The Arrangement

Chapter Twelve

"Good evening, Miss Lily."

Lily smiles as she allowed Miss Solivan to help her with her things. She could never get use to all of this. Being waited on was still a little strange for her.

"Good evening, Miss Solivan." Lily greets, "Has the Idi -" Lily quickly stops herself and subtly clears her throat. "I mean has Marko arrived?"

"Yes, Miss." Miss Solivan answers, wondering why there was a sudden pause a while ago. "He had arrived almost an hour ago and has been looking for you. Even Master Raph has been -

"LILY!"

Lily cringed when she heard that unmistakable whine from Raphael Villafuente. A second later she found herself engulfed in a big bear hug. 

"Raph." Lily managed to wheeze when the man's grip tightens even further and making it very difficult for her to breathe. "I can't breathe. Let go."

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?" Raph asks, the moment he did what she asks. "I MISSED YOU I WENT TO THE OFFICE BUT YOU WEREN'T THERE MARKO SAID YOU LEFT TO DO SOMETHING WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME I WOULD HAVE GONE WITH YOU SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN BORED I WOULD HAVE TAKEN YOU OUT ON A TOUR OF THE CITY OR TAKE YOU SHOPPING YOU NEED MORE CLOTHES I ALSO KNOW SOME OF THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN THE CITY THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW OF OH IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO TOMORROW I CAN TAKE YOU THERE BEING IN THE OFFICE IS JUST SO BORING YES I WILL DEFINITELY TAKE YOU OUT TOMORROW."

Lucio had followed close behind his brother to make sure he didn't hurt Lily by accident. He was even prepared to wrestle with his brother if he so much as tackle the poor girl. He just didn't expect to see that bewildered look on her face when Raph finally stopped talking. Growing up with his hyperactive brother, he was used to his unusual energy and the rapid pace he has for talking. From the looks of her face, Lily was still trying to unravel everything he had said.

Biting back a laugh, I wonder how much she actually heard and understood  from Raph's sentence. 

Lily didn't know what she found shocking.  The fact that the man could talk so fast without pausing or the reality that she actually understood that very long sentence. Honestly, Raphael Villafuente was trying to kill her by giving her a heart attack. She kept on waiting for him to stop and take in a breath. The man obviously has a good pair of lungs on that massive chest of his.

"I'LL GO SEE IF DINNER IS READY I WANT YOU TO SIT BESIDE ME SO WE CAN PLAN FOR OUR OUTING TOMORROW." Raph said as he went running back into the dining room.

Lucio waltz to Lily's side when she remained motionless. "Did you get all of that or do you need me to interpret it for you?"

"Actually I understood him." Lily told him, giving Lucio a curious glance.

"Then what is with that look on your face?"

"I got a little distracted waiting for him to breath." Lily mutters, ignoring Miss Solivan's subtle chuckle as she left to put her things away. "Your brother is weird."

"I know." Lucio whispers conspiratorially. "But don't tell him I said that." He adds as he escorts Lily to the dining room where everyone was waiting.

The moment she walks in, her eyes immediately honed in on Marko who was frowning at her.

Here comes trouble. Lily groans silently. Maybe it would be a great idea to lie my way out of this. She thought about that plan for a moment before dismissing it. Even though she had just met the man, she had this feeling that he can be very tenacious when he wants to be.