Teasing and pancakes.

Mirellas pov

“How are you feeling, Mirella?” Jaxon asked, worry evident in his tone. Referring to me being absolutely torn apart on live television.

“I’m fine Jaxon.” An obvious lie, but I hated making him worry so much, I made the stupid decision to go over there and this is just me having to deal with the consequences, I just thought maybe I could fix things and everything would go back to normal. That was a stupid dream I spat at myself, the fresh hurt of Nikolai’s betrayal stung.

“Mirella, you are not okay..” his voice softer , “I’m sorry I’m not there right now. If I was, none of this shit would be happening right now, especially that skanky bitch he got on the side. How dare she fucking touch you, I swear I’m gonna.”

“Jaxon, please…just leave it, I can fight my own battles, I’m not a little girl anymore, I don’t need you fighting my battles for me, I will take care of it, okay? I’ve learnt my lessons, trust me, nothing like this will ever happen again” I said to him, a new determination in my voice.

He sighs before responding, “Okay, little sister, but no more public humiliations or showing up on live television. then I don’t care what you say, I’ll be the one to take care of it.”

“Thank you.” I say with a small smile.

“How’s living with Andreas turning out, he’s not being a dick to you is he?” He asked. And then suddenly, yesterday’s interaction blossomed in my mind.

‘I don’t hate you Bambolina, it’s far from it’

What did that mean? I had spent all night trying to dissect it completely forgetting the whole scandal yesterday, the way it made my insides twist…

Not in fear.., but, intrigue?

“No, Andreas has been a great host, I have everything I need here Jaxon, don’t worry so much.”

He sighs in relief but it didn’t seem like that was his last question, a bit hesitant before finally asking.

“And what about mother, has she called?”

I dreaded that, dreaded her.., I and my mother never did get along, even before my father died when I was young, but Jaxon, Jaxon was her golden son, everything she’d ever wished for and more.

I sighed. “no, I haven’t, you know how she is Jaxon, I just, I can’t handle her right now, I mean I’m sure she’s heard the news, very soon she’ll call me to tell me how much of a disappointment I am and why i can’t be more like you and should’ve listened when she told me to marry the ministers son, Antonio.”

“Don’t let her get to you mirella, she’s.. difficult, yes but, you know she loves you.”

He tries to soothe.

“Yeah if I dig 6ft deep into her bitter hardened soul, maybe.” I scoffed.

“Just, try to talk to her mirella, please.”

He pleads.

“Fine..I will, okay..?”

“Thank you, now I have a meeting to get ready for, be good little sister, I’ll call to check up on you later regarding your doctors appointment, okay? I love you”

“Okay, wait, how’d you-

The line went off before I could finish, how’d he know about the appointment.

Probably from Andreas, I shrugged it off.

I lazily made my way downstairs, and I was greeted by the sight of a shirtless Andreas, flipping pancakes, dressed in grey sweatpants and, my God, did he look good.

Mirella, pull yourself together, you’re a married woman. Wait.

My hand subconsciously tried feeling for my ring, meeting my empty finger, reality set back  in.

Oh, yeah.. I’m divorced. I need to get used to this.

“Good morning Mirella,” Andreas’s voice greets and pulls me out of my thoughts.

His eyes were still on the pancakes.

How’d he know I was here?

Why did I miss him calling me what he had called me last night?

“Morning.” I greeted him with a small nervous smile he couldn’t see.

I leaned against a counter close to him but kept a respectable distance just watching him.

“Did you sleep okay?” he asked in a bored tone, not sparing me a glance, like yesterday hadn’t happened, we were back to how it’s been for the past month, but I guess I should be happy. I mean I still have a broken heart to nurse, I can’t add trying to dissect Andreas Voss to my list.

“As good as I could,” I replied in a quiet tone, picking at my fingers.

That called his gaze, he looked down at my hands, then met my eyes.

“You do that a lot, pretty sure you’re not going to have much skin around you if you keep at it?” An unfamiliar emotion crossed his eyes, but it left as soon as it appeared before he turned back to what he was doing.

“Oh, I just, I do it subconsciously when I’m nervous,” I replied, sucking my bottom lip into my mouth.

“Do I make you nervous?” he asked as he placed a stack of pancakes in front of me. He was impossibly close to me, as he looked down at me, his shirtless body so close,I almost choked on my saliva due to how startled I was.

I swallowed hard, refusing to look directly at his abs. Stupid abs.

“Please, you wish.” I said in a bored tone, staring into his eyes, hiding the nervous mess raging inside me.

“You’ve got drool on the side of your mouth, didn’t realize I was that mouth-watering,” he said in an amused tone, obviously making fun of me.

I immediately slap my hand over my mouth in an attempt to clean it.

“Asshole.” I mumble under my breath.

“Don’t be a brat, I haven’t even begun to show you how much of an asshole I can be, Mirella," He says in a low gruff tone, as he stared intensely at me.

Why did he have to say that? I knew he hated me. Last night was just a show. Maybe he was drunk, or high, or just had a horrible memory.

And then my stomach decided to embarrass me by sounding the loudest alarm ever heard.

"Those are yours,” he pointed, referring to the pancakes. I swear I caught the ghost of a smile on his sneaky lips.

As he pulled away from me, he went over to the pot of coffee and began pouring.

“I researched, pregnant people can drink coffee, but in moderation is all.”

he researched that? It made a warm feeling spread all over my stomach.

Even I didn’t know that..

Still, he was an asshole.

He then turned to me.

“How do you like your coffee?”

“Uhm, sugar and milk please, lots of milk,” I say nervously, still reeling from the embarrassment of flipping drooling.

“Hmm, sweet, that tracks.” He mumbles under his breath.

Breakfast was quiet, I nibbled on the pancakes, they were really good. Handsome and a good cook, if he wasn’t such a jerk, I might have actually complemented him. What can’t he do? Breakfast wrapped up quickly, so we got ready to head to the appointment.

Dr. Romano was professional and very warm, she was very gentle and filled me in on everything I needed to know about pregnancy. Then she turned to andreas.

"She is not to be stressed, no heavy lifting or dangerous workou." I cut her off.

"Uhm, he's not, he's not my husband." I politely corrected her.

"Oh, I thought, I'm so sorry, I didn't kno."

She's cut off again by Andreas this time.

"And why does that matter? Can't have you getting hurt on my watch now, can i? not like that incompetent fool's going to do it." He said referring to Nikolai.

And that shut me up. I didn't know if I should be mad or glad that even if he's a complete jerk, that sucks at showing care or any type of emotion whatsoever, he still cares.

He focuses back on Dr. Romano. "What else does she need?"

I just watched quietly until she was done. I thanked her, and we got into the car. I'll be back after 4 weeks for the next check-up.

"Thank you, for, Uhm, doing this. I really appreciate it, but you don't have to come for the next appointment, or pay. Jaxon will co." He cuts in before I could finish.

"What have I said about apologizing? This baby is growing under my roof now, so until you stop breathing my air, don't tell me what I will or will not do, and Jaxon ain't paying for shit. Don’t insult me mirella.” He said almost like he was hurt or offended that I didn’t want his help.

“I’m not trying to insult you, if you’d just listen.”

“Listen? To what, how you don’t want my help?, how you’re trying to be stubborn and do this all on your own?.” He leans in, so close my heart felt like it’d burst out of my chest, his eyes intensely gazed into mine, suddenly the car felt so hot. “You’re stuck with me bambolina, get used to it. Okay? Let me help you.” He whispers. “Now, seatbelt," he says, referring to me strapping in. Then he leaned back and started the car like he was done with the conversation.

How many times was this man going to leave me speechless today. I strapped up my seatbelt, and on our way back, my phone rang, me not checking the screen thinking it was Tessa calling to check up on me. I was not ready to hear the voice on the other side.

“Hello mother."