Opulent ~Rafael Solano

Chapter 3

Eva's Pov

One week later

My brother has taken everyone for questioning and recalling events. The Marbella has been swarming with cops and the hotel sales are going down. More importantly one of our best friends is dead.

All I can do is read articles with Raf and see how bad it is.

"Stop reading those articles. They're just speculating, and your torturing yourselves." Petra say as she brings me a cup of coffee

"Did you know that my dad wants me to cancel the memorial and issue a statement distancing the hotel from Zaz?" Raf says changing the topic

"Well, are you going to do it?"

"What Choice do we have. He's the majority owner and now that he's gone Eva is the majority owner" he says looking at me.

"My brother said he was working with Sin Rostro for a while. It's not gonna look good for the hotel if we are associated with him" I add

"Whatever I gotta find his brother and tell him what happened. I don't know where to find him, though cause Zaz hadn't even talked to the guy in ten years." Raf says kind of annoyed

"I didn't even know he had a brother." Petra says "But I really didn't know Zaz"

"My necklace" she says making us look at her

"I had a necklace I wanted to wear tonight. I'm sorry. I think I'm just focusing on these silly, mundane things because I'm just. I'm just in shock." She says stuttering in the beginning.

Later on that day I got a text from Mark. He heard about the hotel and wanted to reach out. After texting him I was called in for questioning. Again.

"I already told you No I did not know he was a contact of Sin Rostro." I tell Chris, Michael and Nadine.

They seemed to believe me and let me go. They explained this by saying they have another suspect.

I was at the Cubano truck where I bumped into Jane. "Hey what you doing here."

"I had a break. I have this really strong urge. More like a need. I need a croquetta" she responds

"Well can't say no to that" I say and let her cut infron of me.

"Aw thanks I actually have to give you something" she said and handed me an envelope.

I opened it and saw an invite to her wedding.

I look up at her and smile "Jane thank you i am flattered."

"Well while making the guest list your name was one of the firsts I thought of.

I smiled and hugged her. We got lunch and kept talking when I had to head back to work.

I ran into Rafael at the hotel. "Did you know Zaz had a girlfriend. "

"Hey Eva how are you thats how uou greet people and also Zaz had a girlfriend? " I say/ask

"Yeah turns out." He sighs

"Well I didn't know about any girl he was seeing."

"You know I actually thought it was you." He says as my eyes widen.

"What?" I screamed. "Me God no, he was like a brother to me." I shudder at the thought.

"Well, you to seemed close." He reasons

"Yeah, well, I'm close with you too. Do you think we're dating." I say, and he blushes

"I uh no." he stutters obviously flustered.

"I was kidding Raf." I laugh and say.

We spent the afternoon talking before we had to get ready for the memorial.

At the memorial

I arrived a little late since I got carried away talking to my niece Lia.

I passed Jane rushing out of there and saw Rafael standing there.

"Hey great job with the memorial. " I said

"Dance with me" he said looking me up and down with a small smirk on his face.

I take his hand. We get on the dance floor and it seems like we are the only people in the world. I don't remember how long we'd been dancing when suddenly the fire alarm went off and we all had to evacuate.

Turns out it was a false alarm.It wasn't long till we found Petra

"I just saw my sister. And I know I need to forgive her but I can't. And it's not the mistake. It's the fact she lied." He says

"Hey, did you ever get in touch with Aaron?" She asks as we look at her confused.

"Aaron?" he asks

"Zaz's brother? You mentioned him this morning" Petra says. Huh. I thought she said she didn't know Zaz's brother.

"No. Not yet You know the cops think he was seeing someone." He says almost accusatorily. Catching on to what i was thinking.

"Zaz?" Petra says

"I had no idea. It makes me feel like i didn't know him. Anyways. I guess we'll find out who it was." Raf says. I can see the tears form at the corners of his eyes almost hoping it wasn't true."

Petra smiles and walks away.

I put a hand on his shoulder as we wait to go back inside wanting this day to be over.