The Former BOPE Police Oficcer

Chapter 10 – Inevitable Connection

It was a cold night in New York, but the warmth between Rafael and Gigi seemed to transform the atmosphere around them. They had decided to have dinner at Gigi's apartment, something simple and intimate. Gigi, wearing a comfortable knit sweater and jeans, was in the kitchen finishing a pasta with pesto sauce while Rafael opened a bottle of wine.

"It smells really good," Rafael commented, leaning against the counter, watching her with a discreet smile.

"It's nothing too elaborate, but I hope you like it," Gigi replied, looking at him over her shoulder.

"I'm sure it will be great," he said sincerely.

The intimacy between them grew organically, as if they both knew they were approaching something inevitable.

After dinner, they settled on the couch, the wine flowing and the conversation becoming increasingly relaxed.

"You're different from everyone I've ever met," Gigi said suddenly, looking at Rafael.

"Different how?" — He asked curiously, leaning slightly toward her.

"You're… real. You're not trying to impress anyone. You're not interested in anything other than being yourself." She explained, her voice soft.

Rafael was silent for a moment, analyzing her words.

"I could say the same about you." He replied, his voice deep. "You're so much more than the image the world sees."

Their gazes met, and the silence that followed was filled with tension. Finally, Rafael spoke:

"Gigi…"

Before he could finish his sentence, she leaned in and kissed him. The moment was both soft and intense, as if they had both been waiting for this for a long time.

The kiss deepened, and Rafael pulled her closer, feeling her heat against his body. When they finally pulled away, they were both breathless, but with smiles on their faces.

"I think I've wanted to do this since the day we met." Gigi admitted, laughing lightly.

— And I was waiting for the right moment. — Rafael replied, his tone serious but full of affection.

The attraction between them was undeniable, and the rest of the night was an extension of that first kiss. Between smiles, laughter and touches, they gave themselves completely to each other.

The early morning was quiet, and for Gigi, the night had been perfect. Rafael was attentive and affectionate, but at the same time, there was an intensity about him that made her feel alive.

At dawn, the sunlight invaded the room softly. Gigi opened her eyes slowly, feeling the comfort of the covers and Rafael's body next to her. But when she turned around, she realized he was no longer there.

Getting up, she put on a loose shirt and walked barefoot through the apartment. She found Rafael on the balcony, shirtless, with a cup of coffee in his hand, looking at the horizon.

For a moment, she just watched him. The morning light outlined his muscular body and highlighted the tattoo of the archangel Michael on his back. He seemed lost in thought, but at the same time, completely at peace.

Gigi picked up her cell phone from the counter and, without thinking much, took a picture. The image perfectly captured Rafael's essence: strength, mystery and serenity.

The sound of the click made Rafael turn around.

"Did you take a picture of me?" He asked, with a slight smile.

"Sorry, but you looked so... you. I couldn't resist," Gigi replied, laughing.

He approached her, still smiling, and wrapped his arms around her.

"And what exactly did this picture capture?"

"Everything you are. Strong, mysterious... and beautiful," Gigi said, blushing slightly.

Rafael leaned over and kissed her on the forehead.

"You're all that too... and more."

They drank coffee together, chatting about trivialities and laughing at simple things. For Gigi, it was as if Rafael brought her a calm she didn't know she needed.

As he washed the cups, Gigi picked up her phone again and looked at the photo she had taken. Unable to help it, she smiled, feeling a mixture of admiration and affection.

Rafael noticed and, drying his hands, approached.

"Are you planning on posting this photo?"

"No," Gigi replied, shaking her head. "This one is just for me."

He watched her for a moment, before pulling her closer.

"I like this."

The connection between them was stronger than ever, and although they both knew the future was uncertain, at that moment, nothing else mattered but the present they shared.

Chapter 11 – "What a Man, My Friends"

It was a quiet afternoon in Gigi's apartment. She was lying on her bed, scrolling through her phone, reviewing for the tenth time the photo she had taken of Rafael that morning. The image of him, from behind, with the New York skyline in the background, was almost artistic. The tattoo of the archangel Michael seemed to tell a story, a narrative that Gigi was still slowly discovering.

Without thinking much, she opened the group message with her friends, called "Girl Squad", where Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber and Lauren Perez were the main participants. There, everything was shared, from trivial matters to the most important moments of their lives.

She attached the photo and quickly typed:

"What a man, my friends."

After a few seconds, she pressed "send".

It didn't take even a minute for the notifications to explode on the screen.

Kendall:

"WAIT. WHO IS THIS???"

Bella:

"??????? GIGI??? WHO IS THIS MAN????"

Kylie:

"I NEED INFORMATION IMMEDIATELY."

Hailey:

"Okay, I'm married, but oh my God."

Lauren:

"THAT'S ABSURD, GIGI. YOU DON'T DO THAT TO YOUR FRIENDS."

Gigi laughed, rolling around in bed as the messages came in one after another. The intensity of the responses wasn't unexpected, but it still amused her.

Bella:

"I'm your sister, and I'm still freaking out. Who is this?!"

Kendall:

"YOU'RE GOING OUT WITH HIM?!"

Kylie:

"Is he a model? Because honestly, he should be."

Gigi sighed, deciding it was time to provide more context.

Gigi:

"It's Rafael, guys. The guy you've seen me with in paparazzi photos."

The group erupted again.

Kendall:

"WAIT. THE MYSTERIOUS GUY IN THE PHOTO?!"

Hailey:

"IT'S HIM? THE ONE FROM CENTRAL PARK??"

Bella:

"OMG, GIGI, HE'S PERFECT. HOW COME YOU HAVEN'T SHOWN A PICTURE OF HIM BEFORE?!"

Lauren:

"He's even more handsome from the back. I don't even need to see his face to know he's a Greek God."

Kylie:

"He looks like he's straight out of an action movie. You have to give more details, Gigi. Who is he?!"

Gigi laughed out loud, amused by the commotion. She started typing, but before she could reply, Bella sent another message:

Bella:

"He's not just handsome. This guy has a presence. You can feel his energy just from the photo."

Hailey:

"I agree. It has 'I'm dangerous, but I can protect you' written all over it. It's very seductive."

The conversation was clearly getting out of hand, and Gigi knew there was only one way to calm the group down: to respond.

Gigi:

"Okay, okay! Yes, it's Rafael. And yes, we're just getting to know each other. He's not a model. He's Brazilian, and before you ask, he was in the Army Special Forces and then he was a police officer in the BOPE. That's why he's so... impressive."

The reaction was immediate.

Kendall:

"SPECIAL FORCES?! BOPE?! ARE YOU DATING A SOLDIER IN A MOVIE, GIGI?"

Kylie:

"That explains the tattoo! Oh my God, he's REALLY dangerous and protective."

Bella:

"Okay, now I get it. And he speaks English with an accent, right? That's incredibly attractive."

Hailey:

"I'm married to a singer, but honestly, Rafael is on another level."

Lauren:

"I'm single and officially jealous. Gigi, did you win the genetic lottery and now the love one too?"

As her friends continued to freak out, Gigi couldn't help the goofy smile that spread across her face. She knew Rafael was everything they were describing, but what made him special to her went beyond his physical appearance or impressive past. He was calm, thoughtful, and most of all, genuine.

Bella:

"Wait a minute, Gigi. Does he know you're talking about him in the group?"

Gigi:

"No, and he'd probably die of embarrassment if he did."

Kendall:

"Well, keep it a secret, but seriously, Gigi, take care of this man. He seems special."

Kylie:

"Absolutely. If you don't, the line will be long."

Everyone laughed at the message, and the conversation continued for a few more minutes, with the friends speculating about Rafael and imagining what he was like in person.

Later that night, while lying in bed, Gigi received a message from Rafael.

Rafael:

"Have you had a quiet day?"

Gigi:

"Yeah, but my friends found out about you. They're freaking out."

Rafael:

"Found out? How?"

Gigi:

"I showed them that picture of you I took this morning."

There was a pause before he responded.

Rafael:

"Oh, so now I'm officially in your circle of friends?"

Gigi:

"You have no idea. They love you just from the picture."

Rafael:

"What a responsibility."

Gigi laughed, imagining his expression on the other end.

Rafael:

"Well, I hope I live up to their expectations when I meet them in person."

Gigi:

"I'm sure you will. But be careful, they're intense."

The conversation ended with laughter and an implicit promise that what they were building was something worth protecting.

As Gigi put her phone away and turned off the light, she realized that something in her life was changing. And this time, she felt like she was on the right track.

Chapter 12 – Meeting Khai

It was a sunny morning in New York, and Gigi was visibly anxious. Her daughter, Khai, would arrive in a few hours to spend a few weeks with her before returning to her father, Zayn Malik.

Although she was used to sharing her time with Zayn, Gigi always felt a mix of joy and anxiety when she had Khai with her. After all, being a mother was the most important part of her life.

She walked around the apartment, checking that everything was in order: Khai's favorite toys were in place, the food she liked had been bought, and her room was decorated with the colors and characters that always made her smile.

As she adjusted a blanket on the small couch in Khai's room, her phone vibrated. It was Rafael.

Rafael:

"Good morning. Are you ready for the princess's arrival?"

Gigi:

"Good morning! Almost everything is ready. I'm nervous, as always."

Rafael:

"It's going to be great. You're an amazing mother, Gigi. She'll love being there with you."

Gigi smiled as she read the message. There was something about Rafael that put her at ease. Even though he didn't know Khai, he showed interest and respect for Gigi's role as a mother, something she deeply valued.

A few hours later, Gigi was in the lobby of her building, waiting for Khai, who would arrive accompanied by a trusted babysitter. When the door opened, the little curly-haired girl ran in, holding her pink backpack.

"Mommy!" Khai exclaimed, throwing herself into Gigi's arms.

"Hi, my love!" Gigi replied, hugging her tightly and breathing in her daughter's familiar scent.

After saying goodbye to the babysitter and thanking her, Gigi took Khai to the apartment. Along the way, the little girl talked nonstop about her weeks with her father, describing in detail the games, stories, and foods she loved.

"And you know what, Mommy? Daddy said I can pick out a puppy when I get back!" — Khai announced excitedly.

"Wow! That's amazing, my love! Do you know what kind of dog you want yet?" Gigi asked, smiling.

"A big, fluffy one!" Khai replied, laughing.

When they arrived at the apartment, Khai immediately began exploring, revisiting her toys and showing her mother the drawing she had made for her.

That night, after putting Khai to bed, Gigi sat on the couch with a cup of tea, thinking about Rafael. Over the past few days, she couldn't stop thinking about how he seemed to fit into her life, even the most chaotic and complicated parts, like being a mother. He was kind, patient, and always willing to listen.

She picked up her phone and typed a message:

Gigi:

"Khai is here. She's already brought so much joy to the apartment."

Rafael:

"I'm so happy for you guys. She seems amazing."

Gigi hesitated before sending the next message.

Gigi:

"I was thinking… I want to introduce her to you. Not now, of course, but maybe soon. What do you think?"

The answer came quickly.

Rafael:

"If you think it's the right time, I'd love to meet you. But I don't want to rush anything. This is your decision."

Rafael's maturity and sensitivity made Gigi smile. She knew he understood the importance of this step.

The next morning, Gigi decided to mention Rafael to Khai, casually, to see his reaction.

"Khai, did you know that mommy has a really cool friend?" Gigi said as she helped the girl put on her favorite shirt.

"Who?" Khai asked curiously as she tugged on the sleeve of her blouse.

"His name is Rafael. He's very kind and funny. I think you'd like him."

Khai tilted her head thoughtfully.

"Does he like ice cream?"

"He loves ice cream!" Gigi replied, laughing.

"Then I guess he's cool." Khai concluded with a smile.

Gigi kissed her daughter on the forehead, feeling more confident in her decision.

A few days later, Gigi called Rafael to arrange a meeting.

"Do you have time tomorrow? I thought of something simple, maybe a trip to the park with Khai," Gigi suggested.

"Sure. I'd love to," Rafael replied.

The next morning, Gigi explained to Khai that they would meet Rafael at the park. The girl seemed excited about the idea, especially when Gigi mentioned that he could speak several languages ​​and that he had lived in Brazil.

"Brazil? Is that where they have those big animals?" Khai asked.

"Yes, there are lots of cool animals there. Maybe Rafael can tell you more," Gigi replied, laughing.

When they arrived at the park, Rafael was already there, dressed casually in a white t-shirt and jeans. He was carrying a bag that, as Gigi soon discovered, was full of bubble toys and small games for children.

"Hi, Gigi. Hi, Khai." — Rafael said, kneeling down at the girl's height.

— Hi! Are you Rafael? — Khai asked, looking at him curiously.

— It's me. And you must be Khai. Your mother told me a lot about you. — He said, smiling warmly.

Khai looked at him for a moment before saying:

— Do you like ice cream?

Rafael laughed and answered:

— I love it. Chocolate is my favorite.

"Mine too!" Khai exclaimed excitedly.

From then on, the interaction was natural. Rafael started playing with Khai, blowing soap bubbles while she ran to pop them. Gigi watched the scene, feeling a warmth in her chest when she saw how easily Rafael connected with her daughter.

After a while, the three of them sat on a bench, sharing a package of cookies.

"Rafael, have you ever seen a big, fluffy dog?" Khai asked.

"I've seen a lot, especially in Brazil. There's a dog called the Brazilian fila, which is really big and very protective." He replied.

Khai's eyes lit up.

"I want one of those!" Rafael laughed, looking at Gigi, who just shrugged.

"Looks like you'll have to talk to daddy about that." He said, winking at Khai.

As the afternoon drew to a close, Gigi and Rafael said their goodbyes, with Khai waving excitedly as she held a small bubble wand Rafael had given her.

"He's nice, Mommy," Khai said as they walked back to the house.

"I'm glad you like him, my love," Gigi replied, feeling more confident than ever about her future with Rafael.

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