CHAPTER 34: AM I A BASTARD?
Tom looked from his mum to his supposed ‘daddy’ and wondered why no one was responding to his question.
“Tom, you shouldn’t ask such meaningless questions. Instead, ask those that are beneficial to you.” Evelyn chided him and Tom pouted.
“Tom, a bastard is someone who doesn’t have a father,” Raphael responded sharply. Evelyn was astounded and she couldn’t help but yell at Raphael for telling that to a kid.
“RAPHAEL!”
But he ignored her and proceeded to explain, “But you are not a bastard because you have a father, right?” Raphael winked at Tom and the little boy giggled.
“Yes, you are my father and daddy.” He replied happily.
“Now that’s how my boy should behave. So don’t mind anyone who goes around saying that about you. Just focus on your studies and make your mum proud of you, okay?”
“Okay.”
Evelyn rested her head against the window. For a moment there, it was like she was about to lose it. She was confused and at the same time grateful because if it were to be her, she would have either become speechless or diverted the question which would have been a demerit for him. Tom could have asked any outsider and they wouldn’t respond to him in the same manner Raphael had.
Raphael dropped them off while Evelyn remained in the car to speak with him.
“Thank you for answering him earlier.” She said softly. Raphael smirked and clicked his tongue.
“What if I want you to appreciate it in another way?” He asked. Evelyn threw him a dirty look and he laughed heartily, seeing him laugh this way somehow warmed Evelyn’s heart.
“Not in that manner that you are thinking of. I want you to have dinner with me tonight at my penthouse, I will pick you up by 7. This is the only way I can accept your appreciation, if you can’t do it then there is no need to thank me. Just forget I said anything about this and the earlier topic.” Raphael informed her about his desire.
“Fine then, I will be ready by 7 but you must bring me back home very early,” Evelyn warned.
“It’s just dinner, not a wedding night.” Raphael joked and Evelyn smiled.
“See you later.” She came out of the car, waved, and watched it drive further away from her. She was still standing there until Kira appeared behind her.
“He has been gone for a while now. What are you staring at?” She asked and Evelyn was startled.
“Can you stop doing that?” Evelyn asked irritatedly and walked past her. Kira jumped on Evelyn and they somehow found their way into the house.
“He asked me out for dinner,” Evelyn said as she sat on the couch and closed her eyes. The air was cool and that was what she needed at the moment to cool her brain.
“Well, congratulations. I think I should stop my art job and pick up the work of a seer.” Kira teased but Evelyn only hissed and pushed the clingy Kira away.
“Come on, cheer up. This is the time to progress in your life. You should go and have fun while I babysit Tom as usual. You heard his clever response to Tom’s questions earlier, didn’t you? So don’t withhold yourself. Forget about every other thing, forget about the damn society and just make yourself happy.”
“You think so?”
“I know so. Alright, I’ll give you two hours to sleep before we start preparing for your date.” Kira squealed and bounced off to Evelyn’s room while the latter slept off on the couch.
************
Raphael parked his car in front of the mansion and entered. The whole place was silent and it wasn’t new to him, the house always felt empty to him whether there were people around or not.
He climbed the stairs hastily and locked himself inside his room to prepare for his outing later tonight.
In his father’s bedroom, Vegas was sitting in front of his parents. Mandarin was applying a bit of makeover on her face even though she had nowhere that she ought to be that afternoon.
“According to what he said, Erica is interested in Raphael and he wanted me to tell you this in the softest way possible before he does.” Vegas finished giving his report.
“But the main issue is will Raphael accept such a thing?” Mandarin questioned her husband.
“Why won’t he?” Michael asked her. Mandarin showed an innocent face and covered her face powder before turning around to face the men.
“Ever since we have been training Raphael to be who he is, darling, he has never appreciated that effort before. He only sees our training and well wishes as punishment and hell for him. Not when I try talking to him, he considers me a demoness. So why do you think he is going to accept this?”
“No matter what, I am his father. He has to do what I say he should. He has never for once pleased me in whatever he does, he still owes me a lifetime. No matter the services he is trying to offer as my worker, it can never amount to the way I took care of him for the past twenty-six years of his life. That’s final. I will speak to him and he must listen.” Michael responded with a stern voice. He took his car keys and stood up.
“I have a meeting to attend. I will come home later tonight.”
“Have a safe drive.”
Micheal exited the room. Vegas smiled at his mum but instead of receiving a smile as well, Mandarin gave him the middle finger.
“Seriously mum?” He asked in disbelief.
“Are you asking me? Why can’t you be for once as wise as others? You are the first child of this family, shouldn’t you be the one to get the beauty? Why will you let it go? You are the first son meant to get married before anyone else or do you have someone that you are interested in?” Mandarin asked.
“If I had, I would have told you but who said Erica can never be mine? No one. Just watch, mother, don’t worry about anything. Things are going well from my angle here, you should continue working on Dad’s mind.”
“Of course, I will. I have no reason not to.” His mum smirked and went back to painting her face. Things were working in the right way for them, there was nothing to be scared of. One thing was paramount and it was that Micheal hated Raphael. Since he hated him, Raphael definitely had no share in any of the companies or houses or properties, everything would belong to Vegas at last leaving nothing to Raphael.
Vegas planned to use this moment to teach Raphael a lesson. He would snatch Erica from him and make him work as a slave till he dies. Until then, he should focus on making his way to Evelyn and getting her laid down quickly. This was the only thing he desired from her.
**********
At exactly 7 pm, Evelyn was wearing a wine long gown with a split at its side. The dress had something called ‘sparkling stones’ attached to it all around to give some glittering. Her hair was packed to her left side and placed on her shoulder while her make-up was minimum and not too much as well.
Her heels were perfect for her height and Kira recommended them with the excuse that in case Raphael wanted to kiss her, he wouldn’t have to stand on his toes to do so.
So now they were in the sitting room with Evelyn anxiously waiting for him. The last time she was all dolled up like this for a date was three years ago and that ruined her life. This was going to be her first date in a few years. She was worried as well. Would he like her dress? Wasn’t she dressing too flamboyantly? What would he look like? Would he call to change his mind? Different thoughts were rushing to her mind.
Tom came out of his room and walked to sit on Kira’s lap. He looked at his mother and then asked Kira,
“Where is my mummy going?”
“On a date with Daddy.”
“Really?”
“Kira, stop insinuating that nonsense to a child. He is no one’s father…” Kira warned her with her eyes and Evelyn stopped herself from saying furthermore, instead, she pinched his cheeks and smiled.
Outside the apartment, a car honked and Evelyn’s heart slammed against its cage. She glanced at Kira and the latter threw her a kiss before mouthing.
“Good luck.”
Evelyn nodded and stood up, “Tom, I will be back before you know it, okay? Till then, Kira will take care of you.”
“Alright mommy, bye.”
Evelyn found herself holding the door’s handle. She breathed in and out to relieve the tension she was feeling before opening the door. Raphael was resting against the car. He looked up from his phone when he heard the door open.
“Wow.” was the first word that came to his mind immediately when he saw her. He turned off his phone and kept it inside his pocket as he approached Evelyn to help her down the short stairs.
“You look gorgeous tonight.” He praised her.
“Than…thanks, you are also not bad yourself,” Evelyn replied. Raphael chuckled and kissed her hand before winking at her.
“I know that.”
Evelyn blushed because of the wink. He followed her to the car and opened the passenger seat for her to step in before going to the driver’s seat. He ignited the engine and turned up the air conditioner a little before zooming off.
TBC…