LOGINAs lunch neared its end, the atmosphere in the room grew quiet. Gabriel had not spoken much. He only ate slowly, occasionally observing my face as if making sure every detail of my expression was recorded in his memory.After swallowing his last bite, he placed his fork and knife down with movements that were almost too precise, then leaned back slightly. His eyes remained on me without blinking.“Sera, there is something I need to give you.”“For what?” I asked carefully.Gabriel lowered his hand to the inner pocket of his suit, then pulled out a small black box. A velvet box, the kind that held only one thing.My entire body tensed.“Gabriel?”He did not answer. Instead, he opened the box quietly. Inside was a diamond ring. Not a small, simple ring. It was elegant, sparkling, with a single main stone that looked simple yet captivating, the kind of thing given only to someone who means a great deal.Gabriel held the box with one hand, and with the other he gently reached for my hand.
Gabriel pulled out a chair for me, a simple gesture that felt incredibly personal when it came from him. I sat down slowly, feeling the satin dress that wrapped my body as if it was recording every bit of my nervousness. Gabriel sat across from me, watching without blinking, as if he was studying every detail of my expression.The dining table was already neatly set, white porcelain plates, polished silverware, and two empty wine glasses untouched. There was no one else in the room, only Gabriel and me, and the atmosphere felt far too intimate for something called a “simple lunch.”A waiter entered, placed the appetizers, and left without saying a single word. It was as if they already knew it was not their place to speak when Gabriel was with me. Gabriel leaned back slightly, intertwining his fingers on the table.“Now tell me, why did you come to my office today in this state?”I lifted my face. “In what state?”“Worried. Restless. And,” he tilted his head, “distant.”I swallowed. “
The next day.I took a taxi to his office. The building where Gabriel worked stood tall, its glass panels gleaming under the sunlight, reflecting the city’s blue sky. The receptionist recognized me and immediately allowed me to go up without asking any questions. Their eyes were always the same, full of curiosity, but no one dared to say anything. I stepped onto Gabriel’s office floor.A little quiet. A little too luxurious and always cold.His office was at the end of the hallway. The glass door was closed, but I could see the shadow of his body moving, clearly busy in a meeting through a video call. I did not want to disturb him, so I sat on the black leather sofa near the window.I waited and waited.The clock hands moved. Fifteen minutes, twenty. He was still speaking in a low, firm tone, foreign languages flowing smoothly from his lips. I looked down at my book, opened a chapter, and tried to study the material I was supposed to review, but my mind could not focus.Someone knocke
I still held his tie, locking myself in the dark gaze of his eyes. The word "good" from him hung in the hissing air between us, in the narrow space left before our lips truly touched.He did not close that distance. He let it remain open. My breath hitched, my chest felt tight from a mix of smoldering anger and sudden, spreading heat. I pulled his tie again, hard, until his body fully pressed me against the wall. The cold of the concrete seeped through my clothes, a stark contrast to the burning warmth of his body."You think this is a game?" I hissed.Gabriel shook his head slowly, once. "This is not a game, Sera. This is far more dangerous."His free hand rose, touched the edge of my jaw, his strong fingers stroking the line of the bone with a touch that made me shiver."You know the rules. You know why.""David doesn't threaten your rules," I whispered."Anyone from the outside is a threat." His thumb brushed my lower lip, a movement almost imperceptible yet feeling like an electri
I did not know how I was still able to walk toward the elevator. My legs felt as if they were not touching the floor, my chest tight. My mind was filled with the image of David leaving with a pale face, and Gabriel’s sharp gaze like a blade.The elevator chimed and the doors opened. We stepped inside.Once the doors closed, the air between us thickened. There was no sound except the soft hum of the elevator’s engine. Gabriel stood beside me, his large frame and his scent filling the small space, a masculine scent I usually felt as protection but this time felt like pressure.The elevator rose, the digital numbers climbing. I could not hold it in anymore.“You didn’t have to chase him away like that,” I said suddenly, without looking at him.Gabriel did not answer right away.The elevator kept rising. Only after a few seconds that felt like a century, he spoke in a flat voice:“Are you more upset because I sent him away, or because he was afraid of me?”I turned sharply. “What do you m
Just as I feared, the worry that had been eating at my mind since morning finally came true. I had just stepped out of the taxi in front of Gabriel’s apartment building when I saw a figure I knew very well standing awkwardly in the lobby. Neatly combed brown hair, a backpack slung on one shoulder, and a nervous expression he tried to hide but failed miserably.No. No. No. No.“David?”He turned quickly, his eyes lighting up the instant he saw me, as if he had just found a reason to breathe again.“Sera! You’re home. I was waiting for you and your father,” David said.My heart nearly stopped.“What are you doing here?” I whispered sharply, though I tried not to draw attention from the lobby guard who was already glancing our way.“I want to talk to your father, I want to prove that my intentions are serious.”I covered my face for a moment. “I already told you not to come here.”“I know you said that, but if I gave up just because you told me to, wouldn’t that mean my feelings aren’t s







