"I expect your presence in my office right now" Placing the phone on the table Marcellus relaxed back on the chair fixing his suit jacket as he wait patiently, his eyes still fixed on the mess created in Infront of him ticking his anger with every passing second. "This guy knows how to seep into my skin" he grumbled under his breath pinching the bridge of his nose closing his eyes collecting the patience he is in the need of when the office door swiftly slid and in walked the guy he have mixed feelings for he hates him but with a little bit of affection just like when your kids are being a brat but you can't abandon them because they are your own.

"Who was in this office last time" his question was curt and crisped.

"Well hello to you too, how was your visit"

"Finlay I asked you something" As anticipated seeping into his skin, Finlay's composure deflated as he slugged a little shifting on his toe.

"I was just wandering"

"Who asked you to?"

"no one?"

Marcellus glared at him, he opened the drawer on his table which had discarded wrappers of chocolates and candies "Pick them up and never enter my office with this stuff".

"you know you are even older than your dad" Finlay leans forwards to grab the wrappers "Oh and you can thank me later for I grabbed the deal from Lavoie while you were busy enjoying your two-day honeymoon" he drawled out walking out of the office while Marcellus narrowed his eyes at him when his phone buzzed on his table, he glances at it before picking it up. His eyebrow shoots up at Claire's name being visible on the text.

Claire: what would you like to have for dinner?

Marcellus: where is Maria?

Claire: she took a day off today, just answer the question don't play with me right now

Marcellus: Make whatever you like

He sighed tapping his fingers on the table when the text popped up again.

Claire: shall I invite Finlay as well?

Marcellus: NO

Texting this he kept the phone aside as it pinged one last time, glancing at it he saw a thumbs-up emoji from her side, shaking his head he resumed back to work a small smile crept on his lips unknowingly.

"you look like a creep right now" Finlay spoke slowly eyeing Marcellus to which the latter grunted.

"What do you want now"

"Claire is inviting me over for dinner" Finlay showed his phone screen to Marcellus, "thought I should just inform you"

"she invited you? But I asked her not to"

"Why wouldn't you want to invite me?" Finlay whined, "Is your hatred too much for me?"

Marcellus clicked his tongue, steepling his fingers together he tilts his head "You are welcome at your own risk"

~~••~~

Being done with work Marcellus walked to the almost empty garage since it was already past nine but what unsettling was Finlay's car missing.

"imbecile better not be at my home"

Marcellus got into his car and drove off to the main road, today he wanted to reach home early for uncertain reasons even though he can not pinpoint them or maybe he could.

Upon reaching he punched in the code and was greeted by the sounds of laughter and chatter, removing his coat swiftly he makes his way towards the hall, his eyes hardening once they absorb the view in front of him. Finlay and Claire sat on the sofa with the TV volume almost maximum watching some random movie.

"So this is why you left early"

His tone made their head turn as both of them looked at him in unison from behind the couch "Hey" Finlay greeted Him first followed by Claire as she nodded at him with a small smile "We were just waiting for you, I will set the table now" she got up and walked into the kitchen, Marcellus' eyes followed her movement until she disappears into the kitchen before his eyes snapped back to Finlay, clenching his jaw he strides toward him.

"wait, wait" Finlay raises both his arms in the air backing away, he took a turn around the sofa so now he was standing behind the sofa and Marcellus at the front glaring at him, just as he was about to strike Claire walked out of the kitchen with packets in her hand "come to the table both of you".

Finlay made a run to the table followed by agitated Marcellus, he frowns at the food and then back at her "You said you were preparing dinner" he gestures at the takeouts on the table, "I was but then didn't feel like it so I ordered take-outs" she smiled at Finlay as he helps her set the table.

"It's some soup and noodles" Claire cleared her throat gazing at Marcellus "If you don't like-"

"I will eat"

The rest of the dinner was followed by Marcellus and Finlay throwing jabs at each other whenever they got the opportunity.

"Thanks for the invention, Claire" Finlay drawled focusing his eyes on Marcellus as he took her name deliberately and clearly.

"You are always invited so just shoo with the formalities" She waved her hand in front of her face dismissively unaware of the seething glares burning her skin from afar.

Just as the door closes off the apartment and Finlay departs Claire was grabbed by her elbow and spun around coming face-to-face with Marcellus' almost dark orbs with something swirling in them that almost made her gasp "Why did you invite him when I asked you not to" his voice edged with harshness and his grip steeling on her elbow.

"I- I invited him because he is my friend too"

"oh so now he is your friend too"

"yes he is and I don't need your permission to invite him or anyone I want to" She tried wiggling out of his grip but it only got hard, his nails digging into her arm "What is your problem?" she snapped still trying to get away.

"you, you are my problem"

"I wonder if we are twins or what cause, same"

"I am your problem? Explain"

"your existence is a problem in itself, you breathing is a problem"

"yeah?" he inched closer, his hand grabbing the back of her neck as he tugged her flush against him. Just a mere inch between them when his mouth drops low to her ear whispering, his voice dropping an octave "I am going to make you eat your words".

With that, he left her turning on his heels as he disappears further into the hall undoing his tie and wrapping it around his palm.

Was that hot?
Yes, that was hot.
Yeah-

Shaking her head she muttered to herself "When Billie Eilish wrote 'It's in Gutter' she was probably talking about my mind I guess".

Dragging herself to the kitchen she grabbed a water bottle from the fridge before padding her way to her room, on her way to the room she fleet one glance towards the closed door of his room. She knew he was awake, digging her nails into the bottle she stepped inside and slammed the door shut.

~~••~~

Tossing and turning on the bed with sleep nowhere close Claire rips the duvet away from her body and sat on the bed "Maybe I shouldn't have invited Finlay on my own, he is Marcellus' friend first then mine".

Shaking her head she steps down the bed slipping into her pink flip-flops she marches out of the room only to cease her steps frowning, a faint light was coming from Marcellus' room. She took out her phone to see quarter past two flashing on the screen "What is he doing up this late".

She walks towards his room and stops for a few beats before knocking twice, upon not receiving a response she grabs the knob twisting it. Her eyebrow-raising in surprise on finding it unlocked, she slightly pushed the door open and Marcellus raised his head at the same time to see her standing at the entrance of his room, fixing her with his eyes he observes her for a moment waiting for her to speak about her sudden visit.

"hey," she meeked as she ambled in "Why are you up this late?"

"I had few papers to review, why?" he puts his glasses down on the table, steepling his fingers together he peers at her movements.

"Right, well would you mind if I join you?" She closes the door behind her softly "I couldn't sleep".

Marcellus didn't say anything for a few seconds, calculating her movements like a predator making her nervous as she looked everywhere but at him, he nodded at her motioning with his hand towards the couch placed near the window.

"Great, let me just grab a book for myself I will be back in a minute" She dashed out of his room to her room and picked up a recent book she was reading then rushed back to his room but halts at the entrance, took a breath then walked elegantly inside as if she just didn't take a run. Making herself comfortable on the couch she places her book on her lap as Marcellus puts his glasses back on him.

"I never saw you wearing glasses" she questioned glimpsing at him, he appeared more mature in those along with a shadow of a neatly trimmed beard, the frame glistened under the ceiling lights making him appear more attractive.

"I just wear them when I read something" he shrugged skimming through papers.

"oh, but they suit you"

No response was received from his side, clearing her throat she spoke again "Would you like coffee? I can make two for us"

"no"

"but-"

"Can't keep your mouth shut, can you?" his curt words made her mouth seal immediately.

"or what?" she dared, gauging his reaction, he clicked his tongue standing up and walking leisurely towards her. Marcellus ceases his steps as he reached closer starting down at her, he drops to her level making her gulp, inching closer he pulled out a cello tape which Claire didn't even notice he had until now. Tearing it through his teeth he smiled sweetly before putting it on her mouth "Keep shut".

Still in trance she nodded picking up her book and started reading as he returned to bed. Fleeting glances at him from time to time from the side of the book, having enough after some time she ripped the tape away from her mouth.

"Are you still mad about that invitation thing?"

When she received a side-eye glare she immediately looked back at her book muttering "Okay", just after a couple of minutes a deep voice echoes in the room.

"How is the book?" Marcellus asked not looking up at her, gathering the scattered papers on the bed "It is good" Claire was taken aback by his question while Marcellus nods his head in response dropping his pen on the table, he points at her with his forefinger "When did you learn to read like this?"

"like what"

"like an upside-down" He indicates towards her book and Claire turned it to have a look, her eyes widening before she narrowed them at him "You should try doing it as well, normal reading is boring" A yawn slipped past her lips at the last word.

"you should go sleep now" He suggested while typing something on his laptop, his eyebrow frowning in utter concentration but when he didn't receive a response from her he raised his head to look at her and found her asleep as her head lolled back on the couch, her mouth slightly open. Standing up Marcellus walked to her and bent down to get a better view of her face, her eyes fluttering inside her closed eyelids, mouth slightly open as soft snores escaped her lips and a few strands falling on her flushed cheeks.

Smiling to himself he waved his hand in front of her to make sure she was asleep, he picked her up in his arms after placing the book on the couch. He stood in the middle of the room contemplating whether to take her to her room or not, deciding on the latter he made his way to his bed and lower her onto it gently then pulled a duvet over her body tugging her in completely.

He gazed at her face for some time gingerly removing the strands of hair from her face, his thump momentarily grazing her cheekbone softly as he retrieves himself back and takes a deep breath, he wait for a few beats before turning to leave, grabbing his laptop and papers he walked to the couch and resumed back to his work but his mind occupied elsewhere, it has been distracted since the moment she stepped inside his room no matter how hard he attempted to concentrate he could not. Stealing glances at her now and then he palmed his face groaning, finally determined to wrap everything up in irritation he switched off the lights and went off to sleep on the couch.