Amelia

The newly born rays of the early morning sun fought with the thick threads of curtains that adorned the huge windows on the walls of my apartment and splashed across the shiny wooden floor. The silence echoed with its pleasant notes as the smell of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the rooms, entering every crevice.

At least it was like that until 10 minutes ago, before the sound of my phone destroyed all hope that this day would start well for me.

That's why now I'm leaning with both hands over the bathroom sink, looking at the person in the mirror who is looking back at me somewhat unreadable; sometimes looking at me with condemnation and other times looking at me with silent approval.

'Please Ams, how many times do I have to repeat it? Forgive me '

A splash of icy water surprised my face and merged with the rest of the water from the faucet rushing to the sink.

'You can't always be so steadfast. At the end of the day, I'm only human. I didn't mean to hurt you like that.'

Another splash poured down my face as memories of the previous conversation came back to me.

Yes, just a human. Also the shitty one you forgot to add.

I thought to myself.

I wiped my face with a soft towel, otherwise a little rougher than I usually do. Probably as my kind of passive aggression towards all the unresolved things that were out of my control.

And I didn't like that at all. For things not to be under my control.

Like, for example, my cosmetics, neatly sorted, or my clothes, perfectly arranged in the closet, carefully ironed folds on things that hung lightly on my hangers.

But life is not like a shirt, is it? You can't simply smooth out some bumps with one stroke of the iron. Some things are made to be perfect in their imperfection.

This is something I knew, but it was very difficult for me to adopt and apply it.

After choosing a plain white shirt and a gray knee-length pencil skirt, I applied my red lipstick and closed the door behind me.

The crowd was just beginning to gather on the streets of the bustling city, exhaust fumes wafted between the rows of cars while people, it seems to me, were still trying to revive their still sleepy and sluggish bodies with hot coffee from Starbucks.

I parked my car in the underground garage and with one push of a button, the elevator launched me to the floor where our firm was located.

The first thing that greeted me was the smiling face of Olivia Roberts, whose smile this morning was a little more sour and stiff.

"Relax Olivia. We agreed to approach today's meeting as if it were, say, a normal lawsuit. There's no need to fuss."

That's what I was taught at university. If you want big cases, corporative beasts, you have to be beast yourself. On the same wavelength as them.

But the truth is a little further than that. And in my peripheral veins flowed the same nervousness that I always easily masked with my solid facade.

"Easy for you to say. I'm dying here."

She said tragicomically with all her arms flailing cutting the air around us.

"Has Gabriel arrived?"

"Yes, he is already waiting for you in his office."

I stopped at my office first, to drop off my things, and I continued to Gabriel's.

"Morning. We couldn't wish for more lovely and relaxed Monday, could we?"

I gave him a loud laugh after knocking at his glass door.

"I'm fucking kidding. Everyone's freaking out. I have a feeling I'm going to need a drink after work."

Gabriel leaned back comfortably in his chair, bringing his palms together and nearing them to his lips. From that movement, the muscles of his arms tensed, filling the already tight material of his gray shirt.

"They are acting like we did before the final exam. Actually, like me, you were deadly serious. I, on the other hand, was losing my shit."

I rewind my memories, going back to when we were attending college. Studying together in the reading room eventually resulted in us founding a law firm together. And now we are on the verge of getting a huge deal.

Namely, "Reese technology" is ready to support our initiative to have part of their legal work done by our interns, so that young people who have just graduated from university can gain knowledge and a chance to build their name in the business world.

Gabriel and I are very proud of this program, especially of its humanitarian and educational character, which we started in our company. For now, we just need a beast like "Reese" to see us off financially.

So yes, this is a big deal. I understand why everyone was freaking out.

"Yeaaah, I'll go now. I'll see you in the conference room in half an hour."

"Don't worry beautiful. I'll take you out for that drink after work if this works out for us."

"I hold you to your word, you sweet-talking bastard."

I left his office visibly in high spirits. We always had a relaxed and friendly relationship. In certain situations, it helped me a lot to soften my sharpness and relax. Because I could rarely be like that with anyone.

I prepared the papers and toured the track before heading to the conference room.
Interns were giggling childlish while looking at their phones.

"Guys, I'm so glad you're all in such a good mood. This will be a wonderful day for us."

"Boss, you'll be smiling like this too, when you go to your meeting. I mean, maaan. He is so damn yummy."

"Yummy you say? Good thing I'm avoiding sweets and high calories."

"Serious, as always".

Said someone from the crowd.

"You better be too, because drooling over men from the covers won't get you to the top positions. Only hard work will"

"And I can think of one top position they can take me to. On top of them."

I rolled my eyes and left as the room seemed small for the amount of laughter that left their lungs following this unapproriate remark.

I checked the conference room and made sure everything was in place. From folders to presentations. Gabriel finally arrived and stood in front of me.

His muscular body seemed relaxed and radiated positive and peaceful energy.

"I know you're worried pumpkin. I said everything was going to be okay. Trust me."

He took my palms in his and it was only under the warmth of his skin that I noticed that I was as cold as ice.

Someone cleared his throat and only then did I flinch, hastily pulling my hands out of Gabriel's. Never reveal your vulnerability. Unprofessional. Dangerous. Completely wrong.

Did they say yummy? That term does not do justice to the delicacy that has just formed in front of me.

Yummy means something sweet, tepid. This man in front of me was juicy, spicy and probably extra hot.

Such sophisticated flavors are capable of burning your palate, dulling your senses to all things that are less intense than it. Forcing you to fume from the spiciness in one moment and to beg for more in the next one.

Such tastes are dangerous and addictive. That's why- big no.

"Welcome gentlemen. You may take your seat."

Everyone just nodded and settled down. But his dark gaze continued to live in my eyes far longer after he turned his back on me, wandering through my body and haunting me.

I shouldn't let things like this get me off track. I usually know how to control the situation. To keep things under control.

I went to my seat, and after receiving tacit approval from Gabriel, I began the meeting by addressing the attendees.

"First of all, I would like to express gratitude on behalf of all the employees of this company, and primarily on behalf of Gabriel Lee and myself. This is a wonderful day for all those who believe in the beauty of youthful dreams, because young, forward-thinking minds are the future of this fast developing branche. In front of you are programs, projects and contracts that I hope we will sign at the end of this meeting and thus seal our cooperation. Now I would like to hand over the word to my partner."

With restrained but still noticeable smiles on the face and quiet encouragement of our guests, I was able to settle down in my seat with satisfaction.

Gabriel continued his presentation and we took turns answering questions and presenting the one-year plan.

I tried not to be distracted by the fact that Mr. Reese hadn't asked us anything so far. He would look really engrossed in documents or in a video presentation. During my presentation, he would look at me extremely seriously and without any possibility of any emotion being read from his face.

I don't know why this fact bothered me so much. I'm usually the one who always puts professionalism first and now I'm letting my mind wander to his chocolate hooded eyes that are perfectly framed by rows of impossibly thick eyelashes giving him a fatal look.

Everything about him screamed red flag. Something inside me screamed too and that vibrating and slightly terrifying feeling spread, crawling and rushing towards all my extremities, leaving a hot trail behind.

A burning trail began its vortex in my stomach and flowed like lava from below my navel to my thighs.

I shifted in place, swallowing hard through my dry and contracted throat, rubbing my lips for fear of what might come out of them at that moment if I opened them.

"Are you okay?"

Gabriel whispered quietly, and I snapped out of this bodily hypnosis that had occupied me like a fallen angel himself.

"Mmm."

I somehow managed to mumble, forcing a so-called smile on my face. Like a traitor, my gaze wandered back to him and I cursed myself.

He caught my gaze in his dark web and for the first time I felt the wave of his dark charm that captures everyone in his curse.

I'll be damned. For the way my body reacts to this man. Totally out of my control.

When we finally signed the contracts, I felt liberated. My conscience gnawed at me because that feeling rested more from the fact that my frustration would come to an end than from the satisfaction of getting the contract.

I must gather myself. The only way, when you feel weak is to act strong. When things around you fall apart with a thunderous crash, you try to keep all the other insignificant things in your life neat and under control. Speaking from experience.

We started shaking hands, and one by one, the delegates left the hall.

"Miss Sammers."

He appeared in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking my view, sealing me in his pandora's box. His voice was deep and a little rough, but so soft and silky to my sensitive senses.

I realized that it was the first time I heard his voice and that he had not spoken at the meeting until now.

His hypnotizing gaze could lead you into madness. Into the abyss. Into destruction.

I didn't even have time to answer him, and he was already heading for the door.

Because that's what he wanted.
To be in control.

I'll be damned.

•●●•●●•●•●•●•●

I want to say to anyone who is reading this footnote:

Each of you is my personal  ginny in the magic lamp. Because by reading the lines of my book, you are making that my wishes come true.
I am eternally grateful to you for that. Lots of love!