At Her Boss's Mercy

Chapter 19 A superb evening

Gabriel’s POV

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I had been driving home from the office; it was the only thing that had sort of taken my mind off the current ongoing scenario. Almost to my apartment my phone rang. “Hello,” I answered on the third ring. “Son,” mother beamed, “Mother and what do I owe this lovely call?” He heard her laughter and smiled. “Son when will you visit this poor old woman, she cried.” He snickered, “Really mother, it hasn’t been that long I mean I did visit.” “Yes,” she replied, “And you had bought that wonderful woman with you, Julia I believe,” she said. I sighed inwardly. “Ok mother I’m coming over.” Her laughter echoed through the line, “Thank you son,” After swinging away from in front the apartment I drove back towards the road leading to her house. It had been quite a while since he had made a visit to his mother. “Why was he feeling this way,” he asked himself. It was as if since Julia entered his life everything, the few visits he had paid his mother had been very nice and then not only were the visits but the moments he spent sneaking glances at her. I pulled over to a small flower shop and decided to get mother some roses, after all it might make up for being the bad son I seemed to be lately.

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“Abel!” Julia gasped, “Where’s Erin?” He smirked and stared at her as she tried to peek over his shoulder without success. “Um I guess you can say I’m the substitute Erin for the evening,” he said. “What?” she gasped. He laughed. “This isn’t funny!” she cried. “Ok I’m sorry she could not make it so she sent me,” he finished. “Are you serious?” Julia almost cried. “Come on now I’m not that bad…” he trailed off. She looked at him and realized what he was wearing. It was a pair of faded jeans and a long sleeved black shirt opened at the neck. “Hmm looks like I caught your eye,” he snickered. She blushed beet red and looked away. “Fine let’s just go,” she said after taking the bottle of Charlemagne she had bought for the evening.

The drive to Ms. Santiago was long and strained mainly because Julia kept uttering the things she would do to Erin. “I can’t believe she stood me up that little rat of a sister you have!” she exclaimed. He laughed and turned back to driving. When the house finally came into view she gulped. “Is there time to turn back and say I can’t make it?” she asked. “What nonsense!” he cried. She nodded and got out clutching her purse close to her chest. Abel looked at her and shook his head before taking her arm and walking her towards the door. She was close to being petrified as they stood there on the front stoop. Abel had rang the doorbell and they waited. From inside came the click of heels on the floor and then the door opened. “Julia,” Ms. Santiago exclaimed and embraced her. She smiled back and then Abel cleared his throat. “Oh and this handsome gentleman too,” she shook his hand. “Ms. Santiago this is my friend Abel,” she introduced him. “Oh your friend that’s good,” she replied. Julia handed her the bottle of wine and she thanked her.

They were ushered inside and into the living room where Ms. Santiago offered them drinks and non-alcoholic wine for Julia. Julia was slightly taken aback but did not say anything. “Ms. Santiago…”Julia began, “oh please call me Arabelle or Belle for short,” she insisted. Julia smiled. “Belle, um so how have you been since the last visit?’ she asked sheepishly. Suddenly conversation seemed a task to do. Arabelle smiled and began talking making them all involved as they waited for dinner. When she began it was as if the spell of strained conversation had been broken. Her words wee smooth and lilting almost like flowing water. She left awhile after to check on dinner and Julia stared at Abel and shook her head. “Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all,” she thought. The doorbell rang shortly after and Abel got up. “I’ll get it,” he said and headed for it. Julia stared behind him and sighed.

Gabriel’s POV

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I rang the bell and waited mother had always loved these roses and I was sure she would love them now, flowers and chocolates with a bottle of wine for the evening. I stood there waiting. The door finally opened and my smile froze in place. “You,” I gritted out. His eyebrows went up and the smile on his face disappeared. “Surprised to see me?” he asked. I looked past him. If he was here that meant Julia and his insides twisted at the thought of meeting her after what this man had told him. Still he wanted her even if it just meant seeing, he would let his eyes drink in every curve, every curl on her body. He shook his head and his smile fell back into place. “Well it’s glad you could make it,” I said and then stepped forward. He moved past and I stepped through. At once my eyes landed on her back. Her hair was done up in a soft curl and her dress exposed her creamy skin at her shoulders. It made me want to forget everything and just be near her, let my hands go through those soft tresses and … “Uh hem,” someone cleared their throat. I turned to see the fool standing looking at me.

I smiled and made my way over to her. Her hands were clasped in her lap and she was playing with her purse, the nervous Julia I knew. “Good evening,” I called out before I stepped in front of her. Her eyes went wide and her lips, soft and inviting opened, it was almost as if she had seen a ghost. “Gabe…” her face turned scarlet and she tried to look unperturbed. Before she could utter another word though I bent and took her hand. She inhaled sharply at our close proximity. My lips found her hand and kissed the soft lithe skin on top of it. I could have sworn I heard her moan or was it my imagination. I seemed to be living in my dreams these days especially with this woman around me. I stood back up and presented her with the roses. “Para mi amour,” I said and smirked. Her eyebrows creased and I got the desired effect I wanted. I could see her lips trembling as my hands brushed hers. She looked up and I smirked. “Thank you,” I heard her, a bare whisper. I looked up and saw him staring, his jaw tight his eyes cold as steel. “Yes this was definitely going to be a superb evening,” I thought.