Amelia read over the menu with curious eyes. Despite the menu being quite small, it had some very intricate dishes that sounded like Heaven. The brisk breeze of early spring made some fly hairs from Amelia's bun dance carelessly with its freeing flow. As she looked over the bistro's menu she felt the gaze of Ivan's deep eyes run through her soul. She glared playfully at him and smiled sweetly, not showing an ounce of fear or intimidation. Ivan gulped when he realized he'd been caught and pretended to look at the menu. She closed the menu and sat with her legs crossed, gazing towards the wonderful view the balcony gifted them with. Ivan was silent for a while as he looked at her, the afternoon sun made the contours of her face contrast and glow. It was as if the sun desperately was beckoning to be her spotlight. 

Despite the amazing view of the coast that the dangling marble perch on the cliffside gifted, he could not help but gaze solely at her. His heart paced an unnatural rhythm as he noticed how flawless she was. He wanted to clench his shirt badly but didn't wish to look strange in front of her. She looked to him and chuckled as he rapidly turned his face to the menu, trying to hide what he had been doing.

"Were you gazing at me, Mr. Braginsky?" Amelia rhetorically asked her new boss. Ivan shook his head as his cheeks began to burn with a crimson hue. Amelia quirked her well-trimmed brow at Ivan and smiled coyly.

"N-Nyet, I was not. There was a seagull doing a funny thing with its wing behind you," Ivan lied and coughed to clear his throat. Ivan glanced at the shore below as Amelia held her mouth to stifle her giggling.

She is not afraid of me like everybody else. I like that she's not afraid.

"So, what would you recommend to me, sir?" Amelia asked, making Ivan cock his head in confusion, "well, this restaurant is so expensive that I have never even been inside it. I don't have the slightest clue on what is best for me to eat or drink. But you said that this was your usual eatery, so you must come often. What do you suggest I order, Mr. Braginsky?"

"Ivan," he corrected, "when alone, address me as Ivan. Save all formalities for when we are around clients or other staff members," Ivan demanded as he straightened his tie, "to answer your question, I personally enjoy their Risotto Alla Milanese which has bits of freshly caught mussels and is very creamy. They often top it with saffron so it is actually very savory. I enjoy pairing it with Chardonnay since it cuts the richness of the risotto," he then looked her up and down and noticed she was shivering a tiny bit, "but being that you are quite chilly, I would recommend the Zuppa di Pesce. They often serve it with freshly caught mussels, shrimp, crab, lobster claw, and chilis. The broth is salty with a hint of spice, so pairing it with a Reisling should be very appropriate," Ivan smiled at her. 

"Are you sure we should be having alcohol this early in the afternoon?" Ivan smirked at her, resting his chin on his fist.

"Believe me, you will need it for when we go back to the office," Ivan replied snarkily. The two laughed at the comment as the bouncy owner came to the table with a small notebook.

"Have you decided on anything Mr. Braginsky?" Feliciano asked with a smile. Ivan looked to Amelia, who nodded curtly.

"Da, I would like to have my usual of Risotto Alla Milanese with a glass of Chardonnay. My associate would like your Zuppa di Pesce with a glass of your finest Kabinett Reisling," Ivan gently took the menu from Amelia and gave it to the Italian man.

"Great choices! I'll put the order in while Lovino gets your drinks!" Feliciano bounced away with a smile. Not a moment later two glasses were brought to the table and another Italian man poured their drinks tableside. He looked just like Feliciano but had darker hair and a grumpier face. Amelia studied him briefly before smiling.

"Wow, you and Feliciano are twins," she commented. The darker brunette scoffed a bit and rolled his eyes. Ivan bit down a growl at the incredibly rude gesture towards his assistant. But he quickly stopped when Lovino began to retort.

"Oh please, don't remind me. I don't understand where all that energy comes from, my brother is too loud and happy. The fact he has a soulmate that tolerates him so well is frightening. Sometimes, I worry about his mental health,"

"Isn't that the point of soulmates, Mr. Vargas?" Ivan interjected spitefully.

"Wha? I wasn't talking about the soulmate, I was talking my mi fratello. I could care less about that damn potato lover he married. Feliciano is just a very tricky person. He may seem like a dumbass, but he is actually a cunning man who is patient and intelligent. His soulmate is the opposite. He is so stern and always has some look of distaste. These soul gems certainly have a weird matching system," Amelia chuckled at the very blunt notion.

"That is why there are some who defy their soul gems. They believe much the same as to the matching process being poorly developed or strange. But it is important to follow your soul gem, otherwise, you end up unhappy," Ivan noted a glint in Amelia's eyes as she phrased her words wisely. Lovino nodded to the two and after a few more exchanges left the two alone.

There must be something I am missing, da? Amelia's eyes seemed to break at mentioning soulmates. Is she unhappy?

"Ivan, is something the matter?" Amelia questioned, causing Ivan to quickly shake his head and look to his worried companion.

"Da, I am fine. Just lost in thought I suppose," Ivan coughed as he inhaled, "Amelia, mind if I ask you a rather personal question?" Amelia thought for a moment and slowly nodded, "are you happily married? Does your husband or wife treat you correctly to the point where you can say you are a happy woman?" 

Amelia felt her blood run cold as Ivan stared at her, awaiting an answer to the question she had given him permission to ask. Her breathing quickened for a brief moment as she thought of what to say. She didn't want to tell him anything, but she had to say something. With a small smile, she nodded.

"Of course I'm happy. My husband is an amazing man who works tirelessly to provide for us. Sometimes he has quite a temper, but according to him, his boss is not the most rational of men. I understand he works himself to the bone only to be scrapped and belittled, so I do my best as his wife to take care of him," Amelia tried her best to hide everything. 

To hide the fact she was wearing makeup to hide her bruised skin.
To hide the fact she defied her soul gem and now suffers its wrath.
To hide the fact that anytime she's around her husband she fears one day he won't stop hitting.

Ivan took a mental note of everything she said and matched it with her body's language. He saw how her smile and eye twitched slightly. He saw how her pinky locked up in a curved position when fiddling with the fork. He saw how she refused to look at him with open eyes as if trying to shield them from the wind that would forcefully draw out her fearful tears. The slight outline of her soul gem through her sweater dress made him worried.

You are lying to me, dear Amelia. But the question I ask is why? Does he hurt you? Is he an abusive man? Does he strike you with open hands? I want to know the truth so that I may save you.

Just as he finished his thoughts the food came out, steamy and fresh. They ate their meal in silence with only the ocean to provide them with sounds. Ivan paid their tab and left the tip at the table, gently guiding Amelia to the valet. Gilbert was already waiting for them with the door open. He gently helped Amelia in and then Ivan, closing the door and running to the driver's seat. As Amelia gazed out the window to peer at the changing scenery, Ivan took out his phone.

Ivan: Francis, meet me in my office in ten minutes. I have something I wish to discuss.
Francis: Of course, Mr. Braginsky. Will I be in need of any of my tools?
Ivan: Da, bring everything you have.
Francis: Yes, sir.

As they pulled up to their company, Gilbert happily escorted the duo to the door. Amelia noticed how Ivan's demeanor quickly changed as they entered the building. His body stiffened and he had a powerful intimidating aura around him. His steps carried power as he walked on his pristine, quartz flooring.

"Amelia, please follow me," Ivan ordered sternly as he strode towards his elevator. Amelia still did not feel any fear in his presence. She watched as many employees scurried from his path with a look of terror as if disrupting his charge was a death wish. She quickly flew back to reality, gracefully matching his pace.

"Right away, Mr. Braginsky," she retorted and obeyed his strict command. The elevator ride up was quiet and the atmosphere was suffocating. Amelia, though not scared, was still nervous. It's been silent between them since she mentioned her husband. The door opened up and they were greeted by one of the secretaries.

"Mr. Bonnefoy is awaiting your arrival, sir," he bowed.

"Spasiba Toris," Ivan replied as he opened his office doors. Once in front of his desk, Amelia saw Francis there with a belt of measuring threads and a tiny pack of pins. He smiled at her and turned his body towards Ivan. Francis bowed his heads politely as Ivan took his seat in his expensive, Italian leather, office chair.

"Francis, please go into Ms. Jones' office right next door and take her measurements. I wish for her to be cataloged with the other employees," Ivan gestured to the door adjacent to his office.

"Of course, sir,"

"Amelia, when you finish with Francis, stay in there. My elder sister should arrive by then. As an interior designer, she will help customize a comfortable yet professional workspace for you,"

"Yes, Mr. Braginsky," the two began to walk to the room, as they had assumed they were dismissed. Ivan coughed into a closed fist, effectively halting the two.

"Francis, please stay back for a moment," Francis nodded and gestured to Amelia's office door. He looked to Amelia with a bright smile and sparkles around his head.

"Please undress to your undergarments, cheri. I will in zere in a moment," Francis walked back to the desk as Amelia went into her soon-to-be office. Francis straightened up as Ivan stood up and gazed out his window.

"Francis, I have a sneaking suspicion that Amelia's home life is unstable. While taking measurements for her catalog I want you to note ANY signs of abuse. This means bruises, bumps, blotchy skin, red marks, cuts, blisters, anything and everything. Do not mention your findings to her or pry into her business, that is not my intent. You are to report them to me and are to keep it confidential until I order otherwise. Do you understand?"

"Of course sir," Francis bowed and curtly walked into the dingy, client file room. Ivan sighed as he sat down and began to make a few "business calls".

When Francis entered the room he saw that Amelia was in her bra and underwear with her back to him, folding her clothes nicely. Due to Amelia's hair being in a bun, Francis was able to take in every detail. Amelia did have scratches and blotchy skin all the way up her arms and completely down her legs. She had a bump on her ankle as well as swelling around her hips. When she finally faced him, she froze like a deer in headlights. Francis saw the bruising and welts all over her body, making his stomach churn. His fists clenched as he saw her beautiful figure littered with these marks of hatred. 

Then Francis gazed at her soul gem, effectively making his breath catch. The crack that resided on its surface looked so familiar to him. Francis knew he had seen a cracked soul gem before and his mind reeled to try to place it. That's when he finally remembered that Ivan's soul gem was cracked, making the Frenchman turn giddy on the inside. But he knew that he couldn't interfere with a soul gem's union, making his internal excitement dull to a remorseful sorrow.

"F-Francis, I didn't hear you come in," Amelia stuttered out with a weary smile. Francis remained silent as he strode up to her. His steps didn't hold intimidation or power, but suave and elegance. He stood right in front of her, cupping her cheek softly and feeling more bumps and swelling around her eye. He brushed his finger against the swelling skin, effectively removing the foundation and revealing to him the blackish purple bruises. Amelia gulped and began to tremble, "I'm hideous, aren't I?"

"Non," Francis whispered as he gently embraced her fragile form, "ze monster who did zis iz 'ideous. Are zay all from-"

"Yes, my husband beats me. But, it's just really stressful for him at work and he just drinks his problems away. He doesn't mean to hurt me, he has no control over it sometimes," Amelia quickly spurted out. Francis frowned at her, knowing that her relationship with her husband was a toxic one, "just, please don't tell Mr. Braginsky. I don't want him to know about this yet, I'll tell him soon enough,"

"Amelia, I will not tell a soul of your 'ome life. It iz not my right to. But, please, call me if 'e every goes too far. I will pick you up no matter where I am," Francis quickly gave her his card and wrote his personal number on the back. Amelia nodded sweetly, quickly adding his number to her contacts. He began to take her measurements and the two made light conversation to brighten the sad aura that engulfed the large room. Upon finishing up, Amelia reapplied the foundation to her black eye and Francis bowed to her. A knock came to the door and Ivan appeared in the doorway just out of Amelia's sight.

"Are the measurements done? Katyusha has arrived to talk of plans for Amelia's office," Ivan asked with a powerful tone. Francis nodded and gave a wave to Amelia before quickly walking out. A woman entered the room with a tablet in her arms. Her hair was platinum blonde pixie cuts with bangs that were clipped back. Her eyes were a vivid admiral blue and her skin was very pale, much like Ivan's. She wore a white button-up dress shirt tucked into a pair of navy slacks with black flats. The most noticeable thing about her figure, however, was her incredibly large bosom.

"Ms. Jones, I am Katyusha. I will be helping you design your office!" she yelped happily. Amelia smiled at her and nodded excitedly. The two sat down at the small table and began to discuss paint colors and different furniture. The two women were laughing and chatting while they worked, Katyusha even slipped in a few embarrassing stories about Ivan's childhood. Outside of the now happy office, Ivan was sitting broadly in front of Francis. He was tapping his fingers on his desk, waiting for Francis to report his findings. His brow twitched when he realized he would have to order the Frenchman to talk.

"What injuries do you have to report, Mr. Bonnefoy?" Ivan asked impatiently. Francis gulped and took out his tiny notepad with shaky hands. He took a deep breath and began to dutifully list every bruise, scrape, cut, and bump on Amelia's person. The list took up a few pages of the tiny book, so Francis kept flipping them. The sound of the flipping pages prompted boiling rage to course through Ivan's veins. He clutched his armrest tightly as Francis concluded his briefing, knowing he would strike his innocent employee if he did not fasten his grasp onto something.

"She also willingly told me of 'er 'usband's doings. Apparently, 'e iz an alco'olic and beats 'er after drinking too much. I gave 'er my private number, just in case if zomething were ever 'appen," Francis stood tall with pride in his voice. Ivan felt his anger subside after hearing that Francis was willing to take care of her. He appreciated the thought of more people he trusted protecting his Amelia. Ivan quickly shook his head and coughed.

She is not mine, even though I long for her to be.

"I wish to be notified of anything you find out. If she tells you anything that implies he endangered her life, you are to call me directly on my private phone. No matter where I am or what time it is, I want to be notified. If anything drastic happens to her, I want to be the first person informed aside from her family. I want you to have a record of everything she confesses to you, Francis,"

"But, sir, wouldn't zat be an invasion of privacy?" Francis questioned nervously. Ivan's eyes pierced daggers into the golden blonde's soul as he bared his cuspids. Francis knew he just hit a very aggravated nerve, so he quickly shut his mouth. Upon seeing the fear he inflicted in Francis' eyes, Ivan calmed down and regained his calm composure.

"Francis, this information will not be seen by anyone but us two. I only wish to collect the data just in case something serious happens to her. I want evidence of his doings so that if the bastard she married ever hurts her immensely, he will get a nice serving of justice," Ivan defended his demand, "if it's a text, screenshot it. If it's a phone call, record it. If she's saying it face-to-face, note the date and time in a notepad. Francis, I do not know why, but I feel the instinct to protect her. If that means I invade her personal life, then so be it. You're dismissed," Ivan shooed him away. Francis bowed and quickly left the office space.

"Mr. Bonnefoy," Eduard fixed his glasses as he walked up to the taller man, "I just wanted to remind you of the new designs that were needed for the annual client's ball. Ivan has requested a new suit or gown to be made for all higher-ups," Eduard handed a thin file to Francis and bowed walking back to his desk. Francis walked to the public elevator and read through the file. It was a list of all people Ivan wanted him to tailor an outfit for. 

Ivan Braginsky
Amelia Jones
Natalia Braginsky
Katyusha Braginsky *please cover the chest area
Francis Bonnefoy
Gilbert Beilschmidt
Roderich Edelstein & Elizabeta Héderváry

Francis smirked when he saw that he put Amelia above his sisters. He knew that Ivan deeply cared for her, he was French after all. He knew everything about love and all its obstacles. The thought made his smile turn sour as he realized just how drastic the situation was. As soon as he got back to his office he put his head in his hands.

'e feels ze need to protect 'is soulmate. But 'e doesn't know zat zey belong toget'er. Amelia iz in danger. But it iz law zat no one may interfere with ze uniting of soulmates other zan ze lovers. I wonder what Gil would say if 'e knew about all zis?

"Knew about vhat, Franny?" Gilbert asked abruptly. Francis jumped a few inches and looked at his soulmate, who was leaning in the doorframe. The albino had a look of worry and curiosity etched onto his normally goofy face as he took note of the distress of Francis' features.

"Mon Dieu, Gilbert! You startled me, mon poussin!" Francis put a hand over his heart as he took a few breaths. Gilbert walked up to him with a soft stride and brushed the blonde locks from his lover's sculpted face. Gilbert kissed Francis' temple and gently stroked his head, trying to calm his lover of all his troublesome worries.

"Come on now, out vith it. If I knew vhat?" Gilbert asked softly. Francis and Gilbert were able to always read one another's thoughts from the time they were children, which eventually led them to find out they were soulmates. Francis gulped and began to shake, worrying Gilbert further, "liebling, please tell me,"

"Close ze door first," Francis whispered. Gilbert nodded and did as told, quickly coming back to Francis' side. He took a deep breath before he began, "Amelia and Ivan our soulmates,"

"Vhat?! Are jour kidding?!" Gilbert shouted in surprise. Francis quickly hushed him and continued his explanation.

"Ze two of zem are soulmates, Gilbert! Amelia 'as never flinched away from Ivan and Ivan 'as never looked to 'er with mute features. Ze two of zem 'ave chemistry and work amazingly toget'er! Ivan feels ze need to protect 'er and Amelia feels safer when she's around 'im. I wasn't too sure until I measured Amelia and saw 'er soul gem. Both zeir gems are cracked in ze exact same way!"

"Francis, zat is awesome! Why didn't jou tell boss?!"

"It iz not our place to bring zem together. All we can do is nudge from ze sidelines and 'ope for ze best. Ze problem iz Amelia's 'usband,"

"But if boss is her soulmate zen vhy-"

"Ze two were 'igh school sweet'earts. Gilbert, ze amount of bruises on 'er made me livid! Ze man is an alco'olic who beats ze living lights out of 'er! Unless she reports 'im we can't do anyzing! She even defended 'im! It'z 'eartbreaking!" Francis began to cry. Gilbert hugged his lover close, rocking him gently, "you cannot tell anyone unless she tells you first, ok?"

"Ja, anything for jou mein sweet Schatz," Gilbert softly kissed Francis' head and continued to soothe his very distressed lover. Back in Amelia's "office", she had begun to clean the dust off of the shelves. Toris had entered the room, curious as to what she was doing.

"Ah~ Mr. Toris! Could you get me some large bins, please? Katyusha is having these dinky cabinets removed so that we can purchase new ones and give the office a fresh coat of paint. I want the files to stay in order, so I was going to put them in bins and label them until the new ones are installed," Toris smiled widely and nodded curtly. Upon his return, Raivis, Eduard, and Toris all came in with large, rolling bins. The four neatly organized the files into their proper bins and helped Amelia clean the room. After a few hours of cleaning, Amelia, Toris, Eduard, and Raivis finally finished her office. It was a virtually blank slate that needed a new paint job and new furniture, "thanks for the help you three. Who would've thought a room filled with cabinets could be so dusty?" Amelia joked, making the group laugh. Ivan entered the room, prompting the three secretaries to leave. Ivan smiled at Amelia and handed her a black card.

"Amelia, this is a company debit card. Anytime you need to make a purchase on the job, use this. It links to the company account so there is virtually an endless amount of money. I advise you to only spend it on company-related purchases, as I monitor all purchases from the company vault. I also have a tracking chip in it so I can easily deactivate it if it is stolen, just call me if you need to cut it off. You can buy our lunches with it, the supplies for your office, and even your work attire,"

"Wow, thank you, sir," Amelia looked at the card with her name engraved onto it. She then smirked as she looked at Ivan, who was smirking back at her, "you wouldn't happen to write off all these purchases, would you? I mean, why else would you so closely monitor everything?"

"Clever, just how I love my employees. Katyusha has agreed to go shopping tomorrow with you. My younger sister, Natalia, Gilbert, and Francis are also going to accompany you. Gilbert is obviously your transportation, Francis and Katyusha will help you pick proper clothes and decor, and Natalia will accompany you as security,"

"Thank you, Mr-" Ivan quirked his brow and Amelia playfully scoffed, "thank you, Ivan," Amelia then began to gather her things.

"Please be ready to go by seven. Gilbert will be outside your door with your company already buckled in. He is also awaiting to drive you home, you're dismissed for today,"

"Have a pleasant night, Ivan, sir," Amelia walked out and got her key to the private elevator. She waved to the secretaries before the doors closed and began to descend towards the ground level. There was a minor creaking noise coming from the shafts outside the luxurious elevator. Amelia looked to the ceiling and made a mental note to inquire Ivan about it when she was to see him next. The door opened and she left the elevator, walking through the bustling lobby and leaving the building behind. She hopped into the car Gilbert provided and they drove off towards her residence. 

It began to rain and the two were stuck in some traffic. Gilbert looked to Amelia in the mirror, wondering what to say. Gilbert was always a light-hearted and easy-going man. He liked to joke around and drink casually when allowed. But he knew when he had to be serious too; and upon seeing his soulmate breakdown at the sight of Amelia's bruised body, he knew he had to approach the conversation delicately.

"Ms. Jones, if he ever hurts jou, call Francis and ve vill both come to jour aid immediately," Gilbert ordered with a caring tone. Amelia sucked in a breath and opened her mouth to respond, but Gilbert continued, "Francis iz mein soulmate, Amelia. He didn't need to tell me, I just knew by reading his mind," he half lied. She didn't need to know that Francis actually had a breakdown.

"Gilbert, you won't tell-"

"It iz not mein business to tell. But I vill not hesitate to if I know jou're in danger. Braginsky Infinity is like a second family to me und if I feel jou're at risk of getting hurt I vill intervene. I already have grown greatly fond of jou, little Amelia. I von't let jou be a piece of data for un abused caused fatality survey," the two were silent with only the pattering of rain. This silence, however, was rather warm. Amelia finally smiled as she gazed from the window.

"Thank you, I'm glad I can count on you Gilbert. I've only ever had my brother to support me, so I really do treasure your concerns. You don't need to worry, I will call if I know I need help," the car drove up to the house and Gilbert prolonged the process of returning her home. Gilbert got to her door, alongside her. Before entering, she hugged him tightly and patted his back.

"Be safe, mein kleiner Hase," Gilbert kissed her temple and watched her enter her house. His nose twitched at the smell of beer before the aroma disappeared. He saw no car in the driveway and did a full scope, not seeing her husband anywhere. He sighed in relief upon leaving the residence.

Amelia undressed and began to shower, removing all the makeup from her person. She eventually got out and began getting into comfortably warm pajamas and slippers. She began to head downstairs to cook dinner. She put a small pot of water on the stove and began to season the meat for meatballs. Thirty minutes passed before the door slammed open and the wreaking smell of hard liquor wafted into the kitchen. Amelia cringed as she felt a harsh hand push her aside, effectively spilling the bubbling water for the pasta on Amelia's stomach. She screamed in pain as the nightly beating ensued. By the time Arthur had calmed down enough, the meatballs were nothing but char.

Another dinnerless night went by as Amelia laid in bed. She tossed and turned so that she could try to find a comfortable position. She felt the second-degree burns begin to peel at her skin and the newly adorned welts began to ache. Amelia trembled harshly as Arthur stayed in deep sleep beside her. Hot tears slipped down her cheeks as her body ached horribly. Lightning crashed in the background as she curled into the fetal position. Her whimpers were silent out of fear of waking her resting husband. She had learned from a past experience that waking him from an alcohol-induced sleep was never a good idea. Amelia took a few deep breaths as she quietly grabbed her phone. She unlocked her screen and opened Francis' contact. She began to write a pleading message.

Amelia: Francis, it's Amelia. I was wondering if you had some time to talk. I know it's 2:30 in the morning, but I really need someone right now. My husband got drunk again and I think I need help. I'm in so much pain and the burn wounds aren't healing up.

Amelia stared at her phone for ten minutes before glancing back at her husband. She gulped down her tears and deleted the unsent message. She took a few deep breaths before trying to get comfortable with her new wounds.

He'll get better.
He'll get help.
There won't be a next time.
I am very happy where I am.