Cheryl watched a man skillfully move his hands to cut the steak, grill it, and add oil, garlic, and other spices. His broad back, clad in a black t-shirt with a few tattoos sticking out at the top of his neck, looks very broad when looked at from behind. Cheryl swears that Veronica's taste in men is always pretty good. Starting with Mateo—her brother, then now Veronica's ex-boyfriend who was standing while serving mouthwatering dishes. Damn!
"Fael, what are you cooking?" Veronica came down the stairs at the end of the hall, drying her wet hair.
Cheryl watched her appearance silently. Veronica does have a perfect face and body. No wonder many gorgeous men surround her.
"Only steaks are available in the fridge. Do you want anything else?" The man greeted Veronica and hugged her waist as if they were used to doing all that.
"Actually, I don't want to eat. I don't have an appetite. But Cheryl needs food, considering she's been with me crying all day." Veronica turned her head to Cheryl, who was sitting on her chin.
As soon as Cheryl tried to avert her gaze, she couldn't allow the ridiculous look on her face when she was looking at that sexy… man!
No, it won't!
"So… Cheryl, what kind of food do you want?" asked that man.
Cheryl looked at Veronica, and she immediately understood her confusion.
"Cheryl will love your steak." Veronica put her arm around that man's waist again, and Cheryl swore that now her hands were numb as if she wanted to do the same.
Damn! That's the second swearing.
"What happened?"
Cheryl faintly heard the two people start talking seriously as if that man reciprocating Veronica's embrace was curious about the arrival of two women who ran through and cried for a long time without giving any explanation. Meanwhile, Cheryl had been doing the same thing since they arrived, rubbing Veronica's back without any intention of explaining to the figure of a foreign man who was waiting for them to cry without interrupting. Only then did Veronica say that she wanted to take a shower and clean herself up, and then that man decided to cook as if he knew that his two guests were trying hard to hold back their hunger.
Or not…
Because Veronica told that man she wasn't hungry, she probably has still been affected by her emotions for the past few hours.
"Nothing. I just wanted to come here to visit you."
"I remember you said everything was fine two years ago and I found out that Mateo cheated on you."
Cheryl's body stiffened when her brother's name was called.
An affair two years ago? Cheryl still remembers that incident. And now she curses her brother again for his disgraceful act toward Veronica, even though Cheryl finally realizes it was all a misunderstanding. Mateo turns into a lunatic when he loses Veronica and Cheryl finds out that her brother was just being framed by his disgusting secretary at that time.
"It was just a misunderstanding, Fael. You can't bring it up again." There was a tone of displeasure in Veronica's voice which indicated that she disagreed with the man named Fael.
Cheryl frowned, his name is Fael? It's hilarious.
"Still, it changed my opinion of him. Then now you come crying again. You think I wouldn't be suspicious of him after finding out how infatuated you are with that weird guy?"
Cheryl still remembers what they did—her and Veronica—a few hours ago in Mateo's office.
Veronica slaps Mateo for seeing that man let a sexy woman sit on his lap in front of all her business colleagues. It's a disgusting sight considering that Cheryl has been in a straight and fun relationship with her boyfriend who has never played with other women, unlike Mateo, who is a playboy and an asshole. Veronica is unlucky to fall in love with Meteo.
But as soon as Veronica slapped her brother, Cherryl found herself taking off the high heels she was wearing and hitting her brother's head and face with all her might before running after Veronica.
Then, here they are… in a luxurious apartment owned by a man Cheryl knows as Veronica's ex-lover.
"May I stay here tonight with Cheryl?" Veronica stood on tiptoe and reached out her hand to hug Fael's shoulder, who was much taller than her. Cheryl frowned deeply. Wait a minute, why did Veronica's actions make her look the same as Mateo? Playing with other people when they are in a relationship?
Cheryl regrets the spontaneous decision that popped into her head when she threw her expensive shoes at Mateo's face.
"Okay, I'll find a hotel later." The man sighed while turning over the steak that gave off a fragrant aroma.
Cheryl's stomach churned. She's hungry!
"His name is Rafael. We will stay here to avoid Mateo. I'm still not ready to meet him." Veronica turned from the kitchen and sat beside Cheryl.
Raphael. Cheryl repeated in her heart.
"Coming to your ex-boyfriend's apartment won't solve your current problem, Vero." Cheryl knew she sounded silly when giving advice, but her lips felt itchy if she didn't immediately say what had been bothering her for a long time.
"My relationship with Rafael is not like what you think. We are close, but not that close either." Veronica looked at her with a serious expression as if begging Cheryl to believe her explanation.
Cheryl took a deep breath. No matter how bad Mateo was, he was still her brother. And Cheryl can't deny that she's been happy all this time because Mateo is back with Veronica, her best friend. Because Cheryl knows that Mateo needs a firm, loving woman like Veronica to control his chaotic life. But Cheryl didn't just close her eyes and ears even though now she still feels her heart was on Mateo's side. Veronica deserves the best…
"If you want to end your relationship with my brother, I will support you."
Veronica shook her head. "Not that easy." The corners of her eyes watered again, making Cheryl regret that she had mentioned Mateo again.
"Don't think about him. I don't want to make you sad anymore." Cheryl hastily shook her head. "Okay, tell me where I can shower and clean myself. My body feels sticky because your tears flooded all over my clothes." She is trying to make a joke.
"Later, you better wait for Rafael to finish cutting the meat. You must eat because I know your stomach has been growling for a long time." As soon as Veronica cried, so quickly, her face turned amused. Cheryl knew that she just hiding her sadness, but Cheryl decided to follow her game.
"I'm so hungry," she moaned, leaning back.
"Your food will be ready soon!" said the man in the kitchen.
Cheryl frowned in confusion. Her voice was too loud for Rafael to hear it. Oh, how embarrassed she was now.
"Don't be shy. Rafael is not a serious guy. He likes to joke around and I'm sure we'll soon eat and laugh together." Veronica said.
Now Cheryl knows why Veronica came to Rafael's apartment. Shee wanted to laugh with that man and forget about her troubles for a moment.
"Seems like that," Cheryl glanced briefly at that man and instantly, a short smile graced his handsome face when he found Cheryl watching him.
Go to hell! Cheryl swears that his face is much more handsome than the many gorgeous men around her. Even more attractive than Mateo! What made Veronica choose the jerk Mateo over this gorgeous guy?
"What do you think?" Veronica smiled mischievously.
Cheryl immediately averted her gaze, not wanting to be caught up in the terrible charm of her best friend's ex-lover.
"What?"
"Raphael." Veronica snapped her fingers. The rest of the tears were still clearly visible on her face, but now there was an amused smile that she seemed to be trying hard to show. "Would you be willing to trade that sweet Carlos for the dazzling Rafael?"
Cheryl swore that she was glaring perfectly at Veronica.
No, how could Cherryl exchange her lover for a foreign man she had just met? No, absolutely not.