I feel my face flush. How can he talk to me like this? He is so blunt. Obviously, he’s a man who is used to getting what he wants. Well, not this time.
I cross my arms and give him a disinterested glance. “What do you want, Gabriel? Are you just going to keep hiring me for pointless projects to satisfy your bizarre infatuation with me?” I choke on the words as they come out of my mouth. I did not mean for them to sound so…. arrogant.
He laughs at my candor. “Why do you find it odd that I should be infatuated with you, Victoria?”
“Because…” I place my hands firmly on my hips. “I’m sure you have all sorts of women falling at your feet. It’s quite obvious to me that you’ve never heard the word no in your life. So why me? Is it the thrill of the chase? Because I can tell you that no matter what, it’s still only going to end one way.”
“And what way is that, Victoria?” he replies salaciously. “With me inside you?”
“Um,” I gulp. Yes, please. I shake my head. What the hell am I doing? Why does his talking to me that way turn me on? I need to get him out of here, quick.
“You know, for such a beautiful woman, you seem to have no idea of your effect on men.”
I ignore his last comment, trying to hold my ground. “I could just quit.”
“And disappoint Mr. Berger?” he asks playfully. “How do you even know that I had anything to do with this job? Perhaps it was just sheer coincidence that you were hired to work here, directly across from my building. And perhaps it was just a coincidence that my office happens to be one floor up from this one, and I just happened to notice you.”
I gasp as I spin around and look up. Oh my God. I can see his office from here. Why didn’t I see it before? That means he could see me this morning… in all of my book sniffing glory and everything.
“That is so…”
“Convenient?” he lifts his brow.
“I was thinking more along the lines of creepy.” I laugh jokingly.
His mouth draws into a hard line as he stands up and stalks across the room. He stops within an inch of my body, the heat radiating from him nearly melting my core. Good God this man can be intimidating. But I refuse to back down. I can do this. I can totally do this.
“I want you, Victoria,” he says brusquely. “Against my own will. So just tell me what I have to do to make it happen, then we can stop all these games.”
Against his own will? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I feel a shiver run down my spine as he leans in closer, his hot breath caressing my skin. I want him too. But I can’t. This is a bad idea, all around. I have to stay strong. I close my eyes and catch the intoxicating scent of his cologne. Sweet and spicy. God the man smells even better than I remember.
“I… I.. Gabriel, it’s just,” I try to formulate a sentence. But the heady scent of his cologne and his close proximity are making it impossible to think.
And then abruptly he steps back, much to my disappointment. I was kind of enjoying our little standoff.
He runs an exasperated hand through his hair and sighs. His face is unreadable, but it appears as though he has changed his mind.
“Perhaps you are right, Victoria,” he says. “You should really stay away from me, I wouldn’t be good for you.”
He turns and leaves, slamming the door behind him. My shoulders slump and I don’t know why, but I feel a sharp stab of pain at his words. Isn’t this what I wanted? Exactly what I said I wanted? So why does it feel as though all my dreams have been ripped away?
I shake my head and sit back down at my desk. For the rest of the afternoon, I stare blankly at the computer screen, willing the email to register something, anything to distract me for a moment. But it never does. Every once in a while I glance back over my shoulder and peek into Gabriel’s office across the street. It’s empty and remains that way even when I leave at five.
Chapter Six
Victoria
The next morning, I ponder as to whether I should even go back to this job. It isn’t as if I need the money that badly. I have a lot saved up so far, so what’s one job? Still, I can’t shake yesterday’s events, and a small part of me wants to see Gabriel again. Even if it is from the safe confines of my office window.
I’m not feeling nearly as confident today, so I throw on a simple Navy blue skirt, Nautical striped shirt, and yellow cardigan. I pair it with some brown leather flats and a matching belt. I tame my hair into a bun, though not nearly as neat as the day before, and put on some makeup. I’m out the door by eight sharp.