LILITH

He spoke to me after so long and it turned out to be an order. Stay away from her. No. Now I will most definitely not.

I mean she is sweet and funny and I like spending time with her. I don't have any other female friends here. Colette and Charlotte are back in Ithaca and I do keep in touch with them but yeah, it's good to have a friend in this house.

Chiara is also not here since she is married and ever since she got pregnant, Ezekiel has become protective over her and hardly lets her travel around.

As if on cue, Chiara sent a message on the group chat.

She sent a picture, of her sitting with her back to the headboard with a pout on her lips while Ezekiel slept with his head on her bump and his arm around her waist.

Chiara: He has locked me up. Someone save me.

Lilith: We should have a get-together soon. Missing you, this house has too much testosterone.

Chiara: lmao, agreed. We should have a pizza party.

Cyrus: Did someone say party?

Ezekiel: Do whatever you all want but at our home. My wife is not leaving.

Lilith: Feeling bad for you.

Marcelo: What Lilith said.

We all chatted for a bit and I don't know why but I wanted Silvio to say something too but remained silent as usual. He always reads all the messages but hardly replies to them.

Forcing Silvio out of my mind, I decided to message Orla.

'Thinking about your offer of going out for lunch. Really bored.'

It was only when I had sent it and saw that she had seen it, I realised that I actually sent it to Silvio instead of Orla.

Fuck.

I was supposed to type her name in the search bar, not Silvio's.

I quickly deleted it but it was of no point, he had already seen it.

He didn't reply and went offline for which I was thankful.

Orla soon approached me but I didn't mention anything about that lunch because I wasn't in the mood for that anymore.

We sat in the living room after I made coffee for both of us.

I told her how I actually arrived here and then how Silvio became my best friend and how we used to trouble each other.

"Wait." She put her mug down. "Firstly, it's hard to believe that someone like him could be so...sweet. Secondly, from what you told me, you guys were such good friends, then what happened?"

"Um..." I was lost for words. "Something."

Orla and I were friends but not so close that I would tell her every detail.

"Okay, I get it. You don't wanna tell me. But let me guess...one of you started to have feelings for the other and then confessed but it wasn't reciprocated so now it's awkward."

I chuckled. "No, it's not like that." If only it was that simple.

If Silvio ever had feelings for me and confessed (which I highly doubt) I would have gone on a date with him, maybe even kissed him.

Ugh, I can't believe I am twenty-three and still didn't have my first kiss but it's okay, I want to give it to someone special.

I don't know why my mind conjured Silvio's picture at that.

Just the thought of kissing Silvio made me blush and I ducked my head so that she couldn't see it.

"Okay, fine. It wasn't something cliché but did you ever feel something for him?" She asked in a low voice as if someone might hear us.

Orla was an extremely curious person.

I opened my mouth but closed it again, not knowing what to say.

Did I ever feel anything for Silvio? Does having butterflies in my stomach due to him count? Does wanting to kiss him count? Does wanting to be with him all the time count? Yes, yes I think it does.

I did feel for Silvio. I think I still do. Despite what happened that night.

I should probably apologize to him for that but I don't know how.

I knew Orla wouldn't leave me alone until I answered her question so I was about to tell her yes when my eyes fell on Silvio himself, who stood opposite me, leaning against a wall.

From the intense way he stared at me, it was clear that he heard Orla's question and was waiting for me to answer.

Fuck.

I gulped and looked away. "I...I'll talk to you later."

Without waiting for her reply, I got up and walked in the direction of the kitchen.

Once inside, I sighed in relief. Oh God, what must he be thinking?

Thank God I didn't say yes, what would he have thought about that?

We are already not on talking terms and after that, he wouldn't even have looked at me.

Stupid, stupid me.

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Everyone was done with dinner and I was in the process of putting away the leftover food when Cyrus entered the kitchen rubbing his belly. "I am hungry, Lili."

He was not present for dinner since he was out for some work.

"Marcelo said you would have dinner out only."

"Well, I did plan to grab something after I was done with work but then I remembered that you were making chicken curry so I ran back home." He finished with a sheepish grin.

"Well, I feel flattered. Grab a plate."

He immediately grabbed one and stood next to me obediently as I took out some rice on his plate followed by the curry.

He frowned on seeing his plate. Chuckling, I asked, "More?"

He nodded like a little kid and I heaped his plate with more rice and curry.

"Thank you, babe." He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "You are the best."

I smiled at him and my eyes fell on Silvio who stood near the entrance, his eyes narrowed at Cyrus.

He is not angry because Cyrus kissed my cheek, right?

Cyrus saw him too, his lips twitched and then he kissed my other cheek too and winked at me and walked to where Silvio stood.

Silvio glared at him coldly but he only grinned in response and then shoved Silvio out of the way and went away.

I refused to look at Silvio because then my heart would start being a bitch and literally ache so I focused back on what I was doing.

I started to empty the leftover food into smaller containers and from the corner of my eyes, I saw Silvio opening the refrigerator and a moment later, he took out a plate which had a slice of pizza on it.

The slice I saved for myself but I guess he is going to eat it. Nevermind.

I was standing right under the built-in microwave but it was still a little surprise when he stood behind me and reached up to place the plate inside the microwave and started it.

My whole body tensed as his front pressed into my back and I paused whatever I was doing.

His heat engulfed me and I tried to step away but he placed his hand on the countertop.

I gulped and tried to move away from the other side but he placed his other hand on the countertop too, trapping me in.

My heart started to beat faster as he pressed himself into me further.

Then I felt his breath fanning my ear, his stubble tickling me there. His hand slowly slid to where mine rested on the countertop and our fingers brushed together.

Some sort of fireworks seemed to explode inside me from that single contact. My hand clenched.

His index finger grazed my thumb as he slowly pried it away and then wrapped all his fingers around it.

I gradually moved my fingers closer and cautiously placed them over his.

He exhaled against my ear which caused goosebumps to arise all over my body and it took everything in me to not lean back into him.

"For whom was that text meant?" His low tone was laced with hidden anger.

And I thought he might have forgotten about that.

I couldn't answer, not with the way his warmth and smell has overloaded my senses, nothing made sense, only him.

"N-no one."

"Mhmm?"

I dipped my head in a nod.

Before he could have asked me more questions, the microwave beeped and he took out the plate from it.

Then he was gone, taking away the warmth with him.

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SILVIO

We had to go to London to capture the man who might give us some more leads.

And according to Cyrus, he had just the right plan for it if only Marcelo agreed to it.

We all were in Marcelo's office along with Orla and Cyrus started to explain to her much to Marcelo's annoyance.

"The plan is simple and maybe even cliché but who cares as long as it works? You are going to seduce this guy and lead him to a secluded place and we will take over from you."

She was quick to say, "Okay, sounds easy."

Marcelo slammed the cube down on the desk making their heads snap to him. "Find some other girl to do that."

"Seriously, Marc? Who else do you suggest? Maybe Lilith, hmm?"

I would never let Lilith play any part in his stupid plans.

A low growl left my mouth and Cyrus pointed to me while looking at Marcelo. "See?"

He continued as Marcelo kept glaring at him. "And if I choose your sister then my brother is going to disown me and then maybe even kill me. Orla here is the safest option."

"A question." She raised her hand.

"Yes?" Cyrus asked softly.

"How are you so sure that seducing him will work?"

"Men love women, darling. Of course, it will work."

"What if he is gay?"

"Then Silvio wouldn't mind replacing you, right, Silvio?" He sang my name, smiling mischievously.

I gave Cyrus a deadly glare which didn't affect him.

"So, it's final." He clapped his hands. "We leave early in the morning. I am going to pack my bags while you guys do the same." Then he left.

Marcelo talked with her and made sure she was okay with it and she was.

He even gave her his card so that she could buy an evening gown. I was least interested in their conversation and was about to leave when I heard her say, "...and can I take Lilith along with me?"

I didn't like the idea of Lilith being with Orla but she made her happy.

Marcelo nodded. "Buy her whatever she wants too."

And I also didn't like the idea of her using some other man's money. I made my way towards Orla and handed her my card. "For Lilith."

She accepted it from me and said, "Why don't you just accept that you love her?"

I cocked my head at her. She has no fucking right to question that. She is no one to me.

Marcelo stepped between us and told her to go before I could deal with her once and for all.

Once she was gone, Marcelo turned to me, "She means no harm."

I don't give a fuck.

I was about to leave myself when his eyes made me pause. "But seriously, do you love her?"

I didn't bother replying.