Marie stayed outside the house until Rafael returned. With all her things inside the house, including her phone, she had no other choice.
All the while, she fussed and screamed at the top of her voice until she was sore and sat on the floor, brimming with anger. When she became Rafael’s wife, she would kick that little thing out and have him regret being mean to her!
Watching him play with that maid while she stood outside in the cold made her feel a new wave of anger. No matter how she ordered the slut to open the door, it fell on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, June opened her room using the keys which was abandoned on the cushion following her baby’s little stunt. Luis could never do wrong in her eyes, and as she helped him put puzzle pieces together, her mind remained stuck on the video sent to her.
She wanted to watch it in the comfort of her room, without any distractions and with a clear mind. That was the only way she could get the meat of the video and find things hidden in plain sight.
Rafael stepped into the house with a briefcase in his hand.
June eyes widened as she looked around, expecting Marie to walk in but she was nowhere to be found. Luis aknownleged his father with a look, then continued with his puzzle.
Dinner was served soon, and the family of three sat to eat. The table was silent until Marie barged into the house with a vindictive look on her face. She had slept off at the corner of the house where she was watching the demons and spitting threats!
She was ready to take her anger out on them until she saw Rafael. Her simmering anger lowered and she tried to compose herself. Hoping she was at least charming in her words if not her appearance.
“Rafe! You are back.” Her tone was homey and kind. “I missed you.” She walked over to his seat, and let her hand drop on his shoulder.
The table was tense as Rafael stared down at the hand on his shoulder, his nose flared in irritation. “What are you still doing here?” He said in a cold tone.
Marie felt a whiplash of embarrassment, but she maintained a smile. “I have a few shoots in this side of the City. Since my place is not readily available and there is more than enough space here, I figured I could stay here until the project is finished.”
Marie was a model. Not a top-tier model, but she was making her way there. With her striking good looks and powerful background, she knew it was only a matter of time before she joined the league of the A-list models of South City.
Her father was one of the ministers of South City who owned and invested in businesses worldwide. Not only was she a decent fit for a man like Rafael, but she was also going to gain a lot more privilege by matching with the powerful Ambrose family.
When news reached her ears of his mother’s search for a match, she had begged her father to introduce them and joined the league of girls that were running the race to Rafael’s bed.
She was the only one who made it through to Rafael’s bed. But of course, using underhanded means and lying about her success with having her way with him.
That night was vivid in her eyes as she clearly remembered how she had tried to get him to touch her but was met with nothing. He wasn’t even stirred at the sight of her naked body.
He had been so out of his senses by the drugs she gave him and yet he managed to have such self-control that she was going nuts, wanting to see him lose his cool with her. He felt like that price that drifted farther and farther away the more she came closer.
However, she wasn’t one to give up.
That was why she kept contact with her soon-to-be In-law all the while, looking for opportunities to insert herself in his life. Just like she was lying about her house to have access to him.
When Rafael remained silent, she wore an awkward smile. “I promise you wouldn’t even know I am here! I am so busy, you won’t see me at all.” She added, hoping to sweeten the deal.
“No.” Luis said when his father remained silent.
Rafael met June’s gaze, and she lowered her eyes. The last thing she wanted was to be involved in matters like this. She had enough drama going on in her life to add to it.
“What do you think, June?” Rafael called her out. “Do you want her to stay?”
Marie blinked in confusion, and then her face turned rigid. “Are you asking her for an opinion?” She said like it was an anomaly, out of order. “A nanny?”
Rafael turned around with fire in his eyes, ready to throw her out of the house and darn the consequences when June spoke up.
“There is enough room in this house.” She said, “She won’t be around much anyway.” She added as an afterthought.
Although June didn’t like the presence of Marie in the house, she couldn’t watch them put her out of the house because she had nowhere to go. She had been in a similar situation and the last thing she wished on a person was homelessness.
Hopefully, this would bring an end to the unsolicited anger directed towards her. June was giving out an olive branch but Marie felt disrespected and angry.
A snippet of disappointment was found in Rafael’s eyes but he masked it up with a cold look. However, Marie who had been watching saw through it all. The thought of Rafael harbouring anything for this woman made her blood boil, but she knew how to take advantage of an opportunity.
“You see, even the help agrees!” Cold glares were sent her way before she realised what she had said, and feigned apology. “Nanny! I mean Nanny!”
Luis was not happy with the state of events, but since his Auntie advocated for the strange woman, he was going to tolerate her. Rafael cleared his throat before speaking.
“You have one week.” He said, “That’s all I can offer.”
Marie smiled widely. “Thank you, Rafe! You are such a kind man. I would make sure I finish my business and be on my way as soon as I am done.”
June couldn’t help but notice how she managed to manoeuvre Rafael’s words, saying ‘as soon as I am done’ instead of the one week given. Something told her that Marie had no plans to leave.
But that wasn’t her problem. As long as she stayed out of her way, they’d be fine.
In that spirit, Marie dragged a chair out of the dining and placed it by Rafael’s right hand. Effectively displacing June. When she noticed there was no way she could sit in between them, she said to June in the fakest voice known to man.
“Oh, sorry, could you please adjust your seat?” Her eyelids batted like a historical hand fan.
Luis looked like he was seconds away from throwing a fit as June got up from her seat altogether and sat by his side. It was hard to be angry when the little one was happy to have June on his side.
The dinner went downhill from then henceforth.
“Could you please pass the plate?”
“I need water,”
“A juice from the fridge will go well with this meal,” A frigid smile, “Please serve us some juice,” Marie said to June, evil lurking in her eyes.
“I think we need to have dessert. The maids didn’t do a good job. June, can you help-”
Having had enough, June got up from her seat, done with the dinner.
“I need to be excused.” She said and made her way out of the dining hall.
Luis followed after sending dirty glares at his father and the strange woman. That was the last they saw of them. Rafael remained in his seat, grounding his teeth as he finished his dinner and left the table without a word.