54. The Heroic Star Immortal

Markus and Zahira were restocking the cakes. With meticulous care, Markus sliced each cake perfectly and Zahira studied his technique.

"You and Cesar seem close." Zahira observed.

"We've worked together a long time."

"Do you mind that he's in love with you?" Zahira had asked the question without thinking, just because it had popped into her head.

Markus froze and Zahira immediately felt apologetic. Why hadn't she stopped herself from saying that?! Markus wouldn't look her in the eye and Zahira felt terrible. Would he hate her now? Markus cleared his throat.

"No, I don't mind."

Zahira opened her mouth to apologise for being rude but Markus interrupted her. "We still have space for one more cake. Which one do you think we should put out, lemon or coffee?"

"Err coffee." Zahira mumbled.

There was a stir in the café as Orion made his entrance. But it was even more profound today. A group of girls rushed forward and asked him to take a picture with them. "Has something happened?" Zahira asked, noticing that all eyes were on Orion.

"Didn't you watch the news? That guy exposed all the corrupt police in the city. He produced a bunch of evidence on them. There was even a video of them trying to kill him."

"He's a hero." Swooned Ana, gazing at Orion with doe eyes.

Zahira blinked. She'd had no idea. She bit her lip anxiously. 'Even a video of them trying to kill him'... had Orion gotten hurt? She watched him, trying to see if he was limping in anyway. He wasn't. But she couldn't help thinking of the scars she'd seen covering his torso.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" One female asked him, the bravest of the group surrounding him.

Zahira couldn't help listening in.

"I have a woman I'm pursuing." Orion replied, disappointing them. Zahira's heart skipped a beat when he looked up and met her gaze just then. Was he talking about her? Orion headed over to Zahira and she flushed, anxious that she'd forgotten how to breathe. "Coffee cake, please."

His intense gaze made her tremble.

"S-sure." She stammered, serving him a large slice.

Orion was joined at his table by a gaggle of adoring fans. Zahira watched him smile easily at the girls, charming them completely. "I have to go to the loo." She mumbled to Markus, excusing herself.

Safely away from prying eyes, Zahira worried about what to do. She needed to break off this dating thing with Orion. The gang was going to murder her if she kept it up and honestly, everything was just much too stressful for her. It wasn't like it was going to progress into a serious relationship anyway, she reasoned.

But she had a problem. If she texted Orion, he might just text back like last time and disagree with her. But she wasn't having much luck with speaking with him face to face either. Ergh! How was she failing at life this badly?!

Orion waited for her shift to end again. Zahira hung her head unhappily, as they walked out of the café together. Orion didn't say anything as they walked down the road, sensing her bad mood.

"I heard about you catching those people." She mumbled.

"Yes?" He was waiting for her to compliment him but Zahira surprised him.

"Did you get hurt?"

He shook his head.

"No."

"Oh."

They walked along in silence for a bit.

"There's a sushi place we should try for dinner."

"I... err..." Zahira bit her lip but then nodded. This was her new plan. If she couldn't end things with Orion, then she'd have to let him end things between them. One boring date should be enough to convince him that she wasn't worth pursuing.

The sushi was tasty and Zahira liked the quirky design of the place.

"Have you been here before?" He asked her. Zahira shook her head. Her plan was to play to her strengths. She was going to be as silent as possible. It was one of the few things she was potentially good at. "Do you like your food?" He asked as they ate. Zahira shrugged and then nodded. "How was work today?" This question received another shrug.

After a while, Orion gave up with questions and they ate in silence. Zahira kept glancing at him when she thought she could get away with it, he looked unhappy. Her plan was a success. She got up after they'd finished their food and headed for the ladies. She needed to prepare herself for the final part of their date. Once they were out of the restaurant, she wanted to say goodbye and make a quick escape.

The sounds of the restaurant faded away and she climbed a set of steps, following the signs to the toilet. She could claim she had a headache, she considered. Though she might not have to, Orion had looked surly at the table, he might end up skipping out whilst she was gone. This thought filled her with hope.

Zahira made a small sound of alarm when a hand pulled her to a stop from behind.

"Orion!?" She exclaimed, flustered to find herself suddenly alone with him. She looked around them, hoping to see someone climbing the stairs or coming out of the bathroom. No one. Orion pinned her against the wall and Zahira's heart raced.

"Why are you ignoring me?" He asked, his voice low. Zahira shivered. Standing this close, she could breathe in the alluring scent of his cologne. She was unable to look him in the eye and her nervous gaze settled instead on his jaw.

"I-I'm not." She stammered.

"Is there someone else that you like, Zahira?"

"Huh?"

"Perhaps the colleague you were slicing cakes with?"

Zahira's eyes widened. Did he mean Markus? She shook her head. "He likes you, you know."

"No, he doesn't." She shook her head more vehemently this time.

Zahira tried to move past Orion, but his hands pinned her in – making her feel caged. She gulped nervously.

"What do you not like about me, Zahira?" He whispered in her ear. Zahira's gaze flickered up, trying to read Orion's face. He didn't look angry or threatening. In fact, he looked lost.

"I don't like that it feels like you're playing with me." She mumbled.

"I'm playing with you?" He questioned, startled. She nodded hesitantly. "Why are you being so quiet today?"

"I'm waiting for you to stop... pursuing me."

"And if I tell you that I'm not going to, will you stop waiting for it happen?"

Zahira blinked in confusion. Orion seized the opportunity and leant in. His lips were coming closer and closer to hers. Zahira moved her head away. This wasn't part of the plan! How had the plan gone wrong? Orion sighed and pulled back. "I don't understand what I've done wrong." He confessed.

Zahira felt wretched and she hung head, sadly.

"I just don't think we should date." She mumbled.

"Do you regret that night?" He asked, sounding anxious for the first time. Zahira considered this a shook her head. Honestly, she couldn't claim that she regretted it. She struggled to stop day-dreaming about it.

"Then why shouldn't we date? Unless you like somebody else..."

"I don't." She was affronted by the suggestion.

"Well then," Orion leant forward and tenderly kissed her cheek. "I'd be a very nice boyfriend." He murmured seductively. He kissed her again, his nose brushing against her cheek. "I'd be kind to you."

He kissed down her jaw and along her throat. Zahira gasped, startled by her body's reaction to him. "And I'd treat you well." His hands moved from the wall and trailed along her arms, caressing her skin. "I can be your lover, Zahira." He whispered huskily. Zahira shivered.

"Can it be a secret?"

Orion pulled back from kissing her, to read her expression. Her gaze was filled with longing.

"A secret?"

She nodded. "If we keep it secret, will you be mine?" He asked. Zahira's breathing hitched. She nodded.

"Fine." He kissed her lips, demandingly and with a wild sense of urgency. Zahira gasped, completely overwhelmed.

Her heart raced as they made out. She wrapped her arms around him, needing him to keep her standing as they kissed. This man had a powerful effect on her. An effect that defied reason. Because reason warned her, that this was not a good idea.