7

The files fell from her hands. The sound separated them from the kiss and attracted their attention toward her.

"What the hell?" Arabella asked.

Xavier scoffed mockingly.

Giselle's heart ached again as she leaned down to pick up the files. The other girls joined to help her.

"What incompetence," she heard Darlyn say.

"What can I say, babe? People are always lousy, and they don't take their jobs seriously," Xavier replied, making Giselle look at him. He was gazing at Arabella and touching her face admiringly.

Arabella scoffed. "Why don't you just fire them all?"

Xavier chuckled. "Finding new employees can be stressful. You look very beautiful, by the way. I missed you," he said, smiling at her as he wrapped his hands around her waist and kissed her lips again. Like before, his eyes moved to Giselle.

She dropped her gaze to the files she was picking up.

She heard Xavier giggle. "I missed you too, babe," she said.

More kissing sounds reached Giselle’s ears, adding to the pain in her heart.

"Why is that taking so long?!" Xavier yelled, making her flinch. She hurried to finish with the files.

"Girls, leave. I need privacy with my man," Arabella said to her friends as Giselle got to her feet after picking up the last file.

"I will call you when I need you," she added.

"Yes, ma'am," the girls responded, heading out of the room.

Giselle was about to walk out as well, but...

"Miss Harrison," Xavier called.

She froze, suppressing her tears as she turned to him.

"Yes, sir?" she almost stuttered.

"Get us coffee. How do you want yours, baby?" he asked Arabella.

"Totally black. No milk or sugar. I am burning calories," Arabella replied, smiling.

Xavier smiled at her and pinched her cheek a bit. That felt familiar.

He usually did that to Giselle.

She dropped her gaze, still suppressing her tears.

"You heard her, Miss Harrison," he said.

Giselle nodded without looking at him.

"Two cups of black coffee. Get it now," he ordered.

She nodded slightly.

"So, tell me, how was your trip, my love?" he asked Darlyn.

Giselle's heart ached tightly as she walked out the door.

Heaving a sigh, she walked toward Rob’s desk. He was talking to someone on the telephone. She placed the files on his desk gently so they wouldn't fall again.

"Yes, have a nice day. Thank you," Rob said, smiling brightly as he dropped the telephone. His smiling face was replaced with a frown when he turned to her.

"What is this?" he asked.

"The boss wants you to go through them," she said.

"That's a lot of files," he replied, sighing.

Giselle turned to walk away.

"Uh, where are you going?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned to him.

"The boss wants me to bring coffee for him and his girlfriend," she said.

He scoffed. "Arabella is not his girlfriend. They are engaged. She is his fiancée."

Giselle's heart tightened.

"Didn't you see the diamond ring on her finger?"

She rubbed her palms on her skirt, trying to compose herself.

"Anyway, that's far from the point right now. You are supposed to help me with this. You are his PA, remember?" he asked.

"I know, but I have to..."

"And that's not the way to the coffee spot," he cut in.

"Oh... where is it?" she asked.

"The other room by your left," he said, typing on his laptop.

She nodded.

"Hurry up, please, let's work on the files," he urged.

Giselle headed toward the room and walked in. It looked like a kitchen. She walked toward the counter where the coffee machine was.

She let out a breath, closing and opening her eyes.

He said fiancée.

Rob said fiancée. She was his fiancée.

Giselle placed her hand on her chest, trying to calm herself.

But her heart kept aching.

She needed to be calm. She had to be calm.

She nodded slightly at her thoughts before picking up two cups. She made two black coffees, placed them on a tray, picked it up, and headed out of the room.

She walked toward Xavier’s office and knocked slightly on his door.

"Come in," she heard Darlyn say.

Giselle opened the door and saw them at the desk. Xavier was seated on his swivel chair, and Arabella was on the seat opposite him.

"What kept you?" Arabella asked as Giselle approached them.

"I am sorry, ma'am," she said.

"She is getting old, isn't she?" Xavier remarked, adding to Giselle’s pain.

"Then you should fire her," Arabella said, looking at Giselle.

Giselle gulped, composing herself as she placed Arabella’s cup in front of her. Arabella placed her hand on the cup, and Giselle saw the familiar diamond ring on her finger.

It was the ring he had given her—his mother's ring.

Giselle's heart tightened severely.

She walked toward Xavier and placed his coffee in front of him.

"What the hell is this?" he asked, motioning to the coffee in front of him.

Giselle furrowed her brows at him in confusion.

"Are you dumb?" he asked rudely.

Her heart dropped.

"The... the coffee you asked for, sir," she stuttered nervously.

"I didn't ask for black coffee, numbskull," he said.

Giselle furrowed her brows.

"I am sorry... I thought you..."

"Get this shit out of my face," he retorted, staring at her angrily. She felt tears welling up.

Arabella scoffed mockingly.

Giselle blinked, dropping her eyes to the coffee before picking it up.

"Take away mine too; it tastes horrible," Arabella said, making a disgusted face.

"Can't you make a proper coffee?" she asked.

"I am sorry, ma'am," Giselle replied, walking away.

"What's even her job here, babe?" Arabella asked as Giselle headed toward the door.

"A less privileged person I decided to help," Xavier said.

Giselle couldn't take it anymore. She walked out of the door and closed it gently.

She hastily walked toward the room where she had made the coffee and placed the tray on the counter.

Tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

She sobbed, placing her hand on her chest.

She couldn't believe she was going through all this. She couldn't believe she had once been married to such a man.

He had changed completely.

Five years had made him cold.

She couldn't continue working here. It was too much for her.

She hated the way he talked to her. He was very rude and called her awful names. It hurt deeply.

He was not the man she married. He was not the sweet husband she had known. He was a totally different person.

She couldn't be in the same space with him. Her heart was really aching.

She couldn't take it.

It was her first day, and he was making it hell for her.

The way he had kissed Arabella earlier had shattered her heart in a way she had never felt before.

This was awful.

Her phone rang. She sniffled and wiped her tears before taking it out of her pocket.

She looked at the caller ID; it was BLAIRE.

Sniffling, she picked up the call and placed the phone close to her ear.

"BLAIRE, hey."

"Mum," Ayla’s familiar voice came through.

"Ayla?" Giselle asked, furrowing her brows.

"Mum, hi," Archie’s voice followed.

"Wha... where is your aunt?"

"In the kitchen, making us pasta," Ayla replied.

Giselle let out a little sigh of relief.

"Mum, Aunt Blaire’s house is very beautiful," Archie said.

"Yes, we love it already," Ayla agreed.

Giselle chuckled. "Is it really that beautiful?" she asked.

"Yes!" they said in unison.

She smiled. "I am glad you both like it."

"Mum, are you having fun at work?" Ayla asked.

Giselle's heart clenched, but she nodded. "Yes, sweetie. Mummy is having so much fun." She lied, suppressing her tears.

"When are you coming back?" Archie asked.

"Soon, honey. I will get you both cookies from the store."

"Yay! Cookies!" they squealed happily, making her let out a laugh.

"Bye, Mum, we love you," Ayla sang.

"Bye, sweeties. I love you too."

"Ayla, Archie, lunch is ready," Blaire’s voice came in the background. The kids squealed happily, and Giselle heard their footsteps scurrying away.

She smiled a little before hanging up.

"Who were you talking to?"

Giselle froze.

She turned around and saw Xavier standing at the entrance, looking at her.

Her heart sank into her belly.

Oh no.

He didn't hear anything, right?