Being in a car like that reminded her of the days when she was married to Eduard. There was a set of alcoholic beverages, complete with crystal glasses, if she pushed out the middle compartment, she was sure she would find an ice dispenser.
The screen in front of her was the internal cinema experience, the speakers planted in the corners of the interior would be the surround sound if she decided to watch a movie or listen to music of her choice.
It’s always nice to enjoy luxury, she just didn’t enjoy the things that came along with it. Especially the fake people, with fake love, fake smiles, leeches that posed as friends. Somehow, she understood Gabriel’s strange behaviour and lack of trust. He too must’ve gone through a lot worse than she ever did.
“Jamie?” a deep soothing voice came from the speakers and pulled her out of her day dream.
She had been in the car for almost 20 minutes. “Gabriel?” she looked around, not sure what she was looking for.
“Yes … I’m sorry to interrupt … how’s your car ride so far?” he was talking through the speakers.
“It’s fine … are you speaking through the phone?”
“Yes … I’m at my house, I’m sorry I couldn’t come and pick you up myself … I have … things to attend to.”
“Of course, I’m sure you’re a very busy man.”
“That’s a lovely blouse you’re wearing … it suits your skin tone.”
He can see her, she looked around again and noticed the camera on the ceiling of the car. She smiled, “Thank you … have you been watching me, Gabriel?”
He didn’t answer. “I hope you don’t mind that I called out a meeting on such short notice … I had to squeeze you in between my other engagements.”
“Do I have a choice?” she asked bluntly and wondered if he would answer her this time.
“No … of course not, but I wouldn’t have chosen the time if I thought you had other things to do.”
He knew her schedule, she rubbed her face with one hand.
“May I ask what the meeting is about? And will other people be there too?”
“No … just us,” his voice calmed and collected. “There are some more papers for you to sign.”
“What papers would that be?”
“Confidentiality agreements and some other stuff I need to go through with you,” he said.
“Confidentiality agreements? You have so many of those … I’m worried you have so many things to hide, Gabriel?” she fished.
“Hide? Oh no … it’s not like a secret or anything, it’s just valuable information I like to keep within my closest circle … which you are about to be included … is that okay with you, Jamie?”
She was silent, something about being in his closest circle made her nervous. “Of course … I understand,” she truly did.
“I’m glad … you are 15 minutes away from my home, I hope you’re staying comfortable, please help yourself with the drinks.”
“No … I’m okay, I’ve been feeling a bit queasy lately, I think it’s my nerves.”
“Are you sure it’s not the driving? I can tell my driver to drive slower,” he offered.
“No, his driving is fine … he’s wearing earphones, I don’t think he can hear you, I can’t even see him from where I sit,” she said.
“I can … I can see what he sees, and I can hear what he hears too.”
Silence.
It was frightening how controlling he was with his employees. She took it in but decided not to respond.
“Why are you calling me in the car, Gabriel? Are you checking up on me too?”
“I just thought you could use some company … very well then, you’re almost there … Harold, my butler will assist you upon your arrival … I’ll see you soon.”
He didn’t wait for a reply and cut off the connection. Although he didn’t cut off the camera because the red light was still on.
She didn’t hear anything else after that, nor can she see anything. It was just silence until the car finally stopped moving. The driver opened the divider and asked her to wait while he got off the driver’s seat and opened the door for her from outside. She climbed down the car into what looked like an enormous garage in a very fancy basement.
A man in a suit greeted her with a warm welcoming smile. They shook hands, he must be Harold, the butler Gabriel mentioned before. He was well in his 70’s or maybe early 80’s, his hair was white but he had a straight and strong posture for someone his age. His sweet nature somehow comforted her, she felt like she was in a safe place.
“This way please, Ms. Knox, Mr. Love had been expecting you,” he nodded to the driver who didn’t say a single word and led the way through an electronically locked door into an elevator. The ceiling of the lift was decorated with what looked like Michaelangelo’s theme painting. There were 6 buttons on the elevator, and Harold pressed the one on top.
When the elevator door opened, they entered a wide corridor lined with double doors on each side. Huge paintings on the walls, the floors were lined with persian carpet, there was not a single window on all sides of the walls.
“What floor is this again?” she asked Harold.
He smiled, “He will see you in his study … this way please.”
She looked up to the ceiling, and there they were, cameras following her every step. Gabriel used cameras for his eyes, he can see anything he wanted to see as long as he put cameras where he needed them.
She wondered if that’s what he does all day, sit in his office and watch people through his monitors.
They finally arrived at a double door with a rather glorious carving on it, Harold opened them for her. He let her step in, followed behind her and closed the door.
Finally, a window, he was standing looking out the window and had his back against them. His sleeves were rolled up to show his hairy wrists, his hands were in his pockets.
“Gabriel,” Harold called him casually. “Ms. Knox is here for you.”
He turned around. The sunlight penetrated the glass window and reflected in his skin. She can see his sideburns were growing from where she stood. He was breathtakingly handsome.
“Yes, thank you, H., you may leave now … Jamie … please, have a seat,” he extended his arm to show her where to sit as she stood there admiring the view and told herself to remember how to breathe.