A new chapter everyone! I really hope you enjoy this one :D. My exams are finally over ! I'm going to Italy for one week (starting this Saturday), which means I won't upload in a short time. Enjoy this Chapter and review !!!
09. Perfect Couple
The next morning I woke up in the bed of the man I've fallen for. Or better: In the bed of the man, who is my boss. But the thing is, it feels right. Even good in a way. I don't feel like I am breaking some rules, but in fact I am breaking a million rules at this moment. But I don't care. Because when I am with him, nothing matters expect us. Nothing at all. I didn't know that it's possible. To feel right and wrong at the same time. To feel pleased and guilty, horrible and great...
I streched my arms and legs, before I got up. I looked out of the huge window, to see New York awake. The sun was already up and the beautiful blue sky was shown. Then I looked down, to see crowds waiting at red lights, while others crossed the street. Mainly business people, men and women in black suites; but there were also simple people, in jeans and a shirt. I smiled, I truly love New York.
I decided to collect my underwear. After seconds of looking, I finally found my pants and correst and changed into my underwear again and searched for the white chemise from last night. After seconds of looking I found it next to the nightstand. I picked it up and got it on. While buttoning it, I walked out of the bedroom straight into the living room. But I didn't see the familiar man. I yawned, brushed through my messy hair and heard my cellphone ringing.
„Fucking phone!" I cruised and looked around. Who had the nerve to call that early?!
I yawned again, as I looked for my Jeweled Stam Satchel Marc Jacobs purse. I found it next to the couch and quickly got my Blackberry out. I looked at the display: Sue.
„Hello?" I said and couldn't hide another yawn.
„Where are you? It's 10:30 am !" I heard her saying.
„What? That late?" I said in shock and looked for a clock. She was right, it was 10:30.
„Yeah, I started to worry...Are you feeling better?"
„Better?"
„Yeah, I mean you left earlier..."
„Oh, right. Yeah, totally. I'm just...tired." I said and yawned again, „Anyways, how are you?"
„I'm freaking out right now!"
„And why's that?"
„Well because Ava's sick, Troy is, hell knows where and you're not in your office, either. So, I am the only one who's running this company right now!"
„Okay, okay, chill...I'll be there in like 1 hour or so. Sounds good?"
„Make it a half and I'm staring to relax."
„45 Minutes, not a single minute less."
„Fine. I'll see you in 45 minutes. Don't you dare to be late!"
„Yes, Mom don't worry..." I said and hung up.
I yawned again, before I walked into the kitchen. I opened the door and saw Johnathan already sitting at the dinning table, reading his newspaper. Next to his right hand was a glass filled with orange juice. He took a sip of the juice and didn't even seem to notice me. I shurgged and walked to him. Still, no notice. I reached him and rested my head on his shoulder. „So all that politics are more important than I?" I asked him and he turned his head to face me.
„Good morning to you, also." He said and kissed me.
„Morning." I said smiling and sat next to him, „Why didn't you wake me? It's 10:30."
„Why should I?"
„Well because I have to be at work on time." I said without thinking.
He smirked, „I am your boss."
„Yeah, well you know how I meant it."
„I do. But don't worry, when you're with me...You don't have to worry about coming late to work. Because I am the one who tells you when you are late. No one else does. And if I'm telling you, that you don't have to go to work today, then so it is."
„Wait, you're telling me that I can take this day off?"
„Well since you don't want to come to Hawaii with me, you can take the day off."
„As much as I would love to, I can't. And it's not because I wanna work, believe me all I wanna do is stay in this aparment with you. But I told Sue that I will be down in 45 minutes. The only problem is, no one should see me exiting this building in partly your clothes." I explained.
„Yeah, well there's always a back door." He said and smiled.
„So, how are you feeling? Any worse?" I asked him slowly.
He shook his head and tried to smile, „Not worse, but not better either." He finally said and shrugged.
„Do you want me to do anything?"
„Actually there is one thing you could do..." he said and smirked.
„Oh, I know where this one is leading to. And I already said this, but I can say it again: Hawaii is not an option for me. It is for you. For you and your family, but not for me."
He sighed, „It was worth a try..."
I nodded and got up, „I hate to say this, but I have to go."
He eyeballed me, „Like this?"
I looked at myself, right I forgot the shoes and the skirt, „Yeah, well I still have to find my skirt. Do you know where it is?"
„Look in the closet or so." he suggested and I walked into his closet. I looked at the floor, no black skirt. Then I walked back into the bedroom and looked for it once more. I found it and got into it, before I got into my black Louboutins. I brushed through my hair and walked into the livingroom again, to only see him doing something with my Jeweled Stam Satchel Marc Jacobs purse. „Hasn't told you anyone, that a womans purse is very private?" I asked him.
„Right, I was just...uhm..." he stuttered.
„Yeah, yeah they all say that..." I said and he handed me my purse, „So, this is goodbye...for now. I'll see you in a couple of days." I said and faked a smile, before I started to walk to the door. After my third step I felt his hand grabbing my arm. He turned me around and I felt his lips crashing against mine. His perfect lips...
„You really think, I would have left you like this? Oh no, not with me." He said and kissed me again.
„I really need to go now. I'm sorry..." I said and opened the door.
„One more thing, „ he said and I turned around, „ Gabriella, do you regret yesterday? Was I a one night type of thing? Because last night was spectacular for me and I'm going to start missing you the moment you leave this apartment but if you want to forget this ever happened, you say the word."
I bit on my lip, what was I suppose to say? I sighed and ran through my hair. „You wanna hear the truth?"
„Well, I'll always wanna hear the truth from you."
„Good, then I am completely honest with you. Yesterday was the best day of my life, Johnathan and I'm already missing you when you're not touching me. So no, I donot regret yesterday. And the day before. If I would get the chance again, I would do the same. Exactly the same." I said and placed a kiss on his cheek, „I don't wanna leave, but I have to. I can't let her deal with herself down there. She's freaking out. She needs me." I said and walked out of the doorframe „Oh and give the ticket to Sharpay, I know you don't want to; but I think it would be the best..."
„So I am a one night type of thing?"
„I wanna say no. I really do. But I can't, because this isn't going anywhere...So, yeah you are." I said as cold as I could and walked out of the level, down to the stairs. I decided to take all stairs, because taking the elevator would be too risky.
So after 20 minutes of walking down the stairs, I finally exited the building. I took a deep breath, kept my head high and walked down the New Yorker streets. Business people were all around me, but surprisingly not looking.
„Gabriello!" I heard a voice and I didn't need to look at this person, to know how that was. Gosh, how horrible.
„Sharpay, how are you doing?" I asked in a maybe too nice voice.
„Good, really good." She said and eyeballed me, „Uhh, seems like you had a long night..."
I blushed, „Yeah, well..."
„Anyways, have you seen Troy?"
I shook my head, „No, sorry. I haven't been at the building. I just wanted to go home real quick, to change into something...better."
„Uhm, okay. I'll see you later, Toodles!" she said and walked into the building.
„Toodles." I said with a fake smile on my face. I sighed and turned around, continuing walking home.
Fully 25 minutes later, I was finally infront of my apartment door. I opened my purse and looked for my keys. My fingers stopped moving, when I realized, that not only my cellphone, keys and lipgloss were in there. With a shock and a hope that it wasn't what I thought it was; I got the piece of paper out. I looked at it and felt shocked.
It was a ticket. No, it was the ticket. The Hawaii ticket. After I told him, I didn't wanna go he still managed to put it into my purse. Damn.
I slowly walked left, not leaving the piece of paper out of my sight. I rang at the door and it opened seconds later.
„Gabriella where have you been?!" I heard Ashley asking me.
I didn't answer, all I did was holding up the ticket.
„Why do you have a ticket to Hawaii? Ohmygosh, you're not planning to get married there, do you?" she said shocked and held the door open.
„What, no!"
„Good, because we don't want you to feel the same way Gina is feeling..."
„Who?"
„Doesn't matter. Come in." She said and I walked in, „So, what's it with the ticket? Who gave it to you? And are you departing?" she asked me as I sat down on her dark green couch.
„It doesn't matter who gave it to me. The thing is, should I go or not?"
„Well if you're not going to tell me who it is, then I won't be able to judge."
„Urgh, good okay let's say his name is...Owen."
„Right and why do you think Owen gave you the ticket?"
„Because...because he needs me, god damn!"
„And do you need Owen?"
„Hell yes."
„So? What's stopping you? You have your answer."
„It's not that easy. He has a girlfriend."
„A hot one?"
„Blonde, brown eyes, girlish...dumb."
„So she is hot, but not smart."
„Yeah..."
„Why won't he break up with her?"
„Because...because I kinda told him not to. At least a couple of months ago."
„Aha, but you want them to break up, don't you?"
„Kind of...sort of...maybe... Okay fine, yeah I do."
„Good, then tell him."
„Already did."
„What did he say?"
„Okay."
„Okay? So he will break up with her? For you?"
I shrugged, „I guess so."
„Again, what is your problem?"
„Owen lost his cousin, who he loved very much. And I'm kind of a shoulder to cry on to, a listener...maybe even a one night stand."
„You're kidding me, right?! You broke our golden rule? What about no sex on the first date?!"
„Well technically, it wasn't even a date. We just got into talking and...well it ended up with me having soja sauce on the blouse, so I borrowed his chemise..."
„I can see that. Is that Armani by the way?"
I nodded, „And it feels good."
„I can tell...So are you going to Hawaii?"
„I don't know. I mean it's a funeral, all family members are going to be there. And I am not family...I would feel wrong and weird."
„But you know that he needs you."
„I know, but I can't go."
„Jesse is stopping you, isn't he?" she asked me and I looked up.
„It sounds silly, I know. But I still feel like he'll walk in every second. I still miss him. And John- I mean Owen, is making me feel safe. Safer than with Jesse. I feel like he's that part, Jesse never was."
„You've fallen for this man, haven't you?"
I nodded, „Very bad." I said and sighed, „But I have to go. I need to go to work."
„Alright, Sweetie. Have fun and think about going to Hawaii once more..." she said and walked to the door. I followed her and walked through the open door frame.
„I'll see you." I said and hugged her.
„Have fun at work." She said and closed the door.
I walked over to my apartment and opened the door. I stepped in and threw my purse on the couch as I got out of my shoes. Then I walked up the stairs and started to unbutton the white Armani chemise. I opened the door of my walk in closet and entered it. I stopped at my reflection, seeing the dark red corset with black lace.
Flashback
„Do you know why I love corsets?" Johnathan asked me as he played with one of my haircurl.
„No, why?"
„Well there has been a time, where corsets were chintzy...But luckely it changed now. I don't think they're chintzy, they're erotic, beautiful and elegant. And if a women with your look wears something like this, she only is even more beautiful." He said and kissed me, „If that's possible in your case." He added, before he kissed me again.
End of Flashback
I sighed and got changed.
About 20 minutes later I was changed and infront of Boltons office. I took a deep breath before I stepped in. I hasn't really entered yet, when I already saw Sue walking towards me.
„Thank god, you're here."
„Okay, what's up? What do I need to do?"
„Your job." She said and smirked.
„I'm serious."
„Me also. Mr. Bolton just stepped in seconds before you."
„Oh, well then..."
„It's kinda mysterious, I mean first you don't call then he doesn't call...Then he appears and you appear only seconds after that..." she said as we waited for the elevator.
„Sue, you're making things up."
„My point is, you're a cute couple. If you are a couple, but there's still Sharpay..."
„We're just boss and employee. Nothing more."
„I know, but you guys are perfect for each other, for sure."
„Whatever Sue." I said and stepped into the open elevator.
„Well do you know if he's going to end things with her? She annoys me..."
I shrugged, „I don't know. It's his private life, I have nothing to do with it."
„Yeah...right."
„You're not believing me, are ya?"
„Of course, I don't believe you. Not when I see it with my own eyes."
„There's nothing to see..."
„Not for you. But for me. The consumers have something from both of guys have nothing but deep eyes stares...."
„We have not!" I protested.
„So you're not into him?"
„Would it be bad if I would?"
„OMG, you totally are!"
„Maybe..." I said and bit on my lip.
„Okay, so how are you going to make him break up with Sharpay?" she asked me as we walked out of the elevator.
„Nothing. If he likes me as much as I like him, then he will break up with her. If he doesn't like me, then he won't break up with Sharpay..."
„I think, he's going to break up with her. For sure..."
„And what makes you think that?"
„The look."
„What look?" I asked confused.
„That look he gives you. That look he's only given me and now you. It's that comfortable look, telling you that he's fine with you. That he's okay with whatever situation will come up."
„I don't think, I'm gettiing that look from him. He seems to look normal to me."
„Oh, no. You get the look. The look, which not even Sharpay gets. That's why I think he will break up with her. It's that simple."
„That simple?"
She shrugged, „Yeah, for sure."
„Anyways, what is going to happen here while he's in Hawaii?"
„He tells you everything, doesn't he?"
„Uhm...no. I don't think so. But he told me that..."
„Yeah, that and the look. He's for sure, going to break up with her."
„That wasn't my question."
„Right...Uhm, Ava's going to take all the phone calls; while I'm going to make sure everything will be printed and stuff like that. I'm doing everything but phonecalls."
„Ah, okay..." I said as we reached my office door.
„Call me if you need me."
„Will do. I said and smiled, before I opened the door to my office. On my desk where a huge bouquet of lilies.
Seems like Sue saw it, „Oh yeah, he will break up with Sharpay for you...Now, even you have to be sure."
I looked over my shoulder, „Do you really think so?"
„Well, I know that he prefers roses, but...lillies are your favorites, right?"
I nodded, „But I haven't told him."
„He has a good sense of people. He knows who he can trust and who not." She said and looked at me again, „He can trust you, for sure." She said before she walked away. I followed her with my glance and closed the door. I sighed, as I saw the bouquet again. I truely love lilies, always have and always will. They were white, my favorite colors...besides red.
Smiling, I walked nearer to my desk. As I reached it, I found a note in the bouquet.
I hope you love them, I know I do.
I smiled and smelled the lilies. They smelled good. They smelled really, really, really good.
I looked through the window to only see the typical New York noon. The streets were full of people: Models trying to find a job, men in suits going to their next appointment, women in the latest fashion going to work, normal people in jeans trying to make their way through the crowd. I started to stare into space and my thoughts in my head went crazy...
Should I go with him to Hawaii? Maybe he really need me there.
That's bullshit, Gabriella. And you know that. He didn't need you 3 years ago and he hasn't started now. He's an independent man, just like you. You don't need him. And he doesn't need you. It's that simple.
But why do I feel like I need to go? Why can't I leave him alone, if I really am that independent? Because I am not. Not anymore, anyway. I need him, he's my... turquoise eyes, the color I've always loved. He's...solid as a rock. He's my rock. Or at least I'm starting to feel like this. I'm starting to want him to be with me. I'm starting to want him to be with me and with no one else.
My thoughts got interrupted by my ringing cellphone. I shook my head and got my cell out of my purse. „Hello?"
„Gabs," I heard Ash saying, „I think you should go to Hawaii, with whoever the name Owen stands for."
„I don't know, Ash...I don't think, I'll go. It wouldn't be right, you know?"
„No, I don't. Explain it to me."
„Well, he's kinda...out of my league."
„Out of your league?! No one's out of your league! Do you hear me?"
I laughed, „Ashley, I didn't mean that he's out of my league in the way that he's way too hot to me."
„Then what did you mean?"
„I mean that he's out of my league in a business way. He's above me. Way above me..."
„Oh, so that guy works for Boltons?"
„Kinda..."
„But he's hot?"
I smirked, „Yeah, definitely hot...more than that. He's dreamy and caring.... He's perfect." I said smiling.
„Perfect, huh? Sounds like you have fallen for him, Gabs. Is there anything which isn't perfect of him?"
„Sure... He's a workaholic. A big one."
„Ohh, sounds...bad."
„Yeah, well I don't think that he's the time to have a relationship. Which is actually fine with me."
„I get you, you don't want to have a deja vu, do you?"
„I'm not looking forward to feel the same way, I felt with Jesse. I like him, I really do. I even have fallen for this man, but I'm not ready to give my heart to him."
„I know...So, you won't fly to Hawaii?"
„No, I won't. I'm going to stay here."
„That's bad, I mean he bought you a ticket and invited you...And he seems nice. You seem to get him."
„Yeah, well then I studied psychology."
„Yeah...right. I don't know, do whatever you want. It's your lovelife, not mine."
„Great adivce, Ash."
„Anyways, I gotta go. See ya." She said and hung up.
„Bye..." I mumbled into the already silent phone and pressed the red button. I sighed and turned to my desk. My work is waiting for me I switched on the mac and opened my text edit programm, then I started to work, trying to get him out of my head...
