The Playboy's Touch (Book 2)

Chapter 16

Enrique

I stormed into my house and up to my father’s office.

My body was radiating with intense emotions-fear, anger, relief, irritation and frustration.

When I had gotten home Lady Thompson was frantic and Oliver was out searching for Rachel. The servants told us that they hadn’t seen her since noon and it was almost sunset. Mrs. Abarca told me she was wearing a light green dress, her dark blonde hair was in an intricate fish braid with small yellow flower pins decorating it. She said she had left her outside on the back porch but when she came back she was gone. There was no note and no verbal message-she was just gone.

My stomach had dropped at the thought that something had happened to her. There was no sign of any intrusion and no servants or the butler were harmed. They hadn’t seen anything suspicious therefore we all believed that Rachel had not been taken against her will. However, we couldn’t be sure of that. She didn’t know the city, she hadn’t taken a carriage and no servant had left with her.

Lady Thompson was beside herself, trying her best not to cry or assume the worst but I could see the fear in her eyes. Oliver too, who always seemed composed and in a good mood was both angry and scared. And I couldn’t blame them, if Celeste had disappeared and left a no note I too would be losing my mind. However, I was trying to find comfort in believing that Rachel was capable of defending herself if it was needed. When I brought this up to her mother and brother, they both tried to agree with me but I saw hesitancy in their eyes.

I convinced Oliver to stay at the house in case she returned while I went out and looked for her on horseback. I knew the city much better than he did and I could ask around in Spanish and get quicker responses. During my search my stomach tightened every single time minutes passed and I didn’t find her. I began to assume the worst, that she had gone out to interact with a man. That she went and put her skills to practice since no one was around to stop her. Could all of this had been my fault? Would I be the reason that she was hurt or scared? If Celeste was here, I knew she would have my head on a pike for having put Rachel in danger.

It wasn’t until I was arriving back home that I saw very familiar carriage. It was elegant but a bit worn down, and I recognized the light brown horses and chauffeur. It was Vicente. And through one of the small windows I saw movement and a light green dress. Relief washed over me, seeing that Rachel was back home. But I was also angry at her, and angry at my staff. Rachel knew better than to leave the house by herself, and unchaperoned. The woman had a talent for doing all of the wrong things. No wonder her and my sister were best friends.

But there was also a white flash of jealousy and fury at Vicente. He too, knew better than to take a young woman away from her home without a chaperone around and without notice. To be specific, to take a young, unmarried woman from MY home. If anything had happened to her, his fault or not, it would be my responsibility. She was my guest therefore she was under my protection.

I heard Lady Thompson and Oliver scolding Rachel at the entrance of the house. Their argument echoed but I also heard Oliver demanding Rachel to not turn her back on them. I heard slow but intense footsteps heading in my direction. I took a deep breath and prepared myself for the big argument that was about to happen between Rachel and I. My office door slammed open and when I turned, I saw Rachel looking at me with a fury I had only seen a couple of times in my life.

“What the bloody hell was that?!?” She yelled.

“I could ask you the same thing!” I yelled back.

“Do you have any idea how much you embarrassed me in front of Vicente?!”

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. “I honestly don’t care.”

She reached towards a book next to her and I pointed at her. “DONT you dare throw that at me!”

She glared at me in silence and I decided it was my only opportunity to scold her for her actions.

“Are you aware of the fright and concern that you inflicted on your poor mother and brother? They were frantic, absolutely losing their mind not knowing where you were and who you were with! How could you be so reckless?” She was about to argue back but I continued. “ I was worried sick! I returned home after a long day to finding out that you were missing. I didn’t know where to start looking for you, I didn’t know who to ask and most importantly I had no idea what I was going to do if something had happened to you! Why would you do something like this? I thought you were smart!”

I had seen her eyes soften a bit as I told her how worried we all were, but when I questioned her intelligence she didn’t hesitate in throwing the big book at me.

“I am not dumb! I am capable of making my own decisions Enrique!” She snapped at me as she threw another book. “I don’t need you lecturing me about my choices!!”

She threw a third book and continued snapping at me. “In fact-I don’t regret it! I had a lovely afternoon with Vicente and I would do it all over again. I don’t care if that upsets you!”

I caught the fourth book she threw and I glared at her, her words hitting an unknown nerve. “Are you sure you can make your own decisions?? Because what you did is what a love struck, desperate, and attention seeking debutante would do with the first man who paid her any attention.”

She had reached out for a fifth book but froze. I immediately regretted what I had said. The shock, horror and pain in her eyes was like a slap to the face.

She dropped the book and it fell to the floor. She turned away from me and I saw her bite her lip. She glanced in my direction for a split second and I saw her frown with tears in her eyes.

I stepped towards her slowly and reached out to her. “Rachel, I’m sorry. I didn’t-“

Before I could finish she turned to leave. She stumbled a bit and I immediately reached out to help her but she caught herself on the door and walked out.

And for some reason-the sight of tears in her eyes and watching her walk away from me pained me in my chest like nothing I had experienced before.