O P H E L I A ' S    P O V

I was on my hands and knees at 4:00 in the morning trying to do as much scrubbing and cleaning as I could do before Levi had awoken.

I knew that when he was home, he would go into the office at 5:30 to get some work done. I also knew that I had to be quiet and swift because if Levi caught me doing this again, I would be in for more than an earful.

I got up quickly once I've decided that the marble floor was spotless. I then hurriedly moved over and wiped down the dining table with some disinfectant.

Grabbing a duster, I cleaned the slight specks of dust that were forming around the windowpane.

I jumped a few feet in the air when I heard a deep voice clear their throat. I turned around like I had just got caught red-handed.

Levi stood feet away from me as he leaned casually on the doorframe, right foot crossed over the left and hands folded across his chest.

No one could miss the scrutinising stare that he gave me which made me want to jump out the window.

I wondered what he was doing down here so early, especially on his day off, but then my gaze quickly snapped to the clock and I saw that it was 5:43.

I was down here for that long?

"I— I was j-just," I scrambled to get myself out of the sticky predicament that I had found myself in.

He bounced off the walls with a shoulder and stalked towards me. I felt my throat constricting and becoming dry whenever he made it an inch closer to me. Not to mention how well he looked dressed in a pair of sweats and a sleeveless top which had his tattoos fully on display.

In no time, he made it to me. My hand around the duster tightened and I looked down at my feet like a little child.

"Why do you make it your mission to ignore everything I tell you?" He finally spoke, his words deeper and huskier than usual.

I remained quiet for a while, my gaze not meeting his own although I could definitely feel his own on me.

I finally looked up at him and expected him to look angry, furious even, that I hadn't listened to a word that he told me about what not to do.

Instead, he looked incredibly worried as his eyebrows furrowed in concern, stress lines forming on his forehead.

"I'm sorry?" I said, my voice barely over a whisper. Instead of it sounding like a statement, it sounded like a question.

Truth was, I really wasn't sorry for getting up early in the morning to clean. I just wanted everything to look perfect.

I heard Levi sigh into his hands as he raked a hand through his bedhead.

"This is the same way that you ended up in the hospital in the first place. Over-working and not taking care of yourself." He shook his head.

"I just want your parents to like me," I mumbled quietly, hoping that he didn't hear me.

I then felt Levi pull me into him after a while and rest his head on top of my own. His silence left me a little suspicious.

"Y-You did tell them a-about us, right?" I felt my voice tremble.

He pulled me back instantly by my shoulders, "Of course, I did. Why wouldn't I?" He seemed offended that I would even mention it. "I'd even publicly announce it if you would just let me." He murmured.

He knew that I wasn't ready for that yet.

"Ophelia, I just don't want you to worry about anything." He said after a while. "I care for you and I hate seeing anything bad happening to you," He mumbled as he pulled me back in to give me a soft, slow kiss on the lips.

"Go and look for something to wear for later," He mumbled against my lips although he made no move to release me from his hold.

I decided that I would, therefore, be the one that would terminate the kiss so I pulled away, but not before Levi pulled me back, "One more." He murmured.

He placed a slow peck on my lips, "One more again." He said as he placed one on my cheek.

"Another, and another." I giggled as he said this, planting his lips all over my face until I jumped out of his hold and ran upstairs.

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I smoothed down the dress over my body. The dress I was wearing was a black halter neck dress which reached to my knees. I said that I would pair it with heels but it looked too simple to wear to a dinner with billionaires, even indoors.

I quickly ridded myself of the dress with a shake of my head as I searched through my many other clothing.

It was still all new to me to have this much clothes.

I pushed across the many clothes again and found a white lace dress. At first sight, I thought that I didn't like the colour. It had a sweetheart neckline and was off the shoulder. However, I thought that it wouldn't hurt to try.

As soon as I placed the dress on and smoothed it down over my curves, I heard a few knocks on the door. I knew that it could only be Levi since the maids were home and Sam got a day off.

I didn't want to waste time in taking off the dress so instead, I went to the door and pulled it open to reveal Levi on the other side, still in the same outfit from an hour ago.

His eyes scanned over my form for a few seconds before meeting my eyes. I couldn't read the look in his eyes so I turned away quickly to stand in the mirror again.

"What?" I frowned. "D-Does it look bad?" I said as I turn around so every angle can face the mirror.

I heard him step in before I see his body position itself behind me in the mirror.

He slowly removed my hair from my neck, "You look beautiful." He mumbled against my neck.

"Are you sure? It isn't too simple?" I bit my lip.

"No," He chuckled at my anxiousness. "It's perfect."

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I felt the sweat dripping profusely as I tried to multi-task, making three or four dishes at once. I hadn't taken a bath just as yet and I knew that I had to go soon because my hair was going to be a force to reckon with.

I was extremely exhausted but I knew I wouldn't have any time to rest since his parents were going to be here in less than an hour.

I bit my lip as I tried to decipher if I could leave right now to take a quick shower and leave the chicken in the oven. But I wanted it to be just perfect and I didn't want it to be overdone, even slightly.

"You can go and take a shower and dress," I heard Levi's voice behind me. "I'll watch the stuff. You've been cooking for hours although I insisted that I call Garcia." He stated disapprovingly.

"I-I know, but everything has to be in order," I said as I fixed his tie, a habit that I always did, no matter if it was already done decently or not.

He had changed from his casual attire into a grey suit and the black tie that I bought for him. "You need to relax. They're not here to interrogate you." He sighed.

"I know that also," I grumbled. "But they need t-to see me as if I'm good enough for y-you," I whispered.

I felt him grab onto my wrist instantly, stopping my actions. I immediately freed them from his hold and looked down, "I have to g-go and d-dress." I practically ran out of the room.

I didn't want to hear about how Levi would tell me that I was more than good enough for him although we knew that that statement wouldn't be true.

It would only make me feel worse than before.

I sighed as I undressed and ran into the shower, my anxiety showing itself.

I washed my hair and scrubbed my body and in fifteen minutes, I was out of the bathroom and in front of my mirror, deciding how to do my hair.

I decided on putting it in a bun and leaving curly strands to fall out on either side of my face.

I applied some light red gloss on my lips since that is the only thing that I could do. I had only worn makeup once and that was on Levi and I's first official date and even then, Shalissa had applied it. I never had anyone to teach me how to put it on properly.

I slipped on my dress and a pair of white flats since I didn't feel the need to wear heels.

In record time, I fled back down the stairs as I quickly placed my earrings in my ear.

Levi already had the chicken out of the oven and onto the counter.

He was by the sink washing his hands as I rushed to properly place everything on the table. As I picked up the salad, Levi said, "I can do that."

I quickly shook my head, "No, it's okay." I dismissed the thought.

Suddenly, his towering height was right above me, "Really, I got it." He smiled. "Go and relax, we still have sufficient time left until they arrive.

I let out a stubborn breath as he took the bowl from me and set the table.

I had conjured up in my mind that we had at least twenty minutes in my mind until they arrived. However, my heart rate slowed when I heard the doorbell ring.

Levi gave me a reassuring smile before he held out his hand for me to get up from the couch. Immediately, I took his hand as he pulled me to his waist.

Walking to the door, Levi confidently twisted and pulled the doorknob to reveal a middle-aged couple.

The lady stood gracefully as her golden hair fell pin-straight behind her shoulders. Adorned in a light blue dress and matching 3-inch heels, her blue eyes lit up when she saw the face of her son.

In contrast, about five inches taller than her, a man stood with obsidian eyes the colour of Levi's. His grey hair was neatly gelled back on his head. The slight wrinkles on his face and the colour of his hair were the only features to pinpoint his age. His lips were formed in a thin line as he registered me standing next to his son.

"Son, why aren't the maids answering the door?" Was the first sentence that left his mouth. His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine, as well as his scrutinising stare.

"You know that I don't have them working when business is slowing down this time of the year," Levi stated, his voice just as dark and emotionless as his father.

"Levi, darling!" His mother left her husband's side to graciously hug her son.

Levi's hand left my waist for a quick second to embrace his mother as she hugged him lovingly with a big smile on her face.

"Mother, father." Levi spoke once his mother had taken a step back. "This is Ophelia, my girlfriend." He spoke as he gazed down at me for a split second.

I took in a short breath before merrily sticking out my hand, "Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Morterez," I mentally gave myself a clap on the back for my lack of stuttering.

It was hard to miss the obvious falter of Levi's mother's smile. However, she hadn't failed to hesitantly shake my hand and to give a tight-lipped smile.

In less than a full second's time, she pulled away her hand hastily and ignored my presence as she looked to her husband.

I tried to swallow the lump in my throat as I shakenly held my hand in the direction of Levi's father.

As if non-existent, he took a step inside of his son's house and dismissed my hand as he pulled his wife in the house by her waist.

I bit my lip to hold in a sob as my cheeks blazed in embarrassment, my hand immediately dropping back to my side.

The couple had already walked to Levi's dining area, leaving Levi and I still in the hallway.

I saw Levi's eyes angrily narrow in the way his parents went before he turned back to me as his eyes softened.

He held my face in both of his hands, "Hey, it's okay. They're this way with everyone." He tried to reassure me softly.

"But I want them to like me," My voice cracked weakly as I looked away from him.

"Ophelia..." He caressed his thumb against my cheek. "They'll be nicer, trust me, okay?" He said.

I couldn't do anything else but nod my head as he placed his lips on mine.

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"Oh! This food smells delicious!" Mrs. Morterez stated as she sat down. Levi pulled out a chair for me and adjusted it as I took a seat.

I could feel a smile come onto my face, "H-Hopefully it tastes just as good." I responded lightly.

It was only moments into the dinner when Levi's father had already started to talk about his son's business. Levi looked far from interested but still entertained his father's request.

"This is truly delicious. Compliments to Trinity." Mrs. Morterez stated happily as she placed a piece of meat in her mouth.

"Didn't I tell you? I fired Trinity." Levi spoke casually as he scooped some rice on his spoon.

His mother gasped, "What? Why?" She inquired curiously. "She was a cute little thing."

"She was becoming a liability." He shrugged out an answer.

"Well whoever the new chef is, props to him or her." Mr. Morterez chastised as he ate another bite of his food.

"It's a him and Ophelia prepared this delicious meal." Levi glanced at me momentarily to send me a heartwarming smile.

I had appreciated the compliments about my cooking, even though I did receive quite a few of them at the diner, it was better to hear them from Levi's parents.

The clinking of metal against glass was heard as all eyes went to Mrs. Morterez who had a napkin wiping her mouth. "Well, my appetite is lost." She said, a grim look on her face.

"You and I both, dear." Said the authoritative voice of her husband.

My teeth surged into my bottom lip as I placed my spoon on my plate and looked down at my lap.

"Mother, father. Must you be so rude?" Levi seethed across the table. "She worked really hard on this meal, so the least you could do is appreciate it. You seemed to obviously love it a moment ago." His eyes flared.

"I-It's really ok—" I tried to plead.

"No." He stated firmly in my direction.

"Your office now, we need to speak." His father narrowed his eyes on him.

Levi's utensils hit the plate, "Is it about business? Has someone died or is dying? No? Then you can say it here." Levi huffed out as his eyes threw daggers at his father.

"Okay then. I've tried to be nice and civil. Why did you leave Amanda for... this woman?" He stated distastefully.

My lips formed in a thin line to stop the tears from leaving my eyes as I tightly gripped the napkin in my hand.

"I-I'll just c-clear the ta—"

"How dare you come into my house and disrespect her like that?" Levi rose from his seat. I rubbed a hand up and down my forearm.

"Well sorry, son. But she's a fast one. Already living with you after just meeting." His mother consoled lovingly as she took a step forward to embrace her son.

Levi took a fast step back of dismissal away from his mother as he raised his hand, "You both need to leave." A tick went off in his jaw.

Mr. Morterez's fists clenched as he raised from his seat, "Well, then. We know when we're not welcome." He held his chin high in the air. "But you won't last very long, young lady." He spat as he shouted after his wife to follow him out the door.

The loud slamming of the door made me jump as reality sank in.

Levi was shaking in anger as I wiped my face from tears. I hadn't even realised that he was in front of me, "Ophelia..." He said as he held my shoulders steadily.

"T-This is all my fault," I sniffled as I wiped my tears.

"No, it isn't, Ophelia." He said firmly but I shook my head.

"I-If I had just worn a d-different dress or let y-you call Sam and— a-and..." My shoulders shook tremendously. "N-Now they're mad at you a-and hate me." I pulled away from his hold as I speed-walked up the stairs and to my bed, hearing him shout after me dejectedly as my tears soaked my pillow.