An Engagement Of PARALLELS

13- MAVERICK

I'm frozen on the spot, half ready to faint from what I am seeing and half turning to go back outside and check if I am in the right apartment.

It was informed to me that Reyna has left earlier than her usual time and I expected it to be because of our engagement announcement in the morning. The office was buzzing with chattering about the how, when and where. That could be overwhelming for anyone. Even Dahan.

Apparently I couldn't have been more wrong.

There is music blasting loudly from my kitchen as Velma and Reyna dance around the space in a rhythmic way while cooking multiple things. They also have two house help with them, chopping something with chef's skills and swaying to the beat.

The visuas are appalling to say the least.

And then when I am about to overcome whatever this is, Reyna giggles.

Perhaps the one person I wasn't expecting that sound from is Reyna , but here she is, giggling and laughing carefree like a little girl.

As I try to enter their space, hoping to be invisible yet a little closer, its Orry who spots me first.

I try to gesture him to stay quiet but he moves lightening fast and switches the music shut.

The three ladies on cue turns at him first, who gestures towards me. Everyone's eyes are on me, but no one is saying anything.

I feel like an intruder in my own home.

"By all means carry on," I manage. The temptation to hear Reyna giggle again is unbelievable.

A guy can wish.

"Ofcourse we are, our shakshouka isn't ready yet. And neither is the tiramisu," Velma grumbles.

I take a step closer to Reyna, close enough for me to see her flushed cheeks.

She peers up at me, biting her lips and for a moment I forget that we aren't alone in the kitchen.

As much as I would like to bite that plump lips of her, I clear my throat and dig my hands further into my pockets, stopping myself from doing something utterly inappropriate.

Sometimes she stuns me with her beauty.

"I take that you're doing this willingly and Velma haven't threatened you."

She nods.

"You're on thin ice Astor. What are you even doing here. Its not even nine," Velma gruffs, stirring something in the pan.

I ignore her. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah, well I am cooking since ten years now. And over the time I started loving it," she sighs then adds, "For the lack of anything else to love."

She looks uncomfortable and I feel it too.

"Remember when you were quiet, Mav. I miss those days," Velma drawls and I take it as my sign to leave these women alone.

"YOU, LADIES, are perfect. This is amazing," I tell them taking another mouthful. God, is there something that she can't do perfectly. She is peering up at me, watching my reaction as I eat the dinner she labored hours for.

"It was all Reyna. I was on chopping duties," Velma says between a yawn and aggressive sticking of spoon in her bowl.

I turn my full attention to my fiancee. "This is good stuff, Miss Dahan."

"Thank you, Mr Astor."

Today feels monumental and I'm genuinely relieved that Reyna is settling in here.