Her eyes widened as she noticed the sudden fury in him. He had no idea how many times she had fantasized about making a pillow for him out of her hair, how many times she had considered having it all cut off to stop the fantasy from haunting her. But she'd changed her mind at the last minute, unable to deny herself even the most agonizing thoughts of him.
She smirked. 'How many times, Raphael?' she inquired quietly.
His lips pursed. 'More than I care to consider!'
'Even after you reconciled with Lora?'
'There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about you,' he rasped. 'Of what I want to do to you.'
'Raphael, vengeance is a destructive emotion.' The vehemence in his voice made her shiver.
'Vengeance,' he said slowly again. 'Yes,' he said softly. 'However, it can be a very satisfying emotion.'
Dave Hadley arrived at that moment, his portly body clothed in a black evening suit, a black bow-tie at the throat of his white shirt, and she had no idea what she would have said to him. It reminded her of the fact that he had gone out for the evening. 'I'm sorry you've been inconvenienced in this way, Dave,' she apologized. 'I hope I didn't ruin your evening,' she says.
He smiled, not upset in the least, and looked across the room with interest at the glowering man. 'Not at all,' he replied. 'I only go to the theatre to make my wife laugh.' He turned to face Raphael. 'You must be the gentleman who spoke to my housekeeper,' she says. In a friendly gesture, he extended his hand.
'Yes,' he confirmed, shaking the doctor's hand with a careless disregard for protocol. 'My name is Raphael Mcklerin.'
'Sophia's employer,' Dave nodded, beginning his examination of Sophia with a heavy frown.
'Yes,' Raphael replied succinctly. 'And I'd like to know exactly what's happened to her voice and what you plan to do about it!'
'Raphael!' she exclaimed.
Dave straightened his back. 'I understand your apprehension, Mr Mcklerin—'
'Then please answer the question!' he yelled.
Dave was examining her in such a way that she couldn't remind Raphael of who he was speaking to. He couldn't speak to this gifted man in this manner! With her eyes, she expressed her regret to Dave.
He turned to Raphael with a smile, understanding her concern. 'Miss Williams is my patient, Mr Mcklerin,' she says. He didn't raise his voice, but he managed to express his displeasure with Raphael's tone. 'My examinations and diagnosis are private.' If Miss Williams chooses to tell you about her condition, that is entirely up to her.'
The pleasantly spoken rebuke made Raphael's mouth tighten. 'Miss Williams works for my hotel; I need to know if she is physically capable of carrying out her responsibilities.'
After his examination, Dave squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. 'I have to respond to that one, Sophia,' he said softly, frowning at Raphael. 'Miss Williams, in my opinion, is not capable of fulfilling any singing contract, with you or anyone else.'
'Dave, please!' she pleaded.
He cast a downward glance at her. 'I'm sorry, my dear, but you did not follow my instructions, and now—well, I'm afraid you'll have to pay the price, whether you want to or not.' He sighed as he realized the necessity of it.
She knew what that meant: at least six months of forced rest. She couldn't take it!
'How much is it?' Raphael rasped, his face flushed at how pale she had become.
'I'm afraid I won't be able—'
'Can't tell me that,' Raphael said flatly to the other man. 'Can't you see Sophia and I are a little closer than mere employer and employee?' he insinuated.
'You can't, Raphael—'
'If she requires specialized care, I want to know about it.' Raphael cut across her enraged protest at his outright lie; they weren't even close!
The doctor sighed and shrugged. 'I don't think I'm breaking any rules when I say that the best treatment for Sophia would be at least six months of complete voice rest.' 'I'd like to see you tomorrow, Sophia,' he said firmly. 'In the meantime, I'd like you to rest your voice as instructed.' 'This is the end, Sophia,' he warned in advance. 'If you sing again, you will cause irreparable harm.' 'Do you get it?'
'Yes,' she said flatly.
He gave a satisfied nod. 'Meeting you, Mr Mcklerin, has been an—interesting experience,' he said dryly. 'Perhaps you could use some of your authority to persuade Sophia to do what she's told,' he joked.
Sophia remained in the lounge as Raphael and the other man made their way to the door. How dare Raphael lie about their relationship in order to persuade Dave to tell him about her throat pmarklem!
Because they both knew it was a lie, that they would never be together again.
She was now preoccupied with a more pressing issue. She may have acted recklessly, disobeying Dave Hadley's orders, but tonight had scared her more than she cared to admit.
She meant it when she said she was going to follow his advice. She wasn't sure how she was going to deal with all of her free time. She had no illusions about finding another job; she had been singing for eight years and had no other qualifications. She had plenty of money and rarely spent it on her singing gigs, usually living at the venue where she was performing. No, it wasn't money she was afraid of; it was boredom, the time to think about Raphael that she hadn't allowed herself in years.
She averted her gaze as she heard his return, not wanting him to see how upset she was.
'You really shouldn't have spoken to Dave in that way,' she reprimanded as he returned to the room with a scowl.
'I wanted some answers, and he wasn't giving them,' Raphael sneered. 'Have you been seeing him for a long time?'
'Several months,' she said, shrugging.
'And how long has he been telling you to keep your voice down?' He towered over her, menacingly.
'Several months,' she admitted sarcastically.
'Then why on earth are you still working?' Exasperatedly, Raphael demanded. 'I know how important your career is to you better than most,' he added hesitantly. 'So, why did you take the risk of causing damage to that?'
She took a deep breath in. 'What else could I do?' she scoffed. 'Of course, there's one other profession I'm sure you think I'm very qualified for,' she mocked.
'But the way I'm feeling right now, I don't think I'd be an entertaining diversion for any man.' Bitterly, her mouth twisted.
Raphael swept his gaze over her dispassionately. 'Not many men would want to be entertained by you,' he said sternly. 'Most of them would be planning something far more serious.'
'Whatever,' she said dismissively as she stood up to leave, only to find her path blocked. 'You're getting in my way, Raphael.' Her head bowed as she looked up at him. 'I need to pack my belongings,' she explained as he remained motionless. 'I hope you don't mind if I leave in the morning; it's a little late to find other lodging right now.'
'Where are you going?'
He was so close that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheek. 'I—I have friends,' she said quietly.
'I'm sure you do,' His lips twisted. 'Without a doubt, the majority of them are men.'
'About fifty-fifty,' she said.
'What happens after you rest for six months?' he inquired abruptly.
She exhaled a sigh. 'Perhaps an operation. No, most likely an operation.' She remembered how solemn Dave had appeared when he told her she would have to pay the price. 'Then more rest,' she grumbled.
'All of that is going to cost money,' Raphael thought.
'Yes,' she said emphatically.
'Do you have that kind of cash?' I understand your earnings are substantial, but so are your expenses. 'Your career hasn't been as profitable as you must have hoped!' he added scathingly.
'I have enough money for what I need,' she stated distantly.
Raphael maintained his thoughtful demeanor, crossing the room to gaze out the window for several minutes.
He finally turned. 'I've got a business proposal for you—'
'You already know I'm unable to work —' 'Not that kind of business proposal,' he sighed.
Sophia gave him a sharp look, all the color leaving her face as she noticed how he was looking back at her. 'I wasn't serious when I mentioned the other job for which I'm qualified,' she exclaimed.
'But I am,' Raphael stated quietly. 'This is very serious. 'It's ironic, really,' he remarked mockingly. 'You were paid to leave me, and now I'm offering to pay you to stay with me.'
Sophia's complexion darkened even more. 'I told you I had plenty of money...'
'And I don't believe you,' he stated emphatically.
Sophia's eyes narrowed curiously as she didn't argue the point with him. 'What do you mean you're going to pay me to stay with you?'
'It's quite simple,' he reflected. 'You'll come live with me, and I'll pay your living expenses for as long as it takes you to learn to sing again.' That seems like a good deal to me.'
Sophia was numb. 'And what would you gain from it?'
'You,' he declared arrogantly.