Chapter 5 The business dinner

Maria's Pov~

Rafael had called to tell me of a business dinner. We were to attend together with his father. He spoke rudely and I knew it was because he didn't want to go out with me. I reckon that he would very much prefer to be around his girlfriend than to be around me.

I sighed and left the library and went back to my room to get ready. He had mentioned that I shouldn't dress cheaply due to his status. I wonder if I had a nice dress that gives off the aura of being married to a billionaire.

I ransacked my closet till I found a nice red gown with slit and spaghetti straps. It looked pretty so I decided I was going to wear it and a black heels with shiny silver jewelry to match. I then took my bath and dressed up. And went down to the sitting room to wait for him.

He came down some minutes later looking absolutely dashing in his black suit, he wore dark glasses and that made him look hotter. I felt a burning desire for him almost immediately but of course he had to kill my mood.

"Is that the best dress you have in your closet?" he asked. I looked at myself wondering what was wrong with the cloth. It looked good on me and I thought he would at least be nice and compliment me.

"Yes, it is and do you have a problem with it?" I ask him. He glares at me.

"Ti sembra brutto" he says and then leaves. I'm confused because I understand only a bit of Italian because my mom is from there but I couldn't learn a lot from her before she passed away. Though something tells me the meaning of the word isn't very nice.(It looks ugly on you)

I follow him outside to the driveway and I marvel at the sight of his car. It was a Maserati Ghibli trofeo a black beauty and known to be great at speed. It looks every inch majestic.

"Are you going to keep staring or are you going to get in? ''he said. That was when I noticed he was waiting for me to get in the car while I was busy gawking at it and he looked really pissed. I got in not wanting to get him pissed off more. He drove off immediately.

Within thirty minutes we arrived at the front of a large mansion . I have never actually been to the Santino's family house but I guess this was it. It looked bigger than Rafeal's house. It was surrounded by beautiful flowers.

I instantly felt nervous because it occurred to me that I would be meeting Santino's face to face apart from the wedding. I haven't ever seen his parents and we didn't have a proper conversation at the wedding either. I braced myself for whatever would happen.

We got out of the car and entered the house. The interior screamed expensive every item was looking exquisite. I didn't know people could have so much money to this extent I said to myself. We were ushered into a large hall by some maids. I noticed instantly that it was filled with many rich business men and celebrities . I felt so abstract in a room filled with very important people and I wished I hadn't come.

I noticed Rafeal's father Mr Dante Santino approaching us and I tried my best to look calm even though I was literally scared of him.

"Glad to see you guys could make it" he said, facing Rafeal.

"It wasn't as if we had a choice not to attend," Rafeal replied to his dad.

I noticed the way he spoke grimly to him and I could guess from their expressions that they weren't on good terms, not as if it was my concern though.

"Ahh, Maria how are you?I hope my son has been taking good care of you.."Mr Dante said to me.

I faked smiled and said "yes, he had. I hope he couldn't see behind my facade though.

"That's good to hear, you two should come with me. I would like to introduce you to some of my business partners, he said. And we followed him till we reached some elderly men probably in their fifties I guessed.

"Mr Micheal and Mr Gordon I did like you to meet my son and his beautiful wife Maria Roberts Sanchez."he said and I cringed at the word wife. But still smiled nevertheless and they brought out their hands and shook me.

"Lovely to meet you"they said and I replied with the same.

After greeting many businessmen, Rafeal and his dad I was already exhausted and was glad when it was time to sit at the table to have dinner. The dishes looked so lavish and tasted really nice. I realized while eating that I hadn't seen Rafael's mom and I wanted to ask but decided that it was not in my place to ask so I kept quiet.

Rafeal's pov~

During the dinner I realized that my step mom wasn't present . I thought about asking dad about it but then again he might lie to me so I decided against it. I noticed how Maria stayed quiet throughout the meal and I know it's because she isn't used to all these. A part of me wants to grab and take her home away from the discomfort from being around these people but then it's not as if she means anything to me.

So dinner was over and we said goodbye to my dad and proceeded to go back home. She looked so exhausted and didn't even glance at me throughout the drive back home. Once we reached home, I parked my car in the driveway . I waited for her to step out only for me to turn and notice she was fast asleep. I rap her shoulder causing her to wake up almost immediately.

"We are home, get down from my car" I said.

"You don't have to be so rude," she said while rolling her eyes at me.

"What did you say?"I growled at her angrily

She jerked backwards looking scared and averted her face from mine.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you" I shouted and grabbed her arm turning her towards me. She looked at me,shaking with fear.

"Good, I like how you are afraid now, you don't have much of a mouth to talk back now do you?. "Now I want you take note of something never and I mean never talk back at me like that or else you will regret it" I said

"Okay I won't please just let me go, you're hurting my arm" she cried out and I let her and watched as she opened the car door and ran into the house. I smirked and said to myself "your not much of a tough girl now are you"

I closed the car and went into the house. As soon as I entered I called for the maids and instructed them not to wake Maria up tomorrow as she needs enough rest. Once I was done with them I went up to my room. After having a bath I laid on my bed and chatted with Leticia telling her about the business dinner and how it went after that I drifted off to sleep.