The Former BOPE Police Oficcer

Chapter 19 – "A Family Gathering"

The morning in Los Angeles began quietly, with soft sunlight streaming through the windows of Gigi and Rafael's house. In the living room, Gigi was sitting on the couch, drinking coffee while checking some emails. Rafael was in the kitchen, finishing preparing his post-workout breakfast.

"Are you nervous?" Gigi asked casually, looking over her cup.

"Why are you nervous?" Rafael replied, not taking his eyes off the toast he was preparing.

"Because you're going to meet Bella today," Gigi replied, smiling.

Rafael turned to her, with a calm smile.

"No. Why would I be?"

"Because Bella is… different. She's my younger sister, but sometimes she seems to be the more protective of the two of us."

Rafael laughed.

"I'm sure I'll survive."

The clock read 11 when the doorbell rang. Gigi stood up quickly, fixing her hair as she walked to the door. When she opened it, she found Bella Hadid with a warm smile, wearing sunglasses and a stylish leather jacket.

"Bella!" Gigi exclaimed, pulling her sister into a tight hug.

"Hi, sis." Bella replied, entering the house and looking around.

Her eyes soon fell on Rafael, who was standing near the kitchen, dressed casually but with an imposing presence that was hard to ignore. He approached with a polite smile and extended his hand.

"You must be Bella. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

Bella shook his hand, noticing his firm but respectful grip.

"And you're the famous Rafael," she said, with a slightly teasing tone. "Gigi has been talking about you a lot."

"I hope good things," Rafael replied, with a slight smile on his face.

"That depends on your point of view," Bella joked, eliciting a laugh from Gigi.

Everyone settled into the living room, with Gigi serving coffee and some fruit to go with it. Bella looked at Rafael curiously, trying to understand more about the man who had conquered her sister.

"So, Rafael, Gigi told me you're Brazilian." — Bella began, crossing her legs. — What brought you to the United States?

"After I retired, I decided to explore the world a little more. I've always been curious about living here, and when I met Gigi, well…" He looked at Gigi with a smile. "That solidified my decision."

Bella raised an eyebrow.

"Retire? Gigi mentioned that you have an… interesting background."

"He's being humble." — Gigi intervened, smiling at Rafael. "Rafael had a long and intense career in the Army's special forces and in BOPE."

Bella looked at Gigi in surprise and then at Rafael.

"Special forces? That explains your impeccable posture."

"Hard habits to break." — Rafael replied with a smile.

Bella laughed lightly, beginning to relax.

"And do you like living here? Or do you miss Brazil?"

"A little bit of both. Brazil is my home, but Los Angeles has its charm, especially now that I'm here with Gigi."

Bella watched the way Rafael looked at Gigi. It was clear that there was something genuine between them, and that reassured her.

Gigi suggested that they go to a nearby restaurant for lunch. During the meal, the conversation flowed even more naturally. Bella was increasingly impressed by Rafael's simplicity and sincerity, even with his impressive past.

"And do you have any hobbies?" Bella asked as she cut her plate.

"Physical training is something that has always been part of my life, but I also like to explore new places, whether it's hiking or riding a motorcycle," Rafael replied.

"Oh, sure, the typical motorcycle guy," Bella joked, drawing laughter from everyone.

"You should see him training," Gigi commented, leaning towards Bella. — It's like watching a machine in action.

Bella rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

— Of course you'd say that. You're in love.

Gigi blushed, but didn't deny it, while Rafael smiled discreetly.

By the time they got back home, Bella seemed completely at ease with Rafael. She even joked with him about how much time he spent training and how he was "the most disciplined person she's ever met."

— You know, Rafael, I was a little nervous to meet you. — Bella admitted as they all sat in the living room again.

— Nervous? Why? — He asked, genuinely curious.

— Because Gigi has never been this involved with anyone. I wanted to make sure she was with the right person.

Rafael looked at Gigi, then at Bella, and nodded.

— I get it. It's what a good sister would do.

Bella smiled, satisfied with the answer.

— But honestly, you seem like a great guy. Just don't break my sister's heart, or we'll have problems. — She added, half joking, half serious.

Rafael laughed.

— I promise to do my best not to disappoint.

When Bella said goodbye, she hugged Gigi and after then Rafael, surprising him with the gesture.

"It was nice meeting you, Rafael. I think you're on the right path."

"Thank you, Bella. It was great meeting you too."

As Bella got into the car and drove off, Gigi looked at Rafael with a smile.

"She likes you."

"That's good," he replied, pulling Gigi close. "Because I really like her family."

Gigi laughed, resting her head on his chest, feeling more connected to Rafael than ever.

Chapter 20 – "Winning Yolanda Over"

It was a sunny morning in Los Angeles, and Gigi was nervous. Yolanda Hadid, her mother, was on her way to meet Rafael. Despite being loving, Yolanda was known for her direct and demanding manner.

In the kitchen, Rafael was making coffee while Gigi paced back and forth.

"You're too worried, Gigi," Rafael said calmly, without taking his eyes off the coffee maker.

"Of course I am! My mother is… complicated. She'll watch you, test you." Gigi sighed. "And it's not like it's easy to impress her."

Rafael placed a cup of coffee in front of her and held her by the shoulders.

"Relax. I'm not going to try to impress anyone. I'm just going to be myself."

Gigi smiled, but she still looked apprehensive.

The doorbell rang, and Gigi went to open the door, with Rafael following close behind. Yolanda walked in, elegant as ever, wearing a crisp white dress and sunglasses.

"Mommy!" Gigi hugged her.

"Honey!" Yolanda replied, smiling warmly before looking at Rafael.

Rafael extended his hand to shake hers.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Hadid. I'm Rafael."

Yolanda shook his hand firmly, her eyes scanning his.

"So, you're the famous Rafael I've been hearing so much about."

"I hope only good things," he replied with a polite smile.

Yolanda raised an eyebrow but didn't answer.

Everyone sat down in the living room, and Gigi served coffee and some snacks. Yolanda began asking questions, her curiosity evident.

"Gigi told me you're Brazilian. What brought you here?"

"A mix of curiosity and the desire to start something new," Rafael replied. — After retiring, I decided to explore the world, and the United States was a natural choice.

— Retire? You don't look old enough for that. — Yolanda commented, looking at him with interest.

— My career was intense, but it started early. I was part of the special forces in Brazil and, later, I worked at BOPE.

Yolanda seemed intrigued.

— Special forces? That sounds dangerous.

— It was, but it was also rewarding. I learned a lot about discipline, teamwork and overcoming limits.

Yolanda nodded, seeming to approve of the answer.

As they talked, Rafael maintained his calm and confident posture, answering Yolanda's questions without hesitation. Little by little, she seemed to relax, even smiling at times.

— Gigi told me that you speak several languages. — Yolanda commented.

— Yes, besides Portuguese, I speak English, Spanish and Hebrew.

— Hebrew? — Yolanda asked, surprised.

— I learned it during training with Israeli troops. It was an unforgettable experience.

Yolanda seemed impressed, which made Gigi breathe a sigh of relief.

Shortly after, Bella arrived to join the group. She seemed curious to see how Rafael was doing.

"Hello, everyone!" Bella greeted.

"Bella! You're right on time," Gigi said, pouring more coffee.

Bella sat down next to Yolanda and looked at Rafael.

"How's it going? Has Mom ever put you on the spot?"

Rafael laughed.

"Some tough questions, but nothing I couldn't answer."

Yolanda looked at Bella with a slightly disapproving expression.

"Don't be too over the top, Bella. I'm just getting to know the man who's with your sister better."

Bella exchanged an amused glance with Gigi, but didn't say anything else.

As lunch progressed, Rafael continued to show his genuine and respectful side. He asked intelligent questions about Yolanda's career as a model and businesswoman, showing genuine interest.

"You've really built an impressive career," Rafael commented. "It must be rewarding to see your daughters follow in your footsteps."

Yolanda smiled, clearly flattered.

"Yes, it's been a challenging journey, but it was worth it. It's good to know that Gigi and Bella have a good example to follow."

By the end of lunch, Yolanda seemed completely at ease with Rafael. She even complimented the food he helped prepare, which made Gigi and Bella exchange surprised glances.

When it was time for Yolanda to leave, she stood up and hugged Gigi, then Bella. Finally, she turned to Rafael and smiled.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Rafael. You're an interesting man."

"It was my pleasure, Mrs. Hadid. I hope we can see each other again soon."

"I'm sure we will," Yolanda replied, before walking out the door.

As soon as the door closed, Gigi and Bella looked at Rafael with shocked expressions.

"You did it!" Bella exclaimed.

"I did what?" Rafael asked, confused.

"You won my mother over," Gigi replied, still in disbelief. "I don't know how you did it, but she clearly liked you."

Rafael shrugged, smiling.

"It was just me."

Gigi hugged him, feeling relieved and more connected to him than ever before. Bella, on the other hand, laughed and shook her head.

"You're officially part of the family now."

Rafael smiled, pleased that he had made a good impression on one of the most important people in Gigi's life.

Chapter 21 – Meeting the Hadid Family

The morning was quiet in their new house in Los Angeles. Rafael was on the porch, drinking his coffee while reading the news on his tablet. Gigi appeared in the doorway, wearing a casual dress and with an excited smile on her face.

"Rafael, my siblings, Anwar and Alana, are coming to lunch today. I want you to meet them."

Rafael looked up, smiling slightly.

"Sure. Anything I should know about them first?"

Gigi laughed, sitting down next to him.

"Anwar is the youngest, but he's super protective. He might test you a bit. Alana is more laid back, but she has a very direct way of speaking."

Rafael nodded, taking another sip of his coffee.

"Testing, being direct… Sounds like a normal lunch to me."

Gigi laughed and rested her head on his shoulder.

Later, Rafael was in the kitchen, helping Gigi prepare lunch, when the doorbell rang. Gigi wiped her hands on her apron and ran to open the door.

"Anwar! Alana!" she exclaimed, hugging them both.

Anwar Hadid, tall, thin, and with the casual style of a model, entered first. He looked around curiously. Alana, the eldest, followed close behind, smiling warmly at Gigi.

"Welcome!" Gigi said, pulling them into the living room. "I want you to meet Rafael."

Rafael came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on the dish towel. He approached with a calm smile.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Rafael."

Anwar shook his hand firmly, his eyes assessing him.

"So, you're the famous Rafael."

"I hope you're famous for the right reasons," Rafael replied lightly.

Anwar raised an eyebrow, but laughed.

"We'll see."

Alana, on the other hand, was more direct.

"Gigi talks about you a lot. I don't think anyone here expected her to meet someone so... different."

"Different can be good," Rafael replied, keeping his tone calm.

Everyone sat down at the table for lunch. Rafael served the drinks while Gigi finished putting the plates on the table.

"So, Rafael, where are you from again?" Alana asked, picking up her wine glass.

"I'm from Brazil. Rio de Janeiro."

"Oh, Rio. Carnival, beaches, and samba, right?" Anwar said with a teasing smile.

Rafael smiled.

"That's part of what Rio has, but it also has favelas, inequality, and, in my case, a lot of hard work."

Anwar seemed interested, but didn't say anything else.

As lunch progressed, the brothers began to ask more specific questions.

"Gigi said you were in the military," Alana began. "What was that like?"

Rafael put his fork down and answered calmly.

"I spent a good part of my career in the special forces in Brazil, in a counterterrorism detachment. Later, I worked in BOPE, which is a special operations unit of the police."

"That sounds… intense," Anwar commented, sounding more curious than suspicious.

"It was," Rafael admitted. "But it was also an honor. Working in extreme situations teaches you a lot about courage and humanity."

Alana nodded, impressed.

"And how did you decide to come here?"

"After I retired, I wanted to explore the world. I came to the United States and ended up meeting Gigi."

Gigi smiled at that, clearly pleased with his answer.

After lunch, Anwar called Rafael to talk in the garden while Alana and Gigi tidied up the kitchen.

"So, Rafael, can I be direct?" Anwar asked, crossing his arms.

"Sure," Rafael replied calmly.

"Gigi has been through a lot, especially with my niece's father. I just want to make sure she's with someone who truly values ​​her."

Rafael looked directly at Anwar, without hesitation.

"I understand your concern, Anwar. And I respect you for caring about your sister. But I can assure you that I'm here because I want to make Gigi happy."

Anwar studied Rafael for a moment before giving a slight smile.

"Good. I like direct guys."

The two shook hands, and Anwar seemed more relaxed after that.

From inside the house, Alana and Gigi looked out the window, watching the interaction between Rafael and Anwar.

"He's doing well," Alana commented.

— I know. Rafael has this calm demeanor that makes everyone feel at ease.

— Just be careful, Gigi. A man like that attracts a lot of attention, and not always positive.

— I know. But he's different, Alana. He doesn't care about fame or money. He just... sees me for who I am.

Alana smiled.

— Then he's one of the good ones.

When it was time for Anwar and Alana to leave, they both bid Rafael a warm farewell.

— It was nice meeting you, Rafael. — Alana said, hugging him. — Taking care of Gigi doesn't seem like an easy job, but you're doing well.

Rafael laughed.

— It's a challenge I'm happy to accept.

Anwar shook his hand again, this time with a genuine smile.

— Good luck, man. I hope to see you more often.

— I hope so, too. — Rafael replied

When the two left, Gigi hugged Rafael, sighing in relief.

"They liked you."

"That's good," Rafael said, smiling. "Because I plan on staying here for a long time."

Gigi smiled, feeling more secure and confident in the future they were building together.

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