Raphael

"So how's your little boyfriend?" Raph asked me as I placed the tray of food on his desk. Then I looked at him. "Huh? What?" I said, "He's not my. . ." I said then I sighed. "I'm gonna go now." I said. I didn't send lunch that day, I'd given it to Marion to do it. I wasn't quite feelin' the vibe to go in that office so I was tryin' to avoid him as much as I can. Later on that evening as I was getting ready to leave I heard the kitchen door open and when I turned to see who it was I rolled my eyes and frowned, "What do you want?" I asked as I kept on putting stuff together.

"I wanted to see if you're still here and turns out you are." Raph said. "Well, tough break cause I'm about to leave." I said and carried my bag and started walking towards the door. "Are you avoiding me?" He asked then I touched the door knob and turned to face him. "Yes." I said then opened the door and got outta the kitchen. "Come on, why would you?" He asked walking closely behind. "Why not?" I replied slightly walking faster. "Is this about this morning?" He asked but I didn't reply, "At least let me take you home." He said holding my hand stopping me from walking.

I looked at him and before I could answer Alec showed up. I looked at Alec and then back at Raphael. "Um, Alec's taking me." I said then he let go of my arm. "Okay." He replied then he walked away. Why did my choice feel wrong? He was being inappropriate this morning about something he shouldn't even care about. I am just establishing boundaries, right?

Raph's POV~

I took a good look at myself in the mirror before I pushed my hair back from my forehead and sighed. I went downstairs to the living room where my favourite pull-out was. It was some kind of couch bed that I slept on every night. I never used my room; it's so sad that i had this whole house to myself and it was lonely. I was always dreadful about the thought of sleeping alone. I cuddled up in my soft blanket and got comfortable on the pull-out. Sleeping in my room just brought me flashbacks of my mom tucking me in bed, reading me bedtime stories.

I got startled when I saw a lightning flash then I sighed and I heard rain pouring outside. I closed my eyes and remembered a day when there was a raging storm, and I was scared so my mom who was seated at the fireplace called me and I went and sat on her lap and she sang to me till I fell asleep. I opened my eyes and closed them again in terrible pain. I still remembered the day of the accident as if it happened this morning. It was since then that my deficiency had been acting up cause I refused to eat anything and starved myself till I passed out.

Madison found me unconscious on the floor one day as she'd come to check on me cause I hadn't appeared at work for a week. She took me to the hospital and I didn't wake up for about four days. She was worried about me and she urged me to take care of myself but as always I was reluctant. The personal nutritionist was her idea, she needed someone to make sure I ate and not occasionally pass out. I had been eating since then so I still don't know if it's the nutritionist or its Lee.

I felt so stupid after acting all jealous the other day at the restaurant even though I didn't think she noticed. I mean I don't own her right? So I don't have any right to feel this way when she's with another guy but why do I still do? That's the point. Why do I feel hurt or like something's in my throat when I see her with Alec? They're just friends right? What do I care? She's probably not into the rich but obviously face a horrible trauma that show their desperation for someone to be with type. I still wish I could've asked her sooner if I could take her home maybe by then Alec hadn't asked her.

I sighed, of course he'd already asked her probably yesterday at the restaurant, it's a typical guy thing. I don't know what is happening to me; the more I'm around her I feel dumber by the minute. I even thought of making up some business trip you know, like really far away just so I could spend time with her. Far from work, far from home, far from Alec.She's definitely been taking up most of my thought space.

***

Next morning, I woke up and did my routine then I called Brian, my chauffeur cause I didn't feel like driving today. He then drove me to work and I went straight to my office. I took a seat and started on one of my files, we were working on a new project which I haven't thought of yet. I was expecting to have a board meeting today to hear from the members if they've got something. After Madison came to notify me about the meeting I picked up my files and head to the board room. I found everyone had taken their seats so I did the same and we began our meeting.

None of the members were pitching any ideas and I obviously had to say something. I sighed. Working is such a drag! I thought as I cleared my throat and scanned the faces of the members. "Anyone with an idea on our next project?" I asked them and everyone was face down. "How about a living room set?" Armen said, I sighed "We already did that." I said. "So no one has anything, anything at all?" I said and silence followed my voice. "Okay. We're gonna do a homemade cafe set with two armchairs and a coffee table." I announced and everyone's face lit up and they were murmuring against one another.

"We'll call it the MiLee project. You're all dismissed." I said and left the room and entered my office. Madison came inside with a grin on her face and I looked at her curiously. "Sir, great save back there." She told me, then I chuckled "Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one standing in between the company and its bankruptcy." I said, "I'm really proud of you Raphael." She said smiling, "And I'm sure if your parents were here they'd be too." She told me then I nodded and she flashed me a smile before she left the office.

It was almost evening when I was about to clean up my desk and head on home. Madison came in my office and I gave her a smile "What's the time Madison?" I asked her and she shrugged. "I guess it's almost seven." She said, "So, I'm going home now." She said, then left and I cleaned up my desk and stepped out of the office. Then I heard loud noises in the kitchen then I went to check it out. I entered the kitchen and found no one then I heard the noise again and went to check the freezer and found Lee inside.

"Lee?" I called then I removed a box that was holding back the door and took a look at it. "What are you---" She cut me off. "No, no don't remove that. . ." She said clenching her fists and closed her eyes when I heard the door slam shut. "Box." She finished and she sighed then I turned to look at door and tried to open it but it was locked. "It's no use." She told me taking the box away from me and putting it at a higher shelf. "Now what?" I asked, "You got us locked in the freezer, that's what." She said not looking at me then I sat down.

"What were you even doing here anyways?" She asked me, "I heard some noise in the kitchen so I just wanted to check it out." I told her. "You should've just left it alone." She said and sat down in front of me. "Alec's not coming today?" I asked and she glared at me. "What do you think you're doing?" She asked raising her brow. "What do you mean?" I asked confused. "First, you got us locked in the freezer, and now you're asking me about Alec. He's none of your business." She told me. "Right. Sorry, I was just a concerned citizen. I didn't mean to lock us in." I said.

"Just don't say another word, please!" She said, "You really hate me, don't you?" I asked, she stared at me. "I don't hate you." She said. After a while Lee had already fallen asleep and staying a while in the freezer gave me the chills then I started hearing Lee shivering then I looked at her and felt sorry for her so I took off my jacket and covered her with it but she was still shaking from the cold so I went and sat next to her and embraced her and the shaking died slowly.

I sighed and looked at her and she looked so peaceful. "My presence seems to annoy you." I whispered. We were in that manner for a while when I heard the door open and I looked up to see who it was. "Sir!" Marion said, "Oh, thank God Marion." I said relieved, "Little help." I told him. "Oh sure!" He said and he helped me lift up Lee then I carried her "Thanks again, Marion." I said, "Sure. But how did you..." I cut him off. "I accidentally locked us in earlier. Who knows how long we would've been stuck in there if it wasn't for you." I told him.

"Goodnight, Marion." I said, "Night, sir." He said. I went to the parking lot and put her in the car and drove her to my place because it was nearer and besides I didn't want to disturb her dad in the middle of the night. When I got home, I went inside and carried her upstairs to my room. I tucked her in then I changed and went downstairs and slept at my usual spot, the couch with my blanket. As I slowly drifted to sleep I could still feel her on me then I smiled and shut my eyes.

End of Raph's POV~