I stood outside as she stuck her head inside. A few minutes passed until she slowly retracted her head back and gave me a pointed look.

"The coast is clear. The only thing I really need you to do is to be extremely incognito. I am sure there are cameras and plus, people will start leaving after work. We need to be calm and act like we are a part of this place."

I nodded, very much enchanted at how carefully she was planning all this.

She pushed the door further and we both slipped in. She closed the door and I looked around.

"This looks like some kind of emergency exit." I mumbled, my eyes taking in the dusty surroundings.

"Explains the lack of security here."

The room was almost dark. Other than a few rays of light entering through a small crevice, there was no light. Nothing.

"This is some kind of room. I don't know. Stellan, look around and see if you can find some switch?"

I started moving my hands around, my eyes zeroing n every switch. It didn't work.

The next moment, light hit my face and I squinted my eyes.

"Sorry!" Ophelia quickly retracted the flashlight from my face.

"Where the hell did you get a flashlight from?"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"I knew we were breaking in. I took it from my car and kept it in my jacket."

She started looking around until we found another door. I slowly walked towards it and looked if it was locked. It was.

It definitely was.

"Its locked. Just...point the flashlight here."

She did as I said and I looked at the knob carefully as I bent down and inspected it.

"Its....This isn't a mechanic lock. Its an automated one. Or at least code-locked."

I turned around as I stood up to see her brows furrowed, her eyes set on the door in frustration.

"There has to be some way." I quickly took the flashlight from her hands and pointed it on the wall near the door.

"Stel, what are you doing?" I paid no attention to her words as I backed away and looked closely. And sure enough, there it was. The unlocking pad.

"Bingo!" I heard her mutter as she walked towards it with me following.

"This is....this is just the switch board. The actual keypad is on that side of the door." She said, her hands taking in the plain, white switch board with screws on corners.

"I could have hacked it if it were this side." She said it almost dejectedly.

And although I knew this was wrong, I couldn't help myself yet be tempted to do the wrong thing.

I could get the keypad on this side. With a wire and my phone. I knew I would succeed. I had that much confidence on myself. But I was still very hesitant. We shouldn't be doing this.

"I...I think I can do something about that?" My eyes were still fixed on the board as I felt Ophelia right behind me.

"You can?" I could almost feel her smile in the dark. That's just how she is.

"But it's wrong. So, so wrong."

She shook her head as I turned around.

"It might be. But we already committed the sin. Why leave it in the middle? If I am being called a sinner, I would choose to rather commit the sin in grace."

Lia and her unbelievably unique logic.

She sent me a teasing smile. And then she produced a screw driver from her pocket.

Not even gonna ask why she carries that.

"Oh come on, Mr. Walker. What's the worst that could happen?"

I would say a lot of things. A lot and a lot of things. But while with her, the last thing on someone's mind would be safety. She is a risk herself. It would be impossible to be completely at ease and risk free with her.

Looks like I was in this, with or without my say.

Damn Ophelia Hale and her charm.

I turned around around, hastily taking the screwdriver from her hand and started working on the screws. We were doing this.

Good god!

She stood right behind me, holding the torch, as the tip of the driver connected with the first screw.

I was getting anxious. Not because of my part. But because of the plan. And there are various things I say and do when I am anxious.

"Fuck everyone."

Lia wasn't supposed to hear it but she did anyways. Her breath hitched for a second before she leaned forward, her breath right beside my ears and my hands already on the third screw.

"How about....you just fuck me instead?"

She shouldn't have said that.

Well, she shouldn't say half the things she say.

My jaws clenched and hands clasped the driver more tight.

"Don't play games you can't end, Hale."

She scoffed.

"Well, let me atleast try."

"Seriously, you wanna discuss about all that right now?"

"Well, it's a dark room. No one around. I need heat. Plus, who else will I discuss my sex life with? Obviously you."

With the final screw done, I turned around to find her smiling mischievously.

"Can you not be that crude?"

She raised her eyebrows.

"Is it making you uncomfortable?"

Hell yes!

"No, it's not!"

She smiled brightly and patted my cheek.

"Good. But stay assured. I will bang you. But in due time. Not now. To be honest, I don't want my first time to be in a dusty place."

The pressure between my legs at one point will get too much.

"Your words will get you in trouble one day." My voice grew huskier. And I can't be blamed. I mean in a way.

She tsked and whispered as her lips brushed mine.

"Haven't they already?"

And then she turned me around and pushed me to the board.

"Now chop, chop Stellan! We don't have all day." I rolled my eyes at her tactics.

I allowed her to comprehend that on her own as I took out my phone and my adapter. I connected my phone to the wires within while my adapter was horribly cut open by my teeth.

"Ooooh, wild."

"Ophelia, you want the door open or not?"

"Of course I do!"

"Then please don't distract me."

"Why?Am I a pain the ass?"

"You are a pain in the ass, sure. But I love you. So I keep up with it."

"So, my presence is annoying you?"

She could never annoy me. Why would she think that?

I sighed.

"No, Ophelia. Your close presence is turning me on and I can't have a cold shower right here."

I thought that would calm her down. It didn't.

"Well, you could have a hot shower."

I still continued to work on the wires and phone, working on the connections and coding on my phone. Her words were right next to my ears and my brain was doing everything to not let her words go to the place between my legs.

"It doesn't help."

"Oh it will. It's like a cold shower only. But it's with me. So it definitely becomes hot."

I groaned.

"Babe, please have some mercy on me."

She chuckled.

"If you say so."

She calmed down as I continued to work and finally, I got the keypad working on my phone. I let out a sigh.

"Atleast we have the keypad. I can hack it if you can't."

I sent her an offended look.

"Oh yes Ms. Hale. I very much can."

And I started furiously typing on the phone as I worked out what the password would be.

Ophelia jumped in the air the moment she heard the door click.

"You, Stellan, are a smartass man. I didn't expect that."

"For the first time, you didn't see that coming."

She rolled her eyes.

"I didn't see us dating too. But here we are."

I smiled and placed a swift kiss on her lips. It was an instinct. Lately, it has become an instinct.

"And considering you have a whole IT company at your disposal, especially the best, I think I should have expected it, shouldn't I?"

She tipped her eyebrow and I just shook my head.

"Don't underestimate me Ophelia."

She gasped.

"I don't."

And she pulled me closer with her hand on my chest.

"I don't underestimate you." Her hands moved down.

"Or any part of you."

And then she was gone like the wind. Opening the door.

Cold shower. Check.

She opened it and moved a little out as my half body followed he, and saw the staircase area. It was clear. There was still time for people to leave. If my watch was correct, we had a few minutes before people started streaming down the stairs. They have been health conscious for a while.

"Can you see a camera around?" She asked. I looked around and sure enough, there was a camera. The good thing was that the way it was perched on the wall, it could not have a view of us here but as soon as we started with the stairs, we would be visible.

Telling Lia what all I observed. We both moved out of the door and closed it behind us. Handing me the flashlight, her eyes zeroed on a switch board. Her face reflected an evil smile.

We were still very much invisible to the camera. She hurried to the switch board.

"Ophelia, this will just disable the lights for a few floors, you know that, right?"

She immediately stopped and looked my way.

"Damn!"

She loosened her shoulders a bit, probably racking her brain for some idea.

Lucky us that I had been here and I knew that we had this the easy way.

"But I think we can work this out. The lights are usually switched off during the day because the windows are enough. Only certain lower floors have them on. The other floors have lights but the are only lit after the evening. And looking at this switchboard here, I am assuming the rest of them have the switches at respective floors."

Her face lit up in hope.

"This means that the way is clear till the evening. After that, they will switch on the lights." I nodded.

The people tend to take stairs so they did switch on the stair lights and they remain on for the rest of the night. Derek has some weird stuff in his brain.

But whatsoever, we had the time to climb up without being noticed by cameras.

Knowing what she needed to do, she quickly opened the switchboard like the pro she is and looked at the wired mess.

"Stellan, which one would cut the lights out?"

I leaned it a bit, my eyes scanning every of those wired mess.

"Cut this one." I pointed at the stark red wire from a mess of other few. I have played with enough circuits to know which one would cut out the lights.

"Good boy!"

The next second, the lights went out.

"Now, the camera won't be able to make out our faces very clearly. That leaves us with a few seconds to hope to the terrace. Come on!"

I looked at the stairs and then at her.

"We are taking stairs to the top? If you haven't noticed, this is one of the tallest building we are talking about!"

"We don't have another option, Stellan. Lift is a revealing option because anyone can enter while we trip to the top."

Saying that, she started racing on the stairs and I followed, my pace trying to match with hers.

"You sure you can do this Ophelia?"

She sent me a glare.

"Yes I can! I go for morning run every morning and climb stairs in my building. I am fit to do this. Just....we gotta be quick before someone notices the lights are out and informs the authority."

We climbed and climbed, taking a few breaks in between. Not our fault though. This building had like something 30 floors or what.

"Ophelia, you do know that people tend to take stairs down their way?! So if someone takes the stairs, we are getting caught anyway."

She stopped in her way and took a deep breath. Looking around and wiping some sweat on her forehead, she gave me a smug smile.

"That won't happen until the people leave after their long day. We have time. Plus, they leave after the sunset. So we will have the time to watch it and then scurry down."

I nodded but I could still doubt this plan.

Heck, I was breathing hard but my mind was dead set on one thing.

Derek is gonna rip my head off.

"But what if someone still comes here?" I looked at the door of eighth floor anxiously.

Ophelia chuckled lowly before her lips brushed my jaw.

"Oh Stel! Well, consider this! You had a long day. You are tired and now you are just ready to hug your bed. On your way, you see a couple having a full blown make out session. What are you gonna do?"

I gave her a confused look.

"Well, if there are no kids around, I will probably ignore them. Not pry in their business."

She nodded seriously.

"Exactly! So if I suddenly push you to a wall and start attacking your lips with mine, you don't pull back. Although I doubt you would pull back but yeah! My hair would hide both are faces and give enough time for the scarred, poor soul to hurry down and then we can be on our merry way."

Giving me a smug look, she started climbing again.

"Ophelia, this is some 007 stuff!"

"I know! Always planned on being Lady Bond."

We scrambled up the stairs as I continued to pray that someone did take the stairs.

Sue me. I wanted to kiss my girlfriend!

We took a few breaks in between but when we almost reached the 25th floor, Ophelia pushed me to the wall.

But she never kissed me.

Sad.

Unfortunate.

I am sure my lips turned into a pout.

But she was so very close to me. I could feel her ragged breath on my cheeks.

She turned around and looked at me. The lights was still very dim, probably only from the windows and since it was evening, even the Sun didn't help much for the lights.

"Wait. There is someone waiting here....for the lift I guess. Just stay quiet." She whispered as I placed my hands on her waist and balanced us both.

While her eyes were focussed on the lucky man waiting for the lift, mine were zeroed on her lips. Her lips were quivering. So were mine. We just had a hell lot of exercise. Trying her best to hide herself, she pressed her body further into mine. Although the light was dim, if we just jumped in front of the camera, our faces could still be made out.

Waiting a few more seconds as the guy walked around carelessly, Ophelia sucked in a deep breath and buried her head in my neck when she thought he was coming our way.

My back was pressed to the wall while her body was pressed to mine. And it wasn't helping when her lips were almost touching my neck. With every breath she took, her breath fanning my neck were getting me and my body way too excited.

"If I didn't know you better, I would say you are scared?" I whispered in her ears, placing a small kiss on her soft spot. She smiled in my neck and let out a chuckle.

Just then, the lift arrived and the man was gone. And so was Ophelia.

Control yourself, you hormonal man! We are on a mission.

We soon started climbing the stairs again and finally, after floors and floors, we reached the terrace.

The destination.

Which had a lock, again!

Quickly taking out another pin, Lia did whatever she did down there. But this time, it took a lot lesser time. A few minutes, that's all!

We opened the door and the long awaited breeze hit us.

And was this satisfying.

I had always been the good kid. Being a delinquent was Natalie's job. And she aced it. But me? For a long time, I thought dad was the voice of authority. I still think he is and although he could scold me because I am the older brother, Nat got out of it easily. Well, because she was younger and she mastered the whiny look from our mother. The one that got dad on his knees. So for as long as I can remember, I was the in charge of looking out for all of them. Within our group, the responsible one was me and well, me. Ace and Lillian were mature too but they were busy with their own selves.

So now when I stand here, after my first official break in, I know just why Nat liked being a rebel so much. It's one of the colours of life. Stark red. Wrong. Not right. But we still do things and it's not always true that doing something wrong will hurt someone.

What am I thinking?

Ophelia is changing my mind way too much.

Not like I complain.

We slowly took steps away from the door and walked to the edge. We couldn't fall but we were still at a great height.

Ophelia slowly whistled at the traffic beneath us.

"You know, I was scared of heights." I snapped my head towards her.

"You were!"

She nodded, looking at the road below slowly. I could see it. It was not completely clear but still, her face was a little pale. Her hands were stuck to her side. She looked at down and then closed her eyes, giving away a shaky breath.

I slowly took her hand in mine and she smiled. And it was one of those rare smiles. The ones that she had when she was either reminiscing something of the past or thought about her family.

The smile she had when she felt content.

Rubbing her thumb on my hand she turned around and looked at the sunset behind me.

"It was worth it."

And it definitely was.

With the Sun going down, the clouds were coloured hues of pink, red and scarlet. It begins to fling it's last rays all across the dying day sky. The sky painted with the fiery glow ball, somewhere golden and somewhere yellow. And just how perishable this is becaus the next second, the god descends down, giving way to his Luna. Gold changes to crimson, crimson deepens to purple and soon the glory of the heavens will pass away.

And it's in these moments that I try to find my forever.

My forever with Ophelia.

"It was all worth it. Even when you were scared of height?" I asked, not looking at her but knowing enough that she heard me.

"Fears can't forever bind me, Stellan. I am still scared of heights. But a little less. Doesn't mean I can go and jump off a plane. Still time in that! But I can sit on a cliff and not think about the deep abyss beneath. Right now, I can look down and not feel terrified that I will fall down."

"I promised you I won't let you fall."

She chuckled as she wrapped her arms around my neck.

"I know. But sometimes, I need to fix my own self. I am broken and I have to piece myself together. I have been doing that for as long as I can remember."

I saw her hazel eyes wander around in their own bubble.

Ophelia wasn't broken. No broken thing can be this brave.

"We can fix you just alright."

She shook her head.

"You don't have to fix me. I can do that. You just remember to be there."

Kissing her forehead, I realized what I really had. She was beautiful in her own ruin. She might be broken. Might be ruined. But she always knew to rise from her own ashes. Better than ever. Stronger than before. She was just as fierce as the Sun behind me and just as calm as the Moon I see.

We stood there, basking in the last few rays of the Sun.

"I like sunsets." She hummed along with me.

"The building sure is tall. I never saw one from such height."

"And I never saw one with a girlfriend." I gave her a cheeky smile.

"Why, your girlfriend didn't like them?"

I shook my head.

"I never really had a girlfriend, well except you and Beverly. And even with Beverly, her ideal date was a high class dinner."

Ophelia scrunched her face at that.

"We sure are poles apart."

I laughed, nodding at her realization.

"Meh. I never had a boyfriend. I didn't even have a date for Prom. If only Alex hadn't been there, I might not have even gone."

"Alex was your date?" I looked at her wide eyed because the last time I remember, he was like a brother.

Lia made a gagging noise.

"Dating Alex? I had rather die than date my brother. It was just that he won a bet. I wasn't going to the Prom. For several reasons. I hated couple dances. The food would be crap and well, I had no date. Alice did offer to go with me. But she had her night with this cute guy. He had asked her and Allison was more than happy. She had several proposals but she was not going out with a jock. And Prom was a big thing for her. I had no intention of tagging along and act like a third wheel. So I settled for Netflix, books and food. Alex, though, had other plans." She looked at me as I told her to continue.

"He had always been an observant. Contrary to popular belief, guys are not plain morons. They do pay attention, especially when the girl in consideration is his sister. That's what I have been to him. His favourite sister, by the way. So we went for this bowling game and you know how awesome I am at it. Being the egoistic fool I am, I bet that if I win, I would not go to the Prom and he would shout is front of the whole school that I was more awesome. He bet that if he won, I would go to the Prom. Him being with me was more spontaneous because he had to keep an eye on Alice. He said and I quote 'There has to be no loving of any sort.'."

Even I laughed at that. Lia shrugged her shoulders.

"Alex knew that Prom was usually a big thing. Might have been even for me. It was like one of those moments in life that you would like to tell your children. Tease your partner about. And I never really gave thought to that. Alex did because his girlfriend, Layla is an angel. She really cared for us and totally pushed Alex to convince me for the prom. So as a brother I never deserved, he accompanied me to the prom and we ended up dancing like crazy. I swear I have never seen Allison this embarrassed." She started laughing at her own memory. It sure must have been memorable.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better. Even I had no date for Prom." She stopped laughing midway and looked at me.

"Seriously? You didnot have a date? I mean, my reason would be that I found almost all guys repulsive. And no one dared ask me. I don't know if I would have rejected them but you.....your handsome ass can easily earn a date. Why did you lag behind?"

I scoffed at her remark.

"It's not that easy. I remember Derek asking Natalie out. The guy almost had a panic attack in front of her. But we saw that coming from a mile. I, on the other hand, went down with a flu."

"Wow. Out of all the things that could hinder you, it was a flu."

I rolled my eyes.

"It was terrible. I was in bed for days. I lost the opportunity to ask someone. And by the time I recovered, everyone had a date."

Ophelia made a pouty face. "Oh! You poor baby!"
And then burst out laughing.

"So who was your date?"

I looked anywhere but her.

"Ian." I muttered. That guy was too cool to ask someone out. At least that's what he said. But I think the main reason was that he wanted to accompany me wherever I spent the night. If it was my home, he would be with me and not leave a girl hanging.

"Loyal Ian!" She frowned and then looked up to the moon. The Sun was almost hid by the horizon. We did spent some good time here. I will give Derek that. Quickly looking at my watch once and peeking down, Ophelia took my hand.

"I guess it comes to an end now. We gotta move down quick now. Before Derek starts releasing his little minions."

I laughed at her before we made a dash for the stairs. She closed the door and like the careless guy I am, I walked down one stair until I realized that the lights were on now and the camera could very much see me. I looked at it wide eyed and it's focus on me before Lia pulled be back again.

"Are you fucking crazy?" I gave her a sheepish look as she huffed.

"You almost gave us in. We need to switch the lights out first." She pointed towards the switch board right on top of the stairs.

Hiding perfectly in the shadows, Lia moved forward and leaned back into the wall, holding her breath before her hands found the switch and the lights were gone.

She jogged back to me.

"While climbing, I saw that every floor had its switch. I guess, before climbing down, we have to switch them down!" Lia nodded at me and we scurried down, being careful enough to switch them down.

"Isn't this morally wrong? Like we are increasing the job of people...forcing them to switch on the lights." Suddenly, I felt ashamed of what we were doing.

"Yes, we might. But they haven't appointed a person to switch the lights on for every floor. Its most probably connected to some room where a guy is sitting and taking care of it. These manual switch boards are for just emergency. And so far, whoever is responsible for the lights is not paying attention to hid damn job, very much unaware that the lights have been switched and you have no eye on the camera. Because for all I know, the light even at the top is still off. Implying that this guy is not taking his job seriously. I mean, that's what I think." Still very much busy in not being caught, she walked down, sometimes switching down the lights while sometime I did.

"Wow. You literally should be a spy or something. The secret service was actually a good option for you." Tipping of her imaginable hat, we jumped the last few floors and were finally on the ground. The lights here were off. She had disabled the wires long back. We quickly darted to the same door we used today, being out of camera view.

Once inside, we took a deep breath. Taking a few final breathes, Lia got her flashlight out and we found our way out of the building.

She had unlocked the lock so right now, the door was a complete invitation. Not like anyone would have an idea though. This alley was completely deserted.

Her eyebrows coiled in thought and then looked at the time. Taking my hand my hand, she dragged me back to the front of the building, the lone door at the back long gone.

"How long do you think it will take Derek or his team to find out about this little break in?" Craning my neck up to admire the building one last time, I looked back at her.

"The door is still open and we did play with the lights. I guess tomorrow morning by earliest because they would first spend time on fixing the wire that you brutally cut and then look in the cameras."

Lia scoffed.

"That's too long, babe!"

I looked at her once again and sighed.

"Why? You wanna go jail early?" She clapped her hands in glee like a small child.

Without giving me another word, she entered the building, signalling me to stay outside.

A few minutes later, a surprised guard came out. Sweating that he was probably looking for a culprit, I looked down at the pavement to completely ignore him.

But it was actually easy. He never even looked my way. He started running and disappeared around the corner when a whistling Lia came out.

"What did you do?" I narrowd my eyes at her.

"Me? Oh nothing! I just told him that the back exit was open. Without any security."

I stared at her before realization dawned on me. She literally paved the way for us to get caught.

"Why would you do that?" She shrugged.

"Tomorrow morning is quite late. With the speed that guy, he will be here within a few seconds looking for me since I will be the first suspect."

"Then what do we do?" I was worrying. Heck, I was hyperventilating. It's not like Derek would sue me but my brain was still not ready for this pressure.

Hooking her fingers in my jeans, she pulled me closer and whispered as her lips brushed mine.

"We run."

Getting over the close proximity because she has some not-so-surprising effects on my body, we parted as she winked at me.

God. Save me.

And we were soon dashing in the direction of her infamous car. It wasn't very far but far enough for us to get away without being noticed.

Too tired to drive, she threw me the keys and I gladly accepted it. The engine came to life within seconds and we were on the road. Few minutes into it and we were long gone from that area.

A few minutes of silence passed before Lia broke it.

"So, how was your first ever break in, Mr. Walker? Would you recommend my service to anyone else?"

Giving her a smug look, I shook my head.

"I'd prefer to keep you private to myself."

"Territorial, I see! But my escapades are just exciting that you gotta love them."

Now that was true. Although during all this, I almost died of hypertension and excessive running, I would be fool to say that I didnot like it. I loved it. The adrenaline rush was still very much in my blood and as it started to fade away, I was already wishing for another dose. It was satisfying, to know that we did do something together. Although it was wrong but still the excitement of the moment with everything that it came with was overwhelming. I loved this. I loved to run away.

But in all this, I still knew that this wouldn't be the same without her. And call me territorial or particular, but I would never want to have this with someone else or let someone take Lia away.

Taking in our surroundings as I was planning where to drop next, my phone started to ring. I nudged Lia to pick it up since I was driving.

She picked it up from the dash board and the moment she looked at the caller id, her eyes widened for a second before she started laughing. Covering her mouth, she showed me the caller id and sure enough, even my eyes widened in shock.

Derek is a quick man.

I would have told her to not pick up the call but she already did, sending me a wink and putting the call on speaker.

Lords above, save me.

There was no voice on the other side so I settled to start the conversation.

"Hello."

"Walker, can I know WHY THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN BREAKING IN MY OFFICE?" I grimaced at his loud voice and parked the car at a place. This was going to be messy.

"I can e-"

"OH YOU HAVE A WHOLE FUCKING LOT OF THAT TO DO! Imagine my surprise when I get a call from my security head saying that they caught a glimpse of you on the cameras! And the back exit WITH THE LOCK BROKEN! " He must have been fuming.

"Hey Derek! How are you and how is the morning sickness going?" Lia chirped back and gave her a deadly glare.

There was a pregnant pause.

"Ophelia...are you..were you two together in this?"

Ophelia smirked back.

"Of course. Do you really think that Pinocchio here would lie or break in? It was my plan to see the sunset from the tallest building and I wanted to add some adventure. Breaking in was a good option. I broke the locks and cut the wires on the ground floor. And oh, the lock on the terrace too. By the way, you have a beautiful office."

Another pregnant pause before I heard laughter from the other side. Though this was feminine. It was Nat.

"Oh my.....Oh my god! Lia you just made my day! I...I knew Stel would never plan something like this on in his own. Not without me but even I can't plan such an efficient break in. S-should have seen Derek....he has been fuming for the past minutes while I have been laughing my eyes out." Lia smiled at the words of her friend.

"It wasn't quite difficult. No offences, Derek but your security system was crap. Like this time it was just us. We had no ill intentions but I could still pick the locks and cheat the cameras. You gotta talk with your security staff dude."

Why was she poking the bear? As if breaking in wasn't enough, she was lecturing him.

He grumbled on the phone.

"That you made very clear. But you to could have ended in custody, right? I know you have no ill intentions but if you would have got caught, there was no saving until I came."

Lia shrugged again.

"Probably. But I knew we wouldn't get caught. For Christ sake, it was me who alerted the guard that the door was open after we left. And we cheated almost all cameras except one time when Stel got more hiked." That was my mistake. I accept that.

Derek started cursing about how he needs more security before Nat took the phone.

"You guys, I would have loved to join! Breaking in is so 007 shit."

Well, she is my twin. We do have common thoughts.

Lia chuckled.

"Well the next time, we will aim the Richmonds. We can draw a graffiti or leave flyers or TP his office."

The notorious couple laughed on the other side as I looked at her horrified.

"Now that is something I would. Call us for this one, Lia. I have never liked Richmond. Natalie can come and just...not strain herself much."

Suffice to say, Nat and Derek had hatred for the same set of people. Actually we all did. It's like a friend code. An enemy of my friend is my enemy too.

"Yeah. We can draw some awesome stuff. Derek is great with graffiti and even Lia is a badass painter." Ophelia started laughing at her seat, amused at the overhyped Nat.

I snatched the phone from her hand. I don't want the next thing to be Nat breaking in. Because with her loudness, she will be caught in a minute.

What am I saying? I don't even want her near any break ins.

"Stop giving them ideas, you cheeky devil." Lia still continued to laugh as I changed the call to handset.

"Natalie, stop laughing and getting excited. We are not breaking in anywhere." I mumbled in my phone.

"You are no fun. This must have been exciting." She whined back.

"That it was." I looked at Lia once.

"Damn, Walker. You finally have some spice in your life. My future sister-in-law is one hell of a person. My kids are in for a great aunt."

"I saw this coming from a mile, babe." Natalie remarked her husband.

Damn them and their non-existent filter. I was grateful that that phone was no longer on speaker or god knows how much embarrassed I would be. Have they heard of holding their horses and not pushing people? I don't think so. Lia gave me a curious look as I started mumbling in Russian and cut the call right away, their last thing being their laughter.

Sighing down once, I looked at Ophelia who was already looking at me.

"This was the best date I ever had."

Lia chuckled at that.

"Happy to know. Now I have no further ideas. All I know is food."

Of course! Chuckling I looked outside to see the sky enveloped in darkness. The night was here. We could go to a restaurant or ordera take. Thinking as to where we would end up, I revved up the engine and a thought struck me. I had been planning to show her for a long time.

"Hey, do you know I have a condo?" She shook her head.

"You have a condo? Even after the whole Walker mansion!" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Dad always wanted me to have my own personal space. The mansion is obviously home but he knew that if I ever needed privacy, our mansion couldn't be that place. Plus, it is closer to the office. So sometimes when I am working quite late, rather than heading home, I sleep there. Saving time and well, letting me sleep more." She thoughtfully nodded.

"I suppose it's kind of actually given. Every individual at some point needs or wants a private space. And since you can have it, I think your dad is being a doting father." I nodded.

"So....would you like to visit my humble abode?"

"If only you have food." Even I was hungry. I couldn't blame her.

"I can cook." I sent her a small smile. I knew she liked my cooking.

"Oh, I am so in!" Knowing we had a whole night in our hand, I swerved the car to our next destination

**

Her first reaction was an impressed gasp the moment we stepped inside. She carefully walked in, dropping her shoes aside.

"You can have your shoes on, babe."

"I am just being careful. I am afraid I might just stain the place out. I mean, what else can you expect from a painter?" Chuckling at her words, I pressed a kiss on her side while her eyes continued to take everything in.

"I am gonna go and make something for us. Just do whatever you want to."

"Can I go to the balcony?"

"If only you promised not to do any stunts by walking on the edges." Her smile quickly dissipated into a pout.

"Oh come on."

"You are not putting your life on the line."

She sighed and blew me a kiss.

"Okay. I am going to roam around." Satisfied with the honesty in her eyes, I took to the kitchen and started searching for everything I needed for pasta. My world famous pasta. Sue me for trying to impress my love.

A few seconds later, I heard her call out my name. I expected this. She must have wandered to the main sitting area.

I walked following her voice and sure, there she was, in front of a painting.

She heard me and turned around, her eyes still lit up with shock.

"W-what is this painting doing here?"

Smiling at her, I took a few steps forward.

The painting was a portrait. A massive portrait of a lady. The background was somewhat dark or maybe a night view. It wasn't quite clear, giving it an even more devilish mysterious touch. It was a back view with the woman in a sin me red. Her ever flowing dress clouded at the bottom of the painting. The woman was looking sideways, a somewhat smile or smirk on her same scarlet lips. Her one hand was on her side while the other posed in her hair. Her eyes twinkling and her skin glowing, she truly was a master of beauty.

All I needed was a look at her and I knew it was Ophelia. And with the painting signed off as Persephone, my suspicions were true.

It was a portrait of her. I had somehow contacted her school to know if she ever made anymore paintings because she had mentioned in a flow that a lot of her paintings went up in fundraising and some in auctions.

Her school authorities said that she was making a fortune out of her art. And she sure was. All you needed to know what that she signed off as Persephone. The moment I put her name in the search bar, links opened up with images of god knows how many paintings. She was naturally talented. Gifted and has been painting from a very young again. Just like racing, she kept her self anonymous.

This portrait she drew in her college time and was up for auction online. And the moment I saw it, I knew it was Ophelia and I knew I had to buy this one. Although I knew people had no idea who the lady was in the picture, the thought of someone looking at it in any wrong way gave me chills.

And this was one of her secrets I cracked on my own. She carries so many identities yet she knows where her home in. I think she will always be Persephone. It connects her to her past. The good parts atleast.

I turned to her to find her still enamoured by her own art.

She gave off a shuddering breath as I hugged her from behind.

"Where did you find this?" I knew this one was coming.

"It was on an online auction. I had to have this. I mean, I gotta have some piece of the world famous artist, Persephone."

She continued to stare at it for a few more seconds.

"Why...why did you buy this? This must have cost a lot. I know how much I work for."

"Money is not a thing. You are priceless. Your smile is priceless. I wouldn't want someone else to look at my girlfriend the wrong way. Especially when you are looking like Venus herself. A freaking goddess, moye serdtse!"

"This is not me, though."

Confused at her words because it was her, I turned her around, her eyes closed.

"It is you. I know what you look like."

She shook her head and when she opened her eyes, a tear fell down. Quickly wiping that away, I cupped her face in my hand as she leaned in.

"I-I was ....I didn't mean to make you cry. I just thought that i-"

She cut me off with a quick kiss.

"No.....it's alright. You can never have any evil intentions. It's just....I thought I completely lost this portrait."

And as I looked in her eye filled with tears, I knew this painting more than just a piece of art for her. It was much more than that because the amount of relief I saw in her eyes was just not easy to put in words.

"This means a lot to you, doesn't it?"

"It does. Will to anyone if it is a last glimpse."

"A last glimpse of what?"

She gave a sad smile.

"My mother."

I sucked in a deep breath. This was why she was trembling. Why her voice was shuddering. Unintentionally, I just opened a long closed chapter of her life. Pulling her closer, I looked at the oainting once again.

She looked exactly like her. Every feature. From the structure of her face to the colour of her hair. The starry eyes to the knowing smirk. Even her figure was what Lia had. Lia was a complete replica of her mother.

"I remember that night. I had been asleep for a few hours into the night. It was a peaceful sleep in my dorm room.I don't usually have dreams related to my old life. I had....a few panic attacks but surprisingly, no nightmares. But that night, I had a glimpse. It looked exactly like me. But I knew it couldn't be me. She radiated more than me. More than the whole universe. Just for a second, I saw her. I saw her, Stellan. I saw myself in her. I saw a part of my own self smiling at me. All she whispered was Persephone. And then all I saw was darkness. She was gone. Like always, she was gone and I couldn't hold her back." More tears started streaming down her face as she hugged me tightly. I rubbed her back, letting her emotions burn out. I had no idea about this. If I did, I would have even probably deleted the picture from my internet history. I didnot know it would trigger her in anyway.

But the next second, she moved away and quickly wiped her tears and gave me a small smile.

"I...I woke up in the middle of the night. I was not willing to let go of that image. I was not gonna fucking let that happen. So I drew her. I drew her out for hours. With everything that my brain could bring back from my dreams and from my memories, I stamped her down. I missed my classes for this. But I knew that a second of distraction and I will lose her forever."

She got out of my hold and moved to the painting, touching the scarlet red slightly. She stared at it absentmindedly.

"It took a day but I did it. And the moment I finished it, I realized what I just did. I....I restored a part of myself I wished I never saw. A part of Lilith. She....she looks so much like me. So much like her own daughter. The daughter she abandoned. The daughter she never came back for. And suddenly, I was furious. Furious at myself, at her, at my destiny, at everything. I knew that if I saw it any longer, I would have destroyed it. In the heat of the moment, I sent it up for auction. I was not willing to even spare it a glance. That smiled fuelled me further. How could she smile when she left me like this? I am not a mother but I damn well know no parent leaves a child just like that. At that moment, my anger got good of me and the painting was gone. Sold!"

She finally turned around, regret in her eyes.

And that was new for me. She never regretted what she did. Because whatever she did was for a damn well reason. And seeing that emotion flicker through her eyes, I realized I just set off a reaction in her. A spark of her past which I didn't was any better. I had no idea if it would burn her down all over again.

Her chuckle brought me out of my thoughts.

"And then few days later, I realized just how stupid I had been. Just how shitty this move was. She was my mother, for god's sake. And I don't even know if she was alive all this time or not. For every moment she spent with me, she loved me to her heart. I realized that she couldn't leave me in her sane mind. That smile couldn't be vile. She was my angel once and I just....let her slip away, Stellan. Just how stupid could I be? I contacted every soul on this earth related to the auction but the deed was done. The painting was gone. And I ....let it go. It is one of my gravest mistakes to ever let it go and over time, I forgot about it. I had no chance of having it back anyway. And no one, not even my parents know about this." She looked to her side but then her eyes found mine as I stood rooted on my spot.

"Except you."

She smiled though tears in her eyes and moved forward.

"For once that night, I wanted someone to be afraid to lose me. I have always been terrified of losing others but I always doubted that someone would care or even try to hold me close. It drove me to madness, Stellan. It made me so...vulnerable. And drove me to push her away. Push the truth away. You know all my secrets now, cara. I have nothing more to hide. No more scars. No more dreams. No more....past. No more identities. And no more tears. This is all of me. All my secrets...and you know it all. Before anyone. Before even me."

I looked at her and she was vulnerable. This time, her emotions were not fuelled by her anger for her father or her hatred for her destiny or her love for her parents.

This was simply her loss. Her loss of her mother. Her loss of a big part of her. A loss of her own self. And she was laying it all out, despite everything that she had been through.

I stroked some hair out of her face, pinning them behind her ears. Her eyes were still glassy.

"I love you." A broken sob escaped her lips as the words left mine.

"And I say it not only because I want you but because I am scared that I can not have you. You are like the dreams that one latches on to even awake. You are the stars that brighten the night. Because you are like the last rays of sunshine that I want to touch. That I want to chase but I fear I cannot have them. And I am more than afraid of losing you. Losing you is a night mare I don't wish to encounter. You are might first thought in the morning and last wish at night. The world can have what it wants and ruin what it wants but I know that I have been in love with you. I forever will be and no one can ruin that. I have seen the best of you and I have seen the worst. And yet, you still are same to me. Still Ophelia. Still my Ophelia. You are eternal, my love. Never doubt that. Vas lyubyat, i vam nuzhno znat', chto " I embraced her as she shook slightly in my arms. And I let her be. (You are loved and you need to know that)

A few moments passed or maybe hours but we stood there, my arms still giving all that she could.

She is loved and I will be damned if I not let her feel the same.

She slowly entangled herself from my hold, and looked at me.

"Thank you for this. Thank you for everything." I placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Keep it here." I furrowed my eyebrows at her words.

"You sure?"

I had no problem with it. For me, the portrait she held Ophelia. Because even though she told me all this, I have never met her mother and she is just a figment of thoughts to me. Lia is here for me to hold and cherish and I will believe in only her.

She smiled and nodded.

"You do own it and I....I don't know what I would do to it in only my presence. I know you will keep it."

I knew I would.

Staring at it one last time, we headed back to the kitchen and had the pasta in silence. She helped me here and there but she was still distracted. And I don't blame her.

Talking about a few things as the clock struck 9, she knew she had to leave. But I was reluctant. She has perfectly leave the past 2 decades of her life without me and I give her that. But tonight I couldn't leave her alone. As she began to wear her jacket back, I pulled her close and placed an open mouth kiss on her lips.

"Don't go." I whispered.

"But I need to."

"But I need you to stay. I need to know that...you are there." She smiled at my words.

"If only you can sleep on the couch."

I blinked at her.

"Of course, I can! You take the bed. I can take the couch."

She laughed.

"Jeez, Stellan! You don't need to worry and stress yourself. I am not letting you sleep on the couch. I will just go."

My hold on her tightened.

"No you are not. Neither of us can see the other on the couch. We can share the bed."

Her eyed widened.

"Stellan, this i-"

I cut her off.

"Just sleep. I need to make sure you are alright. I just....need to. I want to hold you in my arms. Please, just stay."

With another pause, she simply nodded, giving me a quick peck.

She quickly changed into one of my shirts and my shorts which looked so baggy on her. I could care less. She looked sexy in my clothes.

She took the bed and after brushing my teeth, I crept into the blanket.

"Today was a long day."

"Totally agreeing with you on that."

It was. But it was just every bit of adorable in its own way. Her voice was sleepy and her eye lids already droopy. Yet still the hope and life she carried with her was irrevocable and irreplaceable.

"I liked the part of baking."

Of course she did. She liked it way too much. Despite the slight burn she had on her finger. And that reminded me of her hand near mine. I clasped my hands in her and brought her hand close to my face, inspecting the almost invisible red mark on her finger.

"It healed."

She gave me an almost sad smile.

"It always does, Stellan. I always heal. One way or the other, I know how to heal myself back again. I have been doing that for years. I will do it everytime. It's just life for me."

And the underlying pain with a bliss of hope for the better bloomed on her face as I planted a kiss on that spot.

"Well guess what? Now I have your marks on my finger too."

My eyes probably twinkled.

"Babe, you can have my mark anywhere you like. All you gotta do is ask."

She chuckled.

"Why you must be so smooth, Walker?"

I smirked.

"Why you must be so beautiful, Persephone?"

Her eyes widened the next second as my forgotten hold on her waist tightened. And then the next second, her eyes brightened up.

"Are you trying to seduce me with your Russian accent? That sounded way too sexy for me to handle. If you want me seduced, all you gotta do is ask."

"Really? Are you really honest?"

I guess my voice was almost whiny. But can you blame me. Getting a reaction out of her is a feat. Let alone get her seduced. If I could do that, well then, let me get an honour for myself.

"Good god Stellan! You sound like a baby!"

I smiled.

"I can't really deny that now, can I?"

She shook her head, her head falling back in laughter. And it was the most natural and gorgeous sight I had seen in months.

"Just promise me to keep up with your seduction. You will succeed one day. And mark each place on my body."

And that serene smile had me falling forever more.

"I promise you. Till I have these beats in my heart, I will hold and cherish you. Kiss you till I die seventh one day. So just when I am gone. Just when I am not here. Just when my days end, you can still smile. Knowing there isn't a place on you I missed. Isn't a part of you I missed. Isn't a place I haven't been. And if I die knowing that, how could it be anything but good?"

And it was true. How could it be anything but good?

Her eyes glistened in the lights of the bed lamp and she placed a kiss on my finger.

"And I promise too."

And it wasn't something grand. It wasn't a vow. We had nothing to prove. We had nothing to lose. But it was just us and our hopeful hearts, and the warmth we found in each other.

It just had one ground.

Love.

And it was enough. For now. Forever.

"Good night, Stellan."

"Spokoynoy nochi, rebenok." (Good night, baby.)

With her head on my heart that needed a beat just as much as I needed her, I welcomed sleep with open arms.

9900 words. Wow.

I hope you guys liked this chapter. Another Stellan chapter. I hope it's does seem better than before. I try my best to be a guy. But what can I girl do 😂😂

But I tried my best. So I do really hope you like it.

And who actually misses Ophelia now? I mean it has been almost a month since we last had her POV, hasn't it been?

I miss her. Definitely.

Stellan : So do I.

Author : Shut it, Walker. You had her with you all the time in the chapter.

Stellan : I did. But I wasn't concentrated on her. The pressure between my legs was too much if you haven't already notice.

Author : Well, about that. You discuss that with Lia.

Ophelia : Oh yeah! Let's discuss about my sex life, why not? *gets popcorn*

Stellan : What were you thinking when you made her?

Ophelia : Obviously about you. She had to make someone who is the best for you.

Stellan : *smiles* And she did.

Author : Nope. Not here. I am a single potato. I can't handle more of your love. Hope you guys be back again. I am having some papers so I might be late in updating.

Stellan : Don't forget to vote, comment and share. You won't probably. I mean just look at this *shows off face*

Ophelia : Please. They are here for me.

Stellan : Are they?

Author : Yeah, are you? 😏

❤️

Bye guys. Have a fun week!