The dining room was brightly lit. Silver cutlery gleamed beneath the chandeliers and Fresh flowers decorated the center of the table.
Rafael sat at the head, reading something on his tablet while sipping black coffee.
Caleb occupied the chair to his left, lazily swirling whiskey around a crystal glass.
Neither spoke.
Isabella stopped at the entrance.
"Good evening."
Both men looked up.
Rafael gave a slight nod. Caleb watched her.
His expression unreadable.
Isabella quietly pulled out a chair and sat opposite Caleb, leaving just an empty seat between herself and Rafael.
Almost immediately, three maids appeared carrying dinner.
One carefully placed a plate before Rafael.
Another served Caleb and the third stopped beside Isabella.
The aroma alone made her realize how hungry she actually was. She hadn't eaten much throughout the day.
The maid carefully set the plate down before pouring a glass of red wine.
There was complete silence that only the sound of cutlery echoed through the room.
Before Isabella barely touched her food, she could feel Caleb's eyes drifting toward her every few seconds.
It made her even more nervous.
Rafael looked up briefly.
"How was your day?"
She blinked. The question caught her off guard.
"It... it was alright." She managed to say.
"You spent it reading?"
She nodded. "Yes."
He took another bite before asking,
"Do you like it?"
A small smile found its way onto her lips.
"I do,"
Rafael gave a simple nod.
Caleb's fork paused halfway to his mouth.
His eyes moved from Rafael...to Isabella.....then back to Rafael.
"Interesting....Very interesting" He thought.
Rafael continued eating as though nothing unusual had happened.
"Is there anything you need?"
Isabella hesitated. "No."
"You'll tell Selena if there is."
She nodded quietly. "Thank you"
Caleb finally leaned back in his chair. He looked almost amused.
"So..."
His eyes rested on Isabella. "I assume you're finally getting used to living here."
Isabella wasn't sure how to answer.
Before she could think of one, a sudden gasp broke the silence.
The maid standing beside her had accidentally knocked the wine bottle against the edge of the glass.
Red wine splashed across the tablecloth. Some landed on Isabella's sleeve.
The bottle slipped from the maid's trembling fingers.
Fortunately, she caught it before it shattered.
Her face pale and afraid.
"Oh my God..."
She immediately stepped back before dropping to her knees.
"I'm so sorry, El Diablo."
Her voice shook violently.
"It was an accident, "I'm sorry....."I'm so sorry."
Isabella stared at her.
The poor girl looked terrified.
"It's alright." She reached for a napkin. "It barely touched me."
The maid didn't even acknowledge her.
Her frightened eyes remained fixed on Rafael.
Waiting and Praying.
The entire dining room seemed to hold its breath.
Rafael calmly placed his knife and fork down.
He looked at the trembling girl for several seconds.
Then he spoke. "Get up."
She didn't move.
Perhaps she thought she hadn't heard correctly.
"I said..."
His voice became slightly firmer.
"Get up."
The maid quickly stood, though her hands continued shaking.
"Bring Mrs. Navarro another plate."
"Y-Yes, Boss."
"And replace the tablecloth right away."
She bowed repeatedly before hurrying away.
The other servants immediately began cleaning the table.
Within moments, everything looked as though nothing had happened.
Yet Isabella noticed something.
Every servant still looked nervous.
Not because Rafael had shouted.
He hadn't.
Not because he had punished anyone.
He hadn't.
They feared him simply because he was Rafael Navarro.
Across the table, Caleb slowly took another sip of whiskey.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Interesting" He still thought.
Dinner continued.
The conversation never truly returned.
After finishing her meal, Isabella carefully placed her napkin on the table.
"I'm full."
Rafael looked up.
"So soon?"
She smiled politely. "I don't think I can eat anymore."
He nodded once. "You may go."
She stood. "Thank you."
Neither man responded.
She quietly excused herself and disappeared down the hallway.
The dining room became silent once more.
Caleb waited until her footsteps had completely faded before speaking.
"You're not going to explain what that was?"
Rafael didn't look up from his plate.
"What?"
Caleb laughed quietly.
"Don't insult my intelligence."
Still no response.
"You asked petty questions"
Still no response.
"You wanted to know whether she liked the food."
Silence.
"You even asked if she needed anything."
Rafael calmly reached for his coffee.
"And?"
Caleb stared at him.
"The Rafael Navarro I know doesn't ask those kind of questions."
"I just asked questions."
"No." Caleb shook his head. "You showed concern."
Rafael finally looked at him. His expression remained unreadable.
"Have you finished eating?, are you're triggered by it too?"
Caleb ignored the question.
"Then there's Ortega."
Rafael's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. "What about him?"
"You let him walk."
"I did." He answered nonchalantly.
Caleb leaned forward. "He betrayed you."
"He did."
"He sold out information."
"Yes."
"He worked with Cassimo."
"Yes." Every answer came calmly without emotion.
Caleb frowned. "And yet he's still breathing."
Rafael placed his coffee cup down. "Cassimo didn't recruit Ortega."
Caleb remained silent.
"He took Luciana." Rafael's voice remained low but grounded. "He kidnapped a pregnant woman."
Another pause.
"He used her and their unborn child as leverage."
Caleb folded his arms. "He still chose to betray you." He said.
"He did." Rafael didn't deny it. "He made the wrong decision."
A brief silence followed. "But before it was too late....he corrected it."
Caleb scoffed. "By sending a note?"
"By choosing where his loyalty belonged." Rafael said.
Caleb leaned back. "I would've killed him."
Rafael nodded once. "I know."
"And you should have too." Caleb said not mincing words.
Rafael met his eyes. "Dead men don't raise children."
Caleb's expression hardened. "So that's it?.....you've become merciful?"
Rafael's jaw tightened. "Don't mistake judgment for mercy."
The room became quiet again.
"I spared Ortega because he earned the chance to live....If he had remained loyal to Cassimo..."
A pause.
"I would've buried him myself."
Caleb searched Rafael's face trying to decide whether he believed him.
Finally he stood.
"I just hope you don't start making exceptions for everyone."
Rafael picked up his tablet again. "I won't."
Caleb nodded slowly.
Yet as he walked out of the dining room...
One thought refused to leave him.
El Diablo had changed. Maybe only a little.
But enough for people to notice.
And in their world...
Even the smallest change could become a weakness