Melody swept the floor, her gaze occasionally flickering towards Celestia. It had been an eternity since she had engaged in a conversation with someone of the same gender. However, Celestia’s stern demeanour gave her pause, making her apprehensive about striking up a conversation.
“Ma’am,”
Celestia’s voice snaps her out of her deep thoughts. “Y-Yes?”
“Are you okay, ma’am?” Celestia looks at her with concern.
“Yes, I’m fine. Anyway, do you mind if I ask?” she timidly asks.
“Sure, ma’am.”
“I have been wondering… did you work Damian for so long?” Melody questioned in curiosity.
The woman pauses for a moment, thinking. “Hm… I have been working for Sir Damian for… years. I think… since I was in high school.”
“H-High school?” her eyes wide in shock.
“Yes. My parents neglected me, and in the end, they threw me out. Sir Flavio found me and trained me to be the assassin.”
“Their family has offered me a place to stay, food and a comfortable life. They even paid for my education.”
Celestia explained with a smile, her gratitude evident. It was clear that she recognized the harsh reality of life, having been raised in a tough environment. Not all families turned out to be the support system one hoped for; some could be selfish and cruel.
Leaving one to fend for themselves.
“That must be hard for you to face that kind of reality in your childhood,” Melody says, her tone laced with concern and pity.
She chuckles, “Oh no, it might be hard for me at first. But after Mr. Flavio took me in, they showed me that I still have hope in my life.”
“I may not be their blood relative, but they’ve made me feel like part of their family. I didn’t agree to work for them solely out of a sense of obligation for what they did for me. Rather, I’m ready to lay down my life for them because I genuinely care for them.”
“No wonder why you are so loyal to Damian,” Melody added.
“I am, ma’am. They’re the family that… accept every person who did good to them and help people who in their hard time,” Celestia speaks, putting the box down.
As Melody pondered over her words, the full weight of Damian’s family background sank in. His family was infamous for their power and danger, especially Damian himself, renowned as the most tyrannical and fearsome figure in the mafia ranks.
She paused for a brief moment, contemplating the implications.
Despite the initial animosity between them, Damian never once raised a hand against her. Despite their many disputes and disagreements, he had never once struck her. His parents, interestingly enough, were overjoyed to have her around.
“You are right. They really… have a good side in them that no one saw,” Melody agreed, glancing at Damian, who was talking with his friend.
Celestia smiles, “To be honest, ma’am. When I heard sir Damian is married, I was so worried about the woman who became his wife.”
“Why is that?”
“Because… my boss is not a gentle and affectionate person. The only thing he knows is kill and blood.” Celestia leans on the wall, “But, when I saw the interaction between you and him….”
“I see something else. Like, sir, Damian is changed. He might not show it but whenever you are around… he’s just like a different person.”
“I have heard those a lot, you know?” Melody chuckles.
“It’s true. Can’t you see? Everyone could see. I just wish… you could stay with our boss. Even if he’s hurt you or being a jerk, please don’t leave. He just a man who just come out of the dark world.”
Celestia’s words hit Melody like a ton of bricks. Suddenly, she remembered the looming divorce papers hanging over their relationships-papers that had yet to be discussed or signed. Riccardo had made a plea for her to stay, but Damian’s revealed a rawness and honesty she hadn’t expected.
The question remained: Did she still want to sign those papers, or was there a chance she wanted to stay for him, too?
At least, it is worth it.
“Ma’am? Are you okay” Celestia stands in front of her, looking at her with concern.
“Y-Yeah, I’m fine. Anyway, I will try my best,” she smiles brightly.
“Thank you, ma’am.” Celestia grins. Then, she held her hands, “You know what, ma’am? I can’t help but feel attached to you.”
“What do you mean?” Melody arches her eyebrows.
“I feel like we’re going to be a best friend!!” she squeals.
Melody was taken aback by her words. She didn’t expect that to happen. Yes, she wanted a girlfriend but didn’t expect it to be this fast.
“Oh! Maybe I should ask sir Damian about me being your bodyguard!!” Celestia beams.
Before Melody could reply, she rushed out of the store. Melody stands there, shocked and not knowing how to react. She furrows her eyebrows.
“Wait… what?”
___
Melody cautiously opened the door to their bedroom and gingerly poked her head inside, surveying the room. To her surprise, there was no sign of Damian. Instead, she caught the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, indicating that he was currently showering.
She smiles in relief and shuts the door before rushing to his study room. The door shut closed gently.
“I need to be fast before he’s done with his shower,” she talks to herself.
Melody takes large strides to his desk. She checked every spot, but all she could see was paperwork.
“I know that divorce file must be around here…” she huffs.
Damian gets out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He ruffles his wet hair with a small towel. He went to the closet and grabbed a pair of sweatpants before wearing them.
The towels were hung in the closet. His attention caught on Melody’s towel. It is still dry. That means she hasn’t taken her shower yet.
“Melody! I’m done showering! It’s your turn!” he yells. Even though they had a lot of bathrooms, Melody insisted on using them saying it for guests.
When he got no response, Damian couldn’t help but frown. “Where is this girl gone to?”
Melody scratched her head in frustration as she frantically searched the study room high and low. The space wasn’t exactly huge, making it perplexing that the divorce papers were nowhere to be found.
Letting out a defeated sigh, she slumped into a chair, taking a brief break from her fruitless search.
“Is it that important for him to hide it?” she grumbles to herself.
As she turns the chair around, her attention is on the drawer. How can she not realise there’s a drawer behind the desk?
Melody gets up and checks every drawer. As she opens one drawer, there’s a divorce file she has been searching for.
“Finally!!” she squeals.
A wave of elation washed over Melody as she finally located the elusive file she had been hunting for. Barely able to contain her excitement, she couldn’t help but give a little squeal and a little bounce.
Oblivious to the fact that her enthusiasm had caused a pen to topple from its cup and onto the floor, she eventually noticed it and crouched down to retrieve it.
“Now what? I don’t want to sign this for sure,” Melody sighs to herself.
She stares at it for a moment. Suddenly, the door creaks open, revealing Damian in his sweatpants and topless. She turns around, facing him.
“There you are. What are you-” he stops talking.
His gaze locked onto the divorce papers and the pen clutched in her hands. A tangle of emotions twisted within him, but one dominating thought consumed his mind-she was about to sign those papers.
His heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with a desperate mix of anger, sadness, and disbelief.
“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to sneak into your office!” Melody quickly apologized. “I just-”
“What are you doing?” His demeanour changed to cold.
“I… I just want to find the divorce file…” she answers.
“For what? To sign it?” Damian clenched his fist.
Melody furrows her eyebrows, “What?”
“Don’t act dumb here. I know you are going to sign it,” he crossed his arms on his chest. “It’s not that I care. What do I expect?”
“Woah, calm down. Why are you saying that?” she getting even more confused.
“What do you want me to say? You holding the divorce file and a pen,” he points it out.
Melody looked at the pen and gasped. She quickly tossed it on the desk. Since when did she hold that pen? She looks at Damian, who misunderstands everything. This is bad.
“It’s all misunderstanding! Please, believe me!” she steps towards him. “I wasn’t going to sign the paper!!”
“Do you expect me to believe that? You don’t need to stay in this relationship just for pity or whatsoever,” Damian sighs deeply, keeping his glares on her.
“I told you I wasn’t going to sign it!!!” she yells.
“Then what!?”
“I was going to rip it apart!!!”