Page 32 of The Dark Obsession

“He’s hurting you.”

“Not intentionally,” I lie to myself again.

“Rosalie, you can’t unintentionally bite someone so hard they bleed. He’s a goddamn creep.” He stands, his hands raised behind his head in complete and utter disgust, as if I meant enough to him for my pain to be his own.

“It was just the heat of the moment.”

“I don’t want to leave you alone. I can’t even sit still, never mind sleep, knowing what you’re going through right now,” he whispers, dropping to his knees in front of me. “I don’t want you hurt, Rosalie, and you know you’d feel safer with me there.”

His sincere words puncture my already crippled heart. He stands again and wanders out of his office. Within seconds, he’s returned, back on his knees in front of me, wiping the black smudges from under my eyes with a soft cloth. “Just think about it.” He stands again. “I have to meet with the detectives about the Eliza Thomas case. Stay here please.” His tired, red eyes look sad. He slips his glasses over his eyes then smiles weakly and tucks his shirt into his trousers as he leaves our office.

I stand and shuffle towards the window. The silence hurts my ears as I suppress the tears forming in my eyes. The low and mid-rise buildings look grey and empty in the gloomy light of day. I watch the few cars pass, people going on with their day-to-day activities, tiny problems causing petty headaches, whilst my life is imploding. I can’t stop wondering about Rafael, about his need to protect me, even if he is doing it for a clear conscience.

My phone screeches—at least, that’s how it sounds to me in the silence of the office. Dale is calling. My blood rushes to my face, and a bead of sweat builds on my forehead. I’m unusually apprehensive as I answer the call. “Dale.”

“Rosalie, will you forgive me?”

“I just want some space right now, Dale.”

“I want to see you.”

“Not now. I need to be alone for a while. Please, just let me be.”

“I’m coming to see you, now!”

“No.” My voice switches between two octaves. I end the call and slam the phone onto Rafael’s desk. My cheeks flush as I stomp to my desk and sit with my head in my hands.

I hear his voice before I see him. “Rosa!” He bursts into the room, his hands stacked with paperwork. “They called me at the front desk, said you’re shouting.” He drops the papers onto his desk, next to my phone.

“Sorry,” I say, my voice feeble. “Dale called. He wants to see me. I said no, and he just wouldn’t listen.”

My phone vibrates on the desk and dings.

Rafael spies my phone. His eyes narrow, and his mouth opens and closes twice, as if he might say something. “He’s outside.” Rafael slowly approaches the window.

I rush to Rafael’s side. My heart trembles as I focus on a bright white Jaguar parked next to my car. I can barely decipher the shape of Dale in the front seat from all the way up here.

“I’ll sort it.” Rafael grabs my phone and calls Dale’s number.

The phone hardly rings once before Dale answers. “Get down here, now. Rosa, we need to talk.”

“Ah, Mr Cartwright.” Rafael says, his voice deepening.

“Put Rosa on.”

“We’re busy right now.” He grins and nods towards the window.

“I just want to see her!”

I watch him exit the car and head towards the front.

“My security will not let you in, Dale.”

Dale spins and strolls towards his car, then punches the bonnet as he leans against it. I can’t discern Dale’s expression, but he’s definitely angry.

As bored as Rafael sounds, his smile begs to differ.

“I’ll wait.”

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