CHAPTER 22
2870 Words
Perv’s POV
A DEEP inhale filled my lungs as the scent of sautéed onions and garlic wafted through the air. Something was definitely sizzling in the kitchen.
Slowly, I roused from sleep, stretching lazily before pushing myself upright. Without bothering to put on anything, I padded toward the kitchen, completely bare.
The moment I stepped in, a loud clang echoed in the room. A stainless steel bowl had hit the floor.
“Morning!”
I blinked, my sleepy eyes finally adjusting to the sight before me. Saphire stood there, her cheeks flushed as she held a spatula in one hand—while the other was clamped over her eyes.
I smirked. “Morning too.” Without hesitation, I stepped closer and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
“W-Why aren’t you wearing anything?” she stammered, her hand still firmly shielding her vision.
I chuckled at her innocence and gently pried her fingers away from her eyes. For a fleeting second, she glanced downward before gasping and covering her eyes again.
“Come on,” I teased, my voice laced with amusement. “It’s not like you haven’t seen it before.”
She didn’t respond, but her ears were turning red.
I tilted my head, considering how to get her to look at me properly. Then, an idea struck me.
“Oh no—your food is burning,” I said, feigning concern.
Her eyes widened, and she immediately spun around to check. I took the opportunity to step closer, pressing my bare chest against her back.
She stiffened as my arms circled around her waist, my body molding against hers. I was certain she could feel the heat radiating off me, the evidence of my morning state pressing against the thin fabric of her clothes. My lips found the soft curve of her neck, brushing lightly, teasingly.
She let out a shaky breath. “Please, put on some clothes,” she whispered. “Breakfast is almost ready.”
I chuckled, my lips grazing her skin one last time. “Okay.”
But before pulling away, I stole a quick peck on her cheek.
With a smirk, I left the kitchen and grabbed a pair of trousers from the bedroom, slipping them on before making my way back.
I leaned against the kitchen counter, watching her move around the stove, completely absorbed in what she was doing. The way she focused, the gentle hum of a tune escaping her lips—it made my chest feel warm.
“I’m really happy right now,” I murmured.
She glanced over her shoulder at me, a smile playing on her lips. “Why’s that?”
“Because you’re cooking for me.”
Her smile grew as she turned back to the stove. “That’s what girlfriends do.”
I shook my head. “No…”
This time, she turned to face me fully, curiosity in her eyes.
“That’s what wives do.”
Her lips parted slightly, a soft blush dusting her cheeks before she let out a small laugh, shaking her head.
“Let’s go out later,” I suggested.
She nodded. “Okay. I already called Mr. Guiller to let him know I won’t be coming in today. But before that, I need to stop by my place to freshen up.”
“I’ll take you.”
She glanced at me, smiling, silently agreeing.
Minutes later, breakfast was ready. She served me a plate of fried rice with egg and hotdog, along with a serving of beef steak.
“Wow!” I exclaimed like a child, rubbing my hands together in excitement.
She chuckled as she filled my glass with iced tea, serving me as if I were royalty. I probably should’ve been the one doing this for her, but for now, I simply let myself enjoy the warmth of the moment.
“Fried rice with egg and hotdog, plus beef steak?” I mused.
She smirked. “What, like you’ve never had this before?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Not like this. Especially not made by you.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “Flatterer.”
I grinned, grabbing my fork as she settled across from me.
And as we both began eating, we exchanged glances, smiling at each other in that quiet, unspoken way that needed no words at all.
Saphire’s POV
Breakfast was done, and I stood up to clear the table, gathering the empty plates.
“No… take a break,” he said, gently stopping me. “I’ll do it. You’ve already spent time over the heat earlier—I don’t want you getting varicose veins.” He flashed me a smile, and I couldn’t help but nod. There was no arguing with him when he put it that way.
I stepped back as he gathered the dishes, placing them in the sink before wiping the table clean. There was something oddly satisfying about watching him move so effortlessly, taking care of things without hesitation.
The television was still on, along with the player and equalizer, so I turned them off while he continued with the dishes.
“Hon!” he called out.
“Yeah?” I answered, raising my voice so he could hear me from across the room.
“Where do you wanna go?”
“Anywhere’s fine!” I replied.
“Let’s go shopping!” he suggested enthusiastically.
I smiled. “Okay!”
“I’m taking a shower now,” he said, and I heard his footsteps moving away.
Or at least, that’s what I thought—until I felt a pair of strong arms wrap around me from behind.
“Wanna join me?” he whispered against my ear, his voice deep, teasing.
I felt the warmth of his breath on my skin, sending a shiver down my spine. But instead of giving in, I turned around, playfully pinching his nose.
“Stop messing around. Go take your shower,” I said with a smile. “I’ll be waiting here.”
He chuckled, stealing a quick kiss from my lips before heading off to the bathroom.
While he showered, I wandered around his condo. The more I looked, the more I realized—this place screamed wealth. Though I had no idea just how deep that ran.
I noticed the CDs and DVDs we had taken out the night before, so I stacked them back neatly onto the shelves. His clothes were also scattered on the floor, so I picked them up and tossed them into the laundry basket.
Then, out of curiosity, I found myself standing before his closet.
The moment I opened it, my mouth nearly fell open.
What on earth?
For someone who worked as a stripper, his wardrobe was incredibly refined. Everything was meticulously arranged—suits separated from his casual wear, accessories displayed behind a sleek glass case. A variety of jewelry gleamed under the soft lighting. And at the far end, a massive full-body mirror reflected my stunned expression.
Shaking my head, I stepped away, continuing my exploration.
That’s when I discovered the terrace.
Sliding the door open, I stepped outside, greeted by the crisp morning air. The view was breathtaking—the city stretching before me, Luneta Park visible in the distance. I leaned against the railing, letting the wind tousle my hair as I took it all in.
Thirty minutes passed before I finally heard the bathroom door open.
I knew it was him.
“Hon!” he called from inside.
“I’m here!” I answered from the terrace.
Moments later, I felt the familiar warmth of his arms wrapping around my waist.
“Shall we go?” he murmured.
I turned to face him, my gaze meeting the soft smile on his lips. I nodded, mirroring his expression.
He was dressed casually—yet effortlessly stylish. A crisp white t-shirt hugged his frame, paired with fine gray trousers. White-rimmed sunglasses rested on his face, complementing the silver necklace he wore, its gold hexagon pendant glinting under the light. A leather hat in pale black sat atop his dark hair, and a brown bracelet wrapped around his wrist—just for style, I assumed.
Hand in hand, we left the condo, walking down the hallway toward the elevator.
Just before we reached it, he stopped by a flowerpot near his door and crouched down.
I raised a brow. “What are you doing?”
He smirked as he retrieved something from underneath. “My car key.”
I blinked. Seriously? Of all the places to keep it…
As soon as we stepped out of the elevator and into the lobby, whispers erupted around us.
“Is that Saphire Ravens? The model?”
“No way, must be an imposter.”
“I heard she took a leave from work, so it could be her.”
“Let’s go ask! Maybe she’ll sign an autograph.”
“Oh my God, it really is her!”
“What is she doing here?”
“Wait… is that her boyfriend?”
“Ugh, I thought he was single!”
The murmurs grew louder, and I felt his grip on my hand tighten slightly.
“Here,” he said, pulling off his shades and placing them on me. “Wear this.”
I did as he asked, shielding my face from the curious stares.
In the parking lot, I glanced around. “So, which one’s yours?”
“It’s gray,” he said.
I scanned the lot. There was only one gray car among the sea of black and white vehicles.
Wait…
“Is that… a Porsche?” I muttered to myself, staring at the sleek car before us.
He pressed a button, and the vehicle’s lights flickered in response.
“Shall we?” he asked, opening the passenger door for me.
I slid inside, glancing at him once he settled in the driver’s seat.
“How do you afford a car like this?” The question slipped from my lips before I could stop it. I hoped I hadn’t offended him.
He merely smiled. “I’ll tell you everything when the right time comes.”
I studied his expression before leaning back in my seat.
“So… just for starters,” I said playfully. “Are you rich?”
His lips curled into a knowing smile. “Yes.”
And with that, he started the car, driving us off into the unknown.
Perv’s POV
We finally arrived at her house—well, more like a mansion. The moment we pulled up at the gate, a team of PSGs immediately stepped forward to escort her. There were at least ten of them, five on each side, standing tall and imposing.
I stepped out of the car and swiftly moved to open the door for her. The moment she stepped down, she reached for my hand, intertwining her fingers with mine.
“Let’s go inside,” she said with a soft smile, her eyes brimming with warmth.
I returned the smile, closing the car door behind us. She lived in Villa Kristene—a property I was well aware belonged to my family. It had been passed down through generations, originally owned by my great-great-grandfather Kronos and my great-great-grandmother Kristene, the parents of my great-grandfather Zeus.
As soon as we stepped inside, a sharp voice rang through the air.
“Gats! Why didn’t you text me last night?! Do you even know how much I sweated just to cover for you when your dad asked me where you were?! I practically called every saint I knew to come up with an excuse. You little witch!” Ruby ranted dramatically before leaning in to kiss her cheek.
“Good morning,” Gats—my Hon—replied, her tone calm as she turned toward me.
“Uhm, Gats… You know him already, right?” she asked Ruby, nodding in my direction.
“Of course!” Ruby responded enthusiastically before stepping closer to exchange cheek kisses with me as well.
“Hon, I’ll just go freshen up, okay? Stay in the living area for a bit—Ruby will keep you company,” Saphire said before pressing a soft kiss to my lips and disappearing upstairs.
Ruby arched an eyebrow at me, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.
“Hon, huh?” she teased, making me chuckle.
“Gats, go on… Lead him to the living area. I’ll get ready—we’re heading out soon,” Saphire called out from the staircase before vanishing into her room. Ruby gave me a look before motioning for me to follow her.
Once we were in the living area, she turned to me.
“So, Pervince, what would you like? Juice? Soda?” she offered.
“No need, I’m good. We just finished eating,” I assured her, settling into the plush couch.
She took a seat across from me, crossing her legs as she studied me closely.
“Wow… Gats has really fallen hard for you, huh?” she mused, her tone laced with curiosity. I simply smiled in response.
Her expression turned serious. “Alright, let’s get to the point. I want a straight and honest answer.” She leaned forward slightly. “How serious are you about my best friend?”
I met her gaze without hesitation. “As serious as a typhoon when it makes landfall.”
She raised an eyebrow, but a ghost of a smile played on her lips. “Ahhh.”
“I heard you dropped the deal,” she added after a beat.
“Yes, you heard right,” I confirmed.
“Are you sure about this? Are you ready to fully commit to a serious relationship with her?” She was putting me on the hot seat, but I didn’t mind.
“I’ve never been this ready in my entire life,” I answered with conviction.
She exhaled slowly, as if weighing my words. “Alright, I get it. And I hope you’re not offended by my questions. As her best friend and manager, it’s my job to make sure that the man she’s with isn’t just some—”
“A gold digger?” I interjected before she could finish.
Her sharp eyes met mine, clearly surprised that I had caught on to what she was implying. I wasn’t offended; I simply smiled. “Believe me, I don’t want her money. I want her. I need her.”
That seemed to ease her concerns a little. She exhaled again. “Just take care of her, alright? And don’t you dare hurt her, or you’ll have an entire army to deal with,” she warned, her voice laced with an unspoken threat.
I met her gaze steadily. “You don’t have to worry—she’s everything to me now. Her and our child.”
Her eyes widened slightly before a mischievous grin spread across her lips. “Ooooh! A little one on the way? The world needs another Saphire in the making,” she teased, nudging my arm playfully.
I chuckled at her antics. “In our family, every firstborn male has always been a son,” I told her.
“Oh? Well, as long as the baby is as handsome as you and inherits a bit of Saphire’s beauty, I won’t complain. A future model in the making,” she mused with a wink.
I shook my head. “If I become a father, I don’t want my child to be forced into anything. Whatever they love, that’s what they’ll do.”
She pouted. “But what if they want to be a model?”
“Then so be it,” I replied simply.
“Wow, you sound like a man with baggage,” she teased, narrowing her eyes.
I only smiled, knowing she wasn’t entirely wrong.
Before she could press further, Saphire called out to me. “Hon!”
I turned my head, and there she was, walking toward me with a radiant smile. My breath hitched slightly at the sight of her—she looked effortlessly stunning. She wore a black shirt that dipped just enough to tease at her cleavage, paired with mint green shorts and a long blazer. A small leather sling bag rested against her hip, and a black hat sat atop her waves of dark hair. Silver locket, dark shades, and a simple black bracelet completed her look.
“Shall we?” she asked, her voice light and expectant.
“Wow, all dressed to kill, huh?” Ruby quipped, smirking.
Saphire merely smiled before we stepped outside, Ruby walking us to the gate.
“Perv, which car is yours?” she asked.
I pointed toward my gray Porsche.
Ruby’s eyes widened before she whistled. “Damn. Rich boy vibes.”
I smirked but said nothing.
“Ruby, stop it. We’re leaving,” Saphire said with a laugh.
“Alright, alright… Have fun, you two!” she called out, waving as she gave her best friend a quick goodbye kiss.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I started the car and glanced at Saphire beside me.
And just like that, we drove off—into the day, into the unknown, into us.
- Writer
