The Don and His Diva

"What the hell!" Maril groaned when she woke up the next morning. Her head was throbbing in pain and she felt utterly lethargic. Her body seemed to not belong to her. Hissing in pain, she tried to get up, only to fall back on the bed. The entire world spun, and she was having a hard time keeping her eyes open.

"You might want to drink this first." She heard Rambo speak and Maril opened one eye and glanced at the glass of lime water.

"You're a savior," she muttered and took the glass gratefully.

"Since you know you can't handle your liquor well, why do you still drink?" Rambo folded his hands and gave her a displeased look.

"Hehe. Just for fun!" Maril grinned at him with her eyes closed and drank the lime water. The slight sweet-sour taste felt like heaven and Maril hummed in bliss.

"Why did you even drink in the first place?" Rambo questioned when he saw that she seemed better than before.

"Don't ask me. It's a long story." Maril sighed and rubbed her forehead in distress. Just recalling it made her blood boil.

"Fine. Freshen up. Breakfast is ready."

"Thank you." Maril smiled, and with familiar actions, opened one of the chest drawers where a set of her clothes lay.

"I'll see you downstairs." Rambo didn't wait for her. Instead, he went down to the garage area where Yoda was washing the car they had used the previous night to dump their captive.

"Is she up?" Yoda asked when he saw Rambo come down.

"Yep."

"How's she?"

"Same as always."

"Why does she even drink if she can't handle it?" Yoda complained as he wiped the windows one by one.

"I don't know. You ask her." Rambo raised his hands in defeat.

"Do you think she'll tell me? Don't you know how she is?"

In front of Maril and her antics, both men were helpless. After all, who asked her to take them as her sworn brothers? If not for her, they would still be on the streets begging for food. What else could they do but indulge in her antics?

"Only Godfather can stop her." Rambo sighed and shook his head.

"Who's going to tell him?"

Rambo remained silent. Who is going to tell Godfather? No one. Otherwise, Maril would murder them, and they didn't intend to risk their lives just to snitch on her. Although Godfather would kill them as well if he found out - that was 'if' he found out, and they had to make sure he never did.

"What are you guys chatting about?" Maril descended the stairs and looked back and forth between the two men.

"We were complaining about you."

"Oh, good. Continue." Maril wasn't interested in joining them. So, she went inside the room behind the garage. Although it was a small room, it was equipped with everything one would need to cook. It was more like a mini-kitchen.

"What have you prepared?" Maril shouted and lifted the plate covering one of the bowls. Her eyes sparkled when she saw the egg casserole. "Rambo, you are the best," she yelled in satisfaction. "Have you guys eaten?"

'They must have. Otherwise, the quantity is not sufficient for three people,' she thought.

"Yes, Diva. We have. It's all yours," Rambo shouted back and Maril yelped in glee.

"Awesome."

Fetching a bowl, a knife, and a spoon, she started hogging it as if her life depended on it. When it came to food, nothing else mattered. Why would they when they wouldn't fill her tummy?

While she chewed on the delicious casserole, she scrolled through her phone and checked the messages one by one. Other than her Godfather's message, every other text was unimportant, and she didn't even bother sending them a reply.

'Good Morning, Godfather. Have a wonderful day!' Maril sent the message followed by a cute wink emote.

'Did you have your breakfast, child?' he replied a few seconds later.

'Having, Godfather.' Maril clicked a picture of what she was eating and sent it to him. 'What about you?'

'Why does your breakfast look delicious? Mine tastes bland,' the man complained. 'May I have what you're eating?'

'Sure. If your nutritionist allows you.'

'You know he would never. That old man hates me.'

Maril burst out laughing when she read his message. The nutritionist was only in his mid-thirties. He was anything but old, at least not as old as her Godfather.

'Godfather, your nutritionist will puke three bottles of blood if he learns you called him old,' she teased.

'So be it. Anyway, he has a lot of blood,' the man grumbled, making Maril laugh heartily.

'What are you doing today, Godfather?'

'I have a meeting to attend. What about you, child?'

'I don't know, Godfather. Maybe I'll go shopping.' Maril hadn't planned anything for the day. She never planned anything in advance. It always happened on a whim.

'Good. Do you need money?'

Maril responded with an I-am-angry emote. 'Godfather, you know I have money. Right?'

'Yeah. One that you robbed from others.'

'Hey, I only rob the rich and corrupt.' Maril justified her actions in a blink.

'Okay, okay, Robin Hood. Do as you please unless you are not hurting the innocent. You always have my support.'

'That's better.' Maril smiled proudly.

'What are your underlings doing?'

'As usual. Yoda is busy with his car and Rambo with his laptop maybe.'

'Maril, I should go now. I will speak to you in the evening,' her Godfather replied.

'Okay, Godfather. See you in the evening.'

"Who are you texting?" Rambo entered the mini-kitchen and retrieved a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

"Godfather. He called Mr. Grumpy old." Maril let out a mischievous chuckle and Rambo's lips twitched when he heard her name for the nutritionist.

"Diva, he has a name," he pointed out.

"Does he? I don't remember." Maril didn't heed his words and continued eating her breakfast.

Rambo's lips twitched, not knowing what else to say.

Right at that moment, Maril's phone rang, and she smiled widely when she saw who it was.

"Selene," she chirped and glanced at Rambo. Although the man was calm, she didn't miss the fleeting change in his expression.

"Sure. What time?" Maril's smile widened. "Twelve? Got it. See ya."

The call ended in just a few minutes and Maril returned to her food, neglecting the man behind her who was waiting for her to speak.

"So?" Rambo raised the topic himself when he saw that Maril had no intentions of starting the conversation.

"So?" Maril gave him a puzzled look.

"What was all that about?"

"What are you talking about?" Maril feigned ignorance and tilted her head as if she really had no idea what he was referring to.

"Selene. I am talking about Selene." Rambo clarified and Maril's lips parted in realization.

"Oh, her? She wanted to meet me."

"And?"

"And we are meeting at twelve."

"And?"

"And? What else?" Maril's brows contorted into a frown. She was now genuinely confused. 'Was there something else? Why don't I remember?'

"Didn't she say anything else?" Rambo was frustrated and was just short of throwing Maril out of the window. She could be as annoying as a mosquito sometimes.

"Nope. Was she supposed to say something?" Maril blinked a few times. 'Selene, what didn't you tell me? What secret are you keeping?' she wondered.

"Forget it." Rambo gave up speaking about the matter. He would only end up killing his brain cells if he remained adamant. "Shall I accompany you?"

"I don't think so," Maril disagreed instantly. "Selene asked to meet her alone."

"Oh." This time, Rambo didn't argue anymore. "Fine. Tell me if you need anything."

"Will do." Maril winked at him and Rambo rolled his eyes in irritation before he walked out of the kitchen.

Maril disregarded his behavior and finished her breakfast. After washing all the dishes, she finally left the kitchen. She glanced at the time on her phone. It was sometime past ten. There was more than an hour left for her to meet Selene.

'I might as well do some shopping until then,' she thought. Satisfied with her plan, she picked up one of the car keys.

"I'll see you guys later." Maril waved at the two men who stared back at her, one in irritation and the other in confusion.

"What's up with her?" Yoda questioned when he heard her humming a song merrily.

"Ask her yourself." Rambo gritted his teeth before he picked up his laptop and took the chair.

"What's up with him now?" Yoda scowled when he didn't get any response. "His hormones must be waging war inside him," he mumbled before he returned to his work.

Meanwhile, Maril continued humming as she drove her car. She even tapped her fingers on the steering wheel as she welcomed the beautiful day.

"I hope today will be a good day," she said as she drove towards one of the largest malls in the city.

Maril had no idea what she wanted to buy. She had decided to go shopping on a whim. So, she didn't have a list.

Strolling in the mall casually, she took a look at every shop until she saw a watch displayed in the glass cabinet. She fell in love with it at first sight. 'It looks perfect for Godfather.'

With that thought, she didn't dilly-dally and entered the shop instantly, not knowing that someone was watching her every move.

"What is it, Anthony?" Rhysand picked up the call on the first ring. Since Anthony was delegated to protect Maril, his call only meant that there was an update about her.

Rhysand had closed the listening app once Maril went to sleep. So, he didn't know what was happening.

"Don, I am following the lady. She has come to the shopping mall."

"Okay. And?"

"And she is purchasing a men's watch."

Rhysand was just about to sign a document when Anthony's words fell on his ears and he paused instantly.

"Did you say men's watch?" Rhysand felt uncomfortable hearing the information, and he tugged at his tie.

"Yes, Don. What shall I do?"

"Do nothing. Just follow her and protect her. Don't intervene unless she is in danger," Rhysand instructed, and Anthony made note of his words as if his life depended on it.

"Yes, Don. I got it."

"Good." Even though Rhysand had stopped Anthony from doing anything other than protecting her, he couldn't brush off the slight feeling of jealousy in his heart. He was rattled, and his thoughts started to run wild.

'Is she buying a watch for her boyfriend? Does she have a boyfriend?' Rhysand felt suffocated. 'Wait a minute!' His eyes constricted when a notion hit him. 'What if she is already married? Is she already married? Oh no! What do I do now? What do I do?' He stood up in a flash and started pacing back and forth.

'No, no, I shouldn't jump to conclusions without knowing anything. What if she is buying a watch for a family member? Yes, that's it. It's for a family member, not for a husband or a boyfriend.'

Rhysand sighed and finally calmed down. Assuring his heart quite a few times, he returned to the document and read it again before signing it.

Oblivious to the mini-heart attack she had given Rhysand unknowingly, Maril bought the watch instantly. She fell in love with it, so she bought it. That's it.

Maril then entered a women's clothing shop and bought a few summer dresses and tops. By the time she was done, it was almost twelve, and right on time, her phone rang.

"Selene."

"Maril, where are you?"

"I'm reaching the food court. What about you?"

"I am on the way. See you near Eddy's Burgers."

"Okay."

Maril was the first to arrive, and she took a table right in front of Eddy's Burgers. There were not many people in the food court. So, she didn't have to worry about people not finding tables.

"Maril." Selene arrived a few minutes later and the two ladies hugged each other.

Maril smiled widely as she hugged her. But the moment she pulled back, her smile vanished and concern flashed in her eyes.

"Selene, did you cry?" Maril's tone changed, and she observed her friend's face with her eyes narrowed.

"Maril, shall we sit first?" Selene whispered.

Maril nodded and took her seat and Selene followed suit.

"Maril, I..." Selene hesitated and lowered her head.

"What happened, Selene?"

"Maril, you were right. I shouldn't have accepted that scoundrel's confession." Selene's eyes teared up, and she blinked a few times to clear her tears.

"What did that scumbag do? Did he hurt you?" Maril's demeanor changed and she was visibly infuriated.

"He cheated on me, Maril." Selene sniffled. "He cheated on me with his superior."