Chapter 38

Her red lips were glued in an "O" shape. She blinked a few times as if she didn't expect him to talk to her like that. She sighed, which seemed to help pull her out of her trance. "So are you serious? Baker?" she asked, folding her arms. "I don't think my relationship with Atiya has anything to do with business."

"Will Mrs Murillo go?" Ceasar asked as he approached. "Not now," Raquel hissed at him. "Mother, don't tell her friends that. Ceasar has done nothing wrong." . "Yes, my mother is going." He gave Raquel a cold look. She had to go All the talk about Atiya made him nervous. And Raquel 's insensitivity didn't help

Tears welled up in her eyes. Staring at the ceiling, she took several deep breaths. "All I wanted to do was talk to you, but you turned it into an argument. I feel like I can't do anything right. I'm just watching over you You're the only one left for me "

Aquila studied Raquel . Deep in his heart he felt his chest tighten. Sure, his mother wasn't perfect, but she wasn't worth his wrath. That was Raquel Murillo . She was born critical. He joked himself when he expected her kind and warm mother. Her guilt clouded her judgment, and he reached out and embraced her. She sobbed several times against his shoulder, and then she walked away. "I'm sorry. I've been having a bit of a bad day," Aquila said, looking into his swollen eyes, she snorted and nodded, "I see." She picked up her coat and scarf and Ceasar gave her personally delivered. Paused. "I just wanted you to know that I invited a few people to the celebration. They're just old friends."

Aquila raised an eyebrow. It was never a good thing. When Raquel does something, it usually serves a purpose. "Who are your friends?"

She shook her head. "They are just old friends.

Aquila turned the knob and pulled. He reached out his hand and hugged Raquel with one of his arms. She slapped him on the back. "See you later," she said as she entered the corridor. He nodded. "yes."

Her shoulders tense as she turns around. "Aquila ?"

"yes?"

"I love you," she said. Her tone was tense, but he knew she meant it. "It's just that my family never expressed their feelings."

Aquila nodded as he leaned against his open door. "know."

She gave him a smile. "Okay. Goodbye."

He waved his hand and closed the door. Alone, he sighed. Nothing about my conversations with Ceasar or my mother made me feel any better. All he wanted to do now was crawl under the bed and never come out. But he had a business to run, and he had to throw a celebration. He sighed and went to his room. His life went on whether he wanted it or not. Luckily, his head was clear when he got to the office. After he had a hot shower and a pot of coffee, he felt ready to take on the day. Debbie sat at her desk and fussed a little too much on the phone. Here and there he managed to catch a small one. Talk about lawyers and police. It all sounded like unnecessary drama to him right now. He tapped his pen on his desk and looked out the window. The snow from the previous night was still clinging to the roof and awnings. The sun shone on the flakes, making them glisten. He wondered if he could see snow again without thinking of Atiya and her luscious lips. He cleared his throat. Even thinking about the kisses he had exchanged the day before, he couldn't decide what to do. Rather, his mind stalled until only one option was left for him. Don't tell her what his company has done and keep her. It was what his heart wanted. But he knew better. Hi, he was a mess. A commotion outside his office caught his attention. He caught A glimpse of pure white hair jumping through the window and appearing at the door. "April ?" he asked. He blinked to focus on her when she burst into his office. "Aquila ," she said. Without waiting for her invitation, she fell down on the chair opposite him. "Hey, what are you doing here?" His heart sank and then rose. Was Atiya here too? What would he say to her? She put a colorful handbag on her lap and squinted at him through her iridescent glasses. "What did you think I was doing?" she held up her finger. "Wait. I didn't mean to start like that." She cleared her throat as she stared at him. "What happened yesterday?"

The feeling of Atiya rushing at him raced through his body. He wouldn't allow it, and the heat burned his cheeks. "We're- uh… The last time he was so at a loss for words was in a middle school play when he had to hang from the ceiling as an angel in a manger.

April shook her head. "No, but your blushing and stuttering are enough to tell. So what happened? Did I do something wrong?"

Aquila blinked. Did she just ask if kissing Atiya was wrong? "Hmm… I don't believe it."

April adjusted her glasses. "Have more confidence, dude. Of course not, I know how to kiss a woman, "she waved at him. Aquila straightened his spine. It was strange, but in April he expected nothing more. "I know how to kiss a woman."

April knocked on the desk. "Better. Okay, if you weren't wrong why is she such a bear today? "

She was so relieved to hear that she was upset because it was so important to Atiya . But it was quickly replaced with guilt when she realized it was her fault. It's all his fault. "I got a call last night and I had to go home."

April 's face hardened. "Did you find out that he had a child with another woman?"

"what? No. "