ORLA

What is wrong with me? What part of the Alliance says I must take care of him? He is a responsible, thirty-year-old man, he can indeed look after himself but damn my stupid heart for not being able to see him that vulnerable. He always had that authoritative and nothing-can-ever-happen-to-me type of air around him but yesterday he looked so powerless.

I didn't see him for the rest of the day, he stayed in his room and I saw Silvio checking on him once and Cyrus barged into his room later demanding to know what was wrong with him. I felt a little happy that they both did care about him.

Even though I wanted to ask him if he was better but I refrained from doing that.

I yelped as all of a sudden, I fell down and I looked up to find Calius shaking his head at me. "Why are you so distracted today?"

Yeah, I was busy daydreaming about your boss.

He even pulled me over his lap yesterday and that intimate position made me blush so hard and not to mention that I could even feel the imprint of his cock. Like damn, I have never been so turned on by simply sitting on someone's lap.

There I go daydreaming again. Shaking my head, I pulled myself up.

I trained for another hour after which Calius let me go and I walked towards the kitchen in hopes to find Lilith since she is like my friend now but I heard the front door opening and out of curiosity, I glanced in that direction to see a very pregnant woman, who looked around my age, rushing inside the house and she was gorgeous with her green eyes and wavy hair, the same shade as mine.

She approached me and the first thing she asked was, "Where's Marcelo?"

I swear I have no right but I felt a pinch of jealousy. Who is she and why is she asking for him? Is she his girlfriend? Oh God, what if it's his child she is pregnant with?

The front door opened once again and a man walked in, tall and handsome, that's all I could think of when I saw him.

His eyes landed on the woman and he sighed. "You are too fast for a pregnant woman."

He came to stand beside her, his arms wrapping around her waist and she said, shrugging, "I just want to see my brother or brothers actually."

Wait, what?

"Brothers?" I asked, not able to help.

She smiled at me sheepishly. "Oh, hi, I am Chiara, their sister. I am the youngest." She then scrutinized my face and added, "You must be Orla. Marcelo mentioned you."

All my jealousy washed away in an instant. "Hi, yes, I am Orla."

Smiling, she pointed to the man beside her. "This is my husband, Ezekiel."

On the mention of his name, he tore his eyes away from his wife and only offered me a nod which I returned.

"I'll go find them." She told him and made an effort to move but he held her firmly.

"No. Stay here, I'll find them and sit down please, don't tire yourself." Giving her a stern look, he left to find her brothers.

She smiled at me softly. "Being pregnant is kinda difficult, I suddenly had this urge to meet them, especially after Cyrus told us that Marcelo was sick."

"Oh..." I led her to the couch and gestured for her to sit down and I sat opposite her. "You are close with Cyrus?"

"Yeah, he is actually Ezekiel's younger brother. Our fathers are best friends."

Okay, this is some new information. I nodded.

I glanced down at her baby bump and asked, "How far are you?"

She rubbed her belly. "Eight months and with every passing day my husband is growing extra protective."

Now I was very curious. "Okay, please don't mind me but I am an extremely curious person and I need to say that you look so young and--"

She cut me off with a wave of her hand, chuckling softly. "I get that a lot, it's okay. I am currently twenty but I got married at eighteen, you know how it is in our world. Girls get married so early. My marriage was fixed the moment I was born as our fathers wanted to strengthen their friendship even more and even though I might have been opposed to that idea while growing up, we both eventually fell in love." She had a dreamy look in her eyes.

"My mother was also adamant about me getting married since I am eighteen already but I think I have escaped that fate. For a while at least."

"I know." She gave me a sad smile. "I hope you are not forced into something like that and if somehow you are then hopefully you get a husband like Ezekiel, he is the best."

Marcelo wouldn't be a bad choice either.

Now, where the hell did that thought come from?

"Thank you," I told her not being able to believe that somehow with a sunshine personality is siblings with those two grumpy men.

We both glanced towards the stairs at the same time when we heard some footsteps and a moment later, Ezekiel came down with Marcelo and Silvio following him.

Marcelo's eyes fell on me first, an unreadable emotion swirling in them and he averted them just as quickly. Fortunately, he was looking a lot healthy than he was yesterday.

Silvio came to her first, his features softening as he pressed a kiss to the top of her head and Marcelo did the same and even patted her on her belly.

For the very first time, I saw his lips curve up into a small smile. And my heart? Yeah, it fucking melted right there. How can a grumpy man like him have such a beautiful smile? Oh God, why the hell am I having butterflies?

I removed my eyes from him before anyone could notice and got up to leave because I felt like I was intruding on a private family moment.

I stopped abruptly when I felt a hand grab my elbow gently. Marcelo kept a firm grip around my elbow and said to Chiara, "You met Orla already?"

"Yeah." Chiara smiled. "I did. She is so cute."

I blushed. "Thanks, you are cute too."

"I am back, bitches!" Cyrus entered through the front door. "Hi, Chiara baby." His tone was saccharine and he proceeded to hug her but Ezekiel placed his palm on his chest and pushed him back making Cyrus scowl and I had to bite my lips to stop myself from laughing.

Cyrus scoffed and turned to me. "Let it be, I have Orla right here who loves getting hugs from me, right, Orla?"

"I don't remember you hugging me nor me enjoying it."

Chiara chuckled loudly and even Ezekiel smiled.

A small smile touched Marcelo's lips and I felt giddy knowing I was the reason he smiled. Fucking hell, I think I am having a little crush on him. Shit. That's definitely not good.

Cyrus scowled at me. "Couldn't you have taken my side?"

I forced my eyes away from Marcelo and shrugged. "Why would I?"

Leaving him glaring at me, I moved away from there and walked upstairs because I needed a moment alone to process everything.

Once inside my room, I slumped against the door, sighing deeply. Okay so having a crush is not a big deal. It's just a crush and I could have that on anyone and it will eventually fade, hopefully in a week's time.

All I have to do now is avoid Marcelo.

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.
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Better said than done.

I did manage to avoid him for the rest of the day but the very next morning, he was already there in the training room, running on the treadmill.

I didn't acknowledge his presence and I continued with my warm-up exercises while waiting for Calius.

My traitorous eyes slowly slid towards him, AirPods plugged in his ears, sweat forming on his forehead, a drop of it running down the side of his face and down to his neck.

I mentally scolded myself when his head tilted in my direction and I quickly looked away before he could catch me.

I continued doing my pushups when I heard the treadmill turning down and from the corner of my eye, I saw him approaching me. Well, there goes my plan of avoiding him.

"Aren't you oddly quiet today?" He spoke and I could feel his gaze burning holes into my head as I refused to even spare him a glance.

When he didn't leave, I asked, "Where's Calius?"

"He's is on a leave today so I am replacing him for the time being hence your plan of avoiding me won't work."

What the fuck?

I got up to my feet and finally looked at him. "Why? Then I am also taking a leave. Have a nice day, bye."

That wasn't going to work because the moment I took a step in the direction of the door, his icy voice made me freeze. "Take another step and I will turn your ass red."

I snapped my head towards him. "What the hell do you mean by that?"

He looked calm except for the tightness in his jaw. "Come back here, Orla."

"But you told me not to take another step", I said, feigning innocence.

He cocked his head. "That's ten."

I have absolutely no idea what he is going to do about that but a part of me was excited, I don't fucking know why.

"Now, come here."

Gulping, I walked back to him and he folded his arms across his chest. "Punch me."

My brows furrowed. "That's your punishment?"

"No. I am testing your skills right now. Punch me, Orla."

Um, okay.

I did exactly how Calius had taught me and I threw a punch in his direction but he dodged it swiftly.

He looked bored. "Again."

I did it again and failed.

"Again."

For the next fifteen minutes, I tried my absolute best to punch him but goddamn, this man is like a machine. He managed to dodge each one of them, it's as if it was predictable.

Exhausted and feeling my ego wounded, I slumped down on the floor, panting. "I am going to punch you one day, I swear."

"I am waiting for it." He said which sounded genuine as if he actually wanted me to succeed.

He grabbed a water bottle from a nearby bench and dropped it onto my lap. "My office. Three pm."

He was walking away without even bothering for a reply and paused at the door, glancing at me over his shoulder. "And Orla?"

My eyes met his and the command in his tone made me shiver. "I dare you to be late."

Chapter completion on: 26/2/23
Published on: 13/3/23