Summary - Reader has landed a research job at a marine biology lab in Portugal. She is, therefore, staying with her sister and her sister's Portuguese boyfriend for the summer holidays. There she meets Ruben Dias who is on vacation with his friends after the 2024 Euros. However, the two meet under the circumstances in which Ruben believes that Reader is a prostitute.

Enjoy ☀️

Spot-finned pufferfish were your new favorite animals. Although cute, they were also very lethal, with the power to paralyze bodies ten times their own size.

You were back at the Zoomarine, in the aquarium tank that hosted over a hundred marine life species, one of them being the spot-finned pufferfish. You were assisting Gavin to check on the lethal sea creatures. He was chasing the fish around the tank, while you documented his findings.

"Bloody bastards."

You had to shield your computer as Gavin emerged out of the water, wearing swimming goggles and a snorkel.

"I take it that they've started to reproduce?" You giggled.

"Damn straight they have, and their kids are all menaces."

Gavin inspected a gush in his hand. It wasn't a deep cut. However, even the caressing of a pufferfish skin can be dangerous, let alone a bite.

"Here, let me." You said, setting aside your computer, grabbing some gause and a bottle of saline solution.

"At least they seem healthy."

"Well, that's good."

You inspected his hand, his finger to be exact. The cut seemed to have been made by a pufferfish baby, meaning just cleaning the wound would do.

"Perhaps next time you should join me in the tank." He laughed. "You know, help me fend for myself."

"No thank you, I'd rather dive in the ocean. I'm sure it's much cleaner."

"You dive?"

You paused to look at him.

"Like, with a scuba tank?"

You nodded. "Both my sister and I are advanced divers. It's not really a shocker since our dad is a Dive Master."

"That's awesome."

"Thank you." You smiled.

"You know, I have a boat up the coast of Albu—"

"Sorry." You said, the aggressive vibration on your phone having interrupted. Ruben's name had popped up on the screen. A text from him. It made your heart skip a beat considering that the two of you hadn't seen each other for a while because of your job. Ruben, however, made sure to stay in touch.

"Who is that, you're boyfriend?" Gavin eyed your screen.

"Erm....no." He had caught you blushing. You flipped your phone and resumed tending his wound. "It's just a friend." You mumbled. However the awkward silence between you lasted until you left the Zoomarine.

"See you monday, Y/N."

"I'll see you on monday." You waved. Usually Gavin would offer you a ride to the train station, today however, he seemed in a rush to get to his car. He drove off and left you to make your way on foot. This wasn't a problem since today, like most days, was nothing short of a sunshine paradise.

On the train you took the time to reply to Ruben's text messages as there were several of them.

Ruben: "Are you free this weekend? If you are, how about dinner?" 🤔

Ruben: "Or maybe we could just meet up at the beach club again, if that's more convenient for you?"

Ruben: "Tbh, I just wanna see you again." 😅

You grinned at the screen as you typed in your answer. You also couldn't wait to see Ruben this weekend.

********************************************

A feeling of unease washed over you upon your arrival home. Your sister's car was not in its regular parking spot down the street from your apartment building. She had left early in the morning yesterday, while you were still in bed. She had left without notice, unless you count the post it note she pinned to the refrigerator, reminding you not to piss off the mermaids at work.

Your heart raced as you walked up the path to your front door, the key trembling in your hand. You had tried to brush it off, thinking that Maki was just out with her friends or at the beach. But as the hours ticked by and there was no sign of her, your worry had grown, even more so now as you walked into an empty apartment.

You tried calling her phone, but it went straight to voicemail. You tried texting, but there was no response. And now, returning out of the front door, you could feel a sense of dread creeping over you. What if something has happened?

Your heart kept on pounding as you made your way to Diogo's house, your mind filled with worst-case scenarios. He lived all the way in Albufeira so time couldn't move slow enough as you sat on the train. If only Maki hadn't taken the car.

You had always had your doubts about Diogo, with his rough exterior and his much older age. But Maki had been so taken with him, and you had tried to be supportive. But now, as you stood outside his front door, you couldn't help but wonder if he knew something that you didn't. You took a deep breath and knocked, your heart racing as you waited for an answer. You knew that you had to find out what had happened to your sister, and you were prepared to do whatever it took to bring her home safely.

"Sim?"

You flinched as the door flung open, Diogo occupying its frame. He regarded you with usual mysterio, his expression unreadable.

"Is my sister here?" You said, clenching your purse.

"No." He muttered and almost closed the door on you had you not lunged forward, preventing him.

"Well, where is she, do you know?"

Diogo regarded you with furrowed brows, not expecting you to speak to him with such command.

"Well?"

"Work." He grunted and once again tried to close the door on you.

"What work?" You said, pushing the door open once more. But this time Diogo had enough and grabbed you by the arm, pulling you inside of his house, shutting the door behind you.

"Why do you ask?" He huffed.

Your head shifted in panic, searching for a way out since Diogo's giant body stood blocking the door. "She's been gone for two days now, haven't you noticed?"

He chuckled, showing off his severely bleached teeth. "Like I said, your sister is at work."

"What work!" You shouted this time.

"Does it matter? All you need to know is that she works for me."

"That's it...." You marched towards the door, even if it meant that you had to push past him. "...If you can't tell me where she is I'm sure the police can help me—"

You gasped as Diogo grabbed you by the arm again, this time slamming your back against the front door. "Não me teste, filha da puta." (Do not test me, bitch) His breath was in your face, the smell of alcohol almost unbearable.

"Vai-te foder." (go fuck yourself). You spat.

His eyes widened, along with the grip around your arm that loosened. He then reached for something in his back pocket, which you were almost sure to be a knife. However, the screen of his phone lit up his face, as he typed in an unknown number. Soon a female voice sparked through the other end. "Hello, baby?"

Diogo shoved the phone in your hand. "Aqui, fale com ela." (Here, speak to her.)

"M...Maki?"

"Y/N? What are you....is everything okay?"

"Is everything okay?" You frowned. "Where the hell are you, you've been gone for two days without telling me."

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry. I'm at work, I don't have my phone."

"What work?" You asked, since you had always assumed that your sister was unemployed, living off her sugar daddy of a boyfriend.

"I work at the beach club. Didn't Diogo tell you that?"

"He did not." You looked to where he had gone to sit on a sofa in the corner of the room. He looked at you, amused by what he saw.

"Anyway. "Don't worry about me Y/N. I'll be home tomorrow. Love you!" And with that she hung up the phone. There had been loud music playing in the background. Perhaps Diogo had been telling the truth. Your sister worked for him at the beach club.

"Happy now?" He smiled. An oily smile that disgusted you more than anything.

You were quick to toss him his phone and walk out the door. You rushed down the street, away from the quiet but fancy neighborhood that he lived in. You made it all the way back to the train station. There you dug up your phone and dialed the number of the only person you felt like you could trust in this foreign country that you found yourself in. "Ruben? It's me.....Is there a chance that I can stay with you tonight?"

Part 6 is out on my Patreon for free! (Link below)

https://www.patreon.com/posts/summer-fling-6-108670157