drive home was filled with a comfortable silence, the kind that only came from spending quality time with someone you cared about.
"There's something I need to tell you."
She glanced at me with wide eyes, reaching up to run a hand through her hair. "I feel like you always have something to tell me. What is it this time?"
"Ah well, I might have already had our things moved into the house and we're headed there now."
"That's why we're on a different road," she chuckled. "I was beginning to think you were about to kidnap me."
"What?" I snorted. "If I wanted to kidnap you, I'd be a lot better at it than you think. Also, you're not mad that I had strangers pack your stuff?"
She shrugged. "Honestly, I'm relieved. I hate packing."
"That's good then," I glanced in her direction. "Glad I made things easy for you."
She nodded. "What would you have done if I didn't agree to move in with you?"
I smirked at her, the motion earning a raised brow from her. "I guess kidnapping wasn't entirely off the table."
She laughed again, clearly not believing I would kidnap her. I laughed along with her even though I was almost certain I would. I'd do anything to keep her safe. It was either to inform her dad about Ethan's fragile state of mind and risk him taking her back to the Middle East or I take matters into my own hands and keep her here with me. There was no way I'd last a day without her, so it was an easy choice to make.
As we rounded the final bend in the driveway, I couldn't help but steal a glance at Yasmin. Her eyes widened in awe as the sprawling mansion came into view. I felt a swell of pride. Seeing her so taken aback by my home made the years of hard work and sacrifice seem worth it. Building hotels from the ground up was my passion so when it came to building my home, it took some time to make it perfect. However, I was willing to let her make changes to make her feel as at home as I did.
I stopped the car, got out, and walked around to her side, opening the door for her. She was awestruck as we walked up the stone steps to the grand entrance. The double doors swung open, revealing a line of staff standing in the marble-floored foyer, waiting to greet us. I had given them a heads-up about our arrival, but the sight of them all neatly arranged and ready was still impressive.
"Welcome back, Mr. Rafael," the head housekeeper, Mrs. Rossi, said with a polite bow. She was a stern but kind woman who had run the household with military precision for the past two years.
"Thank you, Mrs. Rossi," I replied, giving her a nod before turning to Yasmin. "Everyone, this is Yasmin- my fiancée. She'll be living here from now on."
There was a chorus of polite greetings and warm smiles. I could see Yasmin's initial hesitation melting away, replaced by a shy but genuine smile. I gestured to the head housekeeper. "This is Mrs. Thompson, our head housekeeper. If you need anything, she's the person to go to."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Yasmin," Mrs. Thompson said, stepping forward. "This is Johnson, he’s our chef. Marie, Angela, and Carmen handle all the cleaning. And these are Carlos, Elena, Derek, and Michael, they're a part of you and Mr. Amato's security. More guards are around the estate, but you'll meet them eventually."
Yasmin nodded, acknowledging each introduction with a smile. After the brief introductions, I suggested we head to our respective quarters to freshen up. As we walked through the hallways, Yasmin’s curiosity got the better of her.
"Rafael, why do you have so many security guards?" she asked her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.
"It's just a precaution," I reassured her. "Who knows what Ethan's up to?"
Her brow furrowed slightly, but she nodded. "I guess that makes sense. It’s just... I wasn't expecting it."
I was about to respond when my phone buzzed insistently in my pocket. I pulled it out and glanced at the screen and saw it was a call I couldn't ignore.
"Sorry, Yasmin, I have to take this," I said, already dreading the interruption.
As if on cue, Marie appeared from a side corridor, a warm smile on her face. "I'll take it from here, Mr. Rafael. Yasmin, if you'll follow me?"
I watched them walk away, Yasmin throwing a curious glance over her shoulder before turning the corner. I sighed, ran a hand through my hair, and answered the call.