Page 48 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

“I’ll be in here alone?” I asked, trying to keep the disappointment out of my voice.

Marie looked at me. “Yes, Mr. Amato thought you might like some space to settle in.”

The room was lovely, with its large windows and tasteful decor, but it was also empty, save for my belongings neatly packed in the corner. I had hoped that I would be sharing a room with Rafael, especially since we had agreed to make our engagement real.

Marie must have noticed my expression because she asked. "Is everything alright?"

I sighed and nodded. "It's just... I thought I'd be staying with Rafael. Is it possible for me to have my things moved into his room?"

Marie smiled gently. "Oh, I see. Well, that's not a problem at all. Your things are still packed, and we can move them to his room now if you'd like."

"Really? That would be wonderful," I said, feeling relieved.

Marie nodded and left the room, returning a moment later with Angela and Carmen. Together, they quickly and efficiently moved my belongings to Rafael's room. I offered to help but they outright refused to let me lift a thing, insisting that this was their job. I followed them to Rafael's room which was one of the master bedrooms with how huge it was.

As they finished up, I couldn't help but feel nervous. Rafael asked for my things to be placed in a different room. Would he be upset that I went behind his back and had everything moved here? Would he be glad that I made this choice for the both of us? I ran a hand through my hair, wishing I had thought this through a bit more before making such a big decision.

When they were done, Marie turned to me with a smile. "There you go. Everything has been moved."

"Thank you so much, Marie, Angela, Carmen. I appreciate it," I said, standing up and giving them each a grateful smile.

"It was our pleasure," Carmen replied, returning my smile. "If you need anything else, just let us know."

"Will do," I said.“Thank you so much!” I called out as they disappeared down the hallway. "Good night!"

I closed the door behind the last of the girls and leaned against it, letting out a long, contented sigh. The evening had gone smoothly, and I was grateful for the help I received.

I took a deep breath and looked around. Rafael's room was much larger, with a king-sized bed and a cozy seating area by the window. My belongings looked out of place among the more masculine decor, but I knew it was only temporary. Soon enough, this room would be a blend of both of us. At least I hoped so.

The house fell silent around me, a gentle hum night time settling in. I padded softly to the bathroom, feeling the cool tiles beneath my feet as I began my nightly routine. The scent of lavender filled the air as I applied my favorite face mask. With each stroke, I wondered how much longer Rafael’s call would take.

The next half hour passed in a blur as I showered, brushed my teeth, and finished my nightly skin care routine. Standing in front of the mirror, I carefully ran a hand through my curls, helping to separate the curls. For the past year I've been straightening my hair a lot, so my curls were a bit neglected, but I was determined to wear my curls out more often. Rafael hasn't seen my hair in all its curly glory, so I was looking forward to his reaction to that as well.

As I tugged the comb through a particularly stubborn knot, the bedroom door creaked open. My heart skipped a beat, and I glanced at the doorway, meeting Rafael’s eyes. He stood there, a slight hesitation in his stance as he took in the sight of me lounging on his bed, in nothing but my pajamas. For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Before he could say anything, I rushed to explain. "I asked the girls to help me move my things into your room," I said, slightly breathless. "Since we decided to be a real couple and our engagement is now real, I thought it made sense. I hope that’s okay."

His face softened, and a smile spread across his lips, chasing away any lingering doubts. "Yasmin," he said, stepping closer. "I didn't want to pressure you into anything, but if you’re sure, I would be thrilled to share a room with you."

The warmth of his smile melted away all my worries. I set the comb down and stood up, meeting him halfway. "I'm sure," I replied, wrapping my arms around his neck. "It feels right. It feels like the next step for us."

He pulled me into a gentle hug, his arms strong and reassuring. "I'm glad," he murmured into my hair. "I’ve wanted this, but I wanted you to be ready."

"I'm ready."

He grinned, pulling away to look at my hair. "I didn't know you had curls."

I giggled, I actually giggled. "I've been straightening my hair."

"You shouldn't," he grinned, eyes focused on my hair. "I'll bet you'll look like a lioness when it's dried completely."

"I could show you a picture," I told him, grabbing my phone and scanning the photos to find a suitable picture of myself. I showed him the first pic, with my blonde curls perfectly styled and bouncy. My hair was quite poofy, making my face look smaller as well.

"It's just as I thought," his smiled widened even more. "You're like the queen of the jungle."

-34-

Rafael

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