Chapter 5

~Edwina~

"Oh my God, I'm sorry," comes a lady's voice and I hear Raffaele ask, "Jas?".

My eyes look up to see the lady and I'm stunned at her undefined beauty. She has the body of a model and the black dress she wears, clings to her body bringing out her natural curves. Her brunette hair with honey-coloured streaks crashes against her shoulders in perfect waves and for a moment I'm jealous of her beauty.

I finally pull my eyes away looking at the mess she has made and I hear Raffaele ask, "Tesoro are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine don't worry about it, "I say with a tight-lipped smile as I stand up avoiding the broken pieces of glass on the floor.

"Raffaele, is it you?" comes the lady's voice.

Raffaele stands up slowly dragging his chair back and hugs the lady saying, "Yes it is."

I frown my forehead at their warm exchange wondering what the hell is going on.

"Jasmine, I'd like you to meet Edwina," says Raffaele smiling at her like he's very proud to introduce me.

"Hello Edwina," says Jasmine smiling at me genuinely as she holds out her perfectly manicured hand to greet me.

For once in my life, I want to be the bigger bitch but decide to tone it down a little bit and I shake her hand saying, "Hello Jasmine, a pleasure to meet you although I wish it wasn't under such circumstances."

Jasmine's cheeks colour a deeper shade of red in embarrassment and I sense Raffaele's warning gaze on me.

"I'm sorry," says Jasmine genuinely and I give her a tight-lipped smile saying, "I'm sure it's nothing that can't be sorted out."

"Edwina," growls Raffaele in a warning tone and I blow out a frustrated breath turning around and walking away.

I hear Raffaele yell my name in anger and I ignore it knowing very well that he has no right to be angry for what just happened a while ago.

I storm out of the restaurant hearing Raffaele's quick footsteps behind me as I head towards the parking lot.

"Tesoro," growls Raffaele signalling me to stop but I'm too angry to listen as I reach the car door but his large hand beats me to it slamming against the car door.

"Remove your hand Raffaele, "I say icily and he whispers against my ear "Or what Edwina?"

I turn around my hand flying to his cheek in a hard slap, his jaw hardening.

Raffaele stares at me stunned before his green orbs darken and he gets a hold of my wrist his grip tight enough to leave a mark.

I have to admit, I'm terrified at what he's going to do next as his grip on my wrist tightens and I whimper and he says in a dangerously low icy tone, "Never raise your hand at me again Tesoro because the next time you do, I won't take it lightly."

He roughly releases my wrist stepping away from me as I rub my wrist a bruise forming. The car doors open as I slide into the front seat and Raffaele pulls out of the parking lot.

I feel bad for slapping him considering he had done nothing wrong. The car ride is silent and never once does Raffaele glance in my direction which sucks, to be honest but I can't blame him since it was partly my fault.

He finally pulls up at my building the car doors coming open and I turn to him whispering, "I'm sorry."

Raffaele's eyes glare into mine the fire behind them quite evident before turning away his fists clenching and unclenching the steering wheel.

A pang of sadness surges through me and I rush to get off the car.

I walk away never once looking back as I get into the building. I fill myself a glass of red wine on reaching my apartment kicking off my heels in the process.

I sigh as my mind replays tonight's events and I can't seem to stop thinking about Raffaele and how angry he looked when I slapped him.

My phone rings as my grandmother's name, Clara Gemstone appears."Hello," I say taking a sip of my wine.

"Hermosa, "comes my grandmother's voice.

"I'm here Abuela," I chuckle and she says, "Mind telling me why my grandchild is too busy for me these days?"

"It's not that Abuela, it's just that work is tight and all, "I say massaging my throbbing temple.

"You sure it has nothing to do with a man in your life?" says grandma in a suggestive tone.

"Abuela, "I shriek and the old woman chuckles saying, "Don't blame me Hermosa. It's been long since you've had a man in your life and who knows, maybe things have changed and I'm not aware ."

"Nothing has changed Abuela. "I say my fingers circling the top of the glass.

"You live a sad life child," says my grandmother mockingly and I say sarcastically, "I'm sure I do."

"So how's work and all?" asks grandma and I go ahead and explain to her everything from the investors to the upcoming new partnership.

"I'm honestly proud of you Edwina. Keep it up Hermosa," says grandma and a genuine smile paints my lips and I say, "Gracias Abuela "

"De nada and now I need to sleep," says grandma and I laugh at her frankness. I wish her goodnight and she does the same the line going dead.

I take my final sip of wine the glass becoming empty as I walk up to the kitchen drawers to get some painkillers for my throbbing temple.

Once I'm done, I head up to my room showering and freshening up as I get into bed my mind is still stuck on tonight's events.

I can't help but try and figure out Jasmine's relationship with Raffaele considering his warm nature towards her which was quite knowing him as the arrogant type.

She did seem genuine in her apology and was quite sincere about accidentally bumping into me but I don't know why I reacted the way I did.

There's just something about her that I don't like despite meeting her for the first time and I guess that fuelled the way I reacted to her.

I sigh realizing that Raffaele's pissed at me hoping that probably by tomorrow I would have found a solution to that problem. My body finally gives in my eyes growing heavy with sleep and before I know it, I'm out and left staring at a familiar set of green emerald eyes falling out of touch with reality.