All Chapters of Craving My Best Friend's Dad: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

29 Chapters

So close to...

RAFAEL I had not planned this. The thought lingered long after the words left my mouth, settling somewhere between irritation and quiet acceptance as I watched her process what I had just offered. A position at my firm had not been part of any calculated decision. It had not been something I considered when I first asked Matteo to look into her background. At most, I intended to confirm whether she posed a risk to my household, to my daughter. That should have been the end of it. Instead, I was sitting across from her, offering structure to a situation that had nothing to do with me. Eight hundred thousand dollars. The number itself meant very little in practical terms. It was a figure I could erase with a single transaction, something that would not even register as a dent in my accounts. But to her, it was catastrophic. Life-altering in a way that would fol

Outstanding debt.

MELANIEI did not remember how I got back to my room.One moment, I had been standing in that study, my entire world unraveling piece by piece under the weight of truths I never asked for, and the next, I was inside my room with the door shut behind me, my back pressed against it as though I needed something solid to keep me upright. My chest rose too fast, too uneven, and when I tried to take a proper breath, it caught halfway, like my lungs had forgotten how to do something as simple as breathing.What went wrong?The question circled in my mind over and over again, refusing to settle, refusing to let me rest.What did I do?I pushed myself away from the door slowly, my legs unsteady as I moved further into the room. The soft lighting should have felt comforting. The neatly arranged bed, the quiet hum of the space, all of it should have made me feel safe.It did not.Nothing felt safe anymore.My fingers tightened around the documents still in my hand, the edges pressing into my ski

My daughter's friend.

RAFAELI woke before the sun rose.It had become a habit over the years, one that no longer required effort or intention. My body simply responded to the quiet shift of the early hours, pulling me from sleep long before the rest of the house stirred. For a moment, I remained still, staring at the ceiling as the remnants of the previous night settled back into place.Melanie.The thought came uninvited.It had followed me into sleep, lingering at the edges of my mind, and now it returned with the same quiet persistence. I exhaled slowly, pushing myself upright and swinging my legs over the side of the bed. The floor was cool beneath my feet, grounding in a way that helped me focus.I moved through the motions without hesitation, pulling on a fitted shirt and track pants before stepping out into the crisp morning air. The world was still half-asleep, the sky just beginning to lighten at the edges, casting a faint glow over the landscape.I started jogging.The rhythm came easily, each s

I have a boyfriend.

MELANIEMy hand trembled slightly as I lowered the phone from my ear, the call ending far too quickly and yet somehow not fast enough to calm the storm rushing through me. My chest rose and fell unevenly, my breath still unsteady from the panic that had taken hold the moment everything spiraled out of control.Beside me, Allison groaned softly from where she sat, her leg stretched out awkwardly in front of her, a makeshift wrap already secured around her ankle. The bright, sterile lights of the hospital corridor made everything feel sharper, louder, more real than I wanted it to be.“I didn’t want to call him,” Allison muttered, her voice slightly slurred, her head leaning back against the wall. “You didn’t have to do that, Mel.”I turned to her quickly, my brows pulling together.“He’s your father,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the lingering tension in my chest. “Of course we had to call him. He would be furious if he found out later and realized we didn’t tell h

A year together?

RAFAELI had arrived earlier than she realized. Enough to hear the tail end of a conversation I had not been meant to witness.I remained where I was for that brief moment, just out of direct view, my attention fixed on her voice as it carried across the corridor.“I have a boyfriend.”The words had settled into me before I could stop them.I had not moved immediately after hearing it. Instead, I stayed where I was, my thoughts whirling in a way that was both unwelcome and difficult to ignore. It should have clarified things. It should have drawn a clean, definitive line that I had no business crossing.She was taken. That should have been enough.And yet, it was not.Because something about the way she said it had not felt certain. There had been a hesitation, subtle but present, like the words did not fully belong to her. I had noticed it without trying, the same way I noticed everything when it came to her.Then I stepped forward.By the time she turned to me, the moment had alrea

A decision.

RAFAELSleep had not been as controlled as I preferred.That realization settled in the moment I opened my eyes, the remnants of something vivid still lingering at the edges of my mind. For a few seconds, I remained still, staring at the ceiling as fragments of the dream tried to piece themselves together.Melanie.The awareness came slowly, then all at once.It had not been a clear memory, not something I could fully reconstruct, but I did not need to. The feeling alone was enough. The closeness. The warmth. The way her presence had lingered even in something as uncontrollable as sleep.I had dreamt of her body, of her scent, and of taking her in my study. I dreamt of her moans, her shudders and soft lips calling my name. It was a dream. All a fucking dream.I exhaled sharply and pushed myself upright. This was exactly what I had been trying to avoid.My gaze shifted slightly, and that was when I saw it.The scarf.It rested beside me on the bed, the soft fabric unmistakable, yet my

We have enough time.

MELANIEThe air in his car was filled with the scent of his lattafa perfume. As my shoulders pressed on the shotgun seat, I watched his fingers touch the steering. “How are you finding Madrid?” He asked, pulling out of the driveway.My eyes roamed through the cars in the compound. Some were dusty, some covered, and others were sparkling. It was easy to tell this G wagon is his favorite. Three colors were parked in garage.“Melanie?” He called out again,“Yes,” I turned my head to face him. “Madrid is nice,” I voiced out. There seemed to be some need to fill the silence.“I suggested Allison take you to the rooftop restaurant ten minutes from here. It’s one of our favorites.” He said,“I’m sure we will check it out once she’s fine.”His head bobbed in a nod, as he moved through the street. The traffic seemed to be stable as cars flowed through. I inhaled a deep breath, letting the feel of his perfume dwell longer within my lungs.His eyes were focused on the road as the car moved for

She affects me.

RAFAELHer eyes focused on the plate, and her hands absentmindedly twirled the spoon in her cup.Her lower lip slightly moved into her mouth, and I saw her other palm balled into a fist.“You’ve not taken your coffee,” I mentioned, trying to kill the silence.She looked up, and her blink showed her return to reality.“Sorry, I got lost in thoughts.” “It’s alright.” I followed up,I watched as she placed the cup on her lips, and I did the same. Her shoulders were frail, and even with the golden jewelry highlighting the beauty of her skin, I could see the hollowness in her face. Her cheeks were fallen, and I could tell she was drifting off.“The boy from the hospital,” I said, trying to make conversation.She immediately looked up, “Who?”“The blonde boy who tried to flirt with you.” I pushed on.I needed to confirm her thoughts.My eyes squinted as her realization sets in.“Oh,” she dropped her cup, “Luke.”“Jake.” I corrected, feeling the boiling in my chest begin to subside.She di

A great move.

MELANIEThe car ride to the store was quiet. I mean, there wasn’t really much to talk about. Allison was absent, and I didn’t know Rafael well enough to hold a conversation.“Regarding the job,” he began to speak, and my eyes sprung up. “Yes,”“Relax.” A smile escaped his lips.I clenched my teeth together loosely, without a word. I had a debt worth nearly a million to clear. There was no way in hell that I could be calm.“What’s with the job?” I asked, trying to keep my voice as stable as possible.“Our vacation ends in a week. I’d like to know when you’d want to resume.”“Immediately. As soon as we step foot on American soil.”His focus slightly averted from the road as he turned to me. “You don’t have to start immediately. The vacation ends mid month, so you can start afresh on the first.”At this point, I could feel my heart plummeting in my chest. Did I seem too desperate? Wasn’t I meant to see desperate? This was a huge deal I couldn’t afford to lose…“Fine,” I nodded. “First o

The sound of my name on your lips.

MELANIE“Jake asked you out?” Allison asked, pushing her back on the headboard of the bed.Her hair was tied in a messed up bun, and her tank top revealed most of her tan skin, but she seemed to be healthy.“No. That’s not what I said,” I responded.How did she mistake my words for that?Her eyes were already glistening and her lips were curved in a mischievous smile. I shouldn’t have told her this.Who else would I have told?“What then did you say?” She asked, placing her palm under her chin. “I said we met at the mall when your dad and I went to get a scarf, and he asked for my contact.”“Yes, but he said he would love to see you sometime.”I nodded, in admission. “Yes, he did, but that could have just been out of courtesy.”“I don’t think so,” her shoulders shook. “I believe he likes you.”“How do you know that, Ms know all?”“When I fell off that yacht, he didn’t come to see me. The guy barely acknowledged my presence.”“That’s not true! He brought gifts for you!”“Yes. He brough

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