Chapter 50 Placating an Angry Jessica
"Gabriel, you're here." The moment she saw him, Diana's voice turned soft and pitiful. Her hand lay on the table, red with blood that seemed to flow in an unending stream.
Gabriel saw it right away. He walked over and took Diana's hand with urgency, "What happened?"
Diana didn't speak, only putting on a face of utter distress, as if she carried the weight of the world.
"Get me a scarf," Gabriel commanded, gesturing with his hand.
Promptly, a server presented the scarf, handing it over with great reverence. Bending down, Gabriel's long fingers wrapped the scarf around Diana's wrist. His towering figure cast a shadow over Jessica, obscuring her view of his face.
But she could imagine it… his face full of intense worry and angst.
As for her, she felt invisible at that moment, utterly disregarded by Gabriel. Defeated. Utterly and completely. Lacking the courage to stay a moment longer, Jessica stood up and left the coffee shop.
Outside, the wind had picked up, howling angrily. Even the sky turned grim, dark clouds threatening to engulf the city. Everything seemed so cold…
Jessica shivered, wrapping her arms around herself as she pulled out her phone to call for a ride home.
Just as the driver arrived and she was about to slide into the car, she felt a weight drop onto her shoulders. Turning around, Gabriel stood behind her, draping his coat over her.
Why had he come out? Wasn't he just inseparable from Diana, brimming with concern?
"Why leave without saying anything?" Gabriel's voice was deep and gentle as if he wasn't the one just caught up in the throes of worry. Yet, he made it seem as if the fault was hers.
"You were so wrapped up in each other, I didn't want to interrupt," Jessica retorted.
Then, from inside the car, the driver's impatient voice cut through, "Lady, are you taking this car or not? Don't waste my time."
Jessica was about to say she would take the car when Gabriel preemptively closed the door and told the driver, "She's not taking it."
"Not taking it? You could have said that earlier, now you've wasted my time for nothing."
"Just give me the QR code," Gabriel said, laconic to the point.
The driver eagerly handed it over, and Gabriel promptly tipped him a crisp hundred-dollar bill. Hearing the notification chime of the payment received, the driver's face broke into a beaming smile.
Before driving off, he couldn't help but try to smooth things over, "Hey, beautiful, your man here's not half bad. No use staying mad, you know? Spouses squabble, but it's all good by bedtime."
With that, he hit the gas and merged back into the sea of cars.
Jessica watched the car fade away, pouting.
She hung her head, scuffed at the gravel with her toe, and said without looking at Gabriel, "You sent my ride away. How am I supposed to get home now?"
Her annoyance was quickly softened by a warm touch. The next moment, her soft, fair hand was enveloped in Gabriel's.
"It's breezy out; aren't you cold?" he asked.
"Not cold," Jessica replied tersely.
Then, in a huff, she slipped off her jacket and tossed it at Gabriel.
"Upset with me?" he inquired, his gaze probing as he caught the jacket.
Jessica turned away, giving him the cold shoulder. Gabriel moved around to face her, trying to catch her eye. But Jessica wouldn't let him off so easily and continued to ignore him.
Seeing her mood, Gabriel didn't push. Instead, he draped the jacket back over her shoulders.
As Jessica reached out to discard the jacket again, Gabriel swiftly pulled it back up around her, his voice taking on a firm edge, "It's windy. Keep it on, don't catch a cold."
"Your hand's freezing, like a block of ice, and you say you're not cold." His grip warmed her hand further as he held it gently within his own.
"Mind your own business," Jessica snapped, trying to pull away. But Gabriel's grip was firm, and after several thwarted attempts, she relented, letting him hold on.
In the midst of this, Diana wheeled her way out. Her eyes brimming with tears at the sight of Gabriel, she was the picture of vulnerability.
"Gabriel, are you going to leave me here all alone?" she whimpered.
"Gabriel," a breathless Oscar ran up at that moment.
Gabriel spared Diana a cold glance and commanded, "Take her to the hospital to get that wound treated."
"Right away, Gabriel," Oscar said dutifully.
"No, I don't want him to take me," Diana instinctively protested.
But Oscar was quick, promptly whisking Diana off in her wheelchair toward the underground parking lot.
Once they were out of sight, Gabriel turned back to Jessica, "You're med school-trained; you know she cut an artery. If the bleeding didn't stop, it could've been dangerous."
"So, I patched her up," I mentioned offhandedly.
"Oh," Jessica said, her voice devoid of interest.
She hadn't paid much attention to the wound on Diana's hand earlier. Had it been an artery, it could have been dangerous.
"So, do you feel a tiny bit better about me now? Maybe a tad more forgiving?" Gabriel asked, with a hopeful edge to his voice.
"Not at all," Jessica responded, her answer sharp and decisive.
Outside, the wind was picking up. Trees bucked wildly, their leaves trembling frantically. Pedestrians' clothes were whipped around by the gusts, offering scant warmth.
Yet, Jessica felt a warmth in her palms. Gabriel's coat enveloped her down to her ankles. Her over-the-knee boots meant her body was tightly wrapped up from head to toe.
Glancing back at Gabriel, she noticed he was only in a casual shirt and gray slacks. His nose was red from the cold, and his handsome face looked utterly devoid of any warmth.
Despite herself, Jessica's resolve softened. "Let's go back," she said, initiating the move.
"All right." Gabriel took her hand effortlessly and led her toward the underground parking garage.
The driver, upon seeing Gabriel, promptly got out of the car and swung open the door, "Gabriel."
"No need today; you can head back," Gabriel dismissed him.
"Sure thing," the driver complied.
Jessica watched the driver walk away, then turned to Gabriel. "How are we getting back?"
Gabriel opened the passenger door and gently ushered Jessica's petite frame in before getting behind the wheel himself.
"So, I managed to chase your driver away, didn’t I? Well, Miss Jessica, how do you like your high-standard, good-looking driver?" He teased, flashing a grin.
"Good-looking? Get over yourself," she scoffed.
But then, she felt him lean closer, their faces drawing nearer.
Their noses were almost touching. Jessica tensed, her breath caught in her throat, her hands gripping the edges of the seat. She was suddenly too scared to move.
What was he planning to do?
That question swirled in her mind, the proximity too close, the posture too intimate for her not to speculate.
Was he going to kiss her?
Really, was he?
Just as Gabriel's lips brushed past the tip of her nose, Jessica closed her eyes in nervous anticipation. His soft, tender lips seemed to tease her senses as if daring her to take the plunge.
