Chapter Fifty-Four

                                    

                                          
Sorry for late update...  Six chapters to go until the end  😓
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Following Veronica Castellano's statement regarding the behaviour and negligence of her national head coach, Jorge Vilda—the world set aflame at the news. 
Cameras constantly followed the old man, but mostly the Real Madrid captain whose light seemed to be dimming by the day, the longer she was put in front of the flashing lights and questions.
Even more so, the brunette could feel eyes watching her every move after the events of the night before with Alexia, fearing that he knew they were with each other. 
"Veronica." A stern voice called out the athlete's name in the breakfast hall, catching everyone's attention to the commotion—some looking away, while other stared on in concern. 
The said woman turned at the call of her name, gulping down the hard ball of saliva in her throat at the sight of Jorge stood in front of her. 
His furrowed brows. Crossed arms.
"Alexia wasn't in her room last night," The grey-haired coach stated, aware of his loud tone and how everyone in the hall had heard it clearly—a small smirk appeared across his lips at the thought. 
Because if Veronica was going to expose him, he would return the favour. 
"She was with me." Veronica surprisingly revealed, aware that all of her team would now know the truth of her relationship with the Barcelona captain—but she no longer cared. 
And when the brunette's eyes searched the hall for them beautiful forest green irises, she found solace in Alexia as the pink-haired woman smiled back at her. 
While everyone was supportive of the couple, Jorge did not return the sentiment as he stepped forward with gritted teeth, "You know the rules—"
"I don't listen to you anymore," The ex-captain muttered bashfully, until her eyes locked dead on to the man in front of her—whose eyes visibly darkened. 
"Listen to me..." Suddenly, taking Veronica by surprised and the peering eyes, Jorge wrapped his hand tightly around the woman's wrist and pulled her closer, "Just because you spoke out doesn't mean anything will happen— I'm the one in power, remember that."
As the coach finished his last word, his grasp was loosened as he was pushed backwards and as he looked back to see who that person was, Jorge clenched his jaw at the sight of Alexia standing tall beside the brunette. 
Knowing that the next moments would end badly, Jorge Vilda walked away and out of the hall.
"Are you okay, Bonita?" Alexia hurriedly turned to a red-eyed brunette, gently holding her wrist that had been prior grabbed by Jorge, "He shouldn't— I'm gonna—"
"I'm okay now, Ale..." Veronica was embarrassed, which was clear by her blushing cheeks and trembling voice, "It's happened before." 
By this revelation, Alexia's jaw clenched as she stared down at the red marking on the woman's wrist—and uncaring of the eye that watched them, the Putellas athlete brought Veronica's wrist to her lips and kissed the bruise.
"That's not okay, Bonita." The captain urged, noticing how everyone in the room attempted to make it looks like they weren't staring at the pair—and shook her head, "Follow me." 
Veronica acquiesced to her girlfriend's demand, blushing under the stares that followed her as the two left the hall—silently entering the elevator and in to Alexia's hotel bedroom. 
"Sit down..." The pink-haired woman softly said, standing in front of Veronica and placing a gentle kiss upon her head, "I'll be right back." 
Alexia disappeared in to the bathroom, which left the brunette time to think as she listened to her girlfriend's occasional noises from the other room, staring down at the bruise forming on her tanned skin. 
How had she allowed Jorge to take it that far? 
"Give me your wrist." A sudden voice demanded softly, carefully watching Veronica's face as she lifted her hand up, allowing her wrist to be cradled in Alexia's strong hands, "What are you thinking about?" 
At this question, Veronica finally rose her eyes to meet with her girlfriend's, gulping at the sight of Alexia—believing that she was the most beautiful person in the world, like an angel in disguise. 
"You make me feel safe." 
The captain couldn't hide her shy smile and blushing cheeks at Veronica's words, allowing a soft chuckle to leave past her lips, "I'll always protect you, always." 
The room was slightly dark, lit up by the orange sun that filtered through the gaps in the curtains, and Veronica blushed at the sight of Alexia's sun gleaming face, accentuating the brown dots in her green eyes. 
"It's stupid, but... I thought... I thought that after I spoke out against Vilda, everything would be okay..." The brunette tore her eyes away and locked back on to the bruise, watching as Alexia grabbed an ice pack that she had retrieved from the bathroom, and pressed it lightly against it. 
"Sorry..." The captain apologised as Veronica's slight hiss at the cold contact, "I'm going to press it harder, okay?" 
Nodding, Veronica bit her lip as the ice pack was urged harder against the bruise, closing her eyes at the stabbing feeling.
As a few minutes had passed by, the brunette rested her head tiredly against Alexia, as her girlfriend laid beside her on the bed—basking in the silence. 
"Everything will be okay... After we win the World Cup and show the world that we can do it without him, people will understand..."
"And... If they don't?" Veronica hesitatingly whispered, upturning her chin to look in to Alexia's eyes that were already staring back at her. 
"Then we'll keep fighting." 
At this, the two women smiled at one another, falling more in love with one another as time passed by, "Thank you." 
"Of course, Bonita... I said I'll always be here to protect you," Alexia leaned forward and rested her hand comfortably on the brunette's hip, squeezing it as their lips connected. 
Veronica hummed at the contact, pulling away and smiling brightly at Alexia's dilated eyes. 
"I love you." 
"I love you—" A knock cut off the captain's confession, causing both women's heads to snap towards the door and look warily to each other. 
Reassuring her that it was okay, Veronica got to her feet and walked quickly towards the door, as the person on the other side knocked again. 
"Who is it?" The brunette shouted as her hand rested on the handle, yet the person's next words caused her to sigh in relief. 
"It's Ona." The defender shouted back, and smiled at the sight of Veronica as she opened the door, "I knocked on your door first... So I guessed you would be here." 
"What is it?" Veronica wondered as she noticed the smaller woman bite her lips as her eyes wandered down to the blaring screen in Ona's hands. 
"You'll want to see this..." 
Ona turned the screen around and Veronica's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she was shown a news article, yet they widened when realising there was a video attached to the page. 
"Just because you spoke out doesn't mean anything will happen— I'm the one in power, remember that." The familiar scene of the moments that had happened in the hall not long ago, were now published for the world to see. 
Veronica watched wordlessly at the scene where Jorge had grabbed her wrist, remembering how it had played out. 
Alexia approached her from behind and rested her hand on her girlfriend's shoulder, watching the video too in shock. 
"Everyone knows." Ona stated, as she stared hesitantly at Veronica's reaction—but became relieved at the smile that had appeared across the brunette's face, "And they all stand with you." 

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