Chapter 58
Chapter 58- I'm A Nobody!
"HI there," his eyes lit up as soon as they found Marissa. Flint stepped aside and gestured for him to come in.
Ignoring every other person in the room, Rafael headed straight to her and handed her the bouquet. Holding the heavy bouquet Marissa was about to utter a thank you when he leaned forward to kiss her cheek, "For the kids' sake," he whispered with a wink and then got a little louder, "By the way you look beautiful." Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Marissa felt giddiness in the pit of her stomach. This was the same feeling she used to experience when he used to visit Valerie. He gave gentle nods to Sophie and Flint then turned his attention to the kids who had now stood up from their small chairs.
The girls were staring at him with awestruck eyes while the boy was trying his best not to look much impressed.
Marissa felt Rafael going still for a moment. He swallowed hard and then turned to Marissa maybe asking silently for her help.
"Children! Meet your father, Rafael Sinclair…" Marissa felt strange while introducing him to the kids. His name tasted good on her tongue.
Right now, more than the president of MSin Industries, he looked more like a father who desperately wanted to be adored by his kids.
"Hey, little ones!" raising his hand, he waved his fingers, "How are you?"
Abigail was the first one who started taking slow steps towards him, "Ariel! See? Didn't I tell you he looks exactly like Alex?"
Standing behind, Alex huffed soundly at her innocently remark.
"I know," Ariel stood behind Abigail placing her small hands on her sister's shoulders. Rafael tried to smile but he couldn't. He was looking down at the miniatures of Valerie and Marissa who were staring back at him with those innocent eyes.
Very slowly he kneeled on one knee, and offered his hand for the handshake, "You must be Abigail."
A smile broke on Abi's lips, and she nodded eagerly. Rafael kept holding her hand and kissed it after that he moved his focus to Ariel, "Ariel? Right?" he kissed her hand too after shaking it.
He looked behind the girls where Alex was trying hard to appear a macho strong boy. Rafael didn't want to crush the boy's morale on their first meeting.
"Hey, Alex," he just waved at his son, knowing full well that he might not like any skin contact with him.
"Alexander…" Marissa pointed towards Rafael using her eyes, ordering Alex silently to meet his father properly.
But Alex ignored her too.
"It's ok," Rafael whispered without looking at Marissa, "he deserves to take as much time as he wants."
When he got up, he had both the girls in his arms who were giggling, all impressed.
"Daddy is strong!" Abigail patted his arm and Ariel was also amazed at their dad's strength. No one ever carried them together.
This type of protocol was only given to Abi due to her health issues.
The smile on Ariel's lips vanished and she bent down to hug Rafael, her small head leaning against his broad chest. Her little arms circled Rafael's neck.
"Thank you for coming, Daddy," Everyone there could feel tears in her voice.
Sophia signaled Flint to get inside his room. They needed to give the family some privacy. ***
Marissa had just served them dinner and now gradually girls were getting used to Rafael's presence. Every now and then they were exchanging glances while talking to their father.
"So, you all are supposed to finish this chicken piece. It's packed with protein," Rafael said while setting his fork down after finishing up his plate. Abi was the only one who couldn't seem to eat her dinner. While Ariel and Alex were asking for more chicken pieces with lots of ketchup.
"I want waffles!" Abi said with a pout and Rafael gently picked her up from her seat and placed her small body on his lap, "I can bring it tomorrow if your mom allows."
He stated and then started feeding her small pieces with her fork. Marissa liked the fact, that he made her the in charge in the eyes of their kids. He was making it a point to shower her with respect in front of them and to let them know that their mom still had the authority.
After dinner, Rafael offered to tuck the kids into the bed, and Marissa got busy with the dishes.
"Why don't you join him in the kids' bedroom? I can do dishes," Sophie offered her, and Marissa just shook her head. "No, silly. I want them to have some alone time. Alex is not ready for this new phase, but I just can't force anything on him."
"Don't worry. Even Rafael understands this. I think he has his way with kids. I saw how he was communicating with them. He is a natural. Don't worry, mama. You made a good decision."
Sophie slapped her back and switched on the coffee machine. Initially, they could hear slow whispers coming from the room but now there was nothing but silence.
"Why are they not talking anymore?" Marissa shrugged in confusion. She had already placed a storybook on the bedside for Rafael. They tiptoed to the room and peeked inside only to be taken aback by the scene before them. On the small bunk, Alex was sleeping peacefully. Rafael was lying beside him taking up most of the space, and the girls were fast asleep on his chest.
Holding them Rafael had also gone to sleep with his mouth slightly open.
"Oh God! Look at them! They are so adorable!" Sophie breathed near her ear and all Marissa wanted to do was cry.
"Mar. Go and wake him up. He might need to reach home on time," Marissa nodded at Sophie's advice and went inside the room.
"Rafael…" she whispered shaking his shoulder, but the man had started snoring. She suppressed the mirth and shook his shoulder again, "Rafael! Wakie wakie!"
Rafael opened his sleepy eyes which were bloodshot and tried to understand where he was. "Marissa?" he rubbed his fist against his eye and tried to stretch when realized two small figures lying on top of him.
He smiled softly and rolled a little to put them on the mattress.
"I'll put them in their beds," he offered. Marissa who was leaning over to wake him, tried to straighten up with a smile, but he grabbed her wrist from his shoulder and made her topple on top of him.
"Rafael!" her eyes widened in surprise, as she whispered his name. She was now lying on his chest, her boobs pressed against him.
He gently brushed the hair strand off her forehead and tucked it behind her ear.
"You never leave your hair down!" those were the most unexpected and absurd words she had heard from his mouth. Before she could say anything, they heard a slight commotion outside the room.
"Who is there?" Rafael muttered with a frown and had to leave Marissa half-heartedly. When Marissa went out, he carried the girls to their respective beds and exited the room.
The scene before him was unexpected. A young man who might be younger than him was holding Marissa in his arms twisting her body around. "Gerard! Put me down!" she was trying to warn him and was laughing continuously. It didn't take much time for his facial expressions to harden. The young man whose name was Gerard, froze when he noticed Rafael.
"Who are you?" The young man asked him with a frown and slowly let Marissa slide down until her feet touched the floor.
"Who am I?" a sarcastic smirk touched Rafael's lips, "Well! I'm a nobody!" with that he left the house without saying goodbye to anyone.