Wed or Dead

VIII

Eliana was again in Rafael's damn office again.

The office she wanted to run away from so much. Rafael's cold gaze was now set on her. Lorenzo was sitting next to his brother, he looked as if he was completely relaxed despite the tense atmosphere surrounding him.

"Eliana, did you attack this man?" Rafael asked in a calm voice, just like his brother he didn't seem bothered at all.

"Yes," Eliana thought this will end the conversation. Rafael will call the police, or shoot her or lock her up in a cellar, whatever.

But he didn't do any of that.

"Why did you attack him?"

"She's the aggressor. Don't even bother speaking with her. Police is on their way"

Eliana looked at this man, shocked. It was hard to believe assholes like that exist in real life. He was really drunk and furious, it was clearly a bad mix. He really wanted to get her in trouble, even if he was the one who started the whole thing.

Because Eliana was already aware of what violence he was capable of, she took a step closer to Rafael, hoping that no one will notice. He didn't look like he was angry at her. He was relatively a safe person to be nearby in this situation. If he noticed my move, he didn't comment on it in any way.

"Eliana I asked you a question" Rafael directed his stern gaze at her, and suddenly she wanted to take a step back. Okay, not safe, not safe. Shit.

"I- I- he wanted me to sit on his lap and drink with him, I told him to let me go because I am working, but he wouldn't"

"Oh, is that so?"

"Are you going to believe her, and not me? I have friends who will confirm my side of the story," the man said stubbornly.

"We should call an ambulance, I hit him with a glass bottle," Eliana admitted quietly. Surprise flashed through Rafael's eyes, but it was quickly covered with a mask of indifference.

"That would explain why he's spewing nonsense," Lorenzo said, looking bored and slightly amused. "You hit him too hard"

Eliana looked worriedly at the wound on the man's head. It stopped bleeding, but what if he's seriously injured because of her?

"He's going to be fine for now. Are you hurt somewhere?" Rafael asked matter-of-factly, from his expression Eliana couldn't tell what he thinks.

What did Rafael mean by saying for now?

"I'm okay"

"Hey, are you going to keep ignoring me?" The man yelled.

Rafael stopped looking at her, and re-focused on her attacker "I can assure you, you will have my undivided attention when I am back, but first I need to escort my fiancé home"

A flash of fear appeared on the man's face, but it quickly turned into anger.

"If you won't call the police right now, I will make sure to let people know how clients are treated here"

Rafael calmly took a few steps forward until he was in front of the man, then he reached into the pocket of his suit where the wallet was sticking out. He picked it up without asking, opened it, and checked his ID.

"Larry. I'm afraid you don't understand the position you're in. If I was at your place, I'd stop making demands and wait until it's your turn to be dealt with" it didn't look like Rafael was bragging, more like stating the fact. "As for the police, there's no need to involve them, we can settle this among ourselves"