So 'Burn Out' has been included in for the #ProjectBadassGirls Campaign. I think it suits Ophelia pretty well, doesn't it?

😂

Go check it out!

Enjoy!

I had a feeling that today was going to be boring.

And it is.

It's Saturday and I have literally nothing to do. I have no inspiration to paint whatsoever. Library is closed since Bella and Nick are somewhere meeting Bella's mom. Allison said she was busy, now whatever that means. And I didn't ask the guys though.

So moral of the story, I am dead bored.

Although the last few weeks had been a swirl of happenings.

The whole Bryan fiasco happened somewhat 20 days ago. And the echo of his actions went everywhere. It was on television, newspapers, internet and almost every goddamn public platform.

The Walker Group publicly broke all ties with him and his corporation. Other few followed too. It was like a whole domino effect.

Bryan was in deep shit. He was a prick. An asshole prick if you want to be precise. There were many more stories of his stupid actions. Although he wasn't behind the bars, he wasn't anything better.

When The Walker first broke their ties, it was chaos. Keller was almost on his knees. But Jack Walker was a man of morals. And a man of his words. He was given a fair share of warning and he ignored it. Succumbing to media's out roar on the whole incident, the representatives simply gave a statement that he harassed one of the company member twice in a row. Stellan pulled every string possible to keep my name out of it. My life was already a circus with us being too close. God knows what would happen if they knew about it. Though those are his words, not mine.

I was fine with the truth coming out. Fine with the fact that if I had to give an official statement, I will.

And the truth was inevitable. Although only a few, but people in the office still saw me dragging Stellan away or simply saw me with Keller and knew his clear intentions. It would have been difficult holding so many mouths. So I told Stellan to let it be. The news was out. People started questioning me in public and I was comfortable with just a simple statement. They might have asked many things but I just answer whatever was relevant to the Keller case.

Dad was livid would be an understatement. He started cursing on the phone. Damning Keller to the  pits of hell. Demanding why I hid the fact that he tried making moves at first. But come on, my dad loves me. After shouting and scolding for an hour as I listened to him on phone as a child, he heaved a sigh and finally asked if I beat that guy good. Yup, my dad everyone! Mom was way too worried. She almost booked the tickets to come and meet me but I straight away refused. Mom has a very strong fear of flying and I did not wish for her to go through anything.

Stellan promised me that he would sue that guy. Get the best lawyers and not leave anything with him. But I told him not to. Call me an idiot but Bryan would be more punished if would be allowed to be judged by others rather than be given an easy release to a cell. I always feel that being hated, be given those looks of disgust are the worst thing one could have, worse than a prison.

And I know that, I always have. Hate is not new to me. It will never be. And I still very much was a target.

I was known to the world now. Sure, I wasn't the highlight of the news, more of just a mere fact because I made no official appearance. I just told reporters who met me on my way which is quite less because half the time, I am in the office or at home, and when I am not, Stellan shields me.

"I am not worried for you. I am worried for them. You are not fragile like a flower. But you are fragile like a bomb."

Can that be quoted as romantic because I swear to god; I smiled so hard when he said that. At least he didn't see me as a broken flower, too delicate to touch.

But the news was fading away. It had been days after all. It was more like a sudden wave that went down at its own pace.

And now, I almost had my normal life back. It had been for the last couple of days.

Bored out of my mind, I finally decided to cook something. It's a wrong decision. I will probably end up burning the house down. But eh, who cares?

Taking out the pans, I was almost done when the bell rang.

Either it was Alice or Mrs. Reeds younger son asking about another Maths query. I loved Maths. Sue me!

I opened my door to see Stellan standing with a take away in his hand.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him as he sent me a serene smile but then scoffed at my question.

"Can't I meet my girlfriend?" I tried thinking a bit, still blocking his way.

"Hmm.....depends on what all you brought?" He sent me a cheeky smile.

"I got my handsome face with me." I raised my eyebrows.

"Not enough."

He raised his eyebrows.

"I got my awesome personality."

I nodded a bit.

"Good point but.....how about a NO!"

He smiled mischievously.

"I got my kisses."

I still again nodded.

"Hmm....tempting! But not enough."

It was a lie. His kisses were more than enough. Tempting more than anything but then what's the fun in confessing.

The poor guy sighed a little and raised the food package in his hand and smiled.

"I got burgers."

Ah! Food.....my weakness. I gave him a sweet smile and moved in, allowing him to enter.

"Make yourself at home." He simply shook his head at my obsession with food.

He had just kept the package on the table when I pulled his collar and kissed him.

"I thought my kisses were not enough."

I gave him a flirty smile.

"Oh baby....they are more than enough." And I gave a small kiss to his nose and hoped off to serve the mouth watering burger.

I had almost placed it on the plate and getting the drinks when I heard him from beside me.

"Why are you looking up at application forms......of other companies?"

Crap.

I forgot to close my laptop.

Taking a deep breath, I knew I had to face him. I mean, it was my decision, he won't go berserk but I could always be careful.

And I knew that you don't lie or hide the truth in any relationship. So I slowly turned around to face a very patiently waiting Stellan.

He didn't look mad. Okay, that's a good sign.

"The internship is going to be over in less than a month, Stellan." I told him, taking support of the kitchen island, breaking it to him in pieces.

"And you are one of the best interns we had. There is no way in hell that you wouldn't be offered a job in TWG." His eyes were judging me, were boring holes in me.

"Well, I can never be sure, so I was just looking at some other options. And I might not want to work at TWG." I almost grimaced at my words. How do I break this to him?

He narrowed his eyes.

"What do you mean, Ophelia?" I sighed and moved around the dining table to stand in front of my boyfriend.

"I can not work at TWG after the internship is over."

"Why?" He simply asked.

"You." I simply replied.

He looked at me confused and irritated.

"Whatever it is, dump it on me, Lia."

He was acting clueless. He isn't called a genius just like that. But if he wants to hear it, he will.

"I thought you would figure it out, Harvard boy."

"Ophelia...." There was warning in his tone.

I looked down once and then back at him again.

"I can not work for you and date you at the same time."

Understanding seemed to flash in his eyes for a second before he stood his ground.

"Yes, you can! What's the problem in it? You would have a job, your friends, me and no one would dar-"

I cut him off by a quick peck.

"Yes....that's why! No one would dare say anything to me. No one would scold me and give me the deserving lesson. Everyone would walk on eggshell, scared for their own jobs. And I don't want anything to just fall in my lap. I want to earn it. And even though you still might promise not to interfere, you will still have a hand in everything. You are the future CEO for crying out loud."

"You are just over thinking. If you want to be treated just as equally, that is what you will have."

I smiled a little.

"No, you might try giving me that freedom but I still wouldn't have it. Bryan Keller is a proof." He tensed under my gaze.

"We are not talking about him."

"Whatever you want, Stellan. But you know deep down, you will favour me whatsoever. Even when Bryan was concerned, you punched him muttering how he shouldn't have touched his woman. And as much as I believe that you would beat him if there was another woman, but you would have not called her yours too. I mean I wish you won't." I narrowed my eyes at him in mock but Stellan was anything but amused.

"I have never met a girl like you Opehlia." I chuckled.

"Well, there is only one of me out there."

He sighed.

"I-I understand your point. And I know what you mean....it's just...I won't be able to be with you or...protect you. I mean, leave the protecting part, you are capable enough. But I won't meet you in office and who is going to shut Ian down? Worst yet, what about the coffees we all shared? When will we spend time together apart from the weekends?" I placed a finger on his lips.

"Do you believe in this? Do you believe in us?"

His reply was instant. The most quick and vigorous nod he could give me.

"Then we would go through it. We can meet at weekends. We can talk on phones. You can meet me in the evening. We have holidays and I am sure the lunch time won't create a big problem. I mean, we might have the same lunch time."

"And what if you find someone else...."

He need not say anything further. I knew what he was talking about and I gave him a laugh at that.

"How could I find someone better than you Stellan?"

"It might be pretty easy for you."

"Well it might be. But if you are what I crave, then you are what I will have. I won't go after any." I told him, looking deep in his eyes, with every ounce of truth in me.

He smiled a little.

"You will be the death of me, Ophelia Persephone Hale."

"The honour is all mine." I shot back a cheeky smile as his hand tightened around me waist.

"Now is it?" He whispered on my lips, sending tingles through my body.

Fucking electrostatic force.

I smiled at that.

"Just kiss me, idiot."

"Gladly!"

And that's what he did.

We lay on the sofa, our plates devoid of the burger that we ate. We did nothing. We weren't doing anything. We were simply....enjoying each other's presence. My head was resting on his chest as he played with my hair.

Doing even nothing with the people you care about still is, everything.

"So, which company did you choose?"

I smirked at his question and got up.

"Won't you want to know?"

"Oh come on!" He whined like a little baby, making a pouty face.

"You gotta try harder, Mr. Walker."

He gave me wide, cute eyes.

He went on like that for long and there is only so much of his cuteness I can take. I gave in with a sigh.

"I haven't decided yet. But I was thinking of joining one of your rivals." He gave me a bored look.

"Think just how scandalous it would be. 'Walker's girlfriend joining the rival side!' or 'Walkers girlfriend no more into Walkers!' and et cetera, et cetera." I laughed at my own thoughts, Stellan chuckled lowly too as I lowered my head and slowly put my head on his lap. His was a damn well good pillow. Might as well use all of him.

"Trust you to make me laugh at scandals." I tipped off my imaginary hat.

"It's a special talent of mine."

Then there was that look again. The way he looked when he was deep in thought but his eyes were completely on me. Only on me.

And I knew how my body reacted. Heat would reach my cheeks. My eyes won't stay away from his even if I tried. My legs would refuse to move. It's like he would leave me completely paralyzed under that look.

He looked at me just that way. The way that meant everything in this world. That meant every emotion that ever existed. And you can't just walk away from it or shrug it off. You can only let it consume you.

"Stop looking at me like that." I told him, my eyes on his.

"Like what?"

"Like I am more than just me."

He smiled.

"You are more than just Ophelia. You are your proud father's daughter and your mother's grace. You are Alice's lifeline and Ian's daily tormentor. You are the best intern for Ms. Kelly and the best group mate for the others. You are Bella's new friend and Cole's new appreciator. You are so many things. You are much more than Ophelia Hale."

I couldn't take me eyes away.

"But more than that.....you are everything to me. You are my love. You are my blue crayon, the one I never have enough of and the one I use to color my sky. The second chance you had told me that night. The second chance you said I deserved. The second chance I am thankful landed on you....because I don't know about the girl you mentioned that night, but I am truly lucky. Lucky to have the only Ophelia Hale in my life."

I wanted to cry.

"Damn you, Stellan Walker." I whispered, my voice thick with unsaid emotions as he bent down, and very professionally might I add, bumped our nose.

"Say whatever you want to. Feel however you want to but you can not change the way I feel about you. Or the way I look at you. Flame is meant to attract the moth." He sent me a wolfish grin.

"And isn't that the end of the moth? His ruin? When he finally burns down with the flame...." I asked, catching his hair at the back of his ears, playing with them slightly.

"Love, then let me be burnt." I shook my head.

"We both burn together."

He chuckled.

"Anything that my queen wants."

I smiled.

"What if I say something to eat?"

He rolled his eyes but his smile was still ever present.

"Then let it not be said that Stellan Walker cannot fulfill the demands of his lady." He said, getting up and walking to the kitchen, hopping after him.

Few minutes into it and he had his apron on and made up his mind to annoy me by not telling me what he was making.

That's when I asked him.

"You like it, don't you?" He sent me a questioning glance.

"You like calling me yours?"

He smirked.

"Oh, you have no idea."

Actually, I might just do.

And I also knew just how much I wanted him to be mine.

I was falling helplessly and it was all because of the man in front of me.

I dare say I liked that.

Hi fellas!

Well, you still have your chapter though I am neck deep in syllabus. I wanna cry and die.

Being a teen is so goddamn difficult. Like kill me already man. I have no more hopes for the world. I don't wanna die a virgin but I am still giving up on life. Maybe celibate or something. Though I very much know I won't do that. My dirty mind won't let me. 😂😂

Hope you enjoyed the update.

And plz share the book. Let as many as people know this book and increase the reads so that I go batshit crazy by the number of reads.

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Love ❤️