12. Chapter 12
Chapter 12
C HAPTER TWELVE
RORY
I was getting used to waking up in my new bedroom.
Raphael had let me decorate it the way I wanted. The walls were now painted a light green, and I got new furniture and a new bed. After two weeks, I could almost say that I was comfortable.
My alarm blared, waking me up. I groaned, shutting it off and rolling over. A plush carpet covered the wooden floor and the curtains were drawn shut. It was dark. I lay in bed, trying to will myself to move. My phone vibrated and I picked it up, checking the notification. It was a text from Callie saying she would come over later and asking how I was liking the new place.
I sat up, placing my phone next to me. Well, I really liked living in the mansion.
It was big enough that I didn't have to see Raphael all the time. The staff were friendly. Every morning, I pushed the blankets away and swung my legs over the side of the bed. I stood and stretched. Then I pulled open the curtains. My bedroom was a large one that gave me a nice view of the gardens. Green grass, shrubbery, and bushes stretched as far as the eye could see. There was a fountain in the center and a pool to the right.
A knock on the door sounded and I walked over, pulling it open.
"Good morning, Miss," Susan greeted with a bright smile.
"Good morning, Susan," I smiled. "I told you, you can call me Rory."
"Rory," she repeated, the name rolling off her tongue. "Breakfast is ready. The boss is waiting for you."
I raised a brow. "Raphael is waiting?" I asked as I grabbed a silk robe and pulled it over my night gown.
She nodded. "He said he is."
I grabbed my phone, walking out of the room. I was so hungry that my stomach was rumbling. As I followed Susan, I couldn't help but notice how well her black uniform fitted her.
"Have you worked for Raphael long?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied, glancing back at me. "I've worked for him since he left his parents' house."
We stepped into the dining room where a large breakfast was already laid out on the table. Raphael was sitting in his usual spot, his head bowed as he typed on his phone. His hair fell forward, and I watched him tuck it back. I imagined slipping my fingers through the strands and grabbing them.
I quickly pushed the thoughts away, feeling my cheeks burn.
"Miss Rory is here," Susan announced, her voice pulling me from my thoughts.
Raphael looked up and smiled. "You said you had been craving waffles, right?" he asked.
I licked my lips and nodded.
"Come, eat," he said, patting the chair beside him.
I moved quickly and sat, grabbing a plate. The table was set with eggs, sausages, waffles, orange juice, and lemons.
"Susan," Raphael called. "Thank you."
Susan nodded and walked out of the room. I filled my plate, then set about cutting up the waffles.
"So," Raphael began. "Do you have plans today?"
"I'll be heading to the club with Callie tonight," I replied, not looking at him. "But other than that, I don't really have anything else to do."
"Oh okay," he said, placing his phone on the table.
I glanced at him. "Do you have plans today?" I asked.
He nodded. "I'll be at the studio with the guys practicing for a concert."
"A concert? Where?"
"It's a charity event in two weeks. We'll be performing in the city," he said.
"Oh wow," I muttered, taking a bite out of my waffle.
"It's a special charity event for homeless and underprivileged children. All proceeds go to building orphanages, giving them food, schooling, and the basics," he explained. "We do it every year. The kids love me."
I snickered at that. "Sure they do."
"You know I don't mind if our kid looks like you cause you're very pretty but I would love if it had my charm because I am incredibly charming," he said, grinning.
Our kid.
You're very pretty.
The words were said with such a casual air, and yet, they made my chest flutter.
"I hope the kid is humble too," I muttered.
He laughed, his eyes shining. Breakfast went by quickly after that. I was stuffed. Another thing I loved about living in the mansion was the food. Raphael had two chefs who came in multiple times during the day to prepare meals.
And they were amazing.
Later, Raphael left the house, leaving me alone. I took a walk in the garden, noticing how well the flowers were kept. Everything looked so perfect, and I loved that about the place. The sun shone high above and the sky was a beautiful blue. It was a good day to sit by the poolside and read a book. I had bought a few at a bookstore yesterday.
I studied the flowers. There were a range of them, their petals a vibrant color. "I wonder who planted these," I muttered to myself.
"The boss did, of course," Susan said from behind me.
I squealed, my hands flying to my chest. "You scared me."
"My apologies," she said.
"Raphael planted these?" I asked, turning to look at her.
She nodded. "The boss likes to read. He also likes beautiful things. He says it's because he's a beautiful person and should always be surrounded by only beautiful things."
I snorted, my shoulders shaking. "Of course he did."
Hushed voices came from inside the house. Susan frowned.
"What's going on?" I asked as we made our way back inside the house. We entered through the backdoor and into a hallway. Then we headed to the foyer which was. The voices grew louder as we approached.
"Sir, listen-"
"Move aside," a voice snapped. "This is my brother's house!"
I frowned as Rylan walked in, followed closely by a tall man. Rylan was dressed in a gray hoodie and jeans. He looked like hadn't shaved in a few days, his stubble making him look older than his years. I took a step back as his gaze met mine.
"So it's true," he said, his jaw clenching. "You're living here with him."
I said nothing. Silence hung over us and the sound of his breathing filled the air. The tall man standing next to Rylan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Leave us alone," I said.
Both the man and Susan stared at me, and then they walked away, leaving us alone. Rylan moved closer, his eyes boring into mine.
I turned to walk into the nearest room, a small home office I hadn’t noticed since I arrived here.
I shut the door. "Why are you here?" I asked Rylan, my voice cold.
"What are you doing, Rory?" he asked. "You're living with my brother now? Are you fucking serious?"
"I don't think this is any of your business."
"It is my business! You're my girlfriend!" he yelled.
"I am not!" I snapped. "And you need to stop being so delusional!"
He blinked at me, taken aback.
"We're not together anymore, Rylan," I continued. "Whatever happened between us is now over."
He took a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. "So what was it? Were you so upset by the fact that I fucked someone else that you seduced my brother? You think he actually likes you? News flash, Rory. Raphael is probably the biggest playboy in the whole of New York. He fucks girls like you and leaves them. And you're just the latest girl in his collection."
I pressed my lips together, feeling my heart race. I felt like crying but I knew that was exactly what he wanted, to demean me, to make me feel like less than him.
"Rylan," I said, meeting his gaze. "I'm not your girlfriend anymore. Raphael and I only moved in together because of the baby. Nothing else."
It felt like I was explaining myself. His gaze dropped to my belly and his gaze only darkened. "Were you with him while we were together?"
"Excuse me?"
"Were you sleeping with him too?"
"What the fuck, Rylan? I was faithful to you, always!"
"Faithful to me, huh?" he asked. "That's why less than three months after our breakup, you got knocked up by my brother." He moved closer to me. "If it was really a mistake, if you didn't mean for this to happen, get rid of it. Abort the baby."
I didn't think. I raised my palm and struck him across the cheek. My hand stung and I winced. His eyes widened as his hand flew to his cheek.
"How dare you," I asked, striking him again.
He stepped back. "You bitch," he hissed.
"And you're a jealous piece of shit," I taunted. "That's why you're here, isn't it? You just can't stand the fact that I'm having your brother's baby, the same brother you've always been jealous of, the same one who's always been better than you."
I opened the door and walked out of the room quickly. Rylan followed.
"Fuck you, Rory!" he growled, reaching forward to grab me. A guard appeared behind him and held him back.
I took a step back. Rage clouded Rylan's face. He tried to pull free, but the guard was stronger.
"Get the fuck off me," he growled, trying to wrestle himself free.
"Get out," I said. "And never come back, at least not while I'm here."
He laughed bitterly. "You think you're what? The lady of the house? You think you can kick me out of my brother's house?!"
I didn't respond.
"Where's Raphael?" he asked, glancing around. "Tell him to come down! Tell him to come down and face me!"
I shook my head. "Get him out of here," I said.
The guard pulled Rylan back.
"Let me go, you idiot!" he growled, struggling. "Rory! Come on, baby, don't be like this."
I pressed my lips together.
"Fuck you, Rory," he screamed as the guard dragged him away. "Fuck your whore ass too, you fucking slut!"
I took a step back, wrapping my arms around myself. Rylan's screams filled the air, echoing around the walls of the house. I clenched my jaw. He was so noisy.
Susan approached. She was staring at me with pity and I didn't want that.
"Don't look at me like that," I said, turning away from her. "And please don't mention any of this to Raphael."
I went upstairs, shutting myself inside my bedroom. The door clicked shut and I leaned against it, sliding down until my butt hit the ground.
Fuck.
My hands shook. This whole thing was so fucked up.
Raphael and I weren't going to be able to hide the pregnancy forever and what would happen then? What would the world think if they knew that I was his brother's ex? What would they think of him?
What did he think of me?