Page 25 of A Million Shades Of Love and Betrayal

"That was awesome," I grinned, facing Rafael who was already staring at me.

"It was," he spoke softly. "I must say the way you put Cheryl in her place was really hot."

I blinked slowly, my brain doing its best to process what he just said but for some reason, it felt like I couldn't. Did he just call me hot? It was one thing when he called me pretty or beautiful, it meant he thought I was a good-looking person but hearing him call me hot was something else entirely. It was as if he was admitting to finding me attractive and that was a dangerous thought. If I were smart, I would change the subject or excuse myself but sometimes you just had to make stupid decisions.

I lowered my voice, leaning into him so only he could hear me. "You think I'm hot?"

I could practically feel the shiver that ran over his body. "That would be an understatement," he admitted. "Your eyes are like a captivating maze and every time I look into them, I find myself lost."

My breathing hitch, my eyes fluttering as I listened intently to what he said next.

"Your presence alone is a constant temptation that I've surrendered to. Your touch is like a siren's song, pulling me in until all I can do is feel you. I could never just say that I find you attractive. I crave you."

My heart raced as Rafael's words sank in. It was a rush of emotions I hadn't expected, hearing him finally confess to desiring me was better than I thought it'd be. I tried to maintain my composure, but my cheeks flushed, betraying the mix of excitement and disbelief I felt.

"What happened to not crossing the line?" I asked, my voice steady despite the nervousness I felt.

Rafael shrugged, taking a sip of his wine. "I only agreed because it was what you wanted. I admit I wasn't ready to confess that I was developing feelings for you, but I am, and I don't want to deny it anymore."

I tried to compose myself as I stared into Rafael's eyes, searching for any hint of doubt or hesitation. But all I found was raw honesty and an intensity that mirrored my feelings. It was as if a dam had burst, and the flood of emotions threatened to overwhelm me.

Taking a deep breath, I gathered enough courage to speak. "I... I might be developing feelings for you too, but I would much rather we talk about it when we don't have alcohol in our system."

He nodded. "It won't change what I said but I'm willing to wait as long as you need."

I looked away hiding my blush from his prying eyes. I felt like I could scream with happiness knowing that my feelings were reciprocated but until we had a conversation while sober, I wouldn't get my hopes up.

I turned around just in time to watch Roman climb the stage again. His charismatic voice cut through the chatter, commanding attention effortlessly. "Ladies and gentlemen," he announced with a wide grin. "This is a bit different from last here, but we have a special guest among us tonight, one that I just have to introduce to you all. He's not only an inspiration to me and many others here tonight but his business sense, wealth, and charm are known globally. Please join me in welcoming, Ivan Rashid!"

The room erupted into applause and murmurs of shock as Ivan, my father and the richest man in the world, entered with a dignified stride. My heart swelled with pride as I watched him make his way towards the stage, acknowledging the guests with a gracious nod. His eyes found mine, and I beamed at him, feeling affection and respect for the man who raised me.

However, my joy faltered as his gaze shifted to Rafael, who stood extremely close to me. I noticed the furrow in his brow, the flicker of confusion and curiosity in his expression. I probably should have told my father about being with Rafael but then I'd have to explain everything that went down with Ethan, and I wasn't up for it. It would also be weird to bring up my relationship woes when I make it a point to never discuss who I was dating with my family, except for Amirah.

I knew I should have said something when his eyes latched onto the arm Rafael wrapped around my waist.

He took the microphone from Roman, his commanding presence filling the room. "Thank you, Roman, for the warm welcome," he began, his voice warm and light. "It's a pleasure to be here tonight among potential friends and colleagues."

The applause resurged, and he acknowledged it with a gracious nod before continuing. "I must say, this gala is a testament to the excellence and dedication of Vitale Airlines," he praised, casting a meaningful glance in Roman's direction. "I'm a strong advocate of giving back and love what I'm seeing here today."

"I know a lot of you are wondering," Dad continued, his tone carefully measured, "I have been considering expanding our operations in this region." Murmurs of excitement and anticipation rippled through the audience. "And Williams Corp has been helpful in shaping our plans for this expansion."

My heart skipped a beat at what he said. For a moment I thought I heard him wrong but as I caught the horrified look on Rafael's face and the smug look on Ethan's, I knew I heard right. This wasn't a figment of my imagination or a dream I could escape by waking up. This was real. Somehow the universe screwed up and now my dad was working with my ex-husband.

-18-

Rafael

My heart raced as I watched Yasmin's shocked expression, her eyes wide with disbelief. She struggled to find words, her mouth opened and closed repeatedly as if wanting to say something, but she physically couldn't. I could see the pain and confusion in her eyes and for a second I could feel her distress like a tangible thing. Without thinking, I held her hand, trying to convey some sense of reassurance. "Hey, it's going to be alright," I murmured, my voice low but determined.

"They're not partners, right?" She asked, her eyes begging me to tell her she heard him wrong.“Right?"

"He didn't say they were partners," I told her honestly, not mentioning that they might have been. "And your father wouldn't agree to a partnership with Ethan if it meant it would hurt you. Trust me on this.”

Her father's potential partnership with Ethan had thrown us both for a loop. I wasn't entirely convinced of what I said, but in that moment, I would have said anything to make her feel better. Yasmin nodded, albeit hesitantly, her grip on my arm relaxing slightly. She excused herself to the bathroom, and I watched her go, feeling a mix of concern and uncertainty.

As I turned back, I caught Ivan making his way towards me. His familiar face brought a sense of relief amidst the chaos. "Rafael," he greeted me with a warm smile, clasping my hand in a firm handshake. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you again, Ivan," I replied, genuine warmth in my voice. "How have you been?"

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