Page 38 of Forbidden Deception

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My ear buzzes with the ringing of my phone, but my cereal has already gone soggy. The texture ruining it for me. I don’t bother glancing at my phone and pick it up.

“Yes?” I ask around a mouthful of cereal.

The bleak, empty walls of my fake apartment almost give me a headache. There is no one here. It’s quiet, and I can hear the faint rush of cars just down the road. It’s too lonely once more and the memories push at my head, wanting to peek through. My security has spotted Rafael’s car roaming close to my area, and with the higher-level security measures in place, they brought me here just in case he decides to visit.

Remo’s critical thinking has me surprised at just how prepared he has been for this mission.

“Venezia, where are you?”

“Who’s this?”

“Rafael.”

I choke on my cereal, and a coughing fit hits me. I cough some more before taking a sip of water and blinking the tears away.

“Rafael,” I wheeze out finally.

“Yes, if you are done coughing, I need you to answer your door.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m outside your door, Venezia.”

My eyes bulge. “You’re what?” I shout. “I’m sick, Rafael. I can’t get out of bed.” I clear my throat.

My heart races. Rafael isn’t someone you can easily say no to.

“Open the door, or I’ll open it myself.”

“No!”

Pulling the phone away from my ear, I drop a message to Aiden to let him know he needs to be on alert. He texts back instantly.

Aiden:We are already aware.

“I mean, I just came out of the shower. Give me ten minutes to change. You can’t see me naked, and—Wait a second.” I falter.

I’m in cotton shorts and a crop top. My hair is a mess, and I look like the ghost from horror movies with their hair down and unbrushed. My cheeks are still flushed from the fever, coughs hitting me every now and then. Rafael seeing me like this makes me panic. .

“Why are you at my apartment? Don’t you have work to do? I’m sure you have a meeting in—” I look at the time on my phone before putting it back to my ear. “Ten minutes, mister. Get back to work and stop bothering a sick woman.”

He sighs. I bite my lip to stop my smile.

“That meeting is with you, genius. And before you ask, no, I am not here to force you to do that meeting with me. I came to get my credit card back. It wouldn’t be wise to send someone else for it, would it?”

Okay. That makes sense.

“Right, your card.” I stumble out of my bed.

“Okay, give me ten minutes. I need to look presentable in front of my boss, at least. Hanging up now!” I do so and head straight to the bathroom to comb my messy hair.

Five minutes later, and my phone starts to ring. Again.

Carefully stepping out of the bathroom with just my hair done, I hear the door bang.

My apartment is a small place with a living room connected to the kitchen. Two bedrooms, a bathroom, and laundry closet.

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