“By the way, who is that?” Cherry whispered as her eyes caught Gabriella’s back.
The woman who was originally contemplating suddenly held her breath, worried if her behavior was suspicious.
“She is not important. Don’t mind her,” Max answered lightly.
In an instant, Gabriella’s lips pursed and her brows furrowed. “There’s no need to emphasize it. I already know. That man never really thinks of me as someone important,” she thought angrily.
“Well then, I can ask her for help,” Cherry muttered before lifting her neck and calling out. “Miss, come here for a moment.”
Gabriella’s reverie was suddenly broken. With round eyes and high arched eyebrows, she looked back. Hand waves of the beautiful lady suddenly invited her to get up from the chair.
“Why does she call me?” she thought curiously.
“Yes, Miss?”
Cherry handed her a bag containing a wooden box. “I bought a set of these teapots for Max. Please prepare it along with the tea I put in it.”
“You’re so kind, Cherry. But, I will be happier if you want to enjoy the tea that is being prepared by my secretary,” interrupted Max which was immediately denied by the guest.
“I can enjoy tea from you another time. Please don’t disappoint me, Max. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. You’ll be happy to see the teapot I bought.”
Seeing her husband frozen, Gabriella took the initiative to welcome the special gift. She didn’t want him to comment on her slow motion in front of other people.
“I will prepare the tea. Please wait a moment.”
Without expecting a response, Gabriella rushed to the pantry. She didn’t know that Max’s brows were furrowed at the her back.
“Why did you choose such an assistant?”
“Hmm?” The CEO blinked, while Cherry was waiting for his answer with raised eyebrows.
“She’s your assistant, right? Why did you choose her? She looks unprofessional.”
Max’s lips curled into a stiff curve. “How about we start discussing a cooperative project? We don’t have much time.”
“Oh, that’s right. Please.” Cherry returned her sweet look and put her hands on the lap. She was ready to watch the man who pampered her eyes
After getting rid of the irritation, Max started to explain. His speech only stopped when Gabriella returned with a tray in her hand. A green teapot and two small, matching cups were located on it.
“Is it heavy?” Max asked spontaneously. His eyes widened when he caught the tremor in his wife’s hand.
“Of course. This teapot is made of real jade. I want to give it to you since a long time ago,” Cherry replied proudly. “How is it? Do you like it?”
Max gulped watching Gabriella’s caution. After the tray landed safely on the table, it was only then that he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Yes. Thank you, Cherry.”
The beautiful woman’s smile immediately broke out. “I guessed it. You’ll like it.”
A second later, the lady took the cup enthusiastically. However, when she saw the container was empty, her joy shrank.
“Miss, why don’t you fill these cups?”
Gabriella’s steps immediately stopped. With a flat expression, she returned to the beautiful lady.
“I think you want to pour it yourself.”
Cherry chuckled faintly. A second later, she put the cup at Gabriella’s sight. “Pour it for me.”
Max’s eyebrows automatically raised. His gaze was fixed on his wife’s gripping hand.
“How about I pour it for you?”
Cherry’s eyes narrowed for a moment before she smiled slyly. “No, Max. I want your assistant to do it for me.”
Gabriella suddenly looked down and bit her lip. She didn’t understand why the tremor was suddenly severe. In fact, she did not take birth control pills that morning.
However, after taking a deep breath, the woman finally managed to grab the handle of the teapot with one hand and squeezed the lid with the other. The green object spontaneously moved following the vibration.
Right at that time, Max’s back was fully upright. His nerves tightened as he watched Gabriella bring the teapot’s funnel to the rim of the cup.
“See, Max, my judgment is correct. Your maid is unprofessional,” Cherry complained, triggering Gabriella’s annoyance.
“Maid? Max called me a maid in front of this woman?”
Unexpectedly, the tea that was being poured deviated from the path. Cherry spontaneously yelped and put the cup on the table.
“What are you doing? Did you water my hand on purpose?” Cherry had stood up with a roaring breath.
Meanwhile, the woman who had just put the teapot down immediately shook her head. “No. This is pure accident. Forgive me.”
“You want to scald my hands, huh?” the lady accused as she no longer kept her face from frowning.
“Sorry, Miss. But, your hands won’t scald. I’ve made sure it’s not too hot.”
“So it’s true. You have planned it.”
Again, Gabriella shook her head. “No, Miss. I’m used to mixing fresh water when brewing tea.”
Cherry’s jaw throbbed with displeasure. “Then what are you going to do with my hand? Can’t you see my skin is turning red?”
Without thinking, Gabriella took the lady’s hand and blew it.
“Don’t ruin my skin!”
Cherry dodged at the speed of light, not caring if Gabriella’s face was slapped by the back of her hand. Even when the poor woman groaned and covered her face, she still pretended to be a victim.
Witnessing what happened, Max was wide-eyed. “Are you hurt?”
Regardless of whom the question was addressed to, Cherry approached the CEO and put on a pitiful look.
“How is it, Max? I’m afraid my skin will be damaged.”
The man furrowed his brows looking at the beautiful hand in front of him. There was no single blemish on that skin. The remaining water droplets would disappear after wiping. What was the problem with Cherry?
Before Max could distract himself, Gabriella had already interrupted. “I have to go to the restroom.”
Without waiting for permission, she left, still with a palm over one eye. The man’s heart grew restless because of it.
“Max, do something! My hands are burning,” Cherry whined as she stomped her feet.
The man snorted faintly. If he was more worried about Gabriella, their charade could be exposed. Therefore, he swiftly pulled out a few sheets of tissue to dry the remaining cold water on the hand of the lady in red dress.
“I hope Gabriella is okay,” the man thought as he wiped the lady’s hand. He did not know that his wife was staggering to find a step.
***
“Are you all right, Miss?” the secretary asked in a worried tone.
“Miss Mia?” Without thinking, Gabriella followed the source of the voice. “Please check my eyes. Is there something?”
“Your eyes are red and you have a small cut on your eyebrow.”
The questioner grimaced. “It must have hit the woman’s ring,” she thought, nodding.
“Thank you, Miss Mia. Earlier, I accidentally hit the table while picking up the fallen marker.”
The secretary blinked slowly. Inwardly, she doubted that explanation. “Do you need medicine?”
Gabriella shook her head quickly. “I don’t think it’s necessary. Thank you, Miss Mia. I’m going to the restroom.”
After flashing a small smile, the woman walked away. The man who had just arrived was immediately surprised by her strange behavior.
“What happened?” Sebastian asked, grabbing his partner’s attention.
“I don’t know, Sir. But, Miss Gabriella’s eyes are very red and there is a small cut on her brow. I doubt it hit the table.”
The male secretary spontaneously furrowed his brows. “Then where’s Max?”
“In the room with Miss Cherry.”
Sebastian’s eyes widen. “That renowned architectural consultant?”
“Yes. Hasn’t Mr. Max told you yet? He canceled the cooperation with Roberto.”
“Why?”
Mia shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Sebastian let out a faint breath. After thanking her, he went to the toilet where a woman was wincing in pain.
“Why is my vision so blurry?” Gabriella covered one eye and then opened it. After blinking, she repeated the movement earlier and sighed.
“I hope it’s only temporary,” she mumbled as she leaned closer to the mirror.
“What ring is she wearing? Why do my eyebrows hurt like this? Ah, I shouldn’t have blown her hand,” Gabriella regretted, pressing the wound with a tissue. A few drops of blood were instantly absorbed on the white sheet.
“I guess I really need some medicine,” she mumbled before throwing the tissue in the trash.
A second later, the woman rushed out of the room. However, she stopped at the door.
“Sebastian?” Gabriella muttered as she blinked in confusion. “This is the women’s toilet,” she said awkwardly.
“I know. That’s why I’m standing here.”
The woman shook her head in disbelief. “Why?”
“I am waiting for you, Gaby. I heard you were hurt.”
Gabriella’s brow furrowed slowly. A strange feeling of warmth just enveloped her heart.
“It’s just a small wound. There’s no need to be concerned.”
Unexpectedly, Sebastian touched the woman’s eyebrows and gently stroked the edges of the wound. “This has to be treated. Follow me.”
Gabriella froze with a thousand questions. She was no longer confused about the blurred vision, but the secretary’s unusual attitude.
“Don’t worry, I won’t kidnap you. Come on follow me!”
Thinking of no choice, the woman finally kept pace with Sebastian. It had been a long time since she had received such special treatment.
“Is the wound because of Max?” the secretary asked making the woman behind him blink.
“No. I hit the table while picking up the fallen marker.”
Sebastian stopped at the door and turned to face Gabriella. “Is that so? A dulled corner of the table won’t inflict that kind of injury.”
The woman spontaneously held her breath. She just realized that her lie was almost exposed.
“Did Max hit you?”
Gabriella suddenly shook her head while waving her hand. “No. He never hit me,” she replied, worried about causing a misunderstanding.
“You don’t have to be afraid to fight him, Gaby. Don’t let anyone hurt you again.”
The woman’s mouth was open without a word. Her doubts had been wiped clean. Sebastian’s treatment was not mere courtesy, but a very rare concern. In fact, her husband had never been so kind to her.
Seeing the adorable response, the secretary secretly smiled. After opening the door, his hand gestured for Gabriella to enter first.
“You shouldn’t be surprised by my change in attitude. I really like switching modes. When it comes to work, I’m always serious. But, beyond that, this is what I am.”
Slowly, Gabriella’s lips released the tension. Finally, there was one person who changed his view of men. Men were not always rude and arbitrary.