“DAMN IT…” I massaged my temple before sitting on the secretary’s chair.
I wanted to get rid of these fucking lies, I’m tired of all this shit…
I want my husband back. I want him so bad…
My warm tears flowed down my cheeks. I cried silently, because crying is the only thing that I can do when I can’t take the pain.
“Excuse me… ma’am?”
I raised my head where I saw a delivery boy in front of me. I wiped my tears away before facing him with a smile.
“Yes?” I responded after taking a breath.
“Delivery for Mr. Gabriel Magnus?” he said while reading something from the note he’s holding.
I stood up to assist him and to get the lunch from him since he said it’s already paid.
“Sir, here’s your lunch delivery,” I informed him through the intercom.
“Come to my office and put it here,” he ordered before ending the call.
I fixed myself first to look presentable in front of him. I cleared my throat before knocking at his door to inform my arrival. I pushed the door open and entered the office where I saw him sitting at the chaise while facing his laptop.
“Here’s your food, sir,” I softly said and placed it at the table. I glanced at him secretly, he’s now wearing his office attire.
He abruptly closed his laptop and lifted his head at me.
“Join me,” he said with authority.
I froze with what I heard. Did I hear it right? Did he just invite me to eat with him?
I watched him place two bento boxes from the paper bags to his table. Because I was still frozen and standing still, he lifted his head again.
“Did you hear what I said?”
I blinked my eyes, waking up from my reverie, “Uh, I’m fine. Enjoy your food, sir,” I mumbled.
He let out a sigh and leaned against the couch. “Just sit here and join me,” he said eagerly. My gaze dropped at the bento box beside his. It means that I have to sit next to him, if ever.
“No thanks, sir.” I clasped my hand tightly in front of me. I can feel my cheeks burning into red tints.
“I order you to sit here and join me for lunch.” His eyes darkened and stared me for a few more beats.
He didn’t let me refuse his offer when he suddenly opened the food that was meant for me. I slowly moved my feet towards the couch and sat beside him.
My heart thumped erratically, I can feel my hands shaking due to nervousness and agitation.
“Relax, you’re just gonna eat with me.” He chuckled, lips twisted wryly.
Fuck! I froze in my seat, I almost want to be swallowed by the couch as I leaned at it frozen. I’m embarrassed. Do I really look nervous? Damn it!
I had no idea how I managed to swallow all the food I ate. I could feel the heat rushing up on both of my cheek whenever our arms accidentally brush against each other. Drinking water is never enough for my fast-paced heartbeat to return to its normal state.
I focused on the food to distract myself from all these overwhelming emotions. The food is good. It has three different meals inside, like pork, seafoods, and vegetables. I decided to set aside the carrots out of the box for it’s the only vegetable I can’t eat in the meal.
He glanced beside me, “Carrots is good for your eyes, why won’t you eat them?”
I lightly shook my head, “I don’t like its taste,” I answered casually.
“Hmm, just try a bit. It’s nutritious,” he told me, picking a carrot from his bento box using his fork. He went closer, removing any space we had left between us and looked down at me.
I leaned my back against the chaise forcefully. My heart skip a beat, I can’t breathe so I had to quickly look away from him. Damn it! If I only knew that this is what will happen, I should’ve had eaten the carrots even though I don’t like it.
“Come on, have some…” he ordered me. I gulped at the proximity between us.
“Okay…” I mumbled after a moment.
I ate the carrots from the fork he’s holding, I slightly winced at the taste. It’s hard, unlike the other vegetables that wilts when cooked. It’s still kind of raw, despite my hate on its taste, I forced myself to swallow it down.
“How is it?” he asked me gently.
“It’s weird…” I confessed, ignoring the tingling feeling in my stomach.
He chuckled in a way that melted my heart, I stared at him fondly. I just realized how I miss hearing that carefree laugh.
He stopped laughing, gaze dropping and lingering on my lush lips, his other hand on the couch where I was leaning. I realized it just now, he already finished his lunch while I’m still halfway done.
“Just continue eating your food…” he said after a while. He straightened and sat properly, opening his laptop for business matters.
My heart accelerated by our closeness, I failed to finish my lunch. I tried to move away but I’m frozen in my seat. I can’t count how much I gulped just to swim above but it seems that I’m too drowned and drunk at the sensation that he brought to my system.
“You alright?” he asked without looking at me.
I nodded timidly. “Uh, I’ll go back to work. Thank you for the free lunch, sir.” Finally, I was able to utter a word.
He checked his watch and shook his head at the time. “It’s still early. You have thirty minutes to finish your food,” he said slowly while his full atention is at the monitor.
I smiled, “No, thanks but I’m full…” I said, fixing myself to stand up.
“Just do what I say, finish your food and I’ll let you out of this office on time…” he seriously said.
The smile on my face instantly vanished. I looked up at him in the eye with my furrowed brows. I want to ask for an explanation of why he had to do this. I know I’m not the special to him, but with what he’s showing to me, I just end up daydreaming and hoping that this might lead us somewhere.
“Don’t look at me like that.” His lips tightened. He leaned against the sofa while crossing his two arms against his chest.
I mentally sighed. “Gabriel, you know that this is wrong. You and I shouldn’t eat together in the first place.”
“I don’t see anything wrong with this. We’re actually eating lunch together, like what we used to do at my house,” he remarked.
I ruffled my hair frustratedly, “How about the kiss?” I bravely said and gazed at him with so much confusion.
Instead of answering he scrubbed his stubbled jaw like he used to do.
“I don’t want to have any conflicts with Alessandra. I don’t want to come to that time where she would also be jealous of me.”
I swallowed hard when he adjusted his tie uncomfortably. He didn’t answer so I decided to just leave his office. I stood up, ready to walk away when I felt his hand held my wrist.
I turned to him rather abruptly, eyes full of questions.
“I thought that kiss was nothing to you?” he said sarcastically.
My cheeks immediately heated up due to anger, I removed my hand from his hold. He raised an eyebrow at me and gave me a steadying gaze.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Magnus, but I’m not like those women that you can play around your palms. Why don’t you just confess your sins to your wife? That you’re not loyal to her and that every rumor about you is right? That you’re having affairs with your secretary?!”
“You are my secretary,” he clarified, words were soft and gentle.
My eyes shot open, frozen by what he said. My lips quivered a bit but no word came out.
He laughed and scratched his hair sexily. “Look, we haven’t done anything yet except that plain kiss.”
“Plain kiss?!” I spat angrily, I think I dropped my mouth in shock. I can’t imagine how he’s able to say it languidly in front of me.
I leaned at the sofa because of his sudden move. He was so close to me, his hands were on my side. I watched his serious face while hearing his heavy yet minty breath.
“I can always do what you said, even what Alessandra keeps on accusing me of, to Sarah or to any employees here…” he whispered in my ear.
“I love my wife so much, I can never do what she accuse me, but—” He paused and shut his eyes firmly, trying to think of something to say.
“Just… nevermind. You can go back to work.” he said in a hushed voice before pulling away