Chapter 37: Chapter 37
"You can be the moon and still jealous of the stars."
-Gary Allan-
***
Corentin drove her back home and to Clara's surprise, Raphael had been waiting for her on the front door. Something she never expected him to do. He had been home, though before he had previously told her he had to finish up work and might come home late. Turned out it was just Raphael's way of testing her, but Clara had no idea about this.
Raphael had been home since 6 P.M, when he came home and found that Clara was yet to be there, he felt slightly annoyed. He had stood leaning on the pillar waiting for her anxiously for hours. If she was just hanging out with her female friends he would not be as worried, but it was Corentin she was with, and he trusted Clara, but not him.
Corentin opened the door for Clara and right when she was outside Raphael walked toward her and snatched her hand, dragging her inside, but Corentin grabbed her other hand and Clara was stuck in the middle of the two large men. It was an awkward situation. Clara was utterly confused with their behavior.
Raphael and Corentin exchanged glares at each other, both silently demanding the other to release her. It went on for a good minute, and poor Clara had no idea why the two were acting that way. She was tired and all she wanted to do was to take a shower and headed straight to bed.
"You two are trying to rip my arms apart, aren't you?" She spoke sarcastically. Corentin was the first to release his grip and Clara used her free hand to release her other hand from Raphael's grip. Raphael looked upset, but Clara was oblivious to it. Clara took this chance to thank Corentin for taking her out that day. She was able to breathe a little thanks to him.
"De rien." Raphael gave Corentin a sinister look, but Corentin ignored it and focused all his attention on Clara.
"Clara, I think your friend should go now." Raphael was on the verge of jealousy outburst. All these time he was used to women swooning over him and showering him with their full attention, and he rejected them all. He only wanted Clara, he had waited for her for years, and he had to admit he was jealous seeing his woman with another man who had the potential of attracting her.
"He is right, I should go." Corentin did not want to make things harder for Clara. He acted like the bigger guy and left after giving Clara a kiss on the back of her hand. The simple gesture was enough to stir up Raphael's jealousy.
After Corentin was gone, Raphael took Clara's hand and brought her inside. He asked her to sit on the sofa, while he was seated across her. Clara felt like she was a child being scolded by her homeroom teacher. Raphael's expression was not friendly at all. He was definitely mad. Before he spoke, Raphael took a deep breath, calming himself down to prevent himself from saying anything he might regret later. He was a man of sense, Clara might have allowed him into her heart, but her love for him was yet to develop so deeply, he was afraid if he was to hurt her, she might regret her decision and left him. Both of them were in a tired state. One mistake might lead to a fight. Raphael had to be cautious.
"Clara, I have to be honest with you, I don't like you hanging out with him."
"Why?" She challenged him. Clara did not like being told what to do. Raphael might have helped her all these time, heck, he even allowed her to go out with Corentin, but he had no right to choose her circle for her.
"Because I love you, I don't like seeing you that close with other men." He stood up and walked toward her. He bent his knee to match her height and gently fondled her cheek.
"Je t'aime vraiment, Mon Amour." Clara's chest tightened when she stared at Raphael's eyes. He was serious. He had always been serious.
"But starting next week, I will be working at his company." Raphael removed his hand from her cheek, his eyebrow furrowed and his pupils dilated. He thought he had misheard things, but Clara was looking away from him. He knew she meant it.
"No, you can't. Why? I have provided everything for you. I even created an art room just for you so you can work from home. You don't have to work outside, Ma Cherie." Raphael was truly a conservative, old fashioned man. He thought just because he had given Clara everything she would fully depend on him.
Clara was not that kind of woman, she could take care of herself, and when she heard Raphael's response to her will, she was a bit offended. If he had said it to a Russian woman than perhaps that would be a compliment. However, Clara was French.
"I don't want to be a burden to you, Raphael, you've done plenty, this is the least that I could do. Beside staying at home all day has made me feel suffocated, I need a change of space, I will go to work, and you can't stop me." She stood up and left him.
Raphael was left struck on the floor. He began pondering if he did not give her enough, or if he had done something wrong, but he could not find any of those.
Corentin, it had to be him.
Possessive desire corrupted Raphael's mind.
How dare Corentin offered the work to her. He knew it was all just a part of the man's little game. He must have wanted to spend time with her. He could not just let him be.
At the same time, he knew if he tried to stop Clara, it would make the matter worse. Clara was his precious woman. He would never hurt her. But he would definitely need to have a talk with him.