Solitude & Storms

5.

Downstairs, Isabelle tiredly cleaned up.

Raphael was soon back and when he sat at the dining table, she went over tohim. His expression was even more dark than when she'd arrived that morning.

She stood in silence for a moment, studying him.

His gaze rose and met hers. He raised a brow at her curious stare. "Ipresume you're waiting for a thank you?" He looked dismissively at his watch. "You won't begetting one. All you did was your job, one you're getting paid for after all."

She shook her head. "I'm just wondering when exactly you became so empty."He froze. But that was his only reaction to her words. Isabelle sighed. "Aworld of difference from the Raphael I remember."

His expression hardened. "Have dinner ready by six PM."

She smiled tightly. "Are you this rude to Aunt Rosa too?"

He gave her a narrow eyed look. "Rosa raised me. The audacity of you tocompare yourself to her."

She gave him a cheeky smile. "Why? Because I'm much better and you like memore?" He gave her a flat look which only brightened her amusement, making hergiggle. "Not surprising, after all, I was your best friend-"

"Your duties are to clean the house," Raphael interrupted sharply. "See toit that the pantries are always stocked and my wine cellar is never lacking.Have breakfast and dinner ready whenever I demand it, which means you will beawake by six in the morning and asleep after ten at night. You don't touch anyof the cars in my garage, they're not your responsibilty. The first and secondfloors of the house are your responsibilities, the third floor is off limits.So is Rayan's room."

She gasped. Isabelle's firm realization that he had no intention ofacknowledging their childhood friendship was momentarily overshadowed by thename Raphael had just mentioned. "Is that his name? The child, his name isRayan?"

Raphael gaped at her, his face paling as he realized what he'd just said."No."

"Yes."

"No!"

"Yes, it is, you just said Rayan."

He clenched his teeth for a moment and then gave her a dark look. "If I everhear that name outside these walls, from someone unconnected to me, you'redead."

Isabelle went still, staring at him. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. It won't take much to make you disappear."

Her eyes widened. The threat was real. There was not a trace of amusement onhis face, not a sparkle nor a twinkle of mirth. He was dead serious.

Her mouth twitched. A mild rush of panic filled Isabelle's chest as shestruggled to hold it in, but there was no use. She pressed her lips together withher last remaining effort but the hysterical laughter bubbling in her throatstill splattered out of her mouth, filling the hall in which they stood.

With wide eyes, she slapped a hand over mouth. The laughter still seeped outlike water between her fingers.

His expression melted into a look of total defeat and Raphael rememberedexactly why she'd gotten her way with him so often when they were kids.Isabelle's brain didn't work like other people's. Frightening her was more anaspiration than a possibility. Angering her worked beautifully, though, whichwas why he'd provoke her so often back then.

Clenching his jaw at her disregard for his authority, he turned on his heeland marched away. If it wasn't for Rosa. If it wasn't for Rosa, he'd haveturned her away at the door!

"Wait!" she called to his back. "I'm sorry for laughing!"

She didn't sound even slightly sorry so he just kept walking.