Summary: Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.
The sun was already setting, with orange and pink hues diffusing the once blue sky. Soon, the city would only light up with fluorescent streetlamps and buildings illuminating with people staying late to finish their work.
Rafe would be one of those people. He had been in the office for hours now, making up for coming in later than he usually would. He even skipped out on his lunch just so he could finish by the night.
His mind was replaying the encounter he had with his father when he finally showed up. Ward had been pissed when he saw Rafe but held it in long enough until they were behind closed doors.
Apparently, Ward had brought in an investor to the company without letting him know, and he was surprised to find that Rafe hadn’t shown up yet. Rafe tried to defend himself, saying that he was helping out a friend.
A friend. Even now, it felt weird to say that since he still wasn’t sure what you were to him.
However, to Ward, it was just another excuse for Rafe to skip out on his responsibilities. Apparently, he had missed an important investor’s meeting and got chewed out by his father.
It was ironic to Rafe. Ward had left the company for him to lead, yet his father would come in from time to time to berate him in front of everybody in the office like he was some loser who only got the position due to his last name.
“When I made you a part of this company, I expected to leave it to someone I could trust. Someone who can carry on the Cameron name and legacy. If Sarah were here, she’d never make me look this stupid in front of everybody.”
The golden child and the apple of Ward’s eye had gotten pregnant and married young, leaving Rafe to deal with leading the company, but Ward still held her in high regard. “If only you turned out more like her.” Ward muttered under his breath. Even if Rafe had become the top businessman of the century, Ward would still somehow compare him to Sarah.
Rafe clenched his jaw, already tired to hearing the same old bullshit spew from Ward again.
“Are you done? If so, I’m getting back to work.” He was already getting up, not really bothering to stay for much longer.
“Rose is cleaning up the place. Come get your stuff. We’ve put your things in a box. If you don’t want them, I’ll toss it out by the end of the month”
It was a threat, and Rafe knew his father would do it. Rose had been wanting to get rid of Rafe’s things after he had moved out years ago, but he’d come by to visit Wheezie from time to time and kept some of his items in his old room until she went to college out of state.
Ward didn’t stay too long after that and left, leaving Rafe in a state of restlessness.
Knock, knock, knock.
Topper sheepishly stuck his head through the doorway. “Hey man, you good? The whole office kinda heard what happened today.”
“I’m peachy, what do you think?” Rafe said sarcastically. “What do you want?”
“You still hittin’ it up with Heather? I’m serious about Ruthie wanting a double date. She’s bustin’ my ass to get you to agree to it too.”
Heather. Shit.
He has put his phone on DND after Ward had left and he forgot about her completely after leaving you alone.
Rafe looked at his phone and saw that he had a couple new messages from Heather.
Heather: Rafe! The flowers are beautiful and the chocolates were wonderful
Heather: You've made my day with them
Heather: I'm sorry I wasn't there to get them irl, so maybe we should meet up?
Perfect. He responded, typing quickly.
Rafe: Sounds good;) Let me know when and where
Five minutes after he sent that, Heather responded.
Heather: Surprise me :)
“Yeah it’s still on with Heather, and no. Me and Ruthie in a room together ain’t happening. I can't stand her yapping.”
Topper groaned. “Ugh, you’re givin’ me blue balls man.” Rafe narrowed his eyes and Topper took the hint. “Okay, looks like you got everything here in order. Imma take my leave now chief.” He saluted on his way out.
Once Rafe was alone in his office, he sat down on his chair rubbing both of his eyes. Heather's request gave him an excuse to contact you again.
He thought about what had happened earlier and he felt a fuzzy feeling grow in his chest. It must be worry, he thought, but then his stomach grumbled.
Remembering that he had skipped out on his lunch, Rafe glanced at his watch. It read 8:15.
He sighed, already feeling the day wear him down.
He was going to send a text to check up on you, but had beat him to the punch. His phone vibrated with message from you.
y/n: Thank you for today. I’m really glad you helped me today. Let me know if you need anything, i'll try and help
The same fuzzy feeling came back but more intensified, and it made Rafe feel a little uncomfortable.
You’d probably had gotten off work now and texted. He debated on if it was appropriate to ask, but he sent a text anyway.
Rafe: Are you feeling ok? Want me to come over?
Three dots immediately showed up on his phone, then disappeared, then reappeared.
y/n: I'm okay now, you don't have to worry about me
For some reason, Rafe still felt worried. He saw you have to deal with an ass like Kyle, and also saw how you'd been pretty shaken when he last saw you, so before he even knew it, his feet led him out the door and straight to his car. He first made a stop to a Mexican restaurant and ordered enough for two people to go.
He'd memorized you address from the day before and just drove his way there. He knew he should have sent a another text to make sure you were actually at home, but when he parked his car in your drive way and knocked at your door, you had answered, looking wildly confused as to why he was at your door step.
He held up the two bags and a cup holder with drinks. "Is it too late for dinner?"
---
You'd been surprised to see Rafe twice on the same day, and even more so when it was at your house.
You'd been trying to keep your distance with Rafe, knowing that developing unrequited feelings for him would spell out disaster for you, but when he offered you takeout that smelled absolutely amazing, you reluctantly invited him in.
"Is this because you felt bad for me this morning?" You asked with an eyebrow quirking up.
"Nah, I was just in the area."
A complete lie. You knew that wasn’t true. You were pretty sure he lived in the opposite direction, but didn’t push it.
Hesitantly, you opened the door for him.
You weren't prepared to have any guests over. You had worn a casual outfit, just a t-shirt and sweats, and your hair was still damp from taking a shower. Rafe could smell the faint scent of your shampoo when you welcomed him.
When he stepped in, he saw various frames of photos littering the wall. Some had you with what he assumed was your siblings since they shared similar features to you. Some with your parents and others of a black cat that actually appeared right on the table as he set down the food.
It seemed curious as to what Rafe had bought and was carefully sniffing around the bags as if it was inspecting the food itself.
“Shadow! No.” You said sternly, hands waving him away. “Paws off the table.” You shoo’d him away. “He knows better than to be in the table. He just doesn’t care for the most part.”
Shadow then appeared by Rafe's feet, sniffing him, trying to gage if he liked Rafe or not. After what felt like an eternity to Rafe, he decided that Rafe was worthy of his attention, so he plopped himself down in front of Rafe, wanting Rafe to pet him.
Rafe smiled that its antics. “Cute cat.”
You carefully picked Shadow up and he meowed in protest. You didn't want him to accidentally eat any food off the table, so you put him in your room just to be safe.
"Be good Shadow." You said like a stern mother lecturing a child. Shadow just blinked before climbing up to your bed and curling himself up into a ball.
When you came back to the dinning room, Rafe had already cleaned and set everything up for the the two of you.
"So what's inside?" You asked.
"Tacos." You raised an eyebrow, looking at him questionably, and he raised both his hands as if to defend himself. "Hey, I'm not all steak and potatoes, I know some pretty good eats here and there. Plus, I could tell you didn't love the last restaurant we went to, so I'm here to redeem myself."
"I didn't hate the place." You mumbled.
"Just the price tag." Rafe countered.
You didn't argue, instead you took a bite of the taco and immediately moaned. Rafe had been watching intently and he loosened up when he saw your reaction, and then began to eat his after you.
"I was actually starved. This was perfect." You said as you finished the last bite. You were now just sipping the drink Rafe had bought.
"Same. I actually haven't eaten anything all day."
"Rafe!" You stared at him wide-eyed, your caring instincts kicking in. "What happened?"
"It's nothing. Just had a lot to finish at work. That's all." He didn't want to bring up Ward.
"Was it because of me?" You casted your eyes down, and Rafe instantly felt like a weight had been pressed on his chest.
"No! Absolutely not. Kyle Richardson is an asshole, and he needed to be brought down to reality. I wouldn't have done anything different. He would have been dealt with sooner or later."
Rafe sighed. "It's just hard, with the expectations I get from others, I feel like I can't live up to them sometimes."
You didn't push but grabbed his hand, just like he did earlier in the day. Rafe found himself really liking the warmth emanating off your hands.
"I actually have to thank you for today." He continued and you looked up at him. “Your suggestions about what to get Heather. It worked, and now she wants me to surprise her for a date," He made air quotes with his hands.
You had let go of his hands by then. "I have no clue if she wants to go somewhere lowkey or something more high end."
You stared at his face and then cleared your throat. "That's...great." You tried to sound happy for him. "Um, Miss Hayworth likes to dine at exclusive places. The place you paid for last time would be perfect."
Rafe made a mental note of that. "Yeah, got it. Thanks."
An awkward silence engulfed the two of you, until you couldn't hold in a yawn. "Um, I think I'm gonna get ready for bed soon. I know I've already said this, but thank you for today." You gave him a small smile.
"I think I've overstayed my welcome. I'll take my leave now." He shuffled up from the dining seat table. He grabbed the wrappers and napkins, cleaning up the tiny mess you and him made during his short visit. "I'll text you later, yeah?"
"Yeah. Take care Rafe. Drive back safely." You walked him to your entrance and watched him enter his car before closing the door completely.
You'd felt like you were in a movie, and instead of being the main character, you were just an individual watching two leads slowly fall in love with each other. A bystander. You sighed and walked to your bedroom and let Shadow strut out and rub himself on you.
You then watched as he placed himself down in front of you and tilt his head, as if he was asking what had happened while he in the other room.
"Oh, Shadow. You're still the number one guy in my heart." You said jokingly, but he seemed to like that answer as he launched himself right into your arms. Your day had been a bit of a rollercoaster, so you were going to let yourself sleep it off before resetting for the next day.
However, as you laid in bed, you tried not to think of Rafe, but that was harder said than done. The way he handled Kyle stayed behind to care for you had set the butterflies in motion inside your stomach. Then the recent visit to bring dinner had made him wedge into your mind subconsciously.
Rafe was making it difficult for you to move on from your unrequited feelings, even if he was doing it unknowingly.
You sighed and tried to keep your eyes shut. You began using your back up plan of counting sheep to make yourself sleepy and slowly but surely, you had fallen into a deep slumber, dreaming of the person you were trying to forget.
Summary: Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.
On your final day at Kook academy (as your friends liked to call it) you held on to an envelope as you looked at the crowd around you. It was your graduation day and both you and Rafe had already given the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches respectively, and you were nervously playing with the rings on your fingers as the final commencements were playing out.
Inside the envelope was a small letter you had written to give to Rafe, letting him know how remarkable you thought he was and that he was the reason that you joined so many classes and clubs during your time in Kildare.
During your school days, you'd often catch Rafe staying behind classes, not afraid to ask for extra help from his teachers and peers, and it inspired you to do the same. Eventually, you found yourself joining things you'd enjoy, which coincidentally were the same things Rafe was doing, and it might have looked a bit stalkerish from his point of view.
At the very end of the note, you had confessed that you had feelings for him and if he didn't feel that same, then he could ignore the contents of the letter.
The moment you saw Rafe, you wanted to walk up to him and hand over the letter. However, he was surrounded by many friends and family, something you didn't have as your family still lived apart from you and your friends weren't welcome on this side of the island.
You'd only had your uncle, who came by for support, and he made sure to take as many photos of you as he could before you ushered him away, claiming that he was embarrassing you. But deep down, you were thankful that he was being extra. as it took your mind off of Rafe and made your nerves calm just a little bit.
"One more, one more! I swear!" Your uncle shouted.
Your lips were starting to wobble from keeping the same smile for too long. As you were about to tell him no more, he exclaimed that his battery was almost dead. "Imma get my backup! Don't move! Stay right here! Or else I'm leaving you behind!"
That made you laugh. "You're my ride! Where else would I go?"
He literally sprinted to go get another device and waved at you before leaving, going to his truck. At that moment. you saw Rafe in the corner of your eye. He was alone now, his hands carrying a Buch of flower arrangements. His expression wasn't as gleeful as yours, but you chalked it up to him being tired of being the center of attention. Thinking it was the last time you'd ever run into him, you gathered the rest of your courage and walked up to him.
"Hi Rafe." He turned his attention to you and kept his face neutral. "Congratulations, I really enjoyed the speech you put out. I was hoping you'd be okay if I give this to you?"
You grabbed the letter from one of your pockets, and handed it directly to him. "What is it?" He roughly asked.
"Oh! Um, it's just a letter I wrote. It's not too important." It was to you at the time. "You can actually open it whenever you get the chance."
Before you could ramble on some more, Ward called Rafe over to take more photos with Sarah and Wheezie. Rafe gave a small smile. "Hey, sorry. I gotta go." He carefully took the envelope from your shaking hands, even though his hands were full of flowers and then placed it into his pocket before walking back to his family.
Your heart was racing and you could hear the thumping literally in your ears. You walked back to wait for your uncle and he came not long after gasping for air.
"Geez, I gotta do some more cardio! What'd I miss?" You shook your head and chuckled before letting him resume his photography. That night, as you started packing you belongings to move back home, unbeknownst to you, your letter was carelessly thrown in a drawer in the Cameron household drawer and was left unopened, forgotten by Rafe entirely.
---
When you woke up, you promised yourself to take it easy, that you’d make your day more productive and focus on your work in order to forget the awkwardness form the day before. It was what you used to do when you felt a bit of heartache, like when you felt homesick, you’d put all your attention towards studying to forget the feeling of loneliness.
You had put on your best suit, the one that made you feel the most confident in, did your make up lightly to cover the dark circles under your eyes, and spritz on your favorite perfume. Then, you looked in the mirror one last time before you left. You liked what you saw, a reflection of a woman who worked hard to be where she stood.
You reminded yourself that there were good days and bad days, and while yesterday ended on a sour note, you didn’t want to bring any negative energy to your workplace.
Rafe had texted you asking you for Miss Hayworth’s favorite flowers and a copy of her schedule, and that he would be showing up later to surprise her. You texted back with an answer, knowing that Heather was a typical romantic and loved getting roses and chocolates.
When you arrived, you were still waiting for your boss to show up. It wasn’t normal for Heather to be late since she always wanted to leave a good impression towards her colleagues, and that also included you.
You felt your phone buzz in hands, and it was Miss Hayworth.
Heather: Running late. In some unexpected traffic. Can you handle my first appointment?
You sighed as you sat down at your desk and typed a response back.
You: Of course! Be safe.
You checked Miss Hayworth’s schedule, and she was supposed to meet a Kyle Richardson at nine in the morning. You’ve heard of him before, but very vaguely. Miss Hayworth had once mentioned that he was a bit unpleasant to be around.
You put your phone down and went to work, starting off with reviewing documents and organizing paperwork.
You often corrected mistakes from other departments, reviewed legal documents, and gave Heather the most accurate data in the files she needed for meetings.
When you were an intern, you made sure to be as attentive to those around you, and you picked up on what your colleagues liked and disliked to do in the office. Heather noticed this, and offered you to be her personal assistant while the one before you was on maternity leave. She made sure to tell you that it was only temporary, but had confidence that you'd find a better opportunity elsewhere with her as a recommendation.
As you typed on your computer, you made sure to check the time every now and then. It was fifteen past nine when he arrived, you understood what she meant. Unpleasant was being nice. Kyle was a jackass. He came in strutting like he was the most important person in the room, even though it was just the two of you.
“Heather sure knows how to pick’em. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before. You must be the new temp hire.”
It made your skin crawl when he leered at you, looking at you up and down before his eyes stayed at your legs. You weren’t even dressed inappropriately, but you instinctively pulled down your skirt.
He slid near your desk and introduced himself while you were still sat. He stood just a little too close and smelled of overpowering cologne. It was the kind that made your nostrils burn and eyes water a little.
You’ve had to deal with your fair share of assholes before, and you were pretty sure Heather did too, however, since it was just you in her office for now, it made the situation just a bit more uncomfortable since your boss wasn’t here to witness the harassment.
The ticking from a hanging wall clock was the only sound you could hear, with the occasional outside noise from the city just waking up.
“Miss Hayworth is running a little behind. She requests that I take care of you while she on her way here.” You got out and pointed to a chair in front of your desk. “She’ll be here shortly.” You hoped so.
However, when you mentioned it would just be the two of you for the time being, Kyle’s demeaner didn’t change. Instead, it seemed to make him bolder in his provocations. “Oh, I’m sure you can take care of me real good.”
He didn’t move from beside you. Instead, his hands found your shoulders, but you jumped right as he gripped you, feeling repulsed by his touch. “What are you doing!”
“Aww, come on. Let’s not pretend that you don’t know how you got here. You probably gave a few favors here and there. Why don’t you come work for me? The benefits are worth it.”
You hated what he was insinuating. Although you didn’t come from money, you’d studied your ass off and graduated at the time of your class with a degree in business. You were about to utter a string of profanity at the sexist asshole before a voice interrupted your outburst.
“Am I interrupting something here?”
___
When Rafe woke up in the morning, the last thing on his mind was you being in any kind of danger. He’d felt a little guilty for springing up his plans on you, but when you agreed, it eased his conscience just a little.
After he dropped you off, he’d texted his friends what had happened when he went back to his apartment. Topper’s response was as expected, while Kelce’s had him cluching his phone a little more.
Topper: Yoooo aint no way
Topper: Never thought I’d see the day Rafe Cameron actually put in some effort for another girl
Topper: that mean you gonna agree on Ruthie’s double date plans???
Rafe: Fuck off
Topper: :(((
Topper: Why you gotta do me like that
Kelce: You sure y/n is fine with this?
Rafe: yeah, why wouldn’t she be
Kelce: It just feels a little manipulative. Like you’re getting the answers to a quiz you didn’t study for
Topper: He’s gotta point
Rafe: So im the bad guy for using all my resources to get with someone?
Rafe: Nah. We both want the same things at the end of the day
Kelce: Which is?
Rafe: Marriage. She gets her position in her company and I get a wife
Rafe: it’s a win win
Topper: So you’re gonna invite Heather to Ward’s anniversary celebration?
Topper: Thats gonna shut him up frfr
Rafe: probably
He left it at that before going to sleep.
The day after, Rafe walked into the Hayworth Headquarter building holding a bouquet of red roses and a box of Godiva chocolates. He texted you that morning asking what flowers Heather would like and what else he should get her.
y/n: Miss Hayworth likes red roses.
y/n: and chocolates. Preferably dark and the fancy kind. The more expensive, the better.
You responded pretty quickly that he was surprised you’d be up at seven in the morning. She must be an early bird.
He made his way toward the office of Heather Hayworth and saw you. And he almost dopped the flowers. Your face was stricken with apprehension, but he could see a little bit of uneasiness behind your eyes. Your shoulders were stiff, and your were shaking.
Right next to you was a man he knew pretty well in the business world. Similar to Rafe, Kyle Richardson was a trust fund baby. However, that was probably the only thing in common they had together.
Kyle was the youngest son of a business tycoon, so he'd never be anyone's boss. Rafe would often see him clowning around at important business events and frolicking with high end escorts that kept him company. Generally, an embarrassment to his family.
Rafe has never been the guy you'd love to bring home to your parents, but he'd still be miles ahead compared to Kyle. So when he saw your reaction and heard Kyle's appalling words, he fumed.
“Am I interrupting something here?”
Immediately, Kyle stepped back like he was caught red handed doing something bad. He looked a little annoyed to be interrupted until he saw Rafe.
"You should've told me you had a boyfriend. I would've back off" Kyle Said, thinking the roses and chocolates Rafe held were for you.
Liar. Rafe said in his mind. "Nah, I don't think so. Even if she had one, you'd still be an asshole."
Kyle's face went red. If you didn't know any better, he looked like he could blow steam out both of his ears. "It was just a joke. Come on, man. Don't y'all know how to have fun?" He tried to deflect.
"Don't think you know what a woman having fun looks like. Y/n here looks like she'd rather jump in front of a bus."
"Excuse me? Do you know who I am? Who the fuck do you think you are?" He screeched, his attention now fully on Rafe.
Rafe just smirked. "I know you, you're Larry's kid, right? I don't think he'd take to kindly to hear what his asshat of a son is doing while he's suppose to sign over legal documents to Hayworth Hotels."
At the mention of Lawrence Richardson, the family patriarch, Kyle's face went white as a ghost. He gulped and asked, "How the fuck would he even know? It's your word against mine"
Rafe glance over to you, still reeling from the interaction. You looked shaken, and embarrassed which was so unlike you. He frowned thinking of what would've happened if he wasn't here.
"Well, it the two of us against you, so I think I've got the better odds." He said calmly, but you could sense that he was trying to control the anger that was practically radiating off his body.
"So how about we make a deal?" Rafe suggested. "Apologize to her and I might just let this slide."
Kyle looked like he'd rather eat shit. You thought he probably never had to apologize to another person ever in his life. He turned to face you and gritted through his teeth, "I'm sorry."
Before Kyle could even get in another word, Rafe ended the mater with a simple command. "Get out." He said coldly, leaving no room for arguments.
He didn't even have to repeat himself, as Kyle hastily ran out the office, ego probably bruised. Rafe then turn his attention to you.
"You good?" He wasn't the best at comforting people, but his tone made you feel safe.
"Yeah," you said softly. "just a little shocked. That's all."
Rafe placed the flowers and chocolate on your desk before guiding you back to your seat. He then abruptly left the room before swiftly coming back crouching down near your chair and bringing a bottle of water. He handed it to you. "Here. Cold water, to help with anxiety."
He noticed your hands were still shaking as you tried to open it. "Hold on. Let me." He said as he twist the cap off. Drinking it silently, the only noise was the ticking from the clock.
"How did you know?" You asked.
"How did I know what?" He questioned.
"That cold water helps."
Rafe didn't think you would ask about that, but if it made you forget about the Kyle situation, he would readily answer you. "Because I used to have a lot of anxiety when I was younger. Ya know? Being Ward Cameron's and all."
You blinked. You hadn't known. You stared at the bottle in your hands, suddenly remembering your interactions in the past and why he was the way he was to you.
"I'm sorry," you whispered.
"Hey, don't do that. Don't be sorry. You didn't do anything wrong." He noticed you fidgeting your fingers and hesitantly covered your hands with one of his. His hands felt warm against yours, and you hated how you loved the small act of comfort. You were supposed to move on from Rafe, but he made it difficult to do so.
You sighed. "Thank you for today, Rafe." You two stayed like that for a while before Rafe's phone started to vibrate and he stood up to look at it, taking his hand with him. You missed the warmth already.
When Rafe picked up, Topper had called him asking where he was and that he was needed back at his office. "Ward's been asking where you are and I can only keep saying restroom so many times."
Rafe sighed. He was reluctant to leave you alone but it seemed like Kyle had taken his warning literally, so he responded with, "I'm on my way. Just let him know I dealing with something personal. I'll think of something when I get back." He hung up before Topper could respond.
"Are you gonna be okay?" He asked you.
You hadn't meant to eavesdrop on Rafe's call, but you heard that he was needed back to his own company and felt guilty that you had kept him from going, so you nodded. "Yeah, Miss Hayworth should be showing up any time now, and security should be in too. Don't worry about it Rafe."
He had looked unconvinced but decided to let it go. "Hey, y/n?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you just let Heather know those are for her?"
You looked back to your desk and saw the beautiful flowers and expensive chocolate. Finally remembering why he came. "Yeah. Of course. She'll be very happy to see these." You said softly.
"And one more thing. If he ever comes back, don't hesitate to let me know. I'll make sure he never messes with you or anyone else again." With that, he walked out the door and began his journey back to Cameron Development.
You stared at the door before your eyes fell on to the bottle in your hands, your mind wrestling with your heart after the development of today's events.
Summary: Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.
You were captivated by the art displayed in front of you. Sculptures and paintings from the past and present depicting emotions such as love, anger, and sadness were in every corner of the exhibit.
It had reminded you of a time when you didn’t have as many responsibilities and work commitments. Now, ever since becoming Miss Hayworth's assistant, you were expected to be on call for whenever she needed you.
You had reminisced the first time you had ever gone to a museum, thinking when you had first moved in to stay with your uncle. You'd been excited. You liked that the beach was just a drive away and how easy it was to make friends. However, after two weeks, you had felt homesick.
You had missed your mother's homemade cooking, your father's dad jokes, and even the snarky comebacks your siblings would say to you after an argument.
You didn’t want to worry them because they could barely scrape by at home so you pretended to be fine whenever they called. It was your uncle that took you when he noticed you were feeling down.
One day he asked you, “Wanna go somewhere magical?”
You wanted to say you weren’t little anymore, but curiosity got the better of you, so you agreed. He drove you both to what seemed like a small shack on the outside but inside was another story. It had hundreds of butterflies on display with the names and where they came from. It was silly, but you felt like a kid again. All excited to see and learn about butterflies.
It was one of your fondest memories, and you hoped that you could give to Rafe what you uncle had gave to you all those years ago - joy
“I think this one is my favorite so far,” you pointed at a bronze statue and Rafe hummed in response. Rafe had never really talked to you much back when you lived in Kildare and the same could be said now. He seemed to be too engrossed in his surroundings like you'd been.
You had once imagined what it would be like to be in Rafe’s circle of friends, and now that you’re actually spending alone time with him, he was quieter than you expected. You always thought that you and him could have been good friends at one point, but you knew he didn't take kindly to pogues.
A lot had changed in over a decade and you were no exception. Back then, you were naive and gullible. You'd like to think you became more independent and self-sufficient after leaving the island. However, some things required more work such as your ability to always be a people pleaser and say yes to everything.
“This one,” Rafe pointed to a painting showing a single girl laying in a bed of flowers gazing up at the clouds. “reminds me of you.”
You stared at it and asked, “You think I’m a daydreamer?”
A small smile appeared on his face. “Nah, you were too much of a realist back in school. I’ll give you one more guess.”
Raising an eyebrow at him, you said “Is it because you think I like flowers? Because I do.”
Rafe laughed at that and his eyes crinkled as he did.
Ba-dump. You could feel your heart beat a little faster and heat rushed up your cheeks. You knew Rafe was attractive but seeing him smile and laugh with you was making you swoon all over for him again.
“What kind of flowers do you like?” He asked.
“I prefer sunflowers.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
That made you smile wide.
You and Rafe walked past by a cheeky statue of Cupid about to shoot his arrow, and you couldn’t help but laugh. Here you were with someone you knew was out of you league, but at the moment you couldn’t help but feel as if you’re on cloud nine.
When you and Rafe had decided to finally exit the museum, the sun was starting to set. You’d both been inside walking for hours, and now your feet was aching, and your stomach was starting to grumble.
Rafe must have noticed because he recommended a nearby restaurant for the both of you to sit down in. It was a dimly lit restaurant that screamed extravagant when you walked in and the waiter that seated you had complimented the two of you as a good-looking couple.
“Oh, we’re not-” Your waiter walked away before you could refute his claims. As you sat alone at the table with Rafe, did you now see how it would look like to others. You were somewhat dressed up and so was Rafe. It definitely looked like a date from an outsider’s point of view.
Sighing, you glanced at the menu and your eyes nearly popped out of your skull.
$150 for an appetizer? $25 for drinks?
“Um Rafe” You softly called. “I’m sorry but I don’t think this restaurant is within my budget.”
He looked at you like you were crazy. “I assumed I was paying since I recommended this place.”
“But-“
“No buts. It’s final.” He cut you off. “Consider this a thank you for today.”
You bit back an argument and just sat quietly before the waiter came back to take your order. You had chosen the cheapest thing on the menu and saw Rafe purse his lips. He was disappointed you didn’t truly order what you want, but you were uncomfortable spending so much of someone else’s money.
Your waiter had walked off with your orders and you looked down at your hands in your lap.
“I mean it. Thank you for today.” Rafe’s voice broke the silence. “It’s been a while since I could just do something fun like that.”
“I could say the same to you. The last time I went to a place like this was when I lived with my uncle. He used to tell me places like these were magical.”
You spoke fondly of the man who raised you for a short moment of your life.
“It is.” Rafe said to you. “I used to beg my dad to bring me here as a kid. You know, but he always asked me what was even to point of coming to places where all you see are just paintings I could look up online.” He bitterly recounted.
“But seeing the real thing…it’s just different. I guess it’s about experiencing things for myself that changes the perspective of it. Ya know?”
You were about to agree when your waiter came back with the food you and Rafe had ordered. Rafe began to slowly open up about his childhood little by little.
In turn, so did you. You both were the eldest of siblings and while your parents were supportive in your life choices, Rafe’s father constantly criticized his.
You frowned as you thought about it. Rafe as a little boy not getting the love and attention he deserved.
As you began finishing the last of your meal, the conversation between you and Rafe slowly died down and he asked for the check. When you walked out of the restaurant, the temperature had dropped enough for you to shiver slightly.
Before you even knew it, something warm covered your frame, and you looked to see that Rafe had given you his blazer. You wanted to protest but realized how stupid that would be since you didn’t bring a jacket, so you just thanked him.
“Do you need a ride?” He asked as you stepped on to the sidewalk.
“I can just wait for an Uber, Rafe.”
Before you could even bring up your phone, his hand covered your screen.
“Nah, I’m driving ya. Don't trust anyone to get ya home all in one piece” and that was how you ended up in his car on the way back to your home. It smelled like him. A fresh scent with a woody undertone. Definitely expensive, but you wouldn’t have expected any less from Rafe.
You put in your address and then Rafe began drive in silence. You just stared out the window, taking in the scenery of the city before he drove further along the way. Before long, he’d parked right outside of your house. It was small place with enough room for just you. You liked it since you finally had some privacy after growing up in a large family.
As you clicked the seatbelt off, Rafe interrupted the silence between the two of you. He seemed nervous, eyes not reaching yours and rubbing the back of his neck.
“Actually, before you leave, can I get your number? I'd like to ask you something.”
You blinked. Maybe he wanted to go out again, so you just nodded and asked for his phone. You felt giddy as he passed it to you. When you finished typing your number in, you asked him what he wanted to ask you.
“Well, I wanted to see if you can help me out with Heather."
Oh.
"I know she’s your boss and all but maybe you could give me some pointers on how to get on her good side.”
Your felt your heart drop.
So that’s why he was good to me today.
Gathering the rest of your thoughts, you looked at Rafe. He was now staring into your eyes, and you noticed a hint of uneasiness behind them.
It made you flustered. You wanted to scream into a void at how unfair the situation was. The boy you had once admired was telling you he fancied someone else. The same boy who made you feel like a genuine connection just to reveal it was all a ruse.
You didn’t want to feel any more embarrassed than you were now, so you collected yourself and mustered enough courage to just say, “Of course.”
With your consent, Rafe was surprised. Perhaps he didn’t think you would agree to his request, but you didn’t have a reason not to.
“Okay, great. I’ll text you if I have any questions then.”
He let you exit the car after that. You saw that he waited for you to unlock your door and step inside before he peeled out of your driveway.
You didn’t cry. You refused to. It would be stupid to cry over someone who didn’t even see you the same way, but you couldn’t help but feel sad and dejected. You weren’t even supposed to hang out with Rafe, but life had other plans.
You sighed as you leaned against your door. There's no use thinking about the past.
Walking to the kitchen, you grabbed a cheap bottle of wine and poured into a glass cup before taking to your bathroom. Carefully, you had removed your jewelry, dress, and makeup before soaking in a nice hot bath and then changing into pajamas.
You felt something hairy brush against your leg and looked down. A black cat with a fluffy tail rubbed himself on you.
“You love me. Right, Shadow?”
As if he could sense your sadness, he meowed at you, so you took him into your arms to cuddle with you on your bed. The soft vibrations of his purrs calmed your spirit and you listened to it until you fell into a deep slumber, not knowing what the next day would be like.
Summary: Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.
A couple days had passed since he went to the gala. Rafe was sitting in his office thinking about his first and last interaction with Heather Hayworth.
Rafe grabbed two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter to go meet with Heather. He thought about what he would do the moment you would introduce them to Heather. He’d be a gentleman and offer her a glass. Then, he would talk to her and get on her good side.
He’d done it a million times before with other girls. They always ate the attention he’d give them.
When they finally got to Heather, you’d introduced both him and Kelce as former classmates of yours.
“I used to help Kelce with his math homework, and Rafe was the person I looked up to the most when I lived at the Outer Bank.”
Well, that was a surprise. He hadn’t expected you to describe him that way to Heather, but he was thankful anyway.
Hearing your short introduction, his heart beat a little faster, yet he thought it was because he was finally meeting Heather.
She seemed to like that, so she smiled at them.
But when he asked if she wanted a glass, she asked “Is the champagne? I’m sorry, I can’t have any.”
Okay, no big deal.
“But y/n can.” She took a glass and passed it along to you.
Kelce snickered at him. You looked unsure whether to accept that wasn’t offered directly to you, but you did anyway.
“Miss Hayworth means well. It’s just her personal belief that her body is her temple, so she tries to avoid toxic drinks and food.” You whispered before Kelce took you attention away.
“It’s no worries. It’s my fault for assuming.” Rafe frowned. He’d wished he’d known before he made a fool of himself.
“Miss Hayworth, I’m Rafe Cameron from Cameron Developments.” With that, she seemed to look at him up and down, checking him out.
“Mr. Cameron. I believe you’re in charge of the Hayworth Hotels expansion in North Carolina. I’m pleased to meet you.” She stuck her hand out for him.
Rafe took it and kissed the back of her hand. “Please, call me Rafe. Mr. Cameron is my father.”
“Well, if that’s the case, call me Heather.”
He took that as a good sign. “Alright then Heather, will you be coming to North Carolina to oversee the project?”
“Yes, I’ll be stepping in for my father. Hope that’s alright with you if you can show me around a bit. Maybe we can even have a good time.” She was straightforward. He liked that.
Rafe smirked as he said, “How about we start off with some coffee? Or tea? If that’s your thing. I know a good place -”
“Are you talking about Cloud Café? Man, we should totally go. They got amazing croissants. You’re coming too? Right, y/n?” Kelce asked.
“Um-” You looked at Rafe not sure if it was an open invitation for more people, but before you could answer, Heather took the initiative.
“She’s free. We can all go. I’d like to hear more about you from your friends.”
Heather reached into her bag and grabbed her business card. “Here’s my number. Text me the info. When and where.”
With that, she winked before someone else called her over and she disappeared with you.
---
And he did text her. Now, he’s just waiting for his time at work to end. Technically he could leave whenever, but Ward hated when he did, so he tried to stick it out until then.
His thoughts were interrupted by Topper walking in in holding a stack of papers.
“So I heard from Kelce y’all are going on a double date. How come whenever I ask, I get blown off?”
“First of all, it’s not a date. And second of all, because he never dated Sarah and Ruthie can’t keep her mouth shut for five minutes.”
“Ya got me there.” Topper laughed putting the papers down to put both his hands up. “Which reminds me, Ruthie also told me you’re going with Heather Hayworth. How’d you managed to even to snag someone like her?”
“A friend of a friend.” Not really wanting to talk to Topper about you.
Topper narrowed his eyes. “Well, besides me, you have Kelce, possibly Barry but I don’t see how he’d have the connections, so I’d put my money that it was Kelce that set this thing up. Wait-” he groaned.
“Was it really Kelce? Cause if it was, I owe him fifty.”
“Kelce didn’t introduce us, He wasn’t even supposed to come, but he invited himself anyway.”
“-and his date.” Topper concluded.
“She’s not his fuckin’ date.” That annoyed Rafe.
“Who’d he invite anyway?”
Rafe sighed. “Do you remember y/n? We went to Kildare High together. She’s Heather’s assistant.”
“Oh shit man! Dude you’ve got a golden goose egg right there!” Topper exclaimed. Rafe looked at him confused.
Topper, seeing his expression, went on to say, “Who knows Heather better than her assistant? No one. She knows her schedule and routine. What she likes to eat. To drink. If you’re serious about wanting to get married. You’ve got a golden opportunity to use for your advantage.”
He’d then remembered Kelce’s words. “Maybe she can help you shoot your shot.”
“Come on man, get serious.”
“I am serious. What girl doesn’t like romance. Y/n would probably say yes. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to try.”
The alarm on Rafe’s phone interrupted their conversation. Rafe grabbed his keys, wallet, and phone before sliding out the door.
“Look Top, I’ll think about it. I gotta go.”
“Well if it works, invite me to your future wedding!”
---
Rafe arrived at the café fifteen minutes early. He heard a bell ring as he stepped inside and made sure to find a table only for two, not wanting his time with Heather to be interrupted with Kelce and you.
As he was sitting down scrolling through his phone, Heather’s name popped up, indicating a call. When he picked up, Heather was apologizing profusely.
“Hey Rafe, I am so, so, so sorry. I’d rather you hear this from me, but I’m stuck in a meeting. I sent y/n home already, so maybe you and Kelce can still hang. Okay? Bye.”
She hung up before he could say anything.
What the fuck?
He decided he was just going to text Kelce and go back to his apartment, but as he was about the hit send, Kelce texted him first.
Kelce: Dude
Kelce: Do you have y/n’s number?
Rafe: No, why?
Kelce: Bc I forgot to ask for it
Kelce: Don’t hat me
Kelce: Hate*
Kelce: I can’t make it :((
Rafe: And that’s my problem why?
Kelce: Bc I need YOU to let her know I can’t make it. DUH
Fuck this.
Rafe called Kelce. “Kelce, what the fuck are you talkin’ about? You can’t make it? Now I gotta let her know that?”
“I’m sorry okay? My parents need my help. Something came up-” “Kelce get off the phone!” “Shit! Man, I really gotta go!”
“Kelce? Kelce? Jesus fuckin’ Christ Kelce.” Rafe muttered to himself as he stared at his phone.
Just then, he heard the bell ring, looked up and saw you enter. You walked in wearing a casual dress, the complete opposite of what Rafe was wearing, dressed in his best suit as he came right after work.
He sighed, feeling bad he had to break the news that both Heather and Kelce had canceled.
Fuck my life.
---
You’d actually gotten there with some time to spare.
You knew that Heather had been looking forward to just hang out with Rafe by herself, so she gave you two tickets to go to the Museum of Art with Kelce. However, when you just saw Rafe walking up to you, you would’ve never expected what he’d say.
“Heather called. She said she couldn’t get out of her meeting, and Kelce had something come up. So it looks like it’s just us.”
“Oh. Um- well,”
“What?” he asked.
“I-it’s just I know you’re just here for Miss Hayworth. You don’t have to stay.” You stammered.
He frowned as you said that, but he didn’t deny it.
“What makes you say that?” He asked instead. You gave him a look.
“Come on, everyone prefers her. Look at her. She’s beautiful, rich, put together, what more could you want?”
He stared at you. “You’re pretty too, ya know.”
You shyly looked down at what you were wearing, a light blue colored flowy sundress. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.” He broke a smile at your response.
Feeling awkward, you began to walk back to the exit with Rafe following shortly after.
“Do you need a ride? I can give you one.” He offered.
“Actually, Heather gave me these art museum tickets. It’s only valid for today, so I was just going to walk there.”
You pulled the tickets from your purse. Rafe noticed the second one.
“Were you gonna go with Kelce?” You nodded.
“I’ve never been before.” He responded as rubbed the back of his neck. Why’d I just say that?
It was true though. Ward never let him go to these types of places, claiming it would be a distraction from what was more important: the company.
Instead of making a big deal out of it, you grabbed his hand to put one of the tickets in his palm.
“It’s your lucky day today. I need a companion. It makes it more fun.” You smiled.
Rafe had never had this happen before. He’s usually the one in control. Planning dates, buying gifts, and taking the lead. He could feel his heart thumping through his chest, but he thought it was just his nerves.
“Unless…it’s not really your thing.”
“No! I mean yes!” he shouted.
“What I mean to say is that I’ll go, if it’s fine with you.” He didn’t know why he was so nervous.
You beamed and nodded, and his heart leaped.
“Of course it is, Rafe.”
You reached out his hand, intending to shake it, but when Rafe’s hands covered yours, he interlocked your fingers and began walking beside you.
He made sure the match your stride. Not walking too fast because of his long legs, and he found that he really liked that the feeling of being with you. It was just Rafe and you. Together.
Summary: Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.
“Hey, isn’t that y/n?” Kelce asked. Well, that was a name he hadn’t heard in a while. When Kelce said your name aloud, it brought up a feeling of annoyance in Rafe.
If Rafe had a mortal enemy. It’d be you (albeit it was more one sided than anything). Back when he was a teenager, He had wanted to excel in every subject just to get an ounce of his father’s praise.
He put in countless hours of studying, played every sport, and even joined those extracurricular clubs that helped the community so that he would look good in his father’s eyes.
He was the number one golden boy at kook academy. And he was doing good, until you transferred to his school.
You got in with a scholarship. You weren’t even a kook. You had moved to the outer banks to live with to your uncle when your parents didn’t have enough money to support you at the time. He didn’t know it at the time, but you would come in and crash his entire system.
Whatever subject it was, you had him beat. If he was given a 95, you aced with a perfect score. When the clubs he joined began voting for new representatives for the year, he’d be the vice president while you were voted president or captain of whatever the hell it was school.
Instead of feeling proud his son was doing well in school, Ward would always reprimand him for losing the top spot to you.
"You let a pogue beat you at being Valedictorian? She doesn't even have tutors. Why the hell did I pay them for?"
It made him feel inferior just like how he felt with Sarah.
The worst part was that you either didn’t care or didn’t realize it. You always wanted to sit next to him or be his partner in projects.
You hadn’t done anything wrong per se, but he was sure he hated you. When you both graduated, you had moved back home with your parents and Rafe thought he’d never have to see you again.
However, when he looked back and saw you, dressed up with your hair and make-up done nicely, walking behind Heather, he did a double take. It was you, only dressed up for the occasion. He’d never seen you like that, dressed up with your hair and make up done pretty.
Huh he thought.
“Imma go say hi.” Said Kelce. Rafe looked at him, face showing his confusion. “How do you know her?”
“Y/n used to tutor me in math. She’s the best” Fuck. Even his friends liked her. “You should come. It looks like her and Heather are close. Maybe she can help you shoot your shot.” Kelce laughed as he walked towards the girls.
Her? Help me? Please, as if. Rafe followed anyway.
---
You weren’t sure what to expect when your company invited you to the gala, but running into the boy you used to tutor in algebra was not in your agenda for the evening.
“Y/n! What a nice surprise. We haven’t seen each other in what? Years?” Kelce said.
“Oh my gosh! Kelce! It’s so good to see you.” You responded. “How are you?” You went in for a hug.
As Kelce was going on about how he’d been. You see another face you thought you’d never run into. Rafe Cameron was the boy you used to have a crush on when you moved to the outer banks and seeing him again after all these years made your face feel flushed.
“Hi Rafe.” He only gave a small hi back.
“Are you with anybody tonight?” Kelce asked when he was done talking. “Yes and no. I don’t have a date, but I came with Miss Hayworth as her assistant."
“You work for her?” Kelce said surprised. “Yeah, she’s over here if you want me to introduce you.”
Rafe perked up at that. You caught it and you couldn’t help but feel a bit of disappointment. Of course they’d wanna meet her. It’s Heather Hayworth.
You liked Heather. She was nice, pretty, and an overall good person, yet seeing the man you used to like show more emotion at hearing her name than seeing you stung.
It’s not like we were more than classmates you thought.
You admit, you were sweeter on him than he was you, but you liked how much effort he put into his work and how he always volunteered to do stuff outside of class.
However, even though you wanted to get closer to Rafe, it was like there was an invisible wall separating you from everyone else. You chalked it up to you being an outsider.
“As long as it not a bother.” Rafe said. His voice made your heart beat a little faster. “Of course not. Come on.” You spoke.
Rafe Cameron has everything a man would want. Now he’s looking to settle down. He thinks he’s found the one that checks all the boxes, except she’s not you.
At twenty-nine years old, Rafe Cameron was the most eligible bachelor in the business world. He was used to women throwing themselves at him, using them, ghosting them, then moving onto the next. And now as he was nearing his thirties, his father was begging him to finally settle down with a respectable woman and start a family.
“Sarah’s married to that pogue boy. Now when are gonna grow up and do something with your life?” Ward said the last time they had talked. Rafe nearly broke his phone after that conversation.
He knew he didn’t have anything left to prove to his father, but hearing Ward compare him to his little sister once again hurt his pride, and he wasn’t going to let that slide. Nope.
He had a plan. He was going to find someone who fit into his world. Someone who would turn heads whenever they walked into a room. Someone who commanded respect and attention. The perfect woman.
------------------------------
The event was in full swing as Rafe leaned against the balcony, staring down at the people who were invited to the gala. Only the richest, most successful people were invited. If he was looking for his match, she’d be here for sure.
“Dude, what about Charlotte Goldberg? Her parents own like a dozen diamond mines, plus she’s hot.” Topper pointed at pretty girl wearing a sparkly black dress. He’d been trying all night to get Rafe to at least agree with one suggestion.
“Nah man, I’d rather not let my name be associated with blood diamonds” said Rafe unimpressed, “and Kelce went out with her sister. Said their family is starting a reality TV show. I don’t want no one to know my personal shit like that.”
Kelce nodded. “I broke up with her last year. At least they shot on my good side.”
Topper groaned. “What about her? I heard she’s a humanitarian.” He gestured to a woman with short black hair and wearing a long white dress.
“She just divorced her third husband. I’m not lookin’ to be number four.”
Kelce snickered at Rafe’s response. Topper was going to make another suggestion before his date Ruthie called him. “Topper! Where’s my champagne?! You’ve been gone for thirty minutes already!”
That dumbass came with Ruthie? He thought to himself as he saw the girl link her arm with Topper to bring him towards another group of people and leaving him and Kelce alone.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Rafe lifted himself from the balcony and started to walk towards the crowd. If he wanted to find someone who was wife material, it would be better if he looked for himself than to listen to Topper.
Kelce followed behind him. “Dude, don’t you think you’re just being a lil’ hard on yourself? Girls throw themselves at your feet. What more could you want?”
Rafe inwardly groaned. As he began to formulate his excuse to leave his friend, he heard the crowd quiet down.
He turned around and saw a young blond woman wearing a stunning gold evening gown walk through the entrance. Her flowy blonde hair shined whenever she turned toward the paparazzi and when she smiled, her teeth were as white as pearls Her curves made some women burn with jealousy as they saw their partners ogle at her figure. Her hips swayed as she walked through the crowd. She knew how to make an entrance alright.
“Who is she?” Rafe asked.
“You don’t know who that is!? That’s Heather Hayworth! Her family owns Hayworth Hotels and like a bunch of other businesses around the world.” Kelce said incredulously.
"Is she single?"
"For now. Rumor has it she's trying to find a partner her father approves of so she can take over when he retires next year. Allegedly. She's kinda like you in a way."
All the right things were being said to Rafe as he zeroed in on the blonde bombshell.
Was she beautiful? Check.
Was her family rich? Check.
Was she part of the land development/business world? Check.
If Rafe had paid attention more closely to who walked in, he would have also noticed you.
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