Chapter 282 Lust Brings Trouble
Jessica hesitated, wondering if she'd face a cold, stern look if she went in now. It was work hours, after all, and maybe it wasn't the best time to disturb him.
She glanced at the shopping bag in her hand, feeling conflicted.
Earlier, Secretary Thomas had invited him to a fancy French meal.
Wouldn't the convenience store lunchbox and pasta she bought seem too shabby?
Just as Jessica debated whether to go back and get something better or just head home, her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She pulled it out and saw a message from Gabriel on WhatsApp.
Gabriel: [Not coming in?]
Jessica was puzzled.
How did he know she was here?
Gabriel was always so busy; he couldn't possibly be watching the company's front plaza surveillance all the time. She had just run into Wayne downstairs by chance; could Wayne have called him?
Wayne didn't seem like the chatty type.
Jessica quickly made her way to the CEO's office door with the shopping bag. Since she'd already been spotted, she didn't bother knocking and quietly pushed the door open. Gabriel was sitting behind his desk, looking the same as always, his posture and work state unchanged. But the moment she walked in, his gaze shifted directly to her. Seeing her bundled up in a hat and scarf with a shopping bag in hand, his eyes showed a hint of amusement.
"My God, if I knew you'd find me, I wouldn't have hidden. It's so hot," Jessica said, seeing Gabriel looking at her leisurely. She quickly took off her hat and let out a long breath. "It's cold outside, but it's really warm in your company. The hallway's air conditioning is also high; no wonder that secretary was wearing so little."
Gabriel paused at her words and gave her a slight glare. "So, is your point that the company's too warm, or that the secretary was wearing too little?"
Jessica coughed and cleared her throat. "Neither is important. What matters is whether you have a place to cook here?"
She quickly picked up the shopping bag she had just placed on the office sofa and showed him the lunchbox and pasta inside. "Since I'm already here, if you haven't eaten, I can cook you a bowl of pasta. It's not much trouble, and I bought plenty of seasonings and vegetables."
Gabriel looked at the items in her hand. "You came to my company to cook pasta?"
Jessica handed the lunchbox in his direction. "You can eat the lunchbox, too; a microwave is enough. But who knows if the convenience store lunchbox has preservatives? Do you have a break room here?"
She looked around as she spoke.
Indeed, she saw a hidden door on the left side of the office, blending with the wall color, next to a file cabinet and bookshelf. Although not blocked by the cabinet, it was hard to notice without looking closely.
She pointed in that direction and gave him a questioning look.
Gabriel had just received a data file from M Country that needed immediate review. He glanced at it and said, "There's a break room inside. I'll eat whatever; no need to cook anything special. You can rest in there if you're tired."
Jessica saw he was busy and decided not to disturb him. She grabbed the shopping bag and headed into the break room. As she pushed the door open, the lights flicked on, revealing a surprisingly spacious area.
The Harriman Group office building had a large footprint, with few offices on this floor. The assistant's office and the CEO's office were both large, with many functional rooms. She thought the break room would be a small space with just a bed and some essentials, but it was almost as big as a 2,000-square-foot apartment.
She closed the door, walked in, and placed the shopping bag on the kitchen island, then looked around.
Compared to Blue Bay Apartments, this place wasn't as big, but a 2,000-square-foot break room was still quite large.
Maybe because it was in the company, the privacy was higher than Blue Bay Apartments, and the soundproofing was good. But Gabriel probably didn't sleep here often, or he hadn't slept here in a long time, as the fridge was empty.
Luckily, she had bought seasonings and other things; otherwise, there would be no way to cook.
Twenty minutes later, Jessica came out of the break room with a steaming bowl of egg pasta.
This time, she was cautious, not wanting to interrupt a meeting or something. She peeked out to see Gabriel standing by the floor-to-ceiling window on the phone, likely with an important foreign partner. Gabriel's calm voice was low and pleasant in the night.
Jessica placed the bowl of pasta on his desk so he would see it when he turned around, then quietly glanced at him. He was wearing a dark gray shirt and well-tailored trousers, holding the phone in one hand and the other in his pocket. Having spent years in the M Country, she understood the conversation was important and didn't eavesdrop further, turning back to the break room.
Mackenzie messaged her in the group chat.
Mackenzie: [@Jessica, you traitor, ditching us for Mr. Harriman?]
Jessica replied: [@Zoey, keep an eye on Mackenzie, make sure she drinks less.]
Zoey: [Mackenzie's already drunk, I can't stop her.]
Jessica chuckled, chatted with them for a bit, then looked at the break room door.
She had not expected to come to Harriman Group suddenly. She had just planned to stay downstairs but ended up here, now in Gabriel's office break room.
Ditching friends for a crush?
Gabriel was so stunning, it was understandable to ditch friends once.
Who said only men fall for beauty?
Women do, too.
But what was she thinking at the convenience store, and why did she buy some wine?
Jessica took out two cans of beer from the shopping bag on the kitchen island and looked at them silently.
Ten minutes later.
Jessica peeked through a crack in the break room door, seeing he was still busy, and leaned her head against the door frame, scratching it with her finger and saying,
Annoying.
Gabriel heard a faint sound, turned, and saw Jessica peeking through the door, her slightly tipsy eyes full of a small, neglected grievance.
