The Pleasure and the Pain

Five years ago Raphael Madralena had left Laura Fleming, renouncing their passionate relationship, to return to Spain to marry the girl he had been betrothed to since childhood. Now, he was a widower and they were to meet again. It was inevitable that the old fires would be relit.

Raphael looked at her impatiently. "I consider that you deserve punishment for coming here and disturbing the even tenor of my days."

Laura shrank back in her chair. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Very well, senorita, I will tell you. I think perhaps you will do very well for Carlos. For my son." Laura's stomach churned nauseously. "You can't be serious! I no longer desire the post," she said, shakily.

Raphael's eyes were dark now. "Then that is unfortunate for you, because I must insist you accept it. You signed a contract in London, did you not? For a probationary period of one month?"

"You - you wouldn't hold me to that!" Laura murmured, disbelievingly.

Hero: Raphael Madralena
Heroine: Laura Fleming