The Del Mundo mansion wasn't haunted, but it sure felt like it. Maybe it was the way the air hung heavy in the halls or how silence clung to the walls like wallpaper. Lily had only been working here for a few days, but she was already convinced this place had trust issues.
She stood in the massive kitchen, stirring pasta sauce with the energy of someone pretending they weren't annoyed. The recipe had been left out like a royal decree, complete with underlined instructions. "No garlic, low salt, add chopped basil AFTER it boils."
Raphael Del Mundo and his royal taste buds.
She glanced toward the hallway where she'd heard him pacing earlier. Always in gloves. Always so... emotionally constipated. He acted like getting too close would cause a nuclear meltdown. Lily rolled her eyes.
"You're overcooking the sauce," a voice said behind her.
She jumped, nearly flinging the wooden spoon across the counter. "Jesus! Can you not sneak up on people like that?"
"I didn't sneak. You just weren't paying attention."
Raphael stood with his arms crossed, eyeing the pot like it had personally offended him.
"Why are you even here? Don't you have a rich person board meeting or a secret lair to get back to?"
"I live here," he replied dryly. "And you left the fridge door slightly open yesterday. Do that again, and you'll be paying the electric bill."
She blinked. "I earn intern money. You think I can afford the lightbulbs in this place?"
He walked over to the table and sat, never getting too close. Always keeping a few feet of air between them. She had started noticing it. The exact avoidance. The way his eyes would flick to her hands like they were grenades.
She turned back to the pot. "You have issues."
"You're clumsy."
"You're allergic to reality."
"You talk too much."
"You breathe too dramatically."
They fell into a short silence, and she smirked a little when she heard him exhale sharply.
"Pasta's done. Unless you're also allergic to that," she said, plating it with a bit too much flair.
He didn't answer. Just watched her.
As she placed the plate down, she noticed how he shifted slightly. His arm almost brushed hers. Almost.
She paused.
He paused.
Then he stepped back like she'd just tried to stab him.
Lily narrowed her eyes. "Okay, seriously, are you afraid of being touched or something?"
His jaw tightened. "Don't ask questions you don't want answers to."
She crossed her arms. "Try me."
He didn't respond. Just walked out.
Meanwhile, across the city at the sleek offices of DM Group, Dante stood beside the large screen in the boardroom, smirking like the snake he was born to be.
"There's a new bug in the prototype software. And it just so happens to be traced back to a department Raphael oversees."
His father raised an eyebrow. "You made sure there's no trace to us?"
"Obviously. I even left it tied to his old protocol signature. It'll look like a regression bug."
"And the girl?"
"Still following up. She shows up at his estate daily now. Quiet type. But he's been… softer lately."
"Interesting. Softness never suits a Del Mundo."
Dante smiled. "Don't worry. I'll break it."
Back at the mansion, Lily was scrubbing a wine glass when she heard footsteps again.
Raphael was leaning against the archway, arms crossed.
"You're still here."
She didn't look up. "Nope. I'm a ghost. You killed me with your personality and now I'm stuck here doing housework."
He cracked a tiny smile. "Should I call an exorcist then?"
She glanced up at him, surprised. That might have been a joke.
He walked over, still avoiding her like she had plague tattoos, and placed a file on the counter.
"New pill schedule. And fire whoever labeled the last box. They spelled 'antihistamine' like a drag queen name."
She snorted. "Anty Hista-Meen, queen of allergies."
He turned, and for a moment their eyes locked.
There was something in his gaze—something less sharp, less guarded.
"Why do you still come here?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Because you said I had to."
"You could say no."
"I could. But I like annoying you more."
He smiled. Just barely. But it was there.
Then he walked off.
And Lily stared after him, frowning.
She was starting to get used to the distance.
But part of her was curious.
Why did he keep her at arm's length... but never out of the room?