Why am I acting this way?
It was Friday morning, and the anticipation was nearly unbearable. I couldn’t wait to see Gabriel again. The day before, Stephanie had come with me to shop for some beautiful gowns. But as I stood in front of my closet, none of them felt right for the office. They were all too extravagant, too… romantic. I sighed, wondering how I could make this work. Asking my secretary to give Gabriel my home address felt too personal, too suggestive. Yet, if I told him not to come, I risked missing out on something exciting. But what if I didn’t like him anymore? That thought alone made me pause. Once he had my address, it would be hard to make him leave me alone if things went the way I didn't like it.
I checked the time. My heart raced faster with each glance at the clock, and my breathing became shallow. “Why am I feeling this way?” I muttered as I paced the room. It wasn’t like Gabriel and I had shared anything special yet. Nothing could happen unless I let it. I was the one in control here.
Finally, I settled on a black suit, something professional yet elegant. It made me feel powerful, in control—something I desperately needed right now. I couldn’t help but let my imagination wander, hoping Gabriel would ask me out later tonight or maybe over the weekend. That would be my opportunity to wear one of those gowns. As I applied my makeup, I chose red lipstick, bold and striking. A small act of defiance against my own nerves.
By 9:30 a.m., I had parked my car at the office and was making my way inside. My heels clicked sharply against the floor as I strode down the hallway, trying to calm my racing heart. I could feel the eyes of my staff on me, but I kept moving too quickly to stop and acknowledge any greetings.
“Good morning, ma,” my secretary greeted as she stood when I entered. I barely waved in response, heading straight into my office. A pile of files awaited me on the desk, each demanding my signature. Work. I could immerse myself in that and forget about Gabriel for a while. At least that’s what I hoped.
I sat down and flipped open the first file, pen in hand, but my eyes kept drifting toward the clock on the wall. Time seemed to crawl. I had barely made it through half the stack of papers when the clock struck 10:30. My heart leapt into my throat at the knock on the door.
“Come in,” I called, already knowing what was coming. My secretary stepped in, and the look on her face confirmed it.
“Ma, Mr. Gabriel is here to see you,” she said softly.
I didn’t want to admit how much her words affected me. Why was my heart pounding so hard? I had met plenty of attractive men before, yet something about this felt different. Too different.
“Let him in,” I managed to say, straightening in my chair, trying to calm the storm of emotions going around my head.
Moments later, there was another knock, and my breath caught in my chest. “Come in,” I repeated, and I could feel the frustration welling up. What was wrong with me? Why was I so… angry?
The door opened, and although I kept my eyes fixed on the files before me, I could feel his presence immediately. There was something almost magnetic about it.
“Good morning, Mrs. Juliana,” Gabriel greeted, his voice smooth and confident. In his hand was a white rose, and he placed it gently on my desk. That gesture should’ve been charming, but instead, I felt a surge of irritation. What did he want from me?
“I was told you came here on Wednesday, and now you’re here again,” I said, my voice sharp. “What exactly do you want? Are you looking for a job or something else?”
He didn’t respond immediately, and the silence hung heavy in the air. I kept my eyes on the papers, refusing to look at him.
“Ever since I first saw you, I haven’t been able to think straight. I can’t explain it…” Gabriel finally spoke, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
“This is an office for official matters,” I interrupted, my tone cold. “Are you unemployed? Why do you have so much free time to buy roses and give them to women? It’s morning, and here you are, acting like this is some… casual date.” The bitterness in my words surprised even me. I wasn’t sure why I was lashing out. Maybe it was because I could still feel the sting of what Justin had done to me. Maybe I was just projecting my anger onto Gabriel.
“I’m sorry,” Gabriel said softly, his voice steady despite my harshness. “You’re right. This isn’t the place for this. But… can I take you on a date? I know it’s unprofessional to ask like this, but I can’t help it. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and even if you’re upset with me, I can’t help but feel drawn to you. My feelings don’t change, whether you’re angry or happy.”
A small smile tugged at my lips. Damn it, he was charming. He knew exactly what to say.
“Do you really want to take me out on a date?” I asked, finally lifting my gaze to meet him for the first time since he stepped in. “How old are you?” My question was deliberate. I wanted to see how he’d handle it.
Gabriel’s smile deepened, but before he could answer, my office phone rang sharply, cutting through the tension that was between us. My hand froze over the receiver as a familiar, cold voice greeted me on the other end.
“Juliana, we need to talk. It’s urgent.”
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