Beneath the Velvet Sky

Chapter 2: Paradise with a Price

Even in paradise, the heart carries its shadows.

The villa, with its pristine glass walls and the endless ocean spilling into the horizon, felt like a cage made of beauty. Every corner of the opulent paradise reminded Elysia of the luxury Rafael offered—yet with each step, she felt more like a captive of her own desires.

They hadn't spoken much since their encounter on the jet, and Elysia could still feel the heat between her legs, the lingering effects of the vibrator Rafael had used on her, making her body surrender to him despite her mind's refusal. She hated how easily he could break through her walls, hated how much she craved his touch, even if she wasn't ready to admit it. But the truth gnawed at her—Rafael was more than a lover. He was becoming the man her children needed, the protector she didn't know she wanted. Yet, admitting that out loud felt like a betrayal to Jacob.

They dined on the terrace as the warm breeze carried the scent of the ocean, but the weight of the unsaid hung heavier than the meal before them. The air was warm, the scent of salt and tropical flowers filling the space around them. Elysia picked at her food, barely tasting it, while Rafael sat across from her, a storm brewing behind his dark eyes.

Finally, he broke the silence. "You've been running all day, Elysia. From me, from yourself. Why?"

Her fork clattered onto the plate, and she looked up, meeting his gaze with defiance. "I'm not running. I'm here, aren't I?"

Rafael's jaw tightened, but he didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stood and walked toward her, every step deliberate, filled with that controlled power she found both intimidating and alluring. He stopped behind her chair, his fingers grazing her bare shoulder, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine.

"You're here," he whispered, leaning down so his lips brushed against her ear, "but you're still hiding."

Elysia swallowed hard, her throat tight. She wanted to protest, to push him away, but the warmth of his breath on her skin, the weight of his presence, held her in place. She hated him for knowing her so well, for seeing the vulnerability she tried so hard to hide. But what scared her more was how deeply Rafael had already rooted himself in her life. He was more than a fleeting lover. He was becoming family.

In these moments, Rafael wasn't just claiming her body—he was chipping away at the walls around her heart. The more she surrendered to him, the more she realized how much she wanted him to be there for her twins, Faye and Grace. Watching him with them earlier had shaken something inside her. It was as if Rafael wasn't trying to replace Jacob; he was carving out his own space in their lives.

Rafael moved around the table and reached for her hand, pulling her up with a firm but gentle grip. "Come with me."

She hesitated for a moment, her body tensing in resistance, but eventually, she let him lead her inside the villa. He took her through the expansive living room, past the open doors leading to the pool, and into their bedroom, where the lights were dim, the bed enormous and draped in soft white linens.

Inside the villa, as the doors closed behind them, Rafael was both the lover and the CEO. She had seen him in meetings—calm, calculated, but with the same underlying hunger for control. It was the same focus he applied to acquisitions and takeovers. It unnerved her, how seamlessly he switched from the boardroom to the bedroom, as if no boundary could keep him from taking what he wanted.