Dangerously Close

The ride back home sent Gabriella into a nervous mess. She struggled hopelessly to control her racing heart as they got closer and closer to the house with each minute that passed.

Khloe had been dropped off at home, and Gabriella now sat alone in the back seat with the dress she had chosen folded carefully into a branded bag beside her.

She reached into the bag, her fingers brushing lightly over the fabric. It carried the memory of the text Alexander sent.

“BEAUTIFUL”

She recalled the single word that had been sending her mind into a frenzy, and Gabriella wondered if he was just complimenting the dress, or her in it.

She hadn’t replied to the text. She didn’t know how to respond to something like that. She kept telling herself it didn’t matter. It was just a fleeting compliment after all. 

But as they pulled into the driveway, she couldn’t deny the insistent, violent thumping of her heart in her chest.

Gabriella breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. Then she put on her best poker face and walked inside, determined to act nonchalant. She couldn’t let him see that his words affected her.

Stepping into the house, she heard a few voices in light conversation.

 Alexander’s and… two others.

She moved cautiously towards the living room and found Alexander seated, relaxed on the couch. A man who seemed about the same age as him sat next to him, and on the opposite side, a woman.

Alexander lifted his head when she walked in.

“You’re back.”

All eyes instantly snapped to her, and she immediately felt like she was being scrutinized.

The man had blonde hair and blue eyes, which made him look charming as he shot her a smile.

“I’d like you to meet my friend Mason and his girlfriend Miranda,” Alexander said.

Gabriella looked at the woman who was seated elegantly across from them. Her hair fell in perfect curls to her waist, framing her face beautifully. She had soft features with a slender build, and Gabriella felt like she was looking at a top model.

“So this is the fiancée,” Mason said, his smirk carrying curiosity.

“Nice to meet you both,” Gabriella finally said, finding her voice. She couldn’t help feeling awkward with the way they were observing her.

Miranda looked her up and down, assessing her slowly before offering a smile.

“I’ve heard so much about you,” she said.

Gabriella's gaze shifted to Alexander, and she found him avoiding her eyes.

He coughed uncomfortably.

“Miranda here, works at the company, but she’s been away for a while,” he said.

“Oh.” Gabriella turned and said with a smile, “I guess we’ll be seeing each other often then.” 

“Looking forward to it,” Miranda replied.

A brief silence settled in the room, and Gabriella shifted slightly under everyone’s gaze, trying to resist the urge to fidget.

“Why don’t you two get better acquainted?” Alexander said, getting up, “Mason and I have some things to discuss.”

Mason got up and followed behind Alexander as they both made their way to his study.

Now left alone with Miranda, Gabriella took a seat and started a light conversation.

“Your hair looks really pretty,” she said.

“Thank you,” she replied curtly.

Miranda studied her briefly before speaking again.

“So how are you adjusting?” She paused before adding, “This must be…a big change for you.”

Gabriella blinked rapidly. She wasn’t sure what to make of the question.

“I’m getting used to it,” she finally said.

“Hmm,” Miranda said, nodding slowly.

“You know I didn’t expect Alexander to settle down this quickly.”

Gabriella could only laugh awkwardly.

“I guess you’ve known him for a while?” she said, trying to change the topic.

“Oh yes. Very long in fact. The three of us have known each other since we were children.”

“I see,” she nodded in understanding.

“How long have you and Alexander been together?” She asked

The question caught her off guard, and Gabriella searched her mind frantically for a response. Just then, Mason and Alexander came back into the living room.

“We should probably get going,” Mason announced.

Miranda got up, forgetting all about her unanswered question.

“It was so nice meeting you, Gabriella,” she said with a smile. “If you ever need anything at the office, feel free to let me know.”

“Thank you,” she replied with a grateful smile.

Alexander and Gabriella escorted them to the door, and soon it was just the two of them alone again.

The change in the air was swift. Gabriella was awfully aware of his presence behind her as they waved goodbye to Mason and Miranda. 

After they drove off, he walked past her, shutting the door. The click echoed loudly through the house.

Gabriella inhaled sharply but didn’t move even though she had been terrified of this very moment.

“So…” Alexander said, his attention completely fixed on her, “How did your fitting go?”

“Fine,” she said too quickly. 

His gaze moved over her slowly.

“Which dress did you pick?”

Her heart skipped a beat.

“Why do you ask?” she said, folding her arms.

“Okay, you don’t have to tell me,” he said, circling her slowly. “ I already know.”

“Is that so?” She challenged, lifting her chin.

For a moment, he said nothing and just stared at her with that same unreadable expression that made it impossible to tell what he was thinking.

“The blue one,” he said, his voice quieter now. “It suits you.”

Gabriella’s breath hitched. Her hands formed fists at her sides as she looked away. The way he was staring into her soul felt deliberate.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Neither of them spoke. The silence made her painfully aware of every second that stretched too long.

“You’re nervous,” Alexander said suddenly.

Her eyes snapped up to him.

“I’m not,” she said too quickly to be convincing.

It was a lie they both knew.

“You are.” He said, smirking.

“You’re imagining things,” she replied, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

Alexander took a step towards her, and she had to force herself not to take a step back as he kept getting closer to her.

“You sent me a picture.”

“You asked for it,” she replied.

“True. But you didn’t have to, yet you did,” he said again.

“I didn’t think it was a big deal,” she said quietly.

“It wasn’t.” 

“Then why are you bringing it up?”

Alexander was only a few inches away from her. His eyes held hers, sharp and unwavering.

“Because I meant it.” He paused, and his eyes softened. “You’re beautiful, Gabriella.”

His words landed softly, but the impact was anything but. Her knees suddenly felt like jelly, and she struggled to stand still.

“You don’t have to say things like that,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

“Why?” he asked.

She shook her head lightly.

“Just don’t, okay?”

Gabriella took a small step back, but he closed the space between them again. Before she could react, he reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against her chin. He tilted her face up to meet his gaze fully.

Not forceful.

Not rushed.

Just slow and intentional. As if he was giving her a chance to pull away and knew she wouldn’t. 

Her breath caught instantly. The contact was minimal, but it sent a jolt through her entire body.

“But I’m only telling the truth,” he said, his voice low, an unreadable glint in his eyes.

For a moment, it seemed like the whole world had stopped. They stood there for a while, staring into each other's eyes. Searching for something neither of them could name.

His gaze dropped to her lips and lingered for a second longer before snapping back to her eyes.

Gabriella stepped back instantly, her heart racing wildly as reality crashed back in on her.

The moment was ruined.

“Maybe you should stop getting close,” she replied, her voice unsteady.

Alexander’s hand dropped slowly to his side, but his eyes never left hers.

“I should get to my room,” she said quickly.

She didn’t wait for a response. Gabriella turned and hurried up the stairs with uneven steps, eager to escape whatever was going on.

By the time she reached her room, her chest was already rising and falling unevenly. She shut the door and leaned against it.

Moments passed, but her heart hadn’t slowed, and her thoughts didn’t settle. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t forget his gaze. The way it had lingered on her lips.

Gabriella shut her eyes tightly. 

Somewhere deep within her, she knew if he had leaned in even slightly, she wouldn’t stop him. She couldn't deny it, and that scared her more than anything else, so she did the only thing she could think of.

She ran.