• Chapter 1

    I knew from the moment I met him, he was trouble. There was something about his eyes that kept me on guard when around him. They were an icy, gun metal grey color that held a longing gaze but only went so far before they were blocked. These eyes belonged to Mr. Raphael Kingston; a man of wealth and envy. He was something to envy if you were to be a man. He was only in his early twenties and had already become the second richest man in the state of Remington. Men wanted to be him or be close to him, either way they wanted a more powerful name.

    Woman on the other hand; once upon meeting him, wanted to be with him. They wanted to be seen on the arm of Mr. Kingston; on the arm of a rich man. Then later on be able to state they had once been with him and how amazingly more in love he was with them. My meeting of Mr. Kingston was at a business party. I, myself wasn’t invited except through as a chaperon. My companion’s invite was business related; he worked for one of Mr. Kingston’s lower corporations. Since he had been invited and I; being his partner at the time, was dragged along. I hadn’t wanted to go to begin with; I had wanted to stay home and work on my art. See Jake and I had the relationship that was kind of ideal for an inspired artiest. Jake went to work and had a steady income; as to where I, only painted when I had become inspired and then sell my work. I rarely brought in money to put food on the table; only being the times my work would sell. Being with Jake meant I could go out, snap photos I thought we’re breath taking, setting up my idle and canvases out in public and painting what I seen through my eyes.

    Though that night Jake begged me to go so he could introduce me to Mr. Kingston.

    “Babe, it isn’t too much to ask for my partner; my love, to meet my boss. I think it’s best a couple meet each other’s employers; at least in our case you meet mine.”

    I didn’t want to hurt Jake; he tried his best to support my dream, though I knew he hated it. So I decided to join him, the whole car hide he chatted on and on about how amazing and successful Mr. Kingston was. I listened in good manner but when truly it drove me nuts.

    Thankfully once we entered the party he calmed down. He drug me around, introducing me to everyone we came in contact with. I tried to be as polite as I could but I felt out of place. Everyone wore nice dresses and tuxedos, showing off their money in clothes. I however couldn’t afford nice clothes and had shown up in the nicest pair of blue denim jeans I owned and a button up dress shirt. Jake had complemented me, but now I felt he had done it to be nice.

    Meeting almost half the people there within the first two hours, I quickly grew bored. Jake was very sociable, as to why he did wonderful in business. I, on the other hand, wasn’t too fond of people themselves. I had never truly been the sociable type; I had always preferred to be a loner. I stood beside Jake in a zoned out state; not really caring to listen to the conversation of politics Jake had been pulled into, when I could hear off in the distance a group of girls gasp and several people clapping.

    Jake quickly turned to face the noise and within seconds we were with the crowd, swarming a man I had assumed was Mr. Kingston. He was tall, casting a shadow over the people standing the closest to him, from a distance I assumed he stood six foot seven. He had long black silk like hair that was pulled at the nap of his neck by a piece of black leather. His complexion was a smooth dark olive tone; making it seem as though he spent a lot of time in the sun. Jake jumped up and down beside me trying to take a glance at the infamous Raphael Kingston.

    “Ugh! I can’t see him.” Jake complained beside me.

    “I have an idea.” He said quickly before grasping my hand and pulling me through the crowd of well dressed people.

    Being so close to people I didn’t know and didn’t feel welcomed by made me feel extremely uncomfortable. Ever since I was younger I never liked touching stranger even by accident; once my skin made contact with them I felt dirty and gross. My mother always said it was a way of protection from evil spirits; my father just called me a p***y.

    Finally we broke through the barrier of people out into the open area beside the man everyone circled. Jake let go of my hand, straightened his posture and clothing before stepping closer to Mr. Kingston.

    “Mr. Kingston, I’m not sure if your remember me but I’m-“

    “Your Jake Wilkins am I correct?” Raphael interrupted with a smile.
    His smile was breath taking; anyone looking his general area when he smiled would fall weak at the knees. His teeth were straight, pearly white, beaming with a radiant glow that surrounded his whole face; highlighting his god like features he held as a face.

    Jake giggled excitedly as though her were talking to a celebrity. I rolled my eyes feeling slightly embarrassed for the both of us.

    “You remember my name.” Jake squeaked out.

    Raphael chuckled heartily. “Of course I remember your name. You were the guy who helped me after my fainting spell at the meeting last fall.”

    I looked to Jake; seeing that this was the first time of me hearing of such a thing and noticed he seem flustered. His cheeks were red and he could not for the life of him stop smiling; he was never really good at hiding his feelings. Raphael chuckled, turning his attention to me and smiling.

    “And you are?” He asked taking my hand and lifting it to his lips.

    Jake gasped, remembering he had dragged me along. “This is my partner Skyler; Skyler Knight.”

    Raphael smiled, almost like as though he were trying to seduce me; before kissing the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Skyler. I am Raphael Kingston.”

    I smiled, feeling rather uncomfortable as I took my hand back. “Dido.” I said simply
    Jake nudged me in the rib cage; a reminder to mind my manners.
    “It’s a pleasure meeting you as well Mr. Kingston.” I said correcting my wording.

    Raphael laughed deep in his throat. “No need to correct yourself Skylar and please just call me Raphael, I’m not too fond of people calling me Mr.”

    I sucked my lips in making them thin as I nodded not really caring what he liked; in my first impression of him, I though him to be rather full of himself. By the time Jake had finally introduced me, the crowd of people had separated; going back to what they had been doing before the man of the hour showed up. Jake had once again become absorbed with Raphael leaving me out of the conversation. Zoning out I scanned the room taking notice of the women still standing close by, waiting for their opportunity to talk and flirt with Mr. Kingston. Groups of people would glance at our little group of three and whisper hushed little remarks; causing me to be even more uncomfortable. Lifting my glass of punch to my lips, I zoned back into the conversation ad noticed something about Raphael. At first I thought to be imagining it; he stood before us smiling and nodding in agreement with Jake but his eyes were flashing back and forth between Jake and I.

    I tried not to think anything of it and look away but his eyes kept drawing me back to his face until finally our eyes met and his longing gaze captured me. It wasn’t that he was so handsome and his eyes so beautiful, but because unlike anyone else’s eyes I’ve looked at, his were different. His eyes were deep, but not the “window to the soul” deep, they only went too far before you slammed into a break wall.

    I snapped back to reality after hitting his wall and quickly glanced at the floor. I heard a low chuckle in his chest which caused me to look back up at him, only to see his eyes still on me; now holding a gaze that alerted me he knew what I had been trying to do. Rolling my eyes I grabbed Jake’s arm letting him know I was still there. Turning to look at me, Jake was reminded, that yet again he had forgotten me.

    “I’m ready to go Jake.” I said flatly.

    Sighing sadly, Jake turned back to Raphael and gave a half hearted smile. “I’m sorry we can’t stay any longer Mr. Kingston, but thank you so much for inviting me and Skyler to your party.”

    Raphael smiled, slightly bowing his head. “The pleasure is mine Mr. Wilkins.” He said, his eyes now looking at me. “And Skyler, it was a pleasure meeting you; I hope to see more of you at my parties.”

    I rolled my eyes and pulled Jake away from his boss, heading toward the exit.

    “What’s your problem Skyler.” Jake complained, sounding slightly angry.

    “I don’t feel well.” I said lying; I was never able to tell Jake the truth.