O P H E L I A ' S P O V

It was exactly one week since I last saw Levi. I hated to admit that I missed his presence.

I thought back to our little lunch thingy and how I hadn't felt comfortable like that in quite a while.

Not even with Kace.

Today was paycheck day and this was probably the only day that I didn't have to spend extra hours at work because everyone would actually stay to receive their check.

It wasn't a check for me though, Rachel just threw a few coins and bills in an envelope and then she gave it to me.

I didn't have to work tomorrow and I wanted to arrive home early to start some housework which would most likely continue into tomorrow.

After I had gotten my payment from Rachel, I left the keys on the rack and began my journey home.

The sun was on the verge of setting and it was the first time in a very long time that I was on my way home before outside started to darken.

I could barely see my house in the distance, even after a cool twenty-minute walk.

What I did make out clearly though, was a large truck situated directly in front of it and two police cars.

My pace, along with my heart rate, quickened at the sight.

I didn't know what to expect, especially in a situation like this but with it being my life, I could expect anything but good.

As I was now a mere few feet from my house, I slightly began jogging as I saw two men bringing my couch from inside the house and a man about in his fifties scribbling down something on his clipboard.

"What's g-going on?" I panicked as I arrived at the scene. "W-What are you doing?" I motioned to the men who continued to carry my stove out of my house and into the truck.

The gentleman with the clipboard looked at me in a bored manner, "Are you the owner of this house? Well— if you'd call it that." He rolled his eyes.

"Yes, I am, why are you taking my s-stuff?" I looked frantically at all of them.

"We're confiscating all of the furniture to this house because it is currently on government's property. We're sorry for the inconvenience caused." He didn't even spare me a glance as he spoke tiredly, as if he said that line a thousand times and as if he was used to leaving a thousand people homeless.

"What —" I felt tears in my vision. "I'd been living in this house for t-two years, there must be a m-mistake." I tried to plead as I wiped the tears with the back of my hand. My voice rose. "This — this is illegal!"

"Look lady," He snapped, losing all patience. "Stop making my job more complicated than it already is. I wanna get out of this neighbourhood before I get gunned down." He shoved his clipboard in my direction. "You're the one that has been living on government land illegally so don't even get me started."

He looked back at the officers as in some time of reassurance that they're still there.

I could understand why you'd need protection in this part of town.

"W-What's this for?" I looked down confusingly at the papers inked with letters on them.

"Sign them to have proof of your awareness of what is taking place here." I looked down at the papers, proof that this was all happening of as right now.

I signed the papers, not even sure if I had written on the dotted lines with the amount of water in my eyes at the moment.

My tears fell on the paper and the man grimaced disgustedly at the gesture.

He snatched the clipboard from my hand and got ready to walk away but I quickly grabbed his arm.

I'm sure I looked like a mess right now with my tear stained cheeks. I could taste the salty substance in my mouth as my eyes continuously leaked like a broken pipe.

I was now homeless.

He looked at the action and waited impatiently for me to speak, "P-Please, can't I just stay one more ni —" I pleaded but he cut me off and ripped his hand from my grasp and wiped off where I touched.

"No, you can't. I'm just doing my job and if anything, I'm doing you a favour by doing this. It'd be unhealthy to live here, not knowing when this old shack will collapse on you." He tsked as he shook his head disapprovingly.

"Now like I said," He continued. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience but I'm just doing my job. You have two minutes to get your belongings if you please and leave the property." He explained and with that, he got into the police vehicle and drove off, the truck following behind him with all of my furniture.

My head began to spin as I registered the information.

This was just a nightmare, right? I couldn't be homeless, no, not again.

My hair was sweating tremendously and my feet were shaking with panic and fear.

I looked around my surroundings, an unbearable ringing noise in my ear resulting in me holding my head painfully.

Everything seemed to spin around me as I take in that outside is starting to darken. I released my hair from the bun and it flowed in curls down my back. I then wrap my hands around myself as the air begins to pick up a chill.

I looked back at the house which was no longer mine, seeing no point in getting any of my clothes.

That'll most likely increase my chances of getting mugged and I didn't want that.

I began walking in no direction in particular as I felt my throat become sore with all of the crying I was currently doing. I was sure my eyes were red by now and my cheeks were surely the same colour. My working dress was doing nothing to prevent the coldness, saying that it ended right above my knees and the sleeves were short.

This was it. I was going to be homeless again except this time, I wasn't sure that I would find anywhere else.

It was times like these that I thought that life would be so much easier if I wasn't alive.

I mean, I didn't know where Kace's house was and I had no other family.

It was too dark out to find a shelter for the night and my feet were already tired from walking for about half an hour now.

As I continued to walk, thinking about all the ways my life could have gone if my parents were still alive, I saw a blaring light in the distance, just around the corner. The light gets brighter as I got closer and soon, I found myself standing in front of a huge house that illuminates the entire neighbourhood.

I began to wipe the tears from my cheeks as I checked the time, 7:05.

I began to walk past the house until something caught my gaze. In both bold and cursive letters written on the gate was L.M.

I looked up at the letters in realisation and somehow, my feet carried their way up to the big gates on their own.

I stood and there was a guard by the hut inside. He looked to be in his early thirties or something and he was wearing an all-black overall outfit with what looks to be a bullet-proof vest.

He saw me approaching and squinted his eyes at me as he said something into his walkie-talkie.

He opened the smaller gate, fit for one person, and exited, standing tall above me.

"G-Good evening, i-is Levi Morterez here?" I asked as I rubbed my arms, hoping to warm up.

He looked me up and down in disgust before he spoke, which reminds me of the same bored tone that the clipboard-gentleman had, "Name and reason for being here?" He checked his own clipboard that was in his hand.

I looked down embarrassingly, "Ophelia, and h-he doesn't know that I'm here." I said.

"Well, I'm afraid that I can't let you in without an appointment or except if you're a family member or a friend." He said and gets ready to turn.

"Wait, um, I'm a f-friend." I stuttered. I'm quite sure that Levi wouldn't consider me a friend, much less an acquaintance. I just hoped that he can at least give me Kace's number, although we're not on speaking terms as of right now.

The man laughed hysterically, as if I said something funny. "You? A friend of Mr. Morterez? Great comedy, kid." He shook his head amusingly.

"If you really must know though," His face morphed back into seriousness, "Mr. Morterez isn't home yet, and even if he was, I'm sure he wouldn't entertain such nonsense. Now leave before I get violent." He snapped.

"No! Please," The tears came back once again, "I don't have anywhere else to go, could you just c-call him, pl—" I pleaded.

"That's it." He snapped before grabbing my forearm and dragging me off the property.

I winced in pain as my eyes stung with more tears, "O-Ow. You're hurting me." I sobbed.

He suddenly pushed me in the bush in front of the mansion and glared at me as I rubbed my now bruising arm, seeing it already turning a dark colour of red.

"I don't want to see you back here again!" He shouted before taking his leave back inside of the gates, leaving me at the side of the road to drown in my own tears.

I clutched my arm painfully, the same arm that Levi's girlfriend had thrown her plate at.

Again, I reiterate, it was moments like these, that I just wanted to die.

L E V I ' S P O V

I let myself slouch back in the leather-covered seats in the back of my limousine.

I unbuttoned the first two buttons of my tuxedo, letting it open up.

Today was truly an exhausting day. Right now, I just felt like going home and taking a long shower before going to bed.

I grabbed a glass, along with a bottle of champagne and poured the liquid inside of the glass, the noise of the liquid hitting the surface of the glass being the only sound in the car.

I took a sip, somehow my thoughts wandered to Ophelia, emitting an audible groan to leave my lips as I gulped down the last of the glass's content.

I meant to stop by the diner and make up a little white lie about being there, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.

For the past week, I've been dealing with this deal that I wanted to finalise with another business and it's just occupying all of my time.

Not to mention that Amanda's been an even more stick up the ass for the past few days.

I even made up my mind about stopping by this evening but obviously judging by the late hours I was now arriving home, that was no option.

It was bound to be around 8:30 and I was tired as hell.

Kace and I had been on talking terms once again but that still didn't mean that I wasn't pissed at him, and that the fucker didn't miss Ophelia.

"Gerald, how long before we arrive?" I spoke as I shut my eyes, basking in the silence that was currently revolving around me.

"Only mere seconds, Sir." Gerald's thick English accent rings through my ears. I opened my eyes at this, glad to be home already.

Just before Gerald made the right turn, I sat up quickly and I frantically spoke, "Wait, wait." I said as I gestured for him with my hand to slow down from behind the partition.

I could have sworn I saw the slightest movement coming from the bush. Call me crazy but it was too much movement to simply be an animal like a rabbit or a squirrel.

"Is there something wrong, sir?" Gerald looked back in astonishment by my sudden command.

"There," I squinted my eyes. "Right there." I pointed in the direction. "Tell me what you see." I asked him.

He looked from me to the direction and his slightly old eyes squinted before they widened just the slightest.

"It appears to be a pe—" That was all I needed for me to jump out of the car.

As I arrived at the scene, my heart dropped in my fucking stomach at what I saw.

There, laid Ophelia on the ground with bushes surrounding her. Tears were stained on her cheeks and large bags were situated below her eyes as she curled herself into a tiny ball, eyes squeezed shut and shivering furiously from the cold. Her long curly hair, undone from her regular, neat bun, cascades over her neck and scattered all over the ground. Little cuts with fresh blood coming out of them laid across her arms and a few on her legs from the thorns from the bush. I only now noticed the dark red imprint on her forearm in the shape of fingers.

I didn't think much about this as I quickly got on my knees, ridding myself of my suit jacket before wrapping it gently around her trembling form.

She jumped back slightly, until her eyes fluttered open, now sensing my presence.

Her eyes didn't stay open for long though, saying as how they fluttered back close exhaustingly.

"Y-You're h-h-home," This time around, her voice was gentle and soft as her stutter increased — not from nervousness, but rather from how profusely her teeth were chattering together.

"Shh, just go to sleep, I got you." My voice came out a little over a whisper as I gently picked her up, her hands gripping onto my dress shirt tightly.

I looked down at the angel in my arms, with her cheeks rosier than usual, along with her lips, making me hate myself with how much I wanted to kiss them right now. Her skin feels soft — just like how I imagined it to be, adding to my hatred towards myself because of how I was making this an advantage for myself.

As I balanced her in my arms, Gerald quickly came around to open the door as he watched in pure shock, although he didn't say anything.

I gently placed Ophelia in the back of the limo, the distance up to my house being another 2 minutes or so on foot.

I closed the door just as she curled herself once again in a ball, pulling my jacket closer to her tiny form.

I turned to Gerald and in a hush tone, I spoke to him, "Turn on the heater and when you get to the house, get Trinity to bring the first-aid kit out but leave her in the car, I'll take her in when I come up." I said just as I pulled out my phone.

Gerald nods understandingly at everything I said before he jumped into the driver's seat to turn on the heater.

"Hello?" Mrs. Alton, my secretary answered her phone.

"This is Mr. Morterez, sorry for calling so late, but please cancel all of my meetings for tomorrow, I won't be coming in." I said as I quickened my pace.

I heard a long pause on the other end. It was expected since I've never missed a day from work except for the days when everything was moving extremely smoothly.

"Are you sure, sir? You have quite a few important meetings tomorrow." Mrs. Alton reminds me.

"Yes, yes, I'm aware. Just please do as I instructed." I said, my voice harder than I intended it to be.

Mrs. Alton was a middle-aged lady who always did her job right. She was definitely an upgrade from all of the younger secretaries that I've had because not only would they lack in their work, but the constant flirting was very unprofessional.

Right now, I wasn't in the mood so if I say to cancel it, fucking cancel it.

She obviously sensed the urgency in my voice and didn't question me any further.

"Yes sir, I hope all is well." She agreed and I let out a grunt before ending the call and pushing the phone back into my pocket.

I go up to the gate, "Guard." I said. I've never exactly come out here before alone, nor did I know his name. I would always usually be with Gerald in the limousine when I was arriving home, so the large widening of the guard's eyes as he instantly opened the gate when he spotted me, was no surprise.

"Mr. Morterez, what a surprise. May I help you with anything, sir?" Despite his tall figure and strong voice, I didn't miss the tremble when he spoke.

Ignoring his greeting, I said, "Do you happen to know anything about a young lady on the side of the road in a bush?" I raised my eyebrows at him.

His eyes slightly widened again before a scowl set on his face, "Yes, I'm sorry about that, sir. I assume that she's another stalker, I'll go take care of her right n—" He went to walk past me but I pushed him back, making him slightly stumble.

"I didn't give you permission to leave." I glared at him, a slight tick in my jaw. "What happened?" I saw him gulp before he spoke.

"She —" He paused. "She claimed t-that she had nowhere else to go and she was asking for you. I informed her that you weren't here yet and she still refused to leave —"

"So you threw her to the fucking side of the road?" I refrained the urge to snap his fucking neck.

"I — I was just d-doing my job, sir." He informed me.

"No," I started. "Your job is to protect my house, not throw women on the street like animals. You should be lucky that I don't fire your ass right now." I said as I watched his shaking form. "Let this be a warning." I narrowed my eyes on him. "Now open the fucking gate." I purposely shoved my shoulder against his before passing.

I jog my way up to my house, seeing the limousine already situated right in front of my door.

I rounded the vehicle to get to Ophelia.

"Has she said anything yet?" My voice finally softened as I looked at Ophelia, now realising that she was still in her work uniform which spiked my question-level quite a bit.

"I'm afraid not, sir." Gerald said from the front of the car. "It's quite obvious that she's exhausted, yet it's like she doesn't want to sleep." He informed me.

I hummed in understanding as my hand hesitantly came up to stroke her hair, the curls slightly knotting in my fingers.

Her eyes began to squint, the suit jacket still tightly around her, "Hey." I said softly as her eyes stared back at me tiredly.

She didn't exactly get anytime to reply as I gently picked her up once again, her small hands on her chest as she absentmindedly snuggled closer into my warmth.

Trinity rushed to the door, "Good evening, sir. Welcome home," Her soft voice greeted me.

Along with Trinity being my cook, she was also my personal maid in terms of the one who cleaned my room and at times, set my bath.

She was very small with a height of about 5'3 with soft blonde hair. She possessed a pretty face and was shy and kind.

I gave her a tight smile, not exactly in the mood for conversation as she smiled up at me, her hazel eyes twinkling.

Her eyes zoomed in on Ophelia in my arms as she handed me the first-aid kit that I requested.

I walked away from everyone's presence, opening the first door that's in sight — it being a guest bedroom, where I laid her limp body on the bed with me sitting at her feet.

She let out the cutest yawn as she snuggled into the pillow.

I knew that if Ophelia was up, there was absolutely no way that she would agree to even step foot inside of this house, much rather sleep in the bed.

She'd be far too embarrassed to even make eye contact with me, all the signs that she really wasn't her usual self at the moment.

I doubted by how tired she was, that she'd even remember this in the morning.

"You wouldn't mind if I clean your cuts, would you?" My hand pushed back the hair on her forehead.

She shook her head, eyes still closed.

I took a cotton ball, damping it with water firstly to wipe the stained, dry blood on her arms, my jaw locking as I thought of how long she may have been out there.

I tried to ignore how smooth her skin felt against my own.

After I've finished cleaning up her arms, my hands shook like a little pussy as I did her legs, her sweet snores being one of the signs that she was asleep.

I swallowed as I reached her thighs.

I saw a few more small cuts trailing up the length of her dress, probably having ridden up when she fell — or rather, was thrown.

Lifting up her dress a little more, I tried to concentrate solely on the cuts that'll probably heal in a few days.

I sucked in a breath as my eyes were tempted to travel further.

I jumped up from the bed quickly, as if it had burned me, Ophelia still sleeping like a baby.

That was the problem.

I ran my hand down my face before exiting the room, catching a maid just in time, "Wait there." My voice cracked a little before I cleared my throat.

"There's a woman in there that needs a few cuts cleaned up, please take care of it, make sure not to wake her." I swallowed.

She bowed her head in understanding and disappeared into the room.

I looked around my surroundings before pinching the bridge of my nose, I couldn't be in that room any longer, knowing my obvious attraction for Ophelia.

Images flooded my mind and I shook my head like a mad person to rid myself of them.

It was just so easy to picture her long legs wrapped around my torso as — Whoa.

Slow down there, buckaroo.

I internally groaned as I walked off frustratingly.