L E V I ' S P O V

I rubbed my hands together and afterward, blew a cold breath in my palms that were sweating immensely.

Just do it you fucking pussy.

Ophelia just went back to her room after I had one of the maids wrap her wrist after giving it the proper treatment.

I had been outside Ophelia's door for a whole minute now and made no move to knock just as yet.

I lifted my arm to knock but then I retreated it as I rubbed the light stubble on my chin.

I hesitantly placed my ear on the door, listening for any movement on the other side but was met with complete and utter silence.

I quickly removed my ear and straightened up when I saw a maid walk past me as she sent me a nervous smile as she watched my actions.

I cleared my throat and tugged my suit jacket a little closer as she looked at me weirdly before speed-walking down the hall.

Looking down at my attire, I wondered if Ophelia would find this stance intimidating.

Maybe I should have changed into something more casual.

Tugging a hand through my hair, I pivoted, but paused when I saw the door swing open with Ophelia standing on the other side wearing a plain white tee and a pair of leggings. It was clear that she already took a bath judging from the tiny water droplets that were dripping from her curly hair.

I sucked in a deep long breath as I tried to maintain eye contact with her.

"O-Oh, hello." She fidgeted under my gaze. Her wrist was now wrapped up as she opened the door, her hand still resting on the door knob. "Would you um--- l-like to come in?" I could tell that she was still cautious about me coming in but she was just trying to be polite.

I gave her a nod as I entered the bedroom. She hadn't changed anything about it. Everything was still in place and the bed was made, but judging by the wrinkles in the centre and the book facing flat down, I had just interrupted her reading.

I walked over to the book as she played with her fingers, eyes settled on the floor.

To Kill a Mockingbird.

"Sorry for interrupting your reading, it's a great book." For once I was glad that she wasn't looking at me to see the amount of nervousness that was evident in my features.

"I-It's okay. Um, did you need something? I-I mean— you d-don't have to need anything to c-come in here of course, I-I'm just cur—" I let out a deep chuckle as she tried to justify everything she said which resulted in a blush forming on her cheeks and her tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I— was just wondering," I cleared my throat for the umpteenth time today. "I-I'll be home early tomorrow."

Stop fucking stuttering, you prick.

"And I was saying that we could, you know, go out." I belt out, feeling a drop of sweat drip down my forehead.

The confusion was evident on her face. She probably thought that I was referring to the lunch dates that we would have every once in a while, which I never really directly came to her room and ask.

"As a date, I mean." I added on.

Her face turned as bright as a tomato before she looked to her left and to her right before replying, "M-Me?"

I frowned, "Yeah," I said slowly. "Who else?" It was simply unsatisfying that Ophelia didn't really see what everyone else saw in her.

She was kind, beautiful, smart and anyone would be lucky to have the privilege of being in her presence.

"Oh um--- I-I might have to work late," She mumbled as if she really didn't have a choice.

I broke a smile and quickly masked it when she looked up at me, "Don't worry about that, okay? Just say yes." I said to her.

She looked up at me through her eyelashes, swaying her body in a giddy motion. "I-I would l-like that." She blushed at what she realised she just said. "I mean--- I guess, i-if you're sure." She quickly added.

I smiled at her adorableness.

We stood in silence for a while before I blurted out, "You look pretty today."

Pretty? Who the fuck says pretty, I scolded myself.

"Not that you don't look pretty every day." I said, quickly scratching the back of my neck.

She looked down at her attire and cringed before muttering a quick thanks as a blush coated her cheeks.

Once again, we were surrounded by the thick tension.

"I'll be— downstairs if you need me." I said.

She nodded as she looked up.

"Oh um, c-can I have Kace's number? I-I need to talk to him." She mumbled embarrassingly. "And a phone, if you don't mind."

My hand rested on the door knob, my eyebrows furrowing in the process, "But didn't you have his number?" I inquired.

"Yeah but," She pauses. "He probably still has it b-blocked." Her voice trembled.

My gaze softened as I looked at her, "If you want, I could just let him come over so you could talk about it in person."

"Really?" She looked hopeful. "Thank you." She said shyly as a giddy smile took over her face as she looked down.

"So— eight o'clock?" I inquired.

She blushed, "Yeah."

I let out a sigh of relief, hoping that she didn't catch it.

"See you tomorrow then?" I questioned.

Of course you'll see her before tomorrow, you stupid fucker.

She nodded her head and I gave her a smile before quickly scurrying out of the bedroom and shutting the door.

"Oh fuck," I breathed out as I leaned my back against the door and ran a hand through my hair.

That took a lot a shit out of me. I felt like a fucking high school boy again asking a girl on my first date.

Why the hell is my heart beating so fast?

—---

"Get your ass over here, Ophelia wants to talk to you." I said into the phone.

I heard shuffling on the other end before Kace speaks, "For real? Well— can Elijah come too? I was just in a meeting with him." He asked.

I hummed my agreement before speaking, "Just hurry, don't keep Ophelia waiting." And with that, I hung up the phone.

I failed to mention that my brother, Elijah, was a very famous lawyer, owning his own law firm with Kace as one of his employees.

I picked up the bourbon that was sitting on top of the glass table before pouring it in the glass and taking a sip when a few minutes later, I heard the door open and a maid telling me that my brother and Kace were here.

I nodded in understanding and then sent her to call Ophelia.

"Little brother." I heard that deep, earth-shaking voice enter the room. "Haven't seen you in a long time." He clapped me on the back, his long blonde hair in need of a cut.

I smiled as I returned the gesture, him about an inch taller than me.

I acknowledged Kace with a nod of the head and soon after, we heard a soft voice. "Elijah?" Ophelia asked.

Elijah looked up at her before a rare genuine smile placed itself upon his face, " Ah, long time no see, sweetheart." He said.

I was confused for a while but then remembered that they had met before since Elijah used to eat at the diner, and was the one who suggested it to me.

He parted his arms a little and Ophelia went to hug him with a large smile on her face.

I still haven't made her smile like that.

She wrapped her tiny arms around him, the side of her face resting on his chest.

He placed his hand on her back as he chuckled and then his eyes landed on me, a knowing smirk forming on his lips as I crossed my arms over my chest.

He slowly travelled his hand down, the look on his face turning cockier with each movement his hand made. My jaw ticked at the action and I glared at him warningly.

He belted out a loud laugh as his hand stopped at her lower waist, gently pulling her back.

"What happened? You don't come by the diner anymore." She pouted as his hands stayed situated on her waist.

"Sorry, sweetheart. I've just been busy," He apologised.

Ophelia turned her pout into a smile and replied, "It's okay. But you should come by more. I miss you," She frowned.

Elijah met my eyes once again as she says this, "I miss you too, sweetheart. How about this? I heard that you have to talk to Kace— do that and we'll catch up when you're done, okay?"

"Okay," She replied shyly.

With a stiff movement of my head, I motioned him towards my office.

Once Elijah shuts the door, he spread himself down on the couch making himself comfortable as he unbuttoned the first two buttons of his suit.

"So what's this about?" He spoke.

I let out a tired sigh, "Ophelia." I mumbled. "It's like she doesn't like talking to me." I murmured as I sat down, resting my head in my hands.

There was a long pause on his end before he spoke, "You really like her, don't you?" He asked.

"I've been trying to make that clear, although I barely just met her, and I'm getting nowhere." I tapped my fingers on my desk.

"You should maybe try a different approach," He suggested.

I looked over at him. "There's no different approach with Ophelia, Eli. I don't want her to think that I'm forcing her."

"Well, have you at least asked her on a date?" He inquired.

I nodded my head before replying, "And it was the cringiest thing ever," I shivered just thinking about it, "I acted like I was constipated." I tried to press the creases on my forehead out.

Elijah tried to stifle a laugh, placing his hand on his mouth to stop from breaking a smile and I rolled my eyes at the action.

He raised his hands in surrender once he saw me, "Hey, I'm just saying that maybe you're thinking too much into this."

"How so?" I questioned. "You don't get it, she doesn't stutter with you, hardly does it with Kace, and then with me, she's all scared as if I'll think of hurting her."

He nodded his head in understanding, "Want me talk to her?"

O P H E L I A ' S    P O V

I sat down in front of Elijah as he gestured for me to.

Kace apologised repeatedly for what he did and hoped that I would forgive him although he understood if I didn't want to.

I immediately waved off the idea and gave him a hug because I did forgive him.

He did nothing wrong.

It was simply in the past.

"What did you wanna talk about?" I inquired as I tilted my head slightly to the side.

"So," He began with a small smile which differed greatly compared to my confused one. "I heard that my brother asked you out on a date?" He went straight to the point.

"Oh." I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear as I looked down at my lap shyly. "It isn't like a date date," I mumbled.

"Oh but it is." He leaned back in the couch, a streak of blonde hair falling in front of his face, slightly masking the small smirk that was present.

"What? D-Did he say that?" I looked down as I tucked my bottom lip between my teeth trying to mask a giddy smile.

The thought of Levi actually talking about me to his brother in that way left me with excitement bubbling in my stomach.

I'm sure that Elijah saw the smile anyways because a smile of his own spread across his lips.

With a simple nod of his head, he rubbed his hands together before a serious look overtook his features.

"Look, Ophelia," He sighed. "I'm not here to talk for Levi or whatever but he does like you."

What he said made me want to burst out laughing in his face since the thought of Levi having any other feelings for me other than just another woman living in his house, was simply enough to have me rolling on the floor.

However, the serious expression that he sported on his face and the way he looked into my eyes somehow had me believing for a second that his theory was true.

"I—" I began blubbering but then sealed my lips shut to prevent myself from looking like an idiot.

"He isn't use to things like this so just give him a chance, okay? I'm not forcing you to do anything but..." He trailed off. I found myself nodding before he even finished his sentence.

If anything, I thought that Levi should be patient with me more-so because I was not the easiest and experienced person to deal with things like these.

Elijah sent me a smile and then offered me a hand to take, in which I did.

"Enjoy yourself tomorrow, alright? I'll send a friend over to help you with your makeup." He smiles reassuringly at me.

I've never worn makeup in my life, well if lip balm doesn't count. Anyways, this was a date and the least I could do was actually look nice since I wouldn't want to embarrass him.

I nod my head as he gives me a side hug before walking off to join Kace outside.

Taking a deep breath and rubbing my palms in my jeans, I made my way to Levi's office.

Knocking three times, he answered with a gruff 'come in', which made me wonder if this was not a good time.

The door creaked open and I peeked my head through it to see him with his head buried in a stack of papers situated on his desk.

Although his hand moved swiftly with the pen over the papers, he didn't look really into it.

"Um," I whispered hoping that he heard me.

His head snapped up and he pushed back his chair to stand as I shut the door behind me while playing with my fingers.

"I— was just wondering what to wear tomorrow." I asked softly. I knew that the softer I spoke, the less I would stutter, although the urge to stammer with Levi decreased.

He looked at me for a while before shaking his head and responding, "Nothing too fancy— a nice dress." He shrugged. "You'll look beautiful in anything anyways," He murmured.

I looked down at my feet, a smile way too big appearing on my face.

"Thank you." I breathed out trying to control the smile on my face.

I suddenly felt a presence in front of me and a gentle touch on my wrist. Looking up, I saw Levi inspecting my wrist. "How's it feeling?" He whispered in the dimly lit room.

"B-Better." I stuttered at our closeness. After a short moment, his eyes flicked up to me through his eye lashes and my breath hitched at the pitch-black colouring of his irises.

"Gerald will be coming early tomorrow to pick you up early from work, alright?" I nodded, not trusting my voice at the moment. "Let's go get something to eat." He smiled reassuringly at me.