Sold To The Boss: A Narcos Romance

Chapter 12

When Isabella woke up, she felt truly rested. The metal curtains still shielded light from outside Rafael's bedroom. She sat up, noticing that his side of the bed was empty. She moved over the dark satin sheets, glancing at the modern clock on his nightside table. 11:31 AM. She brushed her wayward hair back from her forehead, scooting out of bed and into the massive bathroom. She must have slept for close to fifteen hours, her body finally feeling refreshed. She splashed cold water on her face, taking in the masuciline objects on the bathroom counter. Bottles of expensive looking colognes, a few large watches, shaving cream. She ran her fingers delicately over the objects, wanting to see Rafael as just a man, and not as some captor Narcos King.

After freshening up, she crept out into the hallway, the bright early afternoon light causing her to blink and regain focus. Her stomach growled and she clutched it, embarrassed even though it appeared no one was around. She wondered when the insatiable hunger would end.

"Hungry, Isabella?" Lolita's voice cooed from around the corner as she offered a small smile. Isabella blushed, nodding.

"Yes...I must have slept through breakfast."

"Not a problem, I can make you something to eat," Lolita gestured for Isabella to follow, "what is it you Americans call...brunch, sí?"

Isabella let out a small laugh, the light sound almost foreign to her own ears. "Yes, brunch would be wonderful." Isabella took a seat on a kitchen barstool, watching as Lolita worked.

"Yesterday," Isabella cleared her through, tracing her finger on the cool countertop, "the attack--"

"Oh, it happens all the time. Nothing to worry about." Lolita waved a spatula at Isabella, dismissing her concern. "Rafael's men are the best. Poor Rafael just hates missing out on the action. I swear, that boy has always had some sort of death wish. The last thing he wants is to be locked up, away from the action."

Isabella swallowed hard past the cup of coffee Lolita placed in front of her, barely tasting it. "A death wish?"

Lolita hummed as she cooked, not immediately answering Isabella's question. "These men, they're like soldiers. It's illegal and violent, but it's like an army. And Rafael, he loves to fight. To be part of the action, you know? I swear that man should have never been Narcos royalty. I've never seen anyone in his position resent it so much." Lolita began to plate some food as Isabella took another tentative sip of coffee. She wanted to take advantage of Lolita's chatty mood this morning. She cleared her throat before speaking.

"Rafael...does he, or did he, have someone he loved?" Lolita stopped, setting down her spatula and turning off the burner as she slid a perfect-looking omelet toward Isabella.

"His mother. That boy was so loyal to her. I can't imagine what it did to him, seeing her shot." Lolita clicked her tongue, swearing low in Spanish. Isabella felt a rush of nausea in her stomach, even as the lovely smell of warm food met her nose.

"And...anyone else? A girlfriend perhaps?" Isabella shoved a warm forkful of fluffy eggs and cheese into her mouth to stop her babbling. Lolita had just told her a truly traumatic fact about Rafael's upbringing, and yet she was still curious. Why would a man like Rafael need to purchase a woman to pretend to be his fiancé? Surely there would be plenty of real and willing women lined up out the door, just as Señora Juana Lotega had implied.

"There was a girl once, yes." Lolita nodded her head, pausing to glance at Isabella before she started tidying up the kitchen. "Very beautiful, like you. He met her in school." Lolita stopped, rinsing the pan in the sink. Isabella felt her stomach clench, hating that she could possibly feel jealous over what Lolita had just told her. She forced down a few more bites of omelet even though her appetite had waned.

"Why are they not together?"

"Señorita," Lolita leaned across the counter, a sigh escaping from her throat, "Rafael is not just some young man who can go off and fall in love and be happy. He has a responsibility, a legacy. She wanted nothing to do with that. And when presented with the choice to run away with her and be happy or to carry the family crown, he chose his family."

"Do you think he regrets it?" Isabella's voice was a whisper, her face feeling pale.

"Regrets what?" Isabella jumped at the sound of Rafael's voice as he strode into the kitchen. He was wearing dark jeans and a black dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A gold chain glittered against his neck, nearly the same color as his dark olive skin.

"Buenos días, Rafael." Lolita chirped, ignoring his question. "It seems that your lovely guest is finally well rested." Isabella blinked rapidly, color coming back to her cheeks. She wondered how much of their conversation Rafael had overheard.

"Isabella, my office please." Rafael left before Isabella could reply, and she glanced at Lolita wide-eyed.

"Well, go on chica. That is not a man that one leaves waiting." Isabella slid from the barstool, her legs wobbly. She hated the fact that this mystery woman bothered her so much. That Rafael had once been in love, maybe even still was, burrowed painfully in her stomach. If anything, this revelation should be a relief. Further evidence that his intentions with her were pure and business only. That once she performed whatever act he wanted her to perform, she really would be released to her past life, to her family. She hurried toward his office, Rafael already seated behind his desk when she entered.

"Sit." He nodded his head at the leather chair in front of his desk and Isabella sat with her hands in her lap.

"I've contacted your family, as promised." Rafael leaned over the desk, his eyebrows raising as the air left Isabella's lungs. "They know that you are safe and that you will be returned to them, unharmed. Here." He handed her a small envelope and her hands shook as she took it. She turned it over, seeing her name, Isabella, printed in her aunt's cursive handwriting. She brought her other hand up to her mouth in disbelief.

"Take it to your room and read it. If you'd like to write to them, I will allow it. But only with my oversight. I can't have you telling them anything about your whereabouts. Only that you are alive." His tone was severe and business-like, the warmth and barely restrained passion he'd shown her yesterday gone. Isabella nodded, still staring down at the small envelope in her hands.

"That's all." Isabella looked up, his expression closed off, almost annoyed. She stood shakily, realizing she was being dismissed.

"Thank you." Her words were soft, barely audible. Rafael acted as if he hadn't heard them.

"This evening, I have to attend a party. You will join me as my fiancé. This will be our public announcement. Lolita will have several dresses for you to choose from. Be ready by 8:00 PM." Isabella blinked, her brow furrowing. The thought of Rafael hearing her earlier conversation with Lolita returned.

"Okay."

"Okay, then." Rafael turned his back toward her, focusing on the papers on his desk. She moved quickly and quietly out of the room, closing his office door behind her. She clutched the small envelope to her chest, hurrying back to her bedroom, her fingers itching to read it.