“Cara… Cara…” Rafael mumbled in his sleep, thrashing around the bed.
June woke up to see him struggling and tried for some time to wake him up.
“Rafael!” She shook him when he didn’t wake up, almost getting scared by his display.
Rafael jolted from the bed, sweat dripping down his back and torso. The bed was soaked with the heat that emanated from him. His jaws flexed as he looked over at the time.
It was just two am.
“Are you okay? What is going on?” A worried look etched on June’s face. “Did you have a nightmare?”
“Go to sleep.” Rafael stood up from the bed, put on his robe and made to leave.
“Wait… where are you going?”
The sound of the door closing was all she needed to know that he was gone. Rafael looked like he’d seen a ghost as he walked past his office and stopped in front of his room door.
He couldn’t believe he’d forgotten. Without a word, Rafael opened the door to the place he only visited once a year. His room. The only day he allowed himself to feel and fall apart, at least for the early hours of the day.
The room was dark and messy, just like he remembered. He hadn’t changed a thing about this room for the past five years. Since he lost his wife to the cold arms of death.
Rafael flicked the lights on and mindlessly made his way to the mini-fridge kept at the side of the room. He never celebrated Cara’s birthday without a drink. It was too painful.
Up until the morning, Rafael drank himself into a stupor, falling asleep at the crack of dawn. Meanwhile, June cleared her schedule for the day preparing for the shareholders meeting with a double mind.
She hadn’t seen Rafael since the time he left her room. He didn’t show up for breakfast and the atmosphere around the house seemed to be cloudy. Luis was tight-lipped and her mother-in-law oddly asked to be left alone for the day.
Just when she had given up on attending the shareholder’s meeting, Rafael showed up in her room, shocking her with his heavy eyes and haggard looks.
“The meeting venue has been shifted. The shareholders will be here in an hour. My lawyer will be here to represent me.” He said without meeting her eyes, “He will introduce you.”
“Are you sure you are alright? Do you feel sick? We can reschedule the meeting and have Carson come in for a check-up. You don’t look too good.”
A wry smile. “Do not overstep. I will be with you shortly.”
Rafael made to leave the room but June couldn’t take it anymore.
“Is there something you need to say? Because no one is talking. If you regret having me-”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” Rafael said, turning around.
“Why? Why won’t you look me in the eye? Why can’t you tell me what’s wrong? You said you won’t hold back!”
“And now I said not to overstep!” Rafael ticked as he stepped in her face.
“I don’t get it. You act like you are interested in making this marriage a thing, but now I get the feeling that I am just being used to warm your bed. If you can’t open up to me when you are hurt then I might as well just be your sex partner, Rafael!”
“Maybe you are, June.” He said and regretted it almost immediately. “Darn it, can you not make this about you?”
“Message received.” She turned around.
“June…”
“I will be down in time for the meeting.”
The atmosphere in the house became more hostile. Even a fly could notice something was wrong with the couple. Gone were their playful dispositions, banters and stolen kisses.
They had become strangers.
The shareholder’s meeting came and Rafael attended looking like he’d rather be anywhere but there. June however had every plan to make a good impression. Although her mother-in-law was not readily available to support her, she made do with her promise.
Seconds after her little fight with Rafael, she received packages of new clothes fit for the meeting she had to attend. All of which were her size with multiple to choose from.
June placed it at the back of her mind to convey her thanks to Mrs Beatrice as soon as she had finished things over here. June walked into the living room with a smile on her face as she introduced herself.
“Hello everyone. My name is June Ambrose.” She said and took a seat by Rafael.
Despite their earlier dispute, she played her role perfectly, taking his hands in hers as she said, “My husband is having a bit of a terrible day, so forgive his countenance.”
The older men who knew Rafael to be a man of few words and a permanent scowl on his face appreciated her effort to make them feel comfortable. They were accustomed to their master’s ways.
“June is my wife,” Rafael said, tightening his hold on her. “We got married some time ago. I hope you respect my privacy and keep this to yourselves until we hold a wedding.”
The men nodded in unison, “Of course!”
“Congratulations on your marriage!”
“We eagerly await the wedding!”
Rafael couldn’t be bothered to show kindness for their words so June took up the hat. “Thank you so much. I look forward to knowing you all more personally. Maybe I will cook-”
“If you are going to cook for anyone, it’s going to be me,” Rafael said, then turned towards the men. “Meeting adjourned.”
The men sported confused looks at the sudden dismissal. They had come prepared to discuss some rising matters of Ambrose Corporation in other countries, but it seemed like today was not a good day.
June fought the urge to roll her eyes at Rafael’s ridiculousness.
“It was nice to meet you, Madame. Hopefully, we meet again.” One of the shareholders said, looking between the couple. “Under lighter circumstances.”
Just when they got up, Luis joined them in the sitting room.
“It’s the Young master.” One of them muttered, taking in the kingly aura that emanated from the young boy.
June spoke first. “Hey baby, is there something you need?” She asked, squatting to his size.
Luis looked over at his father, at June before finally speaking. “Did you forget to introduce JL?” He asked in a small voice, staring right at her.
June blinked, then smiled uncomfortably. “Oh sweetie, this is not the time-”
“What is JL?” One of the shareholders asked, and June felt caught in between.
She looked over at Rafael who was a blank slate. She didn’t know how he would take of her pitching her company to these high-profile men who worked for him.
Especially as his wife. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass him.
“It’s noth-” She started but was cut off by Rafael.
“Tell us, wifey. ” He urged without as little as a smile. “What is JL?”
June swallowed, feeling the gazes of the people on her. How exactly did this become about her company? She suddenly felt tongue-tied with the amount of attention on her.
“Come on, mommy,” Luis said, tugging at her arm. “Tell them about our company.”
That was all the encouragement she needed.
“JL is a start-up Architectural and Construction company. We take personal, commercial and national architectural and building projects.” She said, squaring her shoulders. “The company has started their projects and our office will be opened at the close of this week.”
She handed over her complimentary cards. “You can look up our site on the internet to have a view of some of our projects and the services we offer. Excellence is what we give. Nothing more or less.”
And just like that, June pitched her company to the shareholders of Ambrose Corporations. Men who were non-arguably some of the wealthiest businessmen in the city.
Instead of praising her, the shareholders showered Rafael with praise.
“You have such an industrious wife!”
“A smart and hard worker! The CEO has chosen the best wife!”
“With your new wife, the company is secured.”
A smirk graced Rafael’s face as he set them straight.
“You speak as though I am the wife and not her.”
The shareholders, “!!!!”
“Maybe I should remind you that the woman you are all so proud of is right there.” He pursed his lips. “You can speak directly to her.”
It took a moment before they understood what Rafael was getting at, immediately, they turned to June.
“I will be checking out JL as soon as it opens.”
“I have a home project, I would be sending my assistant to pass on the details.”
One went as far as going through the site and commending the work.
“Beautiful designs! I would need your expertise in the renovation of my mansion.”
June smiled, “Thank you so much,” She held Luis by the arm. “We look forward to hearing from you.”
Soon enough, June was escorting the men out with a smile on her lips. By the time they were out of the house, so was Rafael, who had returned to his office.
June smiled when she saw Luis, “Oh baby, we did it!” She high-fived him and together, they spent the rest of the day.