Chapter 19

19 19- Rafael! Don’t!

Marissa was pacing around in the room. Akari was bawling her

eyes out and Sophia and Citra were sitting on either side trying to

console her.

Marissa looked around her huge kitchen and tried to feel the pride she once felt whenever she looked at it.

This was not only her kitchen but also her biggest achievement. Her first step towards her fight with Sinclairs.

“I didn’t work so hard all these years so that some jerk would try to snatch it away from me just because I don’t have anyone behind me…” she was muttering to herself

“Hey. It’s OK. Don’t cry, sweetie.” Sophia tried to console Akari who was fumbling with her handkerchief.

“I’m sorry, Marissa….” Akari hiccupped wiping her cheeks, “he had so much filth in his eyes and the way he started touching me… it was getting too much… I… I didn’t know if … if… if I hadn’t called MSin Industries, he might have done something bad to me…. He was he was…” she started crying again.

Citra squeezed her shaking body and gave a concerned look to

Marissa.

“What will we do now, Mar?” Sophia’s eyes were glued to Akari’s trembling figure. And Marissa was thinking hard.

“How about if one of us goes to the MSin’s office and talks to

them?” Marissa gave the idea and Sophia looked at her friend as if she had gone crazy.”

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Usually, Marissa used to take the backseat because she hated the limelight.

“Seriously?” Sophia whispered, “One of us? It’s YOUR business, Mar.

nor

YOU should go and explain to them the problem or just… come up

with some excuse.”

Marissa nodded in agreement. Her heart was going to Akari for whatever Amir did, she was in no mood to spare him.

Her employees were like her family, and she would never forgive a man who would try to abuse them or threaten them.

“Mommy!” she spun around when found Alexander standing there with his tab, “Is everything alright?”

Marissa carefully watched the face of her ten–year–old who was a Xerox of his father. Just then he decided to flip his hair off his forehead just like Rafael used to do.

With a smile on her face, Marissa went to him and crouched down to get to his eye level, “Everything is just fine, sweetheart. Aunt Akari isn’t well.”

She tilted back her head to shoot a gaze at poor Akari.

“She doesn’t look sick to me, Mom,” his intelligent eyes moved to Akari and then back to Marissa’s face, “If someone is harassing her then she can easily report it to the Women’s Protection and support cell in Kanderton.”

For a moment, Akari almost forgot to cry and looked at the three–year–old with an open mouth. The rest of the women’s mouths were also hung open in shock.

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19 19- Rafael! Don’t!

“How do you know about this protection cell?” Marissa held his shoulders to plant a kiss on his cheek that he immediately wiped with the back of his hand.

“Geez, Mommm… pleaseee…” Marissa had to suppress her laughter when he protested, “I’m not a baby anymore.”

“Yes, you are!” Marissa winked and turned to Akari, “Aki. Let’s go to meet YOUR Dean…” she trailed off mischievously.

As expected, Akari quit crying.

“Dean?” she thought she was dreaming.

“Yeah. Don’t you want to meet him in person? Let’s go and either present this case before him or meet his boss… What was his name?” Marissa started snapping her fingers, “Oh… Mr. Joseph.” Her eyes lit in excitement.

Akari got to her feet abruptly, “Let me wash my face first. I also need to apply a good lip color.” She was blushing profusely when heard her favorite ladies laughing hard behind her.

“This girl!” Citra’s face palmed and then chuckled. On the other hand, Marissa was thinking of ways to tackle Amir who was getting

out of hand now.

“The nerve of this man…

She wanted to strangle his neck.

***

“Mr. Rafael. What do you think about our packaging proposal? I assure you, we won’t disappoint you.” The president of another packaging factory was there at MSin’s office to convince Rafael

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19 19–Rafael Don’t!

about his job.

He wanted this contract from MSin Industries at any cost because getting this contract meant that he would be popular in the market and that could open new doors for his business.

“We are interested, James,” Rafael revolved his seat a little eyeing the man sitting across him, “But we don’t agree with your quotations.”

“Please, Sir. We can come up with something on common grounds if you agree. We really want this contract. We know what the Crimsons did to you. We might be a small name in the market, but we are known for our honesty. All we need is a chance.”

Rafael kept fiddling with his pen between his fingers. The man seemed quite reasonable with his offer but still, Rafael didn’t want to go for this quotation.

“Why don’t you do some costing and revise your rates? We might think about it then…” he trailed off eyeing the man meaningfully.

He and his team felt excited with the chance, “Sure, sir. I’ll come

tomorrow with the revised rates and…”

“No, Mr. James,” Joseph said with amusement, “Take your time and come to us after the weekend.” The man quickly got to his feet and reached out to shake hands with Rafael.

“Sure, sir. Thank you very much,” he couldn’t keep his teeth inside his mouth, the smile seemed to be permanently glued to his lips, “I assure you, you won’t regret your decision.”

When he left, Joseph looked at Rafael whose eyes were already on him. The moment their eyes met, they both started laughing.

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19 19–Rafael! Don’t!

“He seemed too ambitious,” Rafael remarked, and Joseph agreed.

They were still enjoying the moment when a panicked Dean came inside without knocking.

“What?” Joseph frowned looking at him while Rafael leaned back in

his seat.

“The Alexander’s Caterers…”

“Yes,” Rafael nodded, “I asked you to contact them again. What did they say?”

Dean shook his head wildly, “I was planning to call them in the evening, but they are here.”

“They are what?” Rafael was at once on his feet.

“They are here, sir. Mia just informed me and made them sit in the reception area…”

Rafael didn’t let him finish, “What are they doing in the reception area, make them sit in the guest room.”

Dean halted for a moment and looked at his boss who was usually a calm and cool man but seemed to be on the edge right now.

The guest room was only reserved for big corporate clients, not for small business owners. With confusion in his eyes, he saw his boss heading towards the door when Joseph was quick to stop him, “Rafael! No brother! Don’t!”

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