Forbidden - Pedro Pascal

Chapter 19: "pleasure to meet you"

Hey guys sorry this took so long I'm working on a Joel Miller fic, I promise I'll finish this tho! Let me know if u guys want the Joel one and I'll publish it ;)

1 year earlier : Pedro's POV

I walked through the Madison square park with Oscar, hands stuffed into my pockets. He nudged me, turning his head to glance at my expression.

"What, you nervous or somethin?" He teased. I smiled and sighed, running my hand absent mindedly through my moustache.

"Well, yeah a little. I'm a people pleaser, can't help it," I rolled my eyes, and before Oscar could respond he pointed across the fountain.

"They're here, let's go," he slapped my back and we walked over to meet them.

My agent Clarissa, and the director stood on either side of her, and for a second I felt like the breath had been knocked from my throat. She was really beautiful. In a conventional way, sure, but something about her was extremely eye catching and I couldn't peel them away as we greeted each other cordially.

"Hi, I'm Lily," she stuck out her hand politely and I shook it, unsure if I had even responded. Oscar kicked my ankle, so I assumed I hadn't.

"Pleasure to meet you, it's Pedro," I stammered. Her hand was cool, and her green cat like eyes pierced through the back of my brain.

"I know who you are," she grinned, and flutters rose in my stomach threateningly. I chuckled nervously as we walked through the park, allowing the director and my agent to domineer most of the conversation.

They spoke of all the necessary things, that we probably didn't even need to be there for, but it was nice to meet the people you're about to work with for months on end. I averted my eyes for most of it for fear I wouldn't be able to stop looking at her, but she walked along in silence as well as the director talked at us about the kind of choreography he wanted.

"Pedro? Does that sound good?" My agent snapped me out of my daydream and I swallowed thickly.

"Yeah, sounds great," I answered at the unknown question, and Lily gestures to me to walk with her as we split off from them.

"Umm, so what are we doing?" I muttered and she giggled at me, the kind of sound like honey on buttered toast.

"We're going to the gym," she answered simply, as we stepped towards the doors of one just across the street. I groaned.

"Oh god, why?" I winced. She rolled her eyes at me.

"I need to see your base level of fitness and strength so we know where to start with training for this film."

My heart thudded.

"So, you're just gonna watch me workout?" I stared at her, stopping in my tracks. She grinned, enjoying my panic.

"Well when you put it like that, yeah. I can do some stuff with you to make it less you know.. weird. I'll need to show you some specific workouts you'll need for the role as well," We walked up the stairs of the gym and she pushed open the doors.

We started with basic running and weights and then got on to heavier lifting. I struggled under the heavier weights but didn't dare show it, watching her in my peripheral as I began to break a sweat but dead lifted everything she asked me to.

"Impressive," she stated, tapping my leg to tell me to get up. I stifled my smile, biting down in my bottom lip.

On the next few exercises she got closer to me, so close I could smell vanilla perfume and the fruity shampoo she must have used in her hair. She corrected my form, hands running over my arms and adjusting my back. I felt my pants grow a little tighter and cursed internally at myself, heat rising in my cheeks. I couldn't tell if she knew or not, but if she did, she did a good job at pretending she didn't see anything.

We worked until sweat stuck slick against my forehead, and we left the gym as she chatted at me about what sort of stuff we needed to work on. I tried to pay attention, I really did, but paying attention meant looking in her direction and somehow I was pathetically mesmerised by everything; the way she spoke with a British accent, her cheekbones, her oddly sharp canines that flashed every time she grinned at me reassuringly, which she did often. She was definitely too young for me, probably early twenties.

I wandered to myself why I was even considering the possibilities; something I never do with anyone, in fact I avoided it at all costs.

Making our way back to the park, she pointed out a coffee place.

"We still have time, do you maybe wanna go sit in there for a coffee? Not just take out, I mean." She said with intention. Or was it with intention? Get a fucking grip i thought to myself.

"Yeah, definitely," I answered, probably too eagerly.

As soon as we sat down, it was like I forgot time even existed. We talked about everything and anything, finding ourselves enthusiastically agreeing at the most obscure topics, or passionately debating if we didn't. She had a unique sense of humour that didn't remind me of anything else but was endearingly hilarious.

Her phone buzzed on the table and she swore as she picked it up to look at it.

"Shit, completely lost track of time. We should do this again," she said as she stood up and wrapped her arms around my neck in a warm hug. I reciprocating, pulling my arms around her waist in a daze as her hair tickled my cheek.

"Yeah, for sure. You free next week?" I piped up. She raised an eyebrow, surprised at the forwardness of plan making instead of just polite mumbling.

"Sounds great. See you around Pedro," she swept out of the coffee shop, her wavy hair bouncing behind her. I groaned and ran a hand through my hair, unable to control my feelings already.

Fuck.