Chapter 108 - The Errand Girl for Rhythm (1/2)

”To the office, Madam?” Dean, her chauffeur, asks.

”Yes, please, Dean,” she says, as she eases herself in the luxurious plush leather backseat.

”Are those for Mr. Gabriel?” he says, pointing at the pharmaceutical package she's holding. ”Is he well now?”

”I hope so. That's the whole point of these drugs.”

”I'm sure he will be fine. Mr. Gabriel is a strong man,” the chauffeur says.

Strong, but ill-tempered, she wants to say, but zips it. She smiles as she recalls how Gabriel stomped out of her room earlier, his well-shaped buŧŧȯċks bulging through the half-wet towel. She's sure there was also another ”bulge” in his front, but she dared not look at it. Indeed, he looked like a Greek god, an angry Greek god. But she would not tell him that; he's already pig-headed and egoistic as he is. Telling him how great he looks would only swell his pride.

Although she's almost sure Gabriel would not be at the office, she wants to check it herself, anyway. ”Can you wait here, Dean? I might be back shortly.”

”Yes, Madam.”

It's still about half an hour before the company's official work hours, but Mrs. Gomez is already at her usual perch at the reception desk, hungry for gossip. Her eyes light up upon seeing Claire. ”So, it appears our most eligible bachelor is back from the darkness.”

”Good morning to you, too, Mrs. Gomez.”

Mrs. Gomez tails her like an excited kid as she continues walking toward Gabriel's office. ”That's it? You won't even share with me the least juicy detail? How's our lover boy?”

Claire stops and turns to her. She's not quite sure about Mrs. Gomez, whether she's on Gabriel's side or not. Maybe it's best to keep things from her after all. ”He's still recuperating. There's really nothing 'juicy' about it. And if I were you, Ma'am, I would try my best to avoid crossing his path in the next few days as much as possible.” Claire makes a face. ”He's very ill-tempered. Heads might roll. Are you ready to find yourself to be suddenly out of a job?”

”Oh,” is what Mrs. Gomez manages to say, before she quietly shrinks back to her desk.

Gabriel would not really fire someone like Mrs. Gomez, not in a million years. But sometimes it helps if you remind people of their place. Especially now that Michelle is just around, probably observing the dynamics of the people in this office.

As expected, the door to Gabriel's office is closed. She slips inside and finds everything squeaky clean. She looks at Gab's desk phone in the corner, and thinks about calling him up at his penthouse suite. She's already holding the receiver, when she realizes she doesn't want to lose the element of surprise. After all, this is what it's all about, right? He surprised her last night. She will give him the surprise of his life today.

On her way out, the very person she's trying to avoid meeting appears in her path: Michelle Alcantara, whose face turns into a gigantic smile upon seeing her.

”Oh, my God! Have you visited Gab?” Michelle shrieks, giving her an air-kiss. ”I was there last night. He almost didn't want to let me go.”