A/N
This story is unedited so apologies for grammatical and spelling errors if any.
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Fiora (POV)
The second day of the blood bath is never an ideal part of any trip. All I wanted to do was hug something fluffy, eat chocolates, and laze around, but I had work to attend to, especially when the CEO and his parents took care of me personally. I can't concentrate because of this bloody, monthly torture. "Ah... I hate my life," I muttered, growing increasingly irritated by the discomfort.
I stepped out of the shower only to find the CEO knocking on my door. Swiftly, I opened it, surprised to see him standing there with a bowl covered with a lid in his hands. He extended it towards me, and as I took it, I realized it was a warm bowl of soup. Flustered, I said to him, "What was the need for this? I can come downstairs for a meal."
"My mother asked me to bring it, and I... I too wanted to take care of you," he said, his words carrying a hint of hesitation. Caught off guard by his unexpected gesture, I responded with a simple, "Ohh, okay, Thank you." But internally, I was grappling with a mix of emotions and thoughts. What was I supposed to say to that? "Oh, I love to hear that my boss is interested in taking care of me?" No, that didn't feel right. But then again, I couldn't deny the complexity of my feelings in the situation. It left me feeling even more confused than I was back in Vivity.
"Fiora, Fiora..." the CEO's voice pulled me out of my reverie. "Hmm..." I snapped back to reality, realizing he was speaking to me. "You're listening?" he inquired, his voice smooth and melodic.
"Oh, yes, yes," I nodded quickly, shaking my head to clear the lingering fog of distraction. "Sorry, I zoned out for a moment," I apologized with a smile.
"Ah, it's okay. I asked, are you feeling better?" he repeated, concern evident in his tone. It was only after he asked that I realized I wasn't experiencing any pain, and my mood had lifted significantly compared to before. "Yes, I'm feeling much better," I replied with genuine relief.
He nodded his head in understanding and began to position himself to leave. "Ah, Sir, at what time are we leaving?" I asked quickly, feeling the need to clarify our plans.
"To where?" he asked, looking slightly confused by my question.
"To work," I replied, assuming it was obvious.
"No one's going anywhere. You need rest; don't exert yourself," he replied authoritatively, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"But..." I started to protest, but he cut me off firmly.
"No ifs and buts. Rest," he ordered before turning and leaving, leaving me with no choice but to follow his orders.
As soon as he left, my pain returned, and I instinctively clutched my stomach. Returning to my room with the soup in hand, I placed it on the side table and proceeded to finish my after-shower care routine. When I returned to the soup, I noticed it had cooled considerably. Despite this, I drank it down before deciding to head downstairs to fetch some more.
Downstairs, I spotted the CEO sitting on a couch positioned almost at the centre of the hall room. "Wait, when did I start mentioning him as CEO in my head? Ahh... my poor brain is under a lot of stress," I mused to myself, shaking my head at my own thoughts. Let's focus on the room, as always, which was beautifully crafted with THE REBELLA ROSE's SPECIALITY—The Crystals. I couldn't help but laugh at the way I animatedly referred to it in my head.
I saw the CEO advancing towards me, but to my surprise, I noticed his left eye was a mesmerizing golden green while the other remained even more mesmerizing arctic blue. Confusion clouded my thoughts as I tried to comprehend what was happening. "Do you need something, sugar plum?" Theo's voice broke through my bewilderment, and I felt a surge of joy as I recognized him. With a big smile on my face, I excitedly hugged Theo, feeling comforted by his presence. "Theo," I exclaimed, but our embrace was short-lived as I realized he was inside the CEO's body. I jolted back almost immediately, apologizing profusely. "I'm sorry, my brain is not working," I stammered, lifting my gaze to gauge his reaction.
To my relief, Theo was smiling lovingly. "I'm in charge," he declared, his smile widening almost imperceptibly. "Are you?" I asked, a hint of scepticism colouring my tone.
"Yes, little fairy," Theo responded, his warm smile not faltering even as I observed his mismatched eye colours.
"Why are both your eye colours different?" I inquired, unable to ignore the peculiarity.
"Don't worry about it. It happens sometimes," he replied simply, brushing off the question with ease.
Though I didn't fully trust his words, I decided to let it go for the time being, choosing to focus on the comfort of having Theo with me.
"I missed you," I confessed in a baby-like tone, feeling a sense of childish comfort in Theo's presence.
"Me too, honey puff," he replied in a voice dripping with honeyed affection. Before I could say anything else, he interrupted with a mockingly stern tone, "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be resting?"
"I'm hungry," I pouted pitifully, looking at my empty bowl. I didn't fully understand why, but at that moment, I wanted to indulge in being a pampered kid. Honestly, being with Theo just made me feel so comfortable like I could let go of all pretence and just be myself.
He took my empty bowl and led me to the kitchen, where I perched on the counter while he prepared something. "Do you like sweet or spicy?" the CEO's voice broke the silence, making me suddenly conscious. I stepped down from the counter, holding my hands together in front of me maintaining my posture. "Anything's fine," I replied hesitantly, feeling a bit awkward in the CEO's presence.
"It was a simple question. Why are you so jumpy?" Theo's voice chimed in again, breaking the tension. "You said you were in charge," I retorted, my annoyance becoming visibly apparent. I struggled to decide whether to maintain a relaxed demeanour or revert to formality in his presence.
He looked at me with a hint of sadness in his eyes and spoke softly, "Relax. It'll be me from now on." His reassurance helped me ease up, and I returned to perching on the countertop. As I watched Theo, I noticed a slight discomfort in his demeanour as he began to cut some onions. Unable to resist, I asked, "What happened? Did I say something unpleasant?" My concern is evident in my tone.
He hesitated for a moment before taking a deep breath and asking, "Are you scared of Zachary?" I understood the weight behind his question and chose to answer honestly. "I'm not scared of him. Why would I be scared of him? He was the very first person in my life to dare to come and hug me when I was an uncontrolled fire cannon," I said with a smile, recalling Zack's boldness in approaching me during our initial encounter. "But his gaze always seems to suggest scepticism toward me and every word I speak, whereas you give me the confidence to speak absolute rubbish, and I'll be believed... I understand that I'm a stranger to both of you, but at least you don't make it so evident," I explained, pausing to meet his gaze. His eyes conveyed a sense of discomfort, hinting that I may have touched upon a sensitive topic.
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"We have past bubbles. It's the result of that past that..." Theo began to explain, but I cut him off mid-sentence.
"So do I, Theo. And who hasn't?" I interjected, my voice lowered and tinged with a mixture of frustration and understanding. "The world we live in, whether among manipulators, shapeshifters, or magic holders, is filled with individuals carrying their own pasts. The difference lies in the severity of the burns and the depth of the cuts. Just because someone is burnt doesn't mean that other's cuts don't matter," I asserted, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and respecting each person's unique experiences and struggles.
As I recalled the piercing gazes of those around me, I felt a knife plunge straight into my heart. Usually, I could push aside these thoughts, whether by focusing on the present moment or finding solace in doing something. However, at that moment, whether it was due to the discomfort of my period or an overwhelming need to express myself, I found myself unable to control the flood of emotions bubbling up inside me, and I began to blurt out my thoughts.
"I have..." I trailed off, realizing I didn't want to delve into any negative memories, especially during my period when I felt most emotionally vulnerable. With a heavy heart, I decided to put an end to the conversation. Stepping down from the counter, I declared, "I'm not hungry anymore," signalling my desire to retreat and avoid any further discussion.
Before I could take another step, I was stopped in my tracks by Theo, his apologetic smile softening his rugged features. I met his gaze, feeling tired and perhaps a hint of sadness creeping in. As he closed the distance between us, he leaned down to my ear and whispered, his voice hot and husky, "Complete what you trailed off, Bella."
His words sent a shiver down my spine, and my voice caught in my throat as I struggled to respond. The intensity of his voice made it difficult to resist down somewhere, on the other hand urging me to confront the memories I had been trying to bury.
The conflicting emotions swirling inside me left me bewildered. How could this man expect me to be both emotional and aroused at the same time? My brain questioned the appropriateness of the situation in terms of our professional relationship, but almost immediately, my heart overrode any concerns," Who cares about professional boundaries? We could deal with that later."
Feeling his hot breath trailing down my neck only added to the intensity of the moment. His demand for "complete bella" echoed in my ears, but with my thoughts scattered and my body responding to his proximity, finding the words to respond was proving to be a daunting task.
My voice was barely above a whisper as I struggled to find the words to complete what I had trailed off. Suppressing an urge to bite him, given how close his neck was to me, I began, "I have..." but my words hissed to a halt as his lips touched the nape of my neck. My hands moved mechanically, reaching out towards his torso, driven by the overwhelming rush of sensations. while his hands were resting on my hips "Go on Bella" he said in a whispered tone while hugging me and lightly scratching the back of my neck almost
My mind flashed back to the first time I ignited, triggered by something as trivial as a lizard when I was just sixteen. I remembered the horrified look on my mother's face, etched with fear and concern. Since then, both my parents had tiptoed around me, walking on eggshells as if afraid to set off another spark.
Don't get me wrong, there was definitely a valid reason for their behaviour. Anyone in their place would have reacted similarly, including me. But in that moment of vulnerability, I wished desperately for someone to reassure me, to say, "It's okay, Fiora. I'm here. Don't be scared." I longed for someone who wouldn't fear me and understand that I was scared to
After being in his embrace for a few moments, I gathered the courage to speak up. "His gaze reminds me that I bring catastrophe for everyone," I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil within me. "And yes, everyone should be careful around me." I paused to control the tears threatening to spill, a skill I had unfortunately mastered over time. "I agree, I know I'm dangerous, I'm like a fire cannon, who has no control over herself I don't deny it," I continued, my words heavy with self-awareness. "It's just... not everyone has to rub it in my face every time they see me. I know I need to exercise some control over myself, they don't need to see me as a monster or a pitiful thing or a subject to study or a medium to gain power or use me as a weapon"
"I try my best not to get triggered, but sometimes..." I trailed off, swallowing hard to dispel the invisible lump in my throat. Sensing that I was too emotional to continue without shedding tears, I stopped speaking and simply stayed in Theo's embrace for a few more minutes, finding solace in his comforting presence.
When I finally looked up at him, I mustered a cute pout, pushing back the memories that threatened to overwhelm me. "I'm hungry," I declared, hoping to shift the focus to something lighter. His mesmerizing eyes, still holding both colours, met mine as he responded, "On your way, blossom." Theo rubbed his nose against mine affectionately before releasing me from his embrace. As I watched him cooking food for me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of childlike excitement bubbling within me. Yet, beneath that surface joy, lingered the quiet pain of an adult trying to hide behind a mask of composure.
Watching Theo move around the kitchen with practised ease, I was grateful for his care and understanding, even as I struggled to reconcile my conflicting emotions. Sometime later, I heard Mr. and Mrs. Black entering the kitchen, momentarily forgetting that we were in their home.
"What's cooking, Zaco?" Mrs Black asked chirpily.
"Vegetable soup for Fiora, and wraps for the rest of us," the CEO's voice replied, snapping me back to awareness and causing me to regain my composure.
I greeted them politely, feeling awkward after realizing that I was making their son run errands for me. However, I refrained from speaking too much, not wanting to draw further attention to the situation
"You never cooked for us, Zaco. Ahh, yes, wifey is more important than us old people," Mrs Black teased, leaving me puzzled as to who she was referring to as "wifey" – me?
"No, no, Mrs. Black, we're not..." I attempted to explain, but my efforts were futile as Mr. Black chimed in, "Darling, mothers can't provide everything that a young, healthy man needs. For his needs to be met, he needs to take care of his wife."
The CEO's face turned flustered and red, mirroring my own confusion. "Are they talking about the same thing I'm thinking of?" my mind pointed out, adding to my bewilderment.
"Mother..." the CEO spoke, his face flushing red with embarrassment.
"Yup, they are talking about the same thing," my mind taunted, adding to the awkwardness of the situation.
"Come on, son, it's true. Don't you agree, Fiora?" Mr. Black turned to me expectantly.
Gingerly, I replied, "Yes, you're absolutely right," feeling unsure of how to navigate the conversation.
"Fiioora..." the CEO's voice trailed off, a mix of mock anger and shyness evident in his tone. I couldn't help but adore his expression; now, I felt a mischievous urge to tease him further. "What?... Isn't it true that most men are their wives' pleasers, ignoring their poor parents?"
I couldn't resist joining in the playful banter, siding with his parents. After all, I held a special affection for them. A toothy grin spread across my face as I relished the opportunity to playfully tease the CEO.
CEO threw his hands in the air, a gesture of defeat. "So, I'm the villain no matter what I do?"
"YES," we all chimed in unison, unable to contain our amusement. Despite the jesting tone, there was warmth in the air as we shared a moment of light-hearted laughter. Even the CEO couldn't help but smile defeatedly, "Alright" he said, acknowledging the playful banter before resuming his work with a grin, maintaining that smile amidst the camaraderie
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A/N
Word count:- 2600
Hello, my lovely readers, I hope you all are doing well
Here, is the 18th chapter of my book
I hope you all liked it and have a great day ahead
Ok
Thank you
Love you
bye:)
Until next time
Happy reading 💐
Date:- 02/04/2024