When she heard that voice, she jerked her head back, staring straight into Raphael's scornful blue eyes. She could feel the color draining from her face.
'The days of bringing you a gift after one of your shows are long gone,' he mumbled, his gaze sweeping over her critically.
She appeared to have stopped breathing, as affected by his deep tone as she had always been, pain tightening her chest as she saw his contempt for her in his face. He looked dashing in the black evening suit and white silk shirt, his skin tanned a deep brown, as if he'd just returned from a vacation. Perhaps he had taken his yacht 'Lora' to the Greek islands in the spring, as he liked to do. Maybe he renamed the yacht after his daughter...
She ignored his taunt about bringing her gifts; she had returned every single one of those pricey trinkets when she walked out of his life. 'I thought you were the waiter who brought me my dinner,' she explained stiffly. 'Could you please wait while I dress?'She took up the black gown she'd be wearing for her second show. 'I won't be here for long.'
'Why don't you dress in here?' He lowered himself into an armchair, pulling out a lighter to light the cigarette he had just taken from his gold case.
'I thought you'd quit smoking,' Sophia said, blushing as he looked at her coldly, dark brows raised at her audacity.
'I restarted,' he said abruptly. 'I said why not dress in here, we used to talk while you changed between shows,' she said.
Her cheeks flushed even more. 'There were a lot of things we used to do that we no longer do,' she mumbled.
'I want to talk to you,' Raphael said hesitantly. 'And I have no intention of waiting.'
Anger flashed briefly in her eyes before dissipating. Raphael had every right to be upset with her; he had asked her to be his wife, and she had declined in the most humiliating way possible. She had deeply hurt him, and it was clear that even though he had reconciled with Lora, he had not forgiven her.
'I'm afraid you'll have to,' she said calmly, not wanting to dress in front of him. 'Or don't speak to me at all.'
As he met the obstinate challenge in her eyes, his mouth tightened ominously. 'Go and dress,' he finally said. 'But I'm not going to wait more than five minutes,' he warned.
It took her nearly that long to stop trembling long enough to zip up her dress. Even though she knew Raphael owned the hotel, was currently staying there, and had been aware of his stare throughout her performance, she hadn't expected him to come to her dressing room like this; the last time they spoke, he had made it clear they had nothing more to say to each other.
But she knew the coldly controlled man he'd become wouldn't give her a second longer than the five minutes he'd given her to reapply her make-up and brush her hair. The sparkle that had always been present in her eyes was noticeably absent, but this couldn't be remedied.
'The waiter delivered your dinner,' Raphael said coldly when she rejoined him, disgustedly staring at the chicken sandwich. 'I won't deduct it from your fee if you order dinner for more than five pounds,' he scorned.
She shook her head. 'The sandwich will suffice.'
'Only if you say so.' He gave a dismissive smirk. 'I believe you had lunch today with my son Hugh.' His brow furrowed in perplexity.
She sighed, wondering what Hugh had told his father about the meeting; nothing good, based on his angry exit from the coffee shop. 'I wouldn't say that,' she mumbled. 'I'd already finished my meal when he joined me, and he left before he could finish his.'
'Exactly what did you tell my son about us, Sophia?' Raphael rasped his lips.
His accusing tone surprised her. 'I didn't say anything to him—'
'You can't tell me he was already aware of our affair,' I say. Raphael sat tensely forward.
'It's your father—'
'Would hardly tell a child about his father's indiscretions,' he vehemently denied. 'My father, according to you, is responsible for the majority of the world's sins.'He bit out coldly. 'You were always paranoid about him!'
'Paranoid!' she exclaimed angrily.
'Yes!' His eyes glowed with rage. 'Damn it, the man has been dead for six months, let him rest in peace.'
'Why should I? He hasn't allowed me to live in peace!' She erupted. 'And he did tell Hugh that we were lovers once!' 'Your son casually sat across from me at lunchtime and said as much.'
'I don't think I believe you.'
'Then what do you believe?' she screamed angrily. 'That I would brag to a ten-year-old boy about going to bed with his father? Raphael, you can credit me with a little more compassion than that. Especially since you returned to his mother .'
His head jerked back. 'What? 'Congratulations on the birth of your daughter, Raphael.' Her voice was thin and brittle. 'If she looks anything like her mother, she'll be stunning.' She'd seen a picture of Lora before, a lovely blonde with kind blue eyes.
'Sarah is exactly like Lora,' he said abruptly, appearing to be lost in thought.
She wished she could have expressed her condolences for Lora's death, but she wondered if it would have been inappropriate given the circumstances. 'Did Hugh tell you anything about our meeting?'
Raphael's lips clenched as he stubbed out another cigarette, the ashtray quickly filling up. 'I'd rather not talk about it—'
'You can't come in here breathing fire and hurling accusations at me without giving me a chance to defend myself,' she yelled. 'I have a right to know what Hugh told you—or should I just ask him myself?'
'That might be a little difficult,' Raphael said as he lit another cigarette
'How could it? 'Would you please stop smoking?' She scowled as he smoked his fourth cigarette in twenty minutes.
His lips twisted. 'You were always a nag about that.' However, after only a quarter of a cigarette, he stubbed it out.
'I wasn't a nag; I just thought it was a rather stupid way to self harm.' But my main concern this time was for myself; the smoke isn't helping my voice!'
Dark brows furrowed. 'Is that your explanation for your earlier performance?'
Her lips clenched. 'If you weren't satisfied, I'm sure my agent would be happy to discuss the termination of my contract with you,' she was stung into responding, well aware of how she had come across on stage tonight.
'You'll do,' he said dismissively. 'That breathy quality in your voice has always been sexy as hell. 'It's a shame your career hasn't reached the heights of stardom that you so desperately desired,' he mocked. 'How come, Sophia?' He raised his brows in mockery.
She shook her head. 'I guess I'm not cut out for the big leagues.'
'But the last I heard, you were going to make it happen for you,' he pressed.
'Couldn't you have made your own way to fame?'
She had anticipated the insult, but that didn't make it any easier to accept when it arrived.
'Didn't my father pay you enough, Sophia?' he inquired.