ENTANGLED WITH THE SEVEN POPULAR GUYS

Tangled threads

Celine's morning began with the usual routine..slipping into her maid's uniform, tying her apron, and heading into the kitchen to prepare breakfast. As she walked through the grand hallways, the eerie quiet of the mansion felt different this morning. There was a strange energy in the air, one that she couldn't quite place. Was it just her nerves, or was something shifting in the house?

By the time she arrived in the kitchen, the smell of fresh bacon and eggs greeted her, already making the large space feel warmer. It wasn’t long before the guys started to trickle in.

Ethan, always the first to appear, grabbed a piece of bacon and flashed her a grin. “Morning, Celine. You know, I might just stay here for the food.” He winked, taking a seat at the counter, but his eyes gleamed with playful mischief.

Celine laughed softly, shaking her head. “That’s the plan, right? If I do my job well enough, maybe you’ll never leave.”

“I might just do that,” Ethan replied, his grin wide as he reached for more bacon.

Next came Leo, as silent and brooding as ever, his movements slow as he poured himself coffee. He didn’t offer much in terms of words, only a brief nod in her direction, which she returned with a smile of her own.

Then, just as she was about to place the pancakes on the counter, she felt it—a presence behind her. She turned, startled, to find Daniel standing in the doorway, his posture straight and calm, his eyes locking with hers.

“Good morning,” he said softly, his deep voice cutting through the usual morning noise. There was something about his tone that made her heart flutter, and she quickly glanced down at her hands to hide her reaction.

“Good morning,” she responded, trying to keep her voice steady as she set the pancakes down. She couldn’t help but notice how his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than usual.

“You don’t have to do all this by yourself,” he continued, stepping further into the kitchen, his voice softening as he approached her. “I see how hard you work around here. You deserve a break.”

Celine froze. His words were gentle, but there was an underlying intensity to them that she hadn’t expected. She hadn’t realized just how much she had been doing until he pointed it out.

“I’m fine,” she replied quickly, her heart racing as she quickly averted her gaze. “I’ve got it under control.”

Daniel studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. “You don’t always have to do everything alone,” he said, his voice lower now, almost as if he were speaking to himself more than her. There was a faint sadness in his tone that left her wondering if it was more than just concern for her well-being.

Before she could respond, Ethan interrupted them, calling from the dining room. “Celine! Come on, breakfast is getting cold!”

Celine hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “I’ll be right there.”

As she turned to head out of the kitchen, Daniel spoke one last time, his voice softer this time, barely above a whisper. “Take care of yourself, Celine.”

The words lingered in the air as she left the kitchen, her mind swirling with thoughts she couldn’t quite piece together.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. Celine found herself serving the meal, cleaning up, and trying to focus on the tasks at hand, but Daniel’s words kept echoing in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was slowly beginning to shift, but she didn’t know what to make of it yet.

As the meal ended, she was clearing the table when she saw Liam standing in the doorway, his eyes trained on her. He wasn’t usually one to make small talk, but today was different.

“Celine,” he said, his voice warm but serious. “You’re always doing everything. You should take it easy once in a while, you know.”

She glanced up, a little surprised at his sudden attention. Liam was the quiet one, the one who didn’t say much unless it was necessary.

“I’m fine,” she said, giving him a small smile, but there was a weight to her words that didn’t quite match her usual cheerfulness.

He studied her for a moment before speaking again. “I know you are, but you don’t have to prove anything. We’re all here to help if you need it.”

His words were soft, and there was an understanding in his eyes that made her feel like he truly saw her, unlike the others who might have brushed her off.

“Thank you, Liam,” she said, her voice quieter this time. “I appreciate it.”

He gave her a small smile before turning and walking away, but his words stayed with her as she finished clearing the table.

Not long after Liam’s words, Chris entered the room. Like Liam, he was quieter than the others, but there was a kindness about him that Celine had come to appreciate.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his brow furrowing as he noticed her distracted state.

Celine nodded quickly. “Yeah, just thinking about a few things.”

“You’ve been working non-stop since you got here,” Chris remarked, his voice low. “Don’t overdo it.”

She looked up at him, meeting his gentle gaze. “I’m used to it,” she replied, but it didn’t sound convincing, even to her.

Chris gave her a thoughtful look before he spoke again. “I’m serious, Celine. You shouldn’t have to carry all the weight on your shoulders.”

There was a silence between them, one that seemed to stretch longer than it should. Chris gave her a small nod before walking off, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

Later that afternoon, as she was scrubbing the floors in one of the guest rooms, Celine felt a presence behind her. She turned and found Ethan standing in the doorway, his usual grin missing.

“Everything okay?” he asked, his tone different from usual.

Celine bit her lip, hesitant. “Yeah, just busy.” She didn’t mention the words Daniel, Liam, and Chris had said. She wasn’t sure why, but somehow, it felt like too much to explain.

Ethan stepped into the room, looking around. “You know, you don’t have to do all this alone,” he said softly. “We could help you, you know.”

She shook her head. “I don’t mind. It’s just part of the job.”

Ethan didn’t say anything for a moment, but the look he gave her felt heavier than usual. It was like he could see right through her defenses.

“I know you’re trying to hold it all together,” he said quietly, “but you don’t have to.”

Celine swallowed, her heart hammering in her chest. He was right, but she couldn’t let them help..not yet, not when everything still felt so new and uncertain.

The evening rolled in, and the mansion was quieter. Leo was sitting by the fireplace, as he often did, staring into the flames. He glanced up when he noticed Celine walk by.

“Don’t work too hard,” he said, his voice soft but firm.

“I’m fine,” she said quickly, but she could feel his eyes on her as she moved toward the kitchen to prepare dinner.

After a few moments, Leo stood and walked over to her, his footsteps heavy. “Celine, you can’t keep doing this.” His voice was low but insistent. “We’re all here to help. You don’t have to carry it all by yourself.”

Celine met his gaze, feeling something stir in her chest, something she couldn’t quite name. “I don’t know how to ask for help,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leo’s expression softened, and for a brief moment, his usual aloofness melted away. “You don’t have to ask,” he said quietly. “We’ll help, whether you ask or not.”

Later that night, Gabriel came to the kitchen to grab a late-night snack, his eyes locking onto hers as soon as he walked in. He hadn’t spoken to her much, but tonight there was a softness to his demeanor, a gentleness she hadn’t expected.

“Celine,” he said, his voice low. “You’ve been working hard all day. Why don’t you take a break?”

She gave him a small smile, shaking her head. “I’m fine.”

Gabriel’s eyes softened. “You’re not fine. But you will be. Just take a breath, okay?”

She nodded, grateful for the words but still unsure how to let go of the tension that had built up within her.

Finally, Jack arrived in the kitchen, his usual energy cutting through the stillness. He glanced at her with a mischievous grin.

“You should listen to them,” Jack said lightly. “You’ve got too many people here telling you to take a break. I’m not going to let you work yourself to death.” He reached out and took her hand, his touch warm and reassuring.

Celine’s heart skipped a beat as she looked up at him, but his usual carefree attitude made it impossible to read him. “I’m not going to collapse, Jack.”

But even as she said the words, she wasn’t so sure anymore. Not when everything felt so...different. And not when the way Jack was holding her hand seemed to make everything feel so much closer, so much more personal than it ever had before.

As Jack leaned closer, his eyes locked with hers, and for a moment, it was as though time stood still. She could hear her heartbeat in her ears as he whispered, "You don’t have to do this alone."

And for the first time since arriving, Celine wasn’t sure she wanted to.