7.The Real You

Mariana pov

I was finally starting to understand him "Raphael Espinoza", and his ability at intruding into others privacy,With or without your consent.

The windows to my room was slightly opened, with sunlight bleeding across the room floor. I stood at the front of the mirror, hair tousled, Nightgown clinging to my skin.

I turned around when he entered, without a knock, newspaper in hand,and jaw clenched.

"we need to talk "he said.

My stomach twisted. "what wrong ?".

He gave me the paper. The front page headline nearly made me choke on my breath.

"under grad disappears in a midnight Deal -mariana silvers last seen existing "Mercy's Grace General Hospital, with popular Business tycoon -Raphael Espinoza.

"No I whispered ".

"Am being followed, "he said, voice cold like he knew who it was.

My hands went cold.

How could anyone had possible found out, I hadn't told anyone.

I know Baby girl, Raphael said, taking the paper from Me

"But i became Anxious, my grandmother. What if they have also found out about her.

I need to go and see my grandmother, "you can't "he said firmly, leaving no room for argument.

"Not now atleast It too dangerous ".

Panic moved through my very being, she is all I have left.

"you still have me ".

My heart skipped a beat again.

I moved away from his view, to avoid him seeing my Red cheeks. I don't understand what we truly are, one moment you are my "Captor and then next moment..... You are protecting me".

He was already in front of me, voice quite. "I told you. I don't want to own you. I simply want to protect you ".

"And what if I still don't feel safe with you ".

He looked unreadable, "then I have failed ".

My Anxiety increased to the highest that afternoon. I stayed in my room, watching all the media Spin rumors and lies. They called me all sort of names, gold digger. A manipulator.

None of it was true.

And yet, the guilt pulled at me. She had disappeared over night. Sold herself and lied.

A soft knock interupped my thoughts.

"come in",this time holding a brown box.

"what happened again?"I asked him.

He looked at me before quietly opening the box and pulling out a beautiful bracelet.

I frowned, wondering if such delicate time was when he should be trying to sweep me off my feet.

What is that?, consider it your new personal bodyguard. I looked at him quite confused.

"in that bracelet include a tracker embedded into the clasp. He carefully explained. This is to keep you safe when am not around to do so.

Anger spunned up inside me like an erupting Volcano. "So you are now tracking me now?".

"Am protecting you ".

I was quite relectuant at firdt ,but I took out the bracelet and he wasted no time in putting it on.

When his fingers brushed against my skin, it felt as if fire was set upon that spot he had touched.

His touch felt warm and gentle, it made my breath caught in between.

"I don't think if I would be able to ever understand you,"I whispered.

"you weren't suppose to try to understand me,"he said voice barely a whisper. You are just suppose to understand that I will never let any harm before you definitely not in this life, nor the next.

We just stood in each other Embrace, my head on his chest, his chin on my head.

But this calm didn't last long.

A loud noise was had outside the penthouse, then suddenly came a loud bang at the door.

Raphael went completely still.

I lifted my head, looking at Raphael what exactly is going on.

He said notthing.

A loud -voice all the way from the hallway.

"Raphael Espinoza, this is the federal intelligence Bureaur. Open the door this instance.

I was frozen to the spot.

I looked at Raphael expression had turned completely different, jaw clenched, fists clenched ,he looked like a different person.

Just completely terrifying.

"Don't move "he told me.

Raphael... What is going on?.

He didn't answer but just rather pulled out a gun from a safe near by. It looked loaded. He placed it behind his back. I Stood in front of him, stopping is movement who exactly are you.

He finally looked at me in the eyes.

His eyes looked like a different person, voice void of any emotion.

"someone who hadn't being completely truthful to you".

He then cocked the Gun and walked straight into the Authorities.