Marcelo looked around the poolside décor, mentally checking off everything. The opening ceremony was in exactly an hour and any minute now the guests and paparazzi would be arriving.

The red ribbon was in place. The tables were spotless and the chairs positioned correctly. The sun was just right over the brilliant blue sky. It couldn't have been a better day.

There was the podium were the chief guest—he reddened, well, that might be a problem.

There was nothing wrong with the podium. Marcelo and his staff were impeccable. Everything was in place. The problem was, in fact, the chief guest.

He pulled at his hair absent-mindedly wondering how he was going to handle that.

See, the problem wasn't that he didn't have a chief guest. The problem was he had too many.

"Oi, Marcelo!"

He turned around to find a very excited Zarine and an impressed Cristiano. "Hey, you guys are here!"

"Marcelo, dude, this is quite something," whistled Cristiano, looking around, nodding. "I really like this."

"Aww, man," Marcelo hugged him. "That feels so good to hear. You two look good too."

Indeed he was very happy with Chief Guest Candidate #1. Cristiano looked very dapper in his white polo t-shirt and grey trousers.

Zarine came forward, her floral dress rippling to the floor, and hugged Marcelo. "Congratulations! We are so proud of you and you did it so soon too."

Marcelo smiled sheepishly.

He remembered pretty clearly when he had begun thinking of who to call for his chief guest. Someone who looked the part, had a certain x factor and would draw in crowds and attention. He hadn't even needed to think. The name appeared naturally in his mind. So, the first thing he did after buying the place was rope in Cristiano Ronaldo for the position.

And then he had got excited. And a bit scheming. Okay a lot. There was a reason he was the vice-captain—he was good at strategy.

Speaking of which, Sergio appeared, suavely walking up to the trio, the sun blinking of his sunglasses. "Yo, amigos." He took off his glasses and smiled, "And hello, lovely Zarine."

Zarine turned the slightest of pink while Cris rolled his eyes. "Sergio."

Sergio grinned, "Fine, fine."

Marcelo let out an inward sigh of relief. He had, in the early days, thought of Chief Guest Candidate #2 as backup and Sergio had appeared as an excellent option but Marcelo had stopped himself in time. Well, to be truthful, he had become distracted by another idea.

He looked at Cris quickly and decided that before their party became larger, he would tell him the crisis at hand. "Cristiano, can I talk to you for a second?"

"Can't it wait? I want to look around with Zarine," Cristiano said, beseechingly.

"It's okay. Go talk to him. It's probably something important," Zarine said, nudging him.

Cris kissed her cheek and said, "Okay, okay. Sheesh, you sound like a teacher."

She laughed, "Oh yeah? Glad to know I'm doing a good job."

"You're doing the best job," he smiled, kissing her again quickly. "Alright, alright, Marcelo, I'm coming."

She smiled as she watched him run after Marcelo.

"Ugh, you guys are so cheesy," Sergio teased.

"It's worth it with him."

He looked at her. "I'm really glad he has you. You're good for him."

She turned to Sergio. "That's really sweet of you."

"Don't look so surprised. I can be sweet too." He gave her a mischievous look. "Unlike some fangirls' thinking, I am not just a badboy with a sexy beard."

She blinked rapidly, "Oh my God! Cristiano told you!? He promised he wouldn't." She reddened. "This is so embarrassing."

"Actually it was James who blurted it out," he said, thoroughly enjoying himself, "but I was flattered." He grew serious. "So, tell me truthfully. Should I ditch the beard or not?"

She stared. "Wha—oh, that's why you've been—oh, okay. Um, it's totally your decision."

"I need a second opinion and since it would affect my fans, who better to ask than our resident obsessive fangirl?"

"Oi, I am not obsessive!"

"I saw your suitcase at the lobby and it has a CRISTALE-FOR-LIFE sticker," he said.

"I-uh, okay, well, I can't defend myself on that charge." She giggled, "It is a cute sticker, right?"

"If Isco saw it, he would flip but yeah," he sounded amused. "So, tell me. Beard or no beard?"

"Beard," she said.

"Okay, no clean shave then?"

But it was someone else who answered, "Even your flimsy beard can't hide the ugliness underneath."

Sergio and Zarine turned around. "What the—" Their eyes widened. What was he doing here?

Meanwhile, Cristiano asked again, "Go on, what's wrong?"

Marcelo tried to tell him. "Well, you see, there's this tiny thing—" He stopped midway when he heard Sergio bickering and following the sounds of the argument, he saw himself staring at Pique.

Gerard Barcelona-loving, Madrid-hating Pique is standing in the middle of my perfect resort FIGHTING with my captain. Holy hell, I did not expect this.

As Cris and Marcelo rushed to the others, they could clearly hear the argument.

"Well, you suck!"

"No, you suck!"

"You suck more then!"

"You suck the most."

Zarine was pulling back Sergio from launching himself at Pique who was standing two feet away, taunting Sergio to hit him if he had the balls.

Right behind Pique, the resort owner could now see two more people approaching and suddenly he understood what was happening.

"Cris," Marcelo mumbled, "do me a favour and take Sergio to a quiet corner and help him calm down. I'll handle Pique."

"What the fuck is the opposition doing here?" Cristiano asked quietly.

"I—I am sure there is a good explanation." There isn't. "Just handle Sergio, okay?"

"Okay, but you're in trouble, dude." Cris put a hand on Sergio's arm and dragged him away. "Let Marcelo handle this!"

"Is that—James, heyyy!" Zarine shouted, spotting the newcomers.

James was walking over with—oh my god, that can't be—Shakira! His face broke into a smile when he heard his name and looked up, waving excitedly. He shouted back, "Long time no see. How are you?" and began to run over.

And passed Zarine and went on running till he reached Cristiano and tackled him into a bear hug. "I missed you, bro."

Zarine shook her head. "Nice to see you too, James."

"Yeah, yeah, you too." James laughed, detaching himself from Cris and giving Zarine a bone-crushing hug. "Did Gareth arrive before me?"

She giggled. "No, you beat him."

"Crismes is rising!"

"Crismes!?" Pique echoed. "Seriously? These people were saner on the pitch."

"Puta!" Sergio bit back.

"Puta madre!" Pique showed him the middle finger.

"Puta padre!" Sergio returned the gesture.

"No way is Crismes rising. Stay in your lane, fanboy," Zarine teased James.

"I have got this new Cristiano quiz for you. I'm sure you can't get a higher score than me," he said.

"As if. I'm his biggest fan," she said.

"Ah, Cristiano, she's being mean to me!" James mock-cried.

Cris sighed, not really knowing what to do with the mini-fanfest.

Marcelo was, meanwhile, greeting Shakira. "So lovely that you could come."

She looked away from James and Zarine bickering, with a smile, and nodded, "Your teammate was very persuasive. Said you'd die if I didn't appear as chief guest."

Yeah, that, Marcelo thought. So, one day, Marcelo had impulsively begged and threatened James into somehow getting Shakira to be his chief guest. "You're both Colombians, for God's sake!"

"There are lots of people who are Colombians, Marcelo. I can't just ask her."

"Yes, you can. I promise I will get you and Cristiano lots of quality time together."

"Hmm, let me see what I can do."

"I hope the ride from the airport was pleasant?" he asked.

"Yes, very." She looked around. "You've got a lovely place here. I'm sure it is going to be a success."

"I don't think so," Pique said, sticking his tongue out at Marcelo. Getting a glare from her, he corrected, "I mean, I totally believe so."

"And you've met my partner," she said with a smile.

"Yes, yes." Marcelo gave Pique an awkward half-hug. "We go way back. You'll be staying here for...?" He added, hurriedly, "I hope quite some time"

"Unfortunately, I cannot stay for long. I have my tour starting in four days."

I know, and that is why I thought you wouldn't come. Like I knew you said you would but you're supposed to be famous and you're supposed to cancel last minute!? But here you are and so is Cristiano. Two chief guests. One Marcelo. I'm dead.

"Why don't you have a seat or umm, have you met Zarine? Zarine! Uh, you know—"

Zarine looked over and seeing Marcelo's pleading face she walked over. "Hello, of course, I know Shakira. This is so cool. How are you?"

Marcelo was happy to see Zarine lead them towards the chairs, engaging the chief guest in a conversation.

He stomped over to James, feeling all of Sergio's angry glares towards him. "James, why didn't you tell me Pique was coming?

"I didn't know he was coming," James whispered, "but at the airport there he was with Shakira. I couldn't have left him behind."

"You could have locked him in a bathroom or something?"

James gave him a look.

Marcelo pushed back his hair, worriedly looking around. "This is going to be a disaster. You know Sergio and Pique always fight and very soon Arbeloa and Pepe will be here too. They are going to kill each other by the time we officially open."

"Don't you think you're slightly over-reacting?" James stopped. "Oh Karim is here. Hey, guys!" He asked Marcelo, "Is Isco coming? He would love to see both Zariano and Sharim at one place."

Marcelo was turning around, "Where are they? Yeah, I did send Isco an invite but I don't..." He trailed off. Well, more like his mouth forgot how to articulate. His whole world slowed to heartbeats and he drew a breath.

Walking towards them, beside Karim and Shaheen, was the most beautiful woman Marcelo had ever seen and, when Shaheen introduced her as, "Hey, Marcelo. This is Noor. Noor, this is Marcelo," he made a total fool of himself by turning into a mute statue.

Noor.

What the—shit, she is gorgeous.

Say something, you idiot, she's waiting.

He opened his mouth. "Marcelo, my name is hey."

Noor raised an eyebrow. "Hello, hey."

***

Marcelo is in luuuurvvv!

This is so cute omg. We've got so much planned (ISCO! ZARIANO! SHARIM! AND NOW #NOORCELO)

AND EID MUBARAK, everyone. May you all be blessed with sharp minds, excellent careers and a bollywood wali love story!

Do vote and comment for a quick update, we'll be here with a new chapter very soon <3