Chapter 19.

Gabriella.
"Good morning Martin." I chirp happily hoping that today wasn't gonna be like yesterday and the day before because for reasons best known to him, he'd become distant and snobbish and I didn't like where our friendship was heading.
"Morning," he replied coldly, throwing his car keys on the kitchen counter.
"Aren't you going to work?" I asked with raised eyebrows, my heart skipping a beat when I see him with luggage.
"Are you m...moving out?" I asked, my eyes already preparing for the waterfall that was going to flood out if he nodded affirmatively.
"No, I'm only going on a business trip and I also took permission to take a few days off to clear my head. I'll only be gone for a week. Take care," he responded dryly but I wasn't having any of that.
"What exactly is your problem with me Martin? You've been acting like a dick for the last three days. You don't talk to me, you don't eat the food I make, and you've been coming home late to avoid me. If you're gonna be mad at me, at least give me a good reason!" I yell angrily at him, staring at his face intently to try to understand what is going on in that mind of his but for the first time in a long time, I can't read Martin and that scares me more than anything.
"I'm fine Gabriella and I'm not mad at you, I just need to clear my head. Have a nice day," he replied with a sad smile and walked out quickly forgetting our usual kiss before a trip pact.
I know it's childish but this would be the first time Martin would leave without my good luck kiss and it really hurt to know I may be losing the most important person in my life.
****
I stare at the building in front of me with a feeling of both confidence and happiness at the same time. The name boldly written 'Annie's Touch' made my heart fluster with pride and joy knowing that once again I was back on their payroll as the designer I was born and destined to be.
The fact that my best friend and I weren't on good terms downed my spirit a little but I knew that whatever was going on with Martin, he'd get over it and things would go back to normal between us. Hopefully.
I walk straight into the building with my head high, walking past Shannon with a small wave and a tight lipped smile and also trying to ignore the stupid murmurs that erupted from the lips of people whose only aim in life is to talk about people and keep going backward since all they literally ever talk about are things of the past and nothing about the future.
I head towards the elevator in a hurry, eager to surprise Fabian and Martha and in the process of going too fast I collide with someone, my head hitting rock hard muscles that immediately gives me a headache.
"Watch it lady!" The upset guy hissed and I bite my tongue hard so I don't lash out at him for being so rude.
"I'm so sorry." I apologized politely but he just scowled at me and attempted to walk past me before stopping abruptly to stare at me again.
"Wait, are you Gabriella?" He asked and I frowned.
"Yes I am. Do I know you or something?" I ask cautiously and he scoffs.
"You're the one everyone's talking about? You're not even all that." He laughed dryly and I clench my fists tightly to avoid slapping him. What the hell was he yapping about anyway?
"Just so you know, you're being very rude and disrespectful right now but as much as I would love to give you the comeback you deserve, I won't let an attention seeker like you ruin my day. Excuse me." I attempted to walk out but he stepped in front of me again, this time looking pissed.
"Asides from being ugly, you're equally disrespectful. You, my dear, should really learn to respect your bosses. I mean, I could fire you for being disrespectful and I'm sure you won't like that." He retorted arrogantly and I lost it.
"You and your authority or your position can kiss my ass, you idiot! Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do and I don't have time to deal with someone as idiotic as you are." With that, I walked straight into the elevator not very interested in whatever it is he had to say next.
If he thinks he can intimidate me by threatening to fire me, then he definitely hasn't heard about me properly. Nothing, absolutely nothing at this point in my life, can come to me as a surprise.
~~~~
I walk into my office and everyone immediately stops whatever it is they were up to, to stare at me and they went on with it for what felt like forever.
Some look surprised and happy to see me and by some, I meant very few actually and the rest of them look irritated and annoyed but I'm not surprised, they never liked me anyway.
I look around trying to find Fabian or Martha but I'm caught off guard when Martha squeals and jumps at me unexpectedly and if she wasn't so small, I'd have probably collided with the floor from the impact but fortunately that didn't happen.
"I'm so happy to see you!" she squealed excitedly and squeezed my shoulder but I'm distracted when I don't see Fabian.
"I don't see Fabian anywhere. Is he around?" I ask.
"Oh, Fabian and Jake are in Miami with the Fabric suppliers, it seems something is wrong with the deal so they need to straighten things out." She explained and I nod in understanding.
"How have you been?" I asked as we headed back to our tables.
"I've been okay and I'm sorry I didn't visit often, with one less designer your responsibilities fell on me and the only free time I had was too hectic because of family drama." She blurted out and I laughed.
"At least you called me almost everyday and kept me up to date with everything around here." I reply and we start to talk about work related gossip.
"Look who we have here! If it isn't Gabriella Johansson, the public borehole that still managed to climb back up," a very familiar voice interrupts us and I clench my fists tightly, angrily glaring at the rathead in front of me with disgust.
Just in case you haven't already guessed on your own, it's Trisha I'm talking about.
"Get back to work moron!" Martha snapped in my defense but earned a mocking laugh from Trisha who looked beyond furious.
"Don't get involved you squeaky rat!" She snapped her fingers dramatically and I rolled my eyes.
"Why are you here Trisha?" I asked calmly and she scoffed.
"Don't you dare play the good girl role with me you trash bag. You think we don't already know how you are? Everyone here knows you're a cheap whore, you bitch!" She hisses and I roll my eyes.
"Listen Trisha, I have zero interest in this conversation and I'm willing to let you say whatever you please but if you have nothing better to say to me, get out of my sight!" I snap at her and she snarls.
"You really think you have the right to talk back to me?" She asked rhetorically with a dry laugh.
"I know that you only got your job back by sleeping with the director or am I wrong?" She insinuates and I stare back at Martha whose eyes hadn't left Trisha's face. If looks could kill, this pretty face here would be dead and gone.
"You're so petty Trisha. All you ever do is spread cheap gossip and try to put people down just to feel better about yourself. You are just a shameless, low spirited wannabe Gabriella and I suggest you walk out now with your head, your face and makeup still intact cause if you don't, I will pluck your eyes out myself!" Martha threatened angrily and I'm beyond surprised.
This had to be the first time I'm hearing Martha talk without sounding like an angry child. She looks so serious right now and her threat seemed to take a very pale Trisha by surprise.
"You'll be sorry for every word you just said, you good for nothing mouse!" Trisha retorted furiously and walked awayz stomping her feet repeatedly and Martha and I broke into guffaws immediately.
"That was amazing Martha, thanks for standing up for me." I say to Martha immediately and she giggles.
"Don't thank me Ella, she deserves it. That bitch thinks she can have all the men on her tail like she's that big a deal. Absolute rubbish!" She retorted and I'm confused.
"What do you mean by that?" I asked immediately and she urged me to come closer.
"Trisha has a habit of trying to seduce the bosses indirectly but as you can see, she's still single and unsuccessful but as of recently, she seems to have regained that belief that she's the most gorgeous thing in the world." She's explaining and I chimed in.
"How come?" I ask.
"You probably haven't heard but there's a new hottie in the office and he has even put your man in second place!" She squealed dreamily and I rolled my eyes mentally.
No man can look better to me except... my thoughts were about to direct me to a possible candidate but bubbly Martha broke through my cloud of thoughts.
"Don't feel bad that your boyfriend has been put in second place, he's....," She's still talking but I cut her off.
"He's not my boyfriend! Yet!" I replied quickly and she giggled.
"Yeah sure, whatever!" She answered back winking. So typical!
"As I was saying, the new boss is really cute and you won't believe that he's actually Liam's little brother. I swear Mrs Helton only produces Greek gods. You need to meet him, he's so cute..." She babbles on and on and I feel my chest rise as my thoughts go back to the rude guy I ran into earlier.
"C..can you des..describe him?" I stutter nervously.
"Yeah sure, as you already know he's hot, he's tall, tan, he has blue eyes but not as blue as Liam's, he looks like a classy model with an arrogant look and he's actually very rude which I find incredibly sexy. He's basically just a Greek god that got lost by mistake!" She blurted out and I'm immediately certain that he was the same fool I ran into earlier.
Maybe that's why he knew my name and now he doesn't like me which simply means he's going to get me in trouble.
"Snap out of it Gabriella!" Martha tapped my forehead and I wince in pain.
"Sorry about that but I had to tap you back to reality and also inform you that hotshot whose name is Corey Helton is officially the new head of this department. Isn't that amazing?" She chirped excitedly and I could feel myself collapsing mentally.