Page 61 of Forbidden Deception

“A ride to our date location,” he says through the headphones, his voice powerful.

I feel such a rush of emotions that I could only ever dream of feeling and yet here I am, sitting in a helicopter with Rafael while he takes me on a date. A billionaire, a ruthless manipulative businessman ready to woo me.

All after asking and pleading for me to stop putting a barrier between us.

That alone has my heart turning into mush.

The view of the glittering city below me and the sunset look like something out of a movie. My heart races, feeling light yet excited, thumping in an unusual rhythm, as if not knowing how to react.

The ride lasts for around twenty minutes, and I just can’t stop smiling. My cheeks even start to hurt, but I can’t drop it.

We soon start our descent onto a big field. The blades slow, and Rafael helps me out, then leads me to a decorated table. The sun is just barely out on the horizon, casting the clearing in a beautiful golden glow.

“That was such a beautiful ride. I loved it, Rafael,” I comment, looking at him instead of where we are going. That should have been my first priority, to look where we are, to be aware of my surroundings, but Rafael has this charm, this aura around him, that makes me feel so at ease that I could spill all my troubles to him.

His broad shoulders flex against his suit jacket, and his hair is neatly styled. He is so much taller than me that I sometimes have to lean my head back to truly look him in the eyes.

“Really?” He looks down at me, lips tilted up.

I nod, biting my lip and suddenly feeling so shy.

I look up when we stop in front of the table set for two. Fairy lights glitter from poles, creating an intimate, magical scene.

To the right is a gorgeous tall home. It’s got three pointed roofs, with the entrance in the centre. The gardens are beautifully manicured and edged by dark trees. It looks familiar.

“That’s one of Gustav Industries’ secluded luxury holiday homes. It’s not available for public use because it’s a home used by the members of the Elite club. I’ve got security surrounding us today. I wanted to bring you to the first land investment I made in my career that I designed and built.”

He bought me to one of the homes that he has a picture of on his office floor.

The manor looks absolutely haunting yet classy, with sharp edges, clean-cut designs, and black marble stairs.

I look back at Rafael to see something vulnerable swimming in his eyes. He walks me over to the white-clothed table and pulls out a chair. I sit down while he takes his place on the other side.

“You told me that we are worlds apart. You told me we can’t be. What if I prove to you that maybe we can?”

I hold my breath, watching every muscle in his face for any signs of regret, but there are none.

“I built the Crystal Noir Home in hope of truly impressing my investors, but that took me forever. We have the same drive for success. I’ve seen you put so much effort and time into Gustav Industries, and I wanted to show my own effort and time. I failed many projects and was almost forced to resign from my position of CEO until this project. I want you to know that I admired your work ethic and your loyalty to me before I started wanting you.

“People… When I needed a mother’s love, my father and older brother were there. They were there to make sure I didn’t feel her absence. Nights were filled with stories of her, days were filled with doing activities she loved, and yet my heart was still empty of her love. It’s no one’s fault. Not my father, who mourns her till this day, not Mikko’s, who only remembers a ghost of her, nor me, who never even knew who she is.” He looks down at the table, something close to grief taking over his features.

“How do I put that trust in someone again? How do I give my heart to anyone when the one time I tried, I got shut down? My step-mother ruined trust for me. Badly. And I don’t think I have recovered.” He takes a deep breath and looks up at me.

“The question still stands, though, doesn’t it? Why all these disastrous things? Why the blackmail, the deception? Deep down, I know the answer. And that’s jealousy, emptiness, and just bitter ache. While I have long ago let go of my jealousy, the emptiness and ache still remain like ashes left by a fire. They are still here, still hurting me, still killing me slowly. I can’t stop it. So I turn towards destruction, chaos, havoc.

“I told you it wasn’t the desire I’m after. I’m a man that can control it easily. Work and family come first for me, and yet you challenged my priorities like never before.”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

Rafael continues, “I asked you to be with me, but you don’t understand just how much you have changed the neurons in my brain. You sometimes made me question whether or not you are real. There are times when I’m not even sure how deep my feelings for you run. Every time I fucked up, you still cheered me on; every time I threw my work across the table, you were there to pick it up and push me to continue. How can I explain to you, how could I make you understand that your silent support, your dramatics, have made me yours? I look into your eyes in meetings, and I can’t hear anything else. You brush your hand against mine, and I am fucking gone.” He runs a frustrated hand through his hair, and his dark eyes snap to mine.

My heart dips.

“How does life put my greatest temptation in front of me and make it forbidden? It placed the perfect woman in my sight and dangled her in front of me, teasing me and taunting me that I could never have you, that you wouldn’t want someone like me. So I took you to London, in hopes that maybe you would retreat, walk away, but you are here. You still are here.” He sighs, painful longing and frustration in his eyes.

“You played that sex tape at the party?”

Rafael nods, but he doesn’t look ashamed. If anything, he looks ready to fight to keep me.

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