Thank you for reading.
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"I got invited to this fundraiser. I attend every year. But I don't think I can make it this year." I am laying on Orlando and he is caressing my back. We are in his bedroom.
"When is it?"
"This Saturday."
"Lets go."
"What? You want to go."
"With you yeah. That's only if it's okay with you."
I think about it. I definitely want to go with Orlando.
"Yeah. Sure. Let's do it. But I have nothing to wear."
"Olivia. You have so many things to wear."
It's funny that he is trying to tame the fashion tigress in me.

It's Saturday. Orlando is waiting for me in the sitting room. I am already in a deep blue wrap dress. It is long and it's nicely fitted to my body. The gown has very long sleeves. I pair the gown up with glittering ash sandals heels. I put on some make up and my short blonde hair looks amazing in the mirror. Quick. I don't want to keep Orlando waiting. I walk out of the bedroom to the sitting room. Wow. Orlando looks breathtaking. His height. His hair. His suit. And his smile. Perfect.
"Who would have thought you'd look amazing in a suit Orlando."
"You look...just marry me already."
I laugh. "We don't want to be late now do we?"
He leads me to the car parked in the driveway, opens the door to the front seat and I enter. Carl enters his car and follows behind us.
The drive to the venue of the fundraiser is nice. Ed sheeran is playing on the stereo of the car.
"I didn't know you listened to him." I say.
"I do." Definitely a romantic.
So how would you feel? If I told you I loved you. It's just something I want to do. Taking my time. Spending my life. Falling deeper in love with you. Tell me you love me too.
The words of the song is bringing tears to my eyes. Orlando is humming to it and then he looks at me.
"You take my breath away."
I say nothing. I just look at him with teary eyes till he takes his eyes off me back to the road.

We get to the venue at a shorter time than I had imagined.
"Do you want me to go in with you?"
"No Carl. Just stay here."
The auditorium is full. People are everywhere. It's making me dizzy. I take a glass of wine and sip it slowly. I cannot breathe. My head starts spinning and my vision is blackening. I drop the glass and fall on the chest of Orlando.
"Are you okay?" There is worry in his voice. It sounds more like panic.
"No."
"Come on. Let's get out of here."
"But we just arrived."
"You are more important to me Olivia."
"I need to find Mrs. Claire and give her my donation."
"Olivia Fox. If I have to carry you out of this place right now, I'll do it."
Orlando holds me by the shoulder and I rest my body on him. We walk out of the venue quickly to the parking lot. I start to cough and it seems what ever blocked my air ways is slowly dissolving.
"Is she okay? What happened?" Carl asks.
"She just... Baby. Are you okay?" Orlando is rubbing my back.
"Yes. Please take me out of here."
The drive home was quiet. Too quiet. Orlando keeps glancing over at me every two minutes. Calm down big guy. I am fine now. Finally we are home. He goes round and opens the door for me. He lifts me off my feet and carries me inside the house.
"Orlando. I am okay. Please stop worrying."
"Sit here. I'll get you a glass of water."
He returns with the water.
"Drink."
I obey him with no objections.
"Please take me to the bedroom. I want to rest."
He nods and carries me off my feet. Orlando helps undress me as we enter the room. He unbuckles my shoes and places them side by side on the floor. He helps pull my dress over my head. He then unhooks my bra and frees my breasts. He goes to the closet and comes back with my pajamas, helping me get into them.
"You should undress too." I say to him. He obeys quietly taking off everything he is wearing till he is wearing nothing but his underpants. He pulls me gently into the bed and we all both under the covers.
"What happened?"
"I don't know. Orlando I couldn't breathe. I think it's the crowd."
"Its all my fault. I shouldn't have made you go to that thing. I'm sorry."
"I'm the one who's sorry. I ruined the night."
Orlando is holding me. Our bodies are so close.
"Olivia. I love you. I'm totally in love with you. I almost went out of my mind this night thinking something was wrong with you. You are on my mind. All the time. When I'm away from you, I feel incomplete. Olivia. Olivia. I love you. I need you."
I am loss of words. Tears are already falling down my cheeks. I am staring into Orlando's face. Trying to comprehend all he has just said.
"Baby say something."
I stand on my feet and walk away from him. My right hand is on my forehead and my left hand is on my waist. And my back is on Orlando.
"You cannot love me." I say softly.
"Why? It's what I feel."
"I said you cannot love me. You just cannot love me." I face him and shout.

"Orlando you shouldn't love me." I say trying my best to be calm.
"

Olivia why? Explain it to me."
"Because that's the way I am." My voice is rising again. "I am unlovable. If you love me, you'll die. You'll die and leave me. I can't bear that Orlando. I can't."
"That's not true. Olivia that is not true. I love you and there is nothing you will say to convince me otherwise or to make me stop. Olivia I'm here." He grabs my hand and places it on his cheek. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I swear to you, I will never leave you. I will always stay by your side. Whatever it is you are going through or will go through, we will go through it together. You know why? Because I cannot envisage my life without you. I just can't do it Olivia." The tears that clouded Orlando's eyes finally drop.
Oh my God. I am doomed for. I believe him. I believe Orlando with all of my heart. Looking at him. Feeling him, makes me fearless. I am not going to lose you Orlando. I can lose every other thing but not you. Not you Orlando. I can do this. We can do this. We can have a future together.
"I love you. I love you so much Orlando. I love you." I keep saying in sobs. Orlando hugs me. So tightly. Kissing me in the forehead.
"I'm not going anywhere baby. I will never leave you."
"I know. I know."

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