I NOD, in response.
My skillful step was interrupted because he sighed violently before sipping the wine from the glass. I immediately turned my feet towards him.
He keep ignoring me, pouring himself a drink. I think he has a lot to drink.
I know I have no right to complain but I will try anyway. I filled my lungs with midnight air before I speak.
"M-do you and Alessandra have a problem?" I asked softy, ignoring my heart that was beating uncontrollably.
"It is none of your business," he said in a cold tone. I was devastated when he ordered a glass of wine to drink and loudly laid it on the table.
I stare at his sudden seriousness, adjusting his tie slowly. I swallowed a few more before I dared to step my feet closer to him.
He turned to me as I laid the cup noodles I was holding on the table.
"Alessandra loves you so much, you can't blame her if she's just mad at you." I started.
He shrugged a bit, not choosing to comment on what I said.
"Maybe you should gain her trust..." I paused, due to the tension of the jaw a few times.
"This is our problem, just mind your own business," he said sharply.
I wish I could pull his words back, so that I wouldn't feel the pain he brought to me.
"I-I'm sorry, I just wanted to help," I whisper. I kept my eyes on the cup noodles that were slowly losing smoke.
He shook his head, before pouring the wine into the glass again.
"It's getting late, finish your food. I'll take you to the office tomorrow, " he said without looking at my reaction.
What?!
My eyes widen, "A-Alessandra and I haven't talked about this yet," I answered.
"You said, you wanted to help, right?" His brows arch, reminding me of what I just said earlier.
I gave him a curled lip before nodding.
"Good, " he responded.
My heart accelerated. I immediately looked up at him. "No, of course! I mean, I wanted to help, but to hired me as your secretary? I think it's not a good idea."
Instead of answering, he got up from his seat and faced me. And from where I was standing, I looked up at him with all my courage.
"Give me a good reason why you're rejecting Alessandra's offer?" he asked, crossed his arms tightly in front of me.
"W-nothing..." I said quietly, but if I'm going to be honest, I have a lot to explain why I don't agree with Alessandra's wishes.
Gabriel raised his eyebrows at me. "So you are choosing the hard path, huh?" he said, before looking down at my hand.
I quickly looked away from him, I also quickly folded my two palms to hide the wounds I sustained.
I could clearly hear the tension in his jaw and I was very shocked when he gently pulled my hand.
I immediately backed away but he quickly pulled me back. I really felt hot, from the feet up to my two cheeks.
"Does it hurt?" he asked softly.
I close my eyes because now I feel more the pain of the wounds because of the attention he gave.
"I'm okay... It doesn't hurt." I smiled a sad smile in reply. Yeah, it's nothing compared to my wounded heart.
"You're lying," he instantly said.
"Of course I'm okay... It's nothing." I decided to pull my hand which he released but he just slipped on my wrist.
I didn't move or say anything, my whole body seemed paralyzed because of the heat of his palms on me.
"Be my secretary, " he said in a hushed voice, eyes wandered my lips. My heart pounded because of what he said.
"So, you no longer suffered from these wounds..." he said, before releasing me and leaving me stunned without saying a word.
Slowly my eyes dropped to the palms he had just held. The intensity and warmth he brought was still there. I can still feel my heart beating fast.
I shook one after another. I can't go out in public with him. What if someone knows me, Hezekiah and me? I don't want to surprise him, because I'm still not sure if he can still accept me in his new life.
****
The next morning I woke up earlier than I expected because the truth was that the thought of entering as Gabriel's secretary did not put me to sleep.
I face the stove but my attention is not there. Lots running through my mind. Fear, doubt and nervousness. I want to be blamed for why I got into a situation like this. If I had just followed Elli's advice to me to legalize everything, I might now have Gabriel with no difficulty. But how do I do that now? Yet he loves someone else.
"What's that smell?!"
I quickly went back to reality from hearing Gabriel's voice. I quickly turned off the fire and immediately removed the frying pan from the stove to move to the other stove.
"Shit!"
I couldn’t help but say when I saw the result of the toasted bacon. I immediately turned my feet towards it. My eyes widened but I quickly compose my face. The only thing he is wearing is boxer shorts and the rest is damn naked.
I swallowed hard, as I freely watched his wholeness. Damn it! how could he be so hot like this? His big torso, the masculine abs and his broody shouting chest!
I pursed my lips and allow my eyelids close and open slowly. I saw them many times in my own naked eyes, my own private thoughts and our own intimate nights, but the feeling right now is different. I’m sure he got from farming the shocks in his stomach that have become more detailed over the past year.
He smirked, crossing his arms securely against his chest. The amazement in my eyes disappeared because of the last thing he did.
"Make me a cup of coffee. " He ordered.
I blinked my eyes and nodded
"Uh, all right!" My bewildered answer before being forced to turn away from him. I was breathing more while making a coffe. I could feel the heat and the intensity of his aura behind my back. I know that he follows my every move, which makes my heart even more nervous.
"H-heres your coffee, Sir." I carefully laid it on the table where he was already sitting in the capital chair.
I also immediately turned around to have a problem with the burnt frying pan. I decided to soak the pan in water first and choose a smaller pan to start cooking again. I quietly opened the fridge and took some eggs and bacon for breakfast. I kept the calm of the action even though my heart wanted to come out with intense nervousness.
"Good morning!"
Alessandra's voice was lively as she approached the dining room, unmistakable in anger like the night before.
"Meredith let's breakfast so that you and Gabriel can come in together for work today." She suggest.
My gaze flew so fast that a smile could be seen on my lips.
I opened my mouthed to speak but I folded them back to the bottom one, I couldn't refused with one voice.
"If you want to come with me, I'll also go to my brother Marcus' office," she added, without looking at me.
I shifted my gaze to Gabriel, to ask for his help but he just chose to sip his coffee.
"Uh, can I think about this first?" I now found the right words to say and carefully sit at the chair across to her.
She slowly lowered the cutlery before looking straight into my eyes full of questioning.
"Why? Don't you want your new job to be?" She frowned at her own question.
"Ah, it's not like that." How can I say I'm not ready for Gabriel to know my true identity. In case she finds out who truly I am.
Am I ready in case Alessandra is the one he choose and I am not? I shuddered at the thing.
"Don't worry Gabriel and my brother Marcus will be there to guide you. I'm sure they will treat you professionally. The employees there are also kind..." she politely said.
I bit my lower lip, I no longer knew what to answer.
"I called Marcus last night, I told him, you would be Gabriel's new secretary and he agreed to it." She added.
I didn’t answer, watching how broadly her smiled at me. She's very lovely, far from what she looked like last night as she and her husband were arguing. I know she just wants to keep Gabriel away from women he thinks are a threat to their marital relationship. And choosing me as her allies is my big problem right now.
I don't want her to put trust on me and to think that Gabriel is with me just for work. I don't want to give her a reason to criticize me in the very end.