chapter 41: trust

Bose POV:

It was Saturday, and the entire company was buzzing with energy as we prepared for the evening's festival. The gardens were transforming into a spectacle of art, food, and fashion, and every department was pulling their weight to make it perfect. The art department had filled the space with vibrant paintings and sculptures, and the fashion department was running around showing off the outfits they designed for the event. The smell of food wafted from the cooking department, making everyone stop and take a deep breath as we walked by.

Andrew, of course, was in his element, talking to one of the designers from the fashion department. "Do you think this piece screams innovation or is it more understated brilliance?" he asked, gesturing toward an avant-garde outfit with a ridiculous amount of feathers.

"More like 'screams for help,'" I muttered under my breath, smirking as Andrew shot me a look.

"You're lucky you're with the entertainment department, or I'd make you wear it," Andrew quipped back, grinning.

I turned to Chapa, who had been quietly observing everything while talking with Mia and Sam from the art department. They were discussing the matching paintings they were going to display during the festival.

"Chapa," I called, walking up to her. "What do you think about all this?" I gestured to the décor and preparations around us.

She raised an eyebrow, a small smile playing on her lips. "It's...a lot. But I'm impressed. I mean, the way our department is working with the fashion and design teams—it's like everything just fits together."

"Right," Mia chimed in.

"Alright, well, speaking of things coming together, I'm starving," I said, glancing over at the cooking department's setup. "What are the chances they'll let us sneak a taste before the event?"

Chapa laughed. "You and your stomach. Let's see if we can make our way into getting a plate early."

We made our way over to where the cooking department was setting up. One of the chefs, Carly, caught us trying to peek under one of the dish covers and wagged her finger at us. "Ah, ah, ah. Not until everything's ready."

"Come on, Carly, we've been helping all day, can't we get a little sample?" I tried, flashing my best smile.

"Although you're my boss, I can't let you have a bite." Carly said. Then I noticed Chapa looking at her very intimidating.

Carly rolled her eyes but cracked a smile. "Fine, but just on bite, only because I'm scared of her."

Chapa nudged me as we grabbed a couple of bites from a platter. "I told you, I've got the magic touch."

"Must be why I keep you around," I teased.

By 4 o'clock, things were really starting to come together. The entertainment department was doing soundchecks, the final decorations were being put in place by the designers, and everyone seemed in a flurry of last-minute activity. I caught Andrew coordinating with one of the stage managers, looking as excited as ever about the show.

"Alright," I said to Chapa, checking the time. "Let's get out of here and freshen up. We've got to be back by 5, and I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get out of these clothes."

She gave me a playful shove. "I've been ready. Let's go before Andrew ropes you into some last-minute project."

As we headed out, I waved goodbye to the crew, telling them we'd see them soon. Chapa and I walked back to my car, the excitement of the evening buzzing between us. "It's gonna be a good night," I said, feeling the weight of the week lift off my shoulders for a moment.

Chapa glanced at me. "I hope so. It's a busy weekend, we also have Blaise's birthday party on Sunday."

I smiled. "Yeah, I'm very excited about that."

We drove back to my place in comfortable silence, knowing we had a bit of downtime before the night would truly kick off. As we pulled into the driveway, I felt a rush of excitement for the evening. This was it—everything we'd been preparing for all week was finally here.

Chapa POV:

We pulled up to Bose's place, and I could feel the excitement building. It had been a long week of preparations for tonight. I was ready to just relax for a bit and get ready for the festival.

As soon as we walked in, Bose turned to me with a grin. "I've got something for you," he said, disappearing into his room for a moment. I raised an eyebrow, curious.

When he came back, he was holding up the most beautiful dress I'd ever seen. It was deep emerald green, with elegant embroidery running down the fabric. It looked like it had been tailored to perfection, the kind of dress that makes you feel like royalty just by looking at it.

"Bose, what...?" I was speechless.

He walked over, holding the dress up to me, a playful smile on his face. "I saw it earlier this week and thought it would be perfect for you tonight."

I ran my fingers over the fabric, feeling its softness. "It's... gorgeous. You really didn't have to."

He shrugged, but there was that unmistakable glint in his eye, the one that told me he enjoyed spoiling me. "I wanted to. I knew you'd look amazing in it."

I couldn't help but smile. "Okay, well, you're not wrong," I teased, taking the dress from him. I looked up at him with a grateful smile. "Thank you, Bose. It's perfect."

"Only the best for you," he said, winking.

I went to his room to change, taking a moment to admire the dress one more time before slipping into it. I'd rather look at it than wear it. Dresses fit so uncomfortable but it looks beautiful, so what can I do. When I walked out, Bose was already dressed in a sleek black suit that fit him perfectly. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and for a second, I felt the world slow down.

"You look... stunning," he said, his voice soft.

I did a little twirl, the skirt of the dress flowing around me. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

He chuckled and offered me his arm. "Shall we?"

Mika POV:

It was around 4:30 when I heard a knock on the door. I was in the middle of cleaning up some last-minute clutter, and I already knew who it was. Andrew had texted me earlier, saying he'd drop off Lily before heading to the festival.

When I opened the door, there she was—Lily, practically bouncing on her toes with excitement. "Mika!" she squealed, throwing her arms around me as soon as the door swung open.

"Hey, Lil!" I laughed, hugging her back. "You're ready for our sleepover, huh?"

"Yesss! I brought my princess pajamas, and we're gonna watch movies, right?"

Andrew appeared behind her, carrying a pink overnight bag and rolling his eyes, but there was a smile playing on his lips. "She's been talking about it non-stop," he said, handing me the bag.

"I can tell," I said, smirking. "Come in, both of you."

They stepped inside, and Lily immediately darted toward the couch, where she plopped down and started pulling out a coloring book from her bag.

Andrew, on the other hand, leaned against the doorway and gave me a look. "You're a lifesaver, you know that?"

"Oh, I know," I said, brushing off some invisible dust from my shoulder with a mock-serious expression. "It's not every day I get to be the hero in your life."

He scoffed but chuckled. "Seriously though, thanks. I was this close to telling Mom to cancel her date if you hadn't agreed."

I raised an eyebrow. "She's really going through with it, huh? Got herself a hot date on a Saturday night?"

Andrew rolled his eyes again. "Don't remind me. The last thing I want to think about is my mother dating."

"Aw, c'mon," I teased. "What if this guy's great? You might end up with a new stepdad."

Andrew made a face. "Okay, no. That's worse. Why would you even say that?"

I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. "Relax. I'm just messing with you."

"Yeah, well, stop. It's weird," he said, shaking his head. Then his eyes flickered over to Lily, who was busy coloring away on the couch. He lowered his voice a bit. "So, you sure you're cool with this? Once she's too comfortable with you she'll start being annoying." he added with a whisper.

I crossed my arms and gave him a look. "Andrew, I've got this. It's one kid. Besides, Lily's an angel compared to you."

"Ha-ha, very funny," he said dryly. "But really, if she gives you any trouble—"

"I'll call you and make sure you drop whatever fancy festival thing you're doing and come over. Deal?"

"Deal," he said with a smirk. He glanced at his watch, then back at me. "Alright, I should head out. Bose is probably already giving the 'why-are-you-late' look."

"Sounds about right," I replied, leaning against the doorframe. "Have fun playing dress-up with your fancy friends."

He narrowed his eyes at me but grinned. "You could've come, you know. I'm sure you'd be thrilled to see me looking all dapper."

"Tempting," I said, sarcasm dripping from my voice. "But no, I think I'll stick to babysitting and ice cream. Much more my speed."

Andrew shook his head, clearly amused, before turning toward Lily. "Alright, Lil, you behave, okay? Don't drive Mika crazy."

Lily waved him off without even looking up from her coloring. "I won't! We're gonna have so much fun!"

Andrew smiled, then shot me one last glance. "Thanks again, Mika."

"Yeah, yeah," I said, waving him off. "Go save the world or whatever it is you do at these events."

With one final nod, he left, and I closed the door behind him, turning to see Lily already spread out on the floor, sorting through her coloring supplies.

"So," I said, walking over to her, "what movie do you want to watch first? I've got snacks and ice cream ready to go."

Lily's eyes lit up. "Can we watch Frozen?"

"Of course," I said with a grin, settling onto the couch next to her. "Let's do it."

As I grabbed the remote and started up the movie, I couldn't help but think about Andrew's reaction to the whole thing. Sure, he liked to act like he was all tough and cool, but when it came to his family, especially Lily, he was softer than he let on.

And, okay, maybe I didn't mind the fact that he trusted me enough to help out. Not that I'd admit that to him. Ever.

Chapa POV:

As we pulled up to the festival, I could already feel the excitement buzzing in the air. Bose parked the car and turned to me with a grin, his hand reaching over to give mine a squeeze.

"You ready for this?" he asked, his eyes gleaming under the soft glow of the evening sky.

I nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

We stepped out, and almost instantly, people started to notice us. The garden was beautifully lit, with lanterns hanging from the trees and twinkling lights strung around the booths and stages. Every department had done an amazing job and everything looked vibrant and alive, full of energy.

As we made our way toward the main area, Bose greeted people left and right. He was so natural at it, effortlessly charming as always. I stuck close to his side, feeling a little more confident with him next to me, even though I could feel eyes on us.

Then it happened. Bose introduced me as his girlfriend.

"Hey, this is Chapa, my girlfriend," he said, casually dropping the word as he introduced me to some of his business partners with a million of dollars in their pocket. My heart skipped a beat, but I played it cool, smiling and shaking hands.

"Oh, wow, you're Bose's girlfriend?" One of the women asked, her eyes wide with pleasant surprise. "You're even more stunning in person. You two look amazing together!"

I felt a warmth creeping up my cheeks, and I gave a polite laugh. "Thank you, that's really nice."

After a few more introductions, we continued walking, and Bose leaned in, his voice low. "How're you holding up, Sparky?"

I shot him a look, smirking. "Sparky, huh? You're really sticking with that nickname?"

He chuckled. "Yup. It suits you."

We made our way through the crowd, greeted by more compliments and smiles. It was overwhelming in a good way—everyone was so friendly and welcoming, making me feel like I truly belonged here with him. I could tell Bose was proud, the way he looked at me every time someone complimented us as a couple. And honestly? It felt kind of amazing.

At one point, we spotted Andrew near one of the booths, talking with some students from the fashion department. As we approached, he turned and grinned, his eyes flickering between the two of us. "There they are! The power couple."

"Hey, man," Bose said, slapping Andrew on the back. "Enjoying yourself?"

Andrew nodded, casting a quick glance in my direction. "Yeah, it's been a great night so far. You guys look good."

Bose smiled. "Thanks, Andrew, you don't look too bad yourself."

He laughed, clearly amused. "I try, I try."

As Bose and I walked through the festival, laughing and talking with people, we rounded a corner and suddenly came face-to-face with someone I had hoped to avoid: his stepfather. The smug look on the man's face immediately set me on edge. He stood there, arms crossed, like he was waiting to ruin the night.

"Bose," the mayor said coolly, his eyes flicking to me before settling back on his stepson. "I've been watching the two of you. Seems I may have been... mistaken."

Bose tensed beside me, his expression unreadable, but I could feel the frustration radiating off him. He didn't say anything, likely trying to keep things civil. I wasn't going to be so patient.

His stepfather continued, his voice dripping with condescension. "It appears the public finds this little display of yours appealing. Lucky for you, it hasn't damaged your reputation. Yet." He sneered slightly, clearly still disapproving despite what he was saying. "But don't think this is some permanent pass. You've gotten lucky this time, but one misstep and this could all backfire on you. You're still a little disaster that needs to be taught a lesson."

Bose was about to brush him off and walk away, but I wasn't having it. I stepped forward, squaring my shoulders and glaring up at his stepfather. "You know what? I'm tired of listening to you act like you're the judge of Bose's life. You don't get to dictate how he lives or who he's with."

The mayor's eyebrows shot up in surprise, and I could see the flicker of anger in his eyes, but I wasn't done.

"Bose doesn't need your approval, and he sure as hell doesn't need 'luck' to succeed," I said, my voice rising. "He's worked harder than anyone I know to get where he is, and all you've done is try to tear him down. You might be used to bullying people into doing what you want, but it's not going to work with me. And since now it's not going to work with him."

I could feel Bose's hand squeeze mine, silently telling me to calm down, but I was too fired up. "So yeah, maybe people like us together because we're real, and they see that. You can go ahead and keep looking down on us, but it doesn't change a damn thing. Bose is better off without your negativity."

The mayor's face was turning red now, and he clenched his jaw, clearly struggling to hold back his temper. "You've got quite a mouth on you," he said through gritted teeth. "But don't think for a second that this little speech changes anything."

"Good," I snapped. "Because I wasn't trying to change your mind. I don't care what you think, and neither does Bose."

Before he could say anything else, I grabbed Bose's arm and pulled him away, turning my back on his stepfather. Bose let out a breath as we walked, glancing down at me with a mixture of amusement and gratitude.

"You really let him have it," Bose said, his voice low, a smirk playing on his lips.

I shrugged, still fuming but feeling a bit of satisfaction. "He needed to hear it."

Bose chuckled, shaking his head. "Chapa, you have no idea how much I needed that."

We continued walking through the festival, the mood between us lighter now, despite the encounter. As we rejoined the crowd, I could feel people's eyes on us, and for once, I didn't care. I had stood up for Bose, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

No one—especially not his arrogant stepfather—was going to mess with him while I was around.

Mika POV:

It had been a fun, relaxed evening so far with Lily. After Andrew dropped her off earlier, we'd spent most of the night playing board games, painting our nails, and watching movies. It was nice to have a calm night after such a hectic week of preparations for the festival. Lily was an easy kid to hang out with, and honestly, it was refreshing.

We were sitting on the couch, a bowl of popcorn between us, when Lily suddenly turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Mika, have you seen the Vogue photoshoot of Andrew and Bose yet?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What photoshoot?"

Lily's eyes widened, like I'd just admitted to missing some life-changing event. "You haven't seen it? Oh my gosh, you have to! It's all over the internet. They both look so cool!"

I grabbed my phone, curious now. "Alright, alright, I'll check it out. Vogue, huh?" I started scrolling through my feed, typing in the search. Within seconds, the images popped up.

And wow.

Bose and Andrew were both front and center, dressed in high-fashion outfits that were a mix of sharp, elegant, and avant-garde. But as I scrolled through the shots, I found myself staring a little too long at Andrew. There he was, looking effortlessly cool, his hair slightly tousled, and wearing a tailored jacket that made him look... well, different. Not in the goofy way I usually thought of him, but kind of... striking.

I blinked, shaking my head and forcing myself to scroll past another close-up of him. Why was I staring at him like that? I mean, I knew Andrew looked good. But this was different. The way the light hit his face, the way he seemed so at ease in front of the camera—it was like seeing a completely new side of him.

"Right? Doesn't he look awesome?" Lily chimed in, looking over my shoulder as I hesitated on another picture of Andrew, this time leaning casually against a vintage car, his expression serious yet somehow playful.

"Uh, yeah," I muttered, not sure what else to say. I definitely hadn't expected to be caught off guard like this. "He cleans up nice, I guess."

Lily giggled. "You're staring."

I immediately flipped my phone over on the couch, trying to play it cool. "I am not. I'm just... appreciating the artistic direction of the shoot."

"Sure," Lily teased, giving me a knowing look.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed some popcorn, tossing a piece at her. "Don't you have a movie to finish watching?"

She just giggled again, but as we settled back into the film, I couldn't shake the weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. It wasn't like I hadn't noticed Andrew before, but this was the first time I'd really noticed him. I mean, I've known him for a couple months, and he's always just been... Andrew. But those photos—it was like they'd pulled a version of him I hadn't seen before.

I shook my head again, trying to push the thought away. This was ridiculous. He was Andrew. Barely even a friend. And he was probably out having a blast at the festival right now, not giving a second thought to how he looked in some fancy Vogue spread.

But still, as I turned my attention back to the movie, I couldn't help but wonder why I'd been so stuck on that image of him. Maybe I was just tired. Or maybe... maybe I'd just never taken the time to see him that way before.

Either way, it was confusing—and definitely something I wasn't ready to think about. Not yet.

Chapa POV:

The night was winding down when Bose's mom spotted us, her face lighting up as she made her way over. She looked so happy, like she had been waiting for this moment.

"Chapa? Is that really you?" She came closer, arms open, pulling me into a tight hug before I could even respond. "Oh, it's been years since I last saw you! Look at you, all grown up and even more beautiful!"

I smiled awkwardly as I hugged her back. "Yeah, it's been a while."

She stepped back, eyes flicking between Bose and me, and I could see the pride all over her face. "You two look so good together. I always thought something like this might happen."

I glanced at Bose, who was standing there a little awkwardly, clearly not expecting his mom to gush like this.

His mom laughed, a little too excited. "Oh, I can't wait for the day I get to become a grandmother!"

Both Bose and I froze. My heart skipped a beat as I glanced at him, and his face turned a deep shade of red.

"Mom!" Bose groaned, sounding horrified. "We just—can you not?"

His mom laughed it off, waving her hand. "I'm just saying! You two are perfect together, and well, it's something for the future, right?"

I tried to laugh, but I felt the heat rising to my cheeks. "Uh, we're not really at that point yet."

"Of course, of course!" she said, though it was clear she wasn't really bothered by how awkward she was making this. "I'm just excited for what's to come."

She hugged us both again before finally moving on to greet someone else, leaving Bose and me standing there, still recovering from the embarrassment.

Bose sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm really sorry about that," he muttered, looking absolutely mortified.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "It's fine, really. She's just... excited."

He shook his head. "She just doesn't know when to stop. I mean, it's not like... I wouldn't want that someday, but—"

"Bose," I cut him off with a smirk. "It's fine. Let's just get out of here."

He nodded, and we slipped away from the event, heading back to his place. The ride home was quiet, a comfortable silence between us. Once we got to his penthouse, I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto the couch, feeling a bit of the evening's tension start to melt away.

Bose joined me after taking Cookie to her little area. He sat down beside me, letting out a long breath. "I'm really sorry about what my mom said. She can be... too much sometimes."

I looked over at him, smiling. "You don't need to apologize. It's not like she was being mean."

"No, but still." He paused, running a hand through his hair. "It's not like... I wouldn't want that one day. It's just... I don't know, I got kind of confused when she said it out loud."

I stared at him for a moment, not sure what to say. His honesty caught me off guard. "You don't need to worry about that right now," I said, trying to lighten the mood. "We're not there yet."

He chuckled softly, leaning back against the couch. "Yeah, you're right."

We were silent for a couple minutes. Until Bose suddenly smiled at me. "You look very beautiful."

I rolled my eyes and smiled. "Seriously, can you stop saying how beautiful I look? You've said it like a thousand times tonight."

Bose grinned, sitting up a little straighter. "Oh? But, you do look beautiful."

I laughed, shaking my head. "Okay, okay, just kiss me already."

He blinked, looking a little surprised. "What?"

"You keep saying I'm beautiful—just kiss me already!" I teased, leaning closer to him.

Bose didn't need to be told again. He leaned in and kissed me gently at first, but soon enough, the kiss deepened, and before I knew it, he was lifting me into his arms, carrying me toward the bedroom. I laughed against his lips, my arms wrapped around his neck.

But once we got to the bedroom, I hesitated. I felt my heart racing, and suddenly the reality of the situation hit me. Bose must've noticed because he stopped and looked down at me, concern flashing in his eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" he asked softly.

I swallowed, feeling my face heat up. "I... I haven't done this before."

He looked confused for a moment, like he hadn't expected that. "Wait... really?"

I nodded, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Yeah. I never... not with Scar, not with anyone."

Bose blinked, clearly surprised. "I thought you and Scar... I just assumed."

"No," I said, my voice a little shaky. "I never did. I'm sorry, I just... It's weird, and I don't know what to do."

He immediately softened, his hands resting gently on my arms. "You don't have to apologize for that. And you definitely don't have to do anything you're not ready for. I mean it."

I looked up at him, feeling a little more at ease. "But I want to... I'm just nervous."

Bose smiled gently, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "It's okay. We'll go slow, and you can tell me to stop anytime. You're in control."

I smiled, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. "Thank you."

As Bose leaned in to kiss me again, this time it felt different—more tender, more deliberate. His hands moved slowly, one resting on my cheek while the other slid around my waist, pulling me closer. I could feel the warmth of his body against mine, the steady beat of his heart beneath my hand as I rested it against his chest. The way he kissed me, gently and with so much care, made the nerves that had bubbled up inside me start to fade.

He paused for a moment, pulling back just enough to search my eyes. "You okay?" he whispered, his voice soft and full of concern.

I nodded, trying to steady my breath. "Yeah, I'm okay."

He smiled, a reassuring warmth in his eyes. "Tell me if you want me to stop, anytime."

I nodded again, feeling more at ease knowing he was so careful, so aware of my feelings. He kissed me again, slowly, and I could feel his hands move, sliding down my back, tracing gentle lines over my spine. His touch sent shivers down my body, not from nerves this time, but from something else—something warmer, more electric.

Bose's hands rested at the hem of my dress for a moment, giving me a chance to stop him if I wanted to. I didn't. I just nodded, giving him permission to continue. He lifted the dress slowly, the fabric sliding over my skin inch by inch, until he gently pulled it over my head, leaving me standing there in just my bra and underwear. I could feel the cool air of the room against my skin, but his eyes on me felt hotter.

He took a moment to just look at me, his gaze soft but intense. "You're so beautiful," he whispered.

I smiled, looking down for a second before meeting his eyes again. "You've said that already," I teased, but my voice came out softer than usual, almost shy. Ew.

He chuckled lightly, stepping closer and pulling me into his arms again. "I'll keep saying it until you believe me."

With that, he kissed me again, his lips warm and comforting against mine. His hands moved to my waist, gently exploring the curves of my body as if he was memorizing every inch. I felt his fingers lightly brush against the clasp of my bra, and again, he hesitated—waiting for me to give him permission.

I swallowed, feeling a little nervous, but I nodded. "It's okay."

He unclasped my bra carefully, letting it slip from my shoulders, and I could feel his breath catch for a moment as he took in the sight of me. But instead of making me feel self-conscious, the way he looked at me, with such admiration and care, made me feel more confident, more comfortable.

"You're amazing," he whispered before leaning in to kiss me again, his hands running down my sides, gentle but firm.

I reached up, feeling the fabric of his shirt beneath my fingers, and started to unbutton it. My hands were shaking a little, but Bose didn't rush me. He let me take my time, letting me be in control. Once I had his shirt undone, I pushed it off his shoulders, revealing his toned chest. I let my hands wander, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath my fingers, and I couldn't help but admire the way his muscles tensed and relaxed under my touch.

We were both breathing heavier now, the air between us thick with anticipation. Bose took a step back, his hands moving to his belt, and he paused again, looking at me with that same question in his eyes. I nodded, letting him know I was ready. He undid his belt and slid his pants off, leaving him in just his boxers.

For a moment, we just stood there, taking each other in, both of us breathing a little faster. Bose stepped closer again, wrapping his arms around me, pulling me against him, and I could feel the heat of his body against mine, the steady rhythm of his breathing matching my own.

He kissed me again, more passionately this time, and as we moved toward the bed, I felt his hands gently guiding me down onto the mattress. His kisses trailed from my lips to my neck, his breath hot against my skin as he whispered words of reassurance, telling me that I was in control, that we could stop anytime.

I nodded, my heart racing but not out of fear anymore. It was something else—something thrilling, something exciting. I trusted him, and I knew he would take care of me. His hands moved lower, tracing the lines of my hips, my thighs, before he slowly, carefully, slid my underwear off. He paused, looking into my eyes, waiting for any sign that I wanted to stop.

But I didn't. I wanted this.

I reached up, pulling him closer, and whispered, "I'm ready."

Bose nodded, his own breathing shaky now as he leaned down to kiss me again, his body pressing against mine. He moved slowly, just like he promised, his touch gentle, his movements careful. He watched my face the whole time, making sure I was okay, making sure I was comfortable.

And for the first time, I wasn't scared anymore. I felt safe with him, completely and utterly safe. And as we moved together, I knew this was exactly where I wanted to be—with him, in this moment, just the two of us, trusting each other.