'Gabby can I see you for a moment?'
Lot looked up from typing the mails on her laptop before sending them out to clients.
This was her work, her life and her illustrations were her soul. If the illustration was flawed she had to start all over. She wanted less than perfection when it comes to whatever she was doing.
"I'll be right there", she said to Laila her partner and also the Co. CEO to their company. Company was too big of a word if people asked because they were only four working at there presently. But to Gabby, if you wanted something you had to manifest it and work towards it, nothing was going to be handed over to you on a platter of gold if you don't work for it.
"Give me a minute to finish up, I need to get this mails delivered before the end of the day".
Laila was her roommate back in college and since then they've developed a deep bond. Laila and Gabby had a thing for fashion and Gabby was good with the illustrations. So it was not a surprise when they decided to team up to start their own company. And though their company GALA enjoyed popularity and success, amongst fashion brands, they couldn't afford to slack. It will ruin all their hard work and they didn't want that.
She had given up everything to start this company, she had no intention of ruining her hard work. All Gabby wanted now was to expand her business to employ more workers because things were becoming too much for the employees present to handle alone.
As she sent the last mail she thought of everything that happened, the hurdles she had to go through, it seemed only fair she became successful she had no time to Reminisce on past mistakes if anything she had to forget them.
Smothering a sigh, She made sure all the mails were sent. satisfied she briskly shut down her laptop.
Rotating her chair Gabby turned towards Laila, smiling as she caught Laila looking at Tom's photo on her phone, Tom is Laila's boyfriend, they had been together for a long time now. Gabby always wanted what they had but after a heartbreak, she completely gave up on love or so she thought.
Laila looked up to catch Gabby staring at her phone.
"Why are you smiling?" Laila asked
"I couldn't help but notice your beautiful lock screen" Laila laughed. Gabby always teased her on how she bagged a handsome boyfriend not like Laila wasn't beautiful, they were both beautiful and they were a match made in heaven.
" on a serious note, I got a mail from Lee's Conglomerates"
"Ignore it".
"Why? If I may ask LEE is one big brand and working with their fashion line would help with boosting our business more"
"You know why, and you know I don't want to talk about it"
"Whatever your reasons are Gabby, please put this company first"
"Fine" Gabby said crossing her arms. Laila snickered, then grinned. As she had won in the argument.
Gabby needed Laila to get off her back and she was right, this would be a great boost for the company.
"I have another good news" Laila said.
"Spill already"
"I just got a mail from Forbes, they wanted to feature us on Forbes 30 under 30"
Astonishment vibrated through Gabby
"Tell me you are joking, the fucking Forbes. This is really good Laila"
Forbes was a magazine famous for features of articles on finance, industry, investing and marketing topics.
For Gabby and Laila this was like their first Oscar or Grammy, it would not only help their career but also help in publicizing their company.
"I know right, imagine the surprise on my face when I saw it" Laila said and several moments later they sat face to face grinning at each other like two giddy fools.
"It's our time Laila" she whispered
"Damn right it is" Gabby whispered back.
An article about them would really help GALA a lot. Their company would be tagged one of the most successful business ever known and so far they were on the right track.
"I need to go for lunch, since Andrew wasn't available to go get lunch for me"
Andrew is Gabby personal assistant, who took the day of for a health check up. So she had to do everything herself today, which included getting her lunch herself.
"Alright" Laila muttered.
Sliding into her blazer, Gabby headed out to the restaurant that was close to her office building.
"Oh Andrew look what you made me do" she grumbled.
She knew she was insensitive towards Andrew, but he always came through for Gabby, he did all his work as a PA. Andrew was a cancer survivor so he usually did a six month interval check up to make sure his cancer didn't resurface. It still made her angry though, she had to get lunch herself because she hated having to talk to strangers.
As she exited her office building, Gabby couldn't help surveying her surroundings for anyone she might know. It was a habit of hers that started after she was chased away from home by her parent, for not following their dream of becoming a doctor. She wanted something different for herself but their selfishness didn't make them see past that. it was always about them and how she brought disgrace to them. She didn't hate them but she didn't want to see them either.
She didn't want to get involved with anything that had to do with her past, including her parents.
She walked into the restaurant towards the far corner that housed one of the best tables because of its generous view. Which meant one thing VIP.
The fuck
Gabby stood transfixed in her tracks. Startled stares swept over her like ants marching over a picnic blanket. But she couldn't move. She couldn't stop herself from gazing at a major version of her past life, the one who got away.
Her heart beat, pumping pain and rage at the same time.
She couldn't do this again, four years had passed and this man, the man she gave her heart to still had the same effect on her.
For many men they had two women who they loved most, their mother and the mother of their children or wife. That was not the case for Tan Lee the heir to one of America's holding multinational and conglomerate. At least not now he could boast of that four years ago but everything ended when his parents could not keep their business to their self. "Honor thy mother and father" was one commandment he wished he could get rid off from the holy books because his parents didn't care to reference the "don't provoke your children to anger" when doing their meddling. Tan Lee smothered a sigh. It was another day in New York; another day to make money for the Lee's. For years he answered to no one but himself that did not last long. He had to take responsibilities or "take charge of the family business" like his father would say. "Tan, you should start meeting potential ladies, your mother and I are no longer getting younger." Tan's father was on the phone lecturing him as always on how he need
'I must be imagining things' Tan darted at the love of his life, the only woman he had ever loved and will ever love. Gabrielle Lot. God knows he tried to get rid of any memory of her in his life, he used anything possible; his time, his work and other women but he couldn't she wasn't easy to get rid off. Gabrielle was his ex girlfriend. The woman he pushed away without thinking of a way to save the relationship. He often thought of the damage he had caused but that was like crying over spilled milk. He abandoned her within a backward glance. He hated himself for what he did to her. He hated he had to see those beautiful eyes of hers again. She hasn't changed except for the rage and boiling hatred she was looking at him with which was replaced by the look of love. She still maintained her tall gorgeous frame Her curves Which he could trace with his fingers. She was still the Gabrielle, everly Beautiful with her cheek bones and her elegantly sloped nose. He clenched his fists in a
Gabby spent her night thinking of Tan. There were things she wanted to forget about, but the moment she saw Tan, everything came flooding back. Every memory from when her face lit up whenever she saw him, her skin against his skin...it was all coming back. Tan was past tense and he had to remain that way to keep her sane. Getting involved with him would be Trouble. She didn't feel like she would have to see him again. "Even doing business with his family company does not mean she would see him, they would use a representative" she thought to herself. "Thanks, Larry" Gabby said to her driver as he alighted from the gleaming black Audi car. Shivering a little, she shut the door before he could. "I should be finished by six tonight but if I'm leaving earlier I'll call you " "Yes ma’am," Larry drawled, touching the brim of the black cap he was wearing. Gabby shook her head chuckling because today was going to be a good day. As the day before hadn't been. "Good morning, Ms Lot" Andre
Gabby was going to the fucking dinner. Standing in front of her large closet, Gabby squeezed her eyes shut, pinching the bridge of her nose. Gabby surveyed her closet for clothes. She had clothes suitable for work and casual outings but nothing there was appropriate for a dinner. You would think with all the money she had, she would have a lot of dinner wears but the truth was that Gabby didn't do dinners, she didn't care for such things. When Gabby had decided to start her company, she didn't think it would involve dinners with other big names. But no, Laila had called this morning to inform her they were attending a business dinner and it involved top leagues in the new York business world. God; what had she been thinking to agree to this? Laila said they needed to associate more with other fashion big names. Right. If she constantly said that to herself, maybe she could make it through this evening without going insane. Sighing, she grabbed her phone to call Andrew, he was
She looked stunning. Tan Lee tuned out the voice of his father who was speaking to him, as he studied Gabby who just walked into the ballroom and was weaving a path through the crowd. She stood out like 'bridgerton' diamond of the season, making those around her look like mere stones. He noticed her neck and how the silk dress she wore glided over her breast. He hated the way people ogled at her. Did he say stunning? He meant exquisite. And she hadn't even come closer. Yet. "Excuse me, Dad." Tan said abruptly interrupting his father's conversation with him not bothering to give a polite explanation for why he is walking away. His father surprised sputtering should have made him feel some ounce of guilt but he didn't care, his mind was set on Gabby, he couldn't bear another man whisking her away. Normally, he would stay to hear everything his father had to say and watch his father introduce him to guest, but tonight he wasn't interested. He despised this dinners, it only benefitte
The ringing pierced into Tan's dreamy sleep, waking Tan up. Tan frowned reaching out to pick his call. He still felt sleepy, a warm lassitude weighing down his muscles, relishing it instead of chasing it away."Fuck" he muttered but instead of reaching for his phone on his bedside table, he slapped the air. No bed.He sat up, and realized he had slept in the living room, scanning the room with cushions, a round glass table and large television.The dinner.Gabrielle As if her name offloaded a truck of memories from the previous night. The conversation with Gabby and his mother, talking with her. Kissing her. Leaving him after the kiss. Getting drunk.He whipped around, scanning his environment for his phone, it was his mother calling him. He felt angry, remembering the way his mother spoke to Gabrielle at the dinner."Hey, Mom" he said in greeting, trying to get himself together as he spoke."I just woke up, so I don't think I can talk""Tan", she said and her angry tone cut him off,
Gabby really wanted to mend her broken relationship with her family. That was why when the call came in informing her that her mother was ill she rushed back to Houston .Gabby paid the driver with a swipe of her phone and stepped out. Although she hadn't been to Houston for a long time, she could still feel the homely spirit the city had to offer. She received a call early hours of the morning that her mom was sick and she wanted to see her.Gabby climbed the steps to her childhood home and twisted the door knob and pushed the door open. Since the matter was urgent she felt there was no need to knock.From the balcony she studied the environment as if she was new to the place, since her last confrontation with her parent she hadn't stepped foot in the place that housed most of her memories growing up. She missed them badly. She felt angry towards them but figured all those anger was turning her into something else and she didn't want that. She had loved them unconditionally until t
Tan was scared when he heard the news of Gabby's mother from Laila. It would do Gabby good if she saw a familiar face to share her pain with, he thought. He knew Gabby's family they were friendly to him, they never made him feel like an outsider like his parent did to Gabby.He packed some clothes and told his secretary he would not be around. Since Gabby had no sibling, and Laila was busy with their company, she would need all the support she could get.Tan climbed the set of stairs to the house and stared at the purple hibiscus which was planted on the pathway. He knew Gabby's mother would have planted them, she loved gardening from what he could remember.The flowers added a touch of humility to the house which was a perfect description of Gabby's parent. He smiled thinking of them. He knocked on the door and someone opened the door."What in God's name am I doing here?"The question kept on singing in Tan's head, what if Gabby sends him away... he couldn't bear the fact that she w