" Thank you so much Rafael for tonight, I had a great evening ", Ashley told him.
" Despite the fact that you ate snails tonight ", Rafael said, chuckling.
" Yeah, despite that. I had a great time with you tonight. Next time, I'll let you choose them for me", she said and then laughed.
" Next time ?!", Rafael asked while looking at Ashley.
" Yeah, I mean ... if there is a next time ... like if you still want to hang out with me next time not tomorrow but next time next time", Ashley stammered.
" Sure ! I had a great time tonight with you and I think we should totally hang out again. Just tell me when you are free ", Rafael told her.
" Alright ! Good night Rafael !", Ashley said .
" Good night Ashley !", Rafael replied.
While trying to get out of the car, Ashley had difficulty unbuckling her seat belt.
" Let me help ypu ", Rafael said and then he moved closer to her, leaned over, there was only a very small space between them, more precisely between their lips. Ashley's heart started racing as she thought Rafael was going to kiss her when he just tried to unbuckle his seat belt.
" And ... done. You can go now ", Rafael told her as he unbuckled her seat belt.
" Thanks. See you and drive safely ", Ashley said and then got out of his car. She watched Rafael leave before going back to her apartment.
The next day at the Herrera Residence
Rafael and his men were in full meeting when his phone rang, he ignored the call but that
the person continued to call him several times even if he had put his phone in silent mode.
At the end of the meeting all the other men of Rafael came out, there were only those to
whom Rafael had the most confidence: Carlos, Pedro and Diego. Rafael then looked at his
nervously.
" It's him, isn't it ?! ", Carlos asked.
" Yes, he hasn't stopped calling me since this morning ", Rafael told him.
" He called me several times too a few days ago and asked me why you hadn't answered his phone call ", Carlos said.
" And what did you tell him ? ", Rafael asked.
" I said that you had a lot of work and that's why you weren't picking up your phone ", Carlos replied.
" And he believed you ?! ", Rafael asked, startled.
" Until then yes, but he knows that something is wrong that's why he doesn't stop calling you now ", Carlos told him.
" I guess you haven't told him the truth yet, right ? ", Pedro asked.
" Of course, I haven't and no one else would say anything about it until we have at least a clue on which could have turned the shipment ", Rafael said with a raised tone.
" Alright ", they all replied.
" I think you should at least call him just so that he doesn't have more suspicions ", Carlos said.
" Fine ! I'll call him ", Rafael said, took his phone, composed a number, breathed deeply before pressing the call button.
" It's ringing ", Rafael said.
" Do you want us to leave you alone ? ", Carlos asked.
" Yes, you may leave ", Rafael said. Then the person he was calling picked up the phone and Carlos, Pedro and Diego left him.
" Hola, Padrino ! ", Rafael said.
" Hola Rafael ! It's been a while that I haven't heard from you. How are you doing ? ", the man behind the phone replied.
" Yeah, I've been a little bit busy this time but I'm fine and how are you doing ? ", Rafael said, nervously.
" Well, I'm not good at all Rafael. Do you know why ? " , the man replied.
" No, I don't. What happened, Padrino ?", Rafael asked.
" It is rather to you that I should ask this question Rafael. I was more than astonished when Don Calderòn called me and told me that his men still hadn't received their order ", the man said.
" Yes, we had some little problems but don't worry, they will receive their order in time ", Rafael replied, anxiously.
" What kind of problems, Rafael ? ", the man asked with a raised tone.
" We had some small transport problems but we are fixing that. Don Calderòn will receive his order very soon ", Rafael told him.
" It is better for you that they receive these weapons as soon as possible if not you'll be in big big trouble Rafael, you know that don't you ?", the man said firmly.
Rafael didn't say anything.
" I'll kiss Madrina for you ", the man said and hung up the phone.
Rafael's thoughts after that phone call were : " I have to find out the person who diverted this f*cking shipments and that no matter what it will cost me "
The man that Rafael called earlier is his godfather, Ramon Agulla or his padrino in Spanish. Rafael's father, Jorge Herrera was the right hand of Don Ramon and also his confidant, he knew all his little secrets. Don Ramon raised dRafael as his own son when he lost his parents and he was only 10 years old and Rafael took over his business many years later.
At Wrentford university, it was lunch time for Ashley and she was taking it with Kamila and Bard as always. Kamila was talking to her but Ashley was totally lost in her thoughts.
" The Earth to Ashley ? Ashley ?! Do you hear me ?! ", Kamila said.
" Uh ... What ?! ", Ashley stammered.
" Well, I was telling you what happened to me during Mr. Langley's class this morning ", Kamila told her.
" Yes ... of course. Mr. Langley's class and then what happened ? ", Ashley replied.
" Well, I've already finished telling it so I won't repeat myself again ", Kamila said, being snotty.
" By the way , what were you doing last night? We've been looking for you as we wanted to try this new French restaurant, Le Bosquet, which just opened ", Kamila asked.
" Well, I was with someone last night and I put my phone on silent mode ", Ashley replied.
" Really ?! You were with your ' friend guy ' , weren't you ?", Kamila asked.
" Yeah and we went to this French restaurant, Le Bosquet, that you told us about, Ashley replied with a smile on her face.
" Uh-huh . How did you end up there ? You have to book a table days and days in advance to eat it there and they don't accept anyone there ", Kamila said.
" Well we had a reservation arriving there. And what do you mean by anyone ? ", Ashley told her.
" Duh, never mind. Did something special happen last night with your ' friend guy ' ?", Kamila replied and then rolled her eyes.
" Actually it's none of your business Kami. If you'll excuse-me, I'll finish my lunch somewhere else ", Ashley said, annoyed.
" I always tell you everything Ash, you are here closed like an oyster. So go ahead ! Go sit there alone if you want , I don't care anyway ", Kamila said , being snotty with her arms crossed.
" That's it ! I'm leaving. Let know when you are done reacting like a kid ", Ashley replied getting up to go eat at another table.
" Oh ! Come on girls, that's enough now. Ash please stay and you Kami apologize to her ", Brad said.
" I what ?! No way !", Kamila shouted, Ashley was already eating on another table.
" You were very mean to her you know " , Brad told Kamila.
" Pfff. Have you seen how she talked to me ? It was her who was mean there, I was just asking a simple question ", Kamila replied.
" You were interrogating her rather than asking her a simple question as you said ", Brad said.
" Oh ! Shut up and listen to me ! Ashley met a guy a few days ago and he invited her last night. If she becomes closer to that guy , she won't be interested in you anymore. So we have to do everything to prevent her from getting closer to that guy. Is that clear ?", Kamila said.
" It's not like she's ever been interested in me ", Brad replied.