The Billionaire's accomplice

The broken deal...

KELSEY

Montelibano Group Corporate Headquarters

Glendale Business District

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It was in the  afternoon of  Friday, two days after I spoke with Jacob, I was on my way to Gabriel's office, Sarah dropped me off  in her new car, before going to her other job.  Sarah was not happy with my persistence to speak with Gabriel about Jeremy again. He declined me a lot of times, and for Sarah, I should have stopped trying already. The shock I had gone thru  after the incident was not a secret to her, and she knew that most of the emotional turmoil that I have been keeping inside of me was more of my unrequited love for Gabriel rather than because of Jeremy's incident.

But I knew deep inside, that Jeremy's  days were numbered,  Gabriel may not have felt it  but I did,  I could feel it to my bones, and I would never abandon him on his last days. The incident didn't really matter to me, my wound was almost healed and I felt better, and that was it, Jeremy needed me, it was not suppose to be the way to end everything because of what he did,  for me, it would just be too cruel to let him down.

I carefully selected a dress to wear. I accepted a gig that night and would proceed to the venue after I meet Gabriel.  Sarah was eyeing me when I was getting ready, teasing me that I was preparing to go for a date instead of an  expected confrontation with Gabriel. Though it was not my real intention, I still wanted to prepare and look my best when I see him. I was wearing a  knee level tulip sleeved sheath black dress with  a matching low heeled  black strapped sandals,  a small black handbag, a pearl earrings, and I put my hair up in a chignon.

I  took a deep breath as I entered Montelibano Group's  gigantic and towering 48 story building.  My heart was thumping like crazy against my chest.  It was two o'clock in the afternoon when I emerged from the automatic revolving doors to the main lobby. I had mixed feelings of wonder, and apprehension as I looked around me, the reception area was designed with concrete textured walls with golden geometric designs, decorated  in combination with glass mosaics, lacquered wood,  and steel decorative panels.

A huge company emblem of letter M in shimmering gold was hanging on the wall,  the company business name was suspended underneath in a much smaller scribed bold letters in gold, blue and green. The waiting lounge was adorned with a huge painting,  a giant TV monitor and tall indoor plants in huge fiber glass pots.  A deep beige  and brown oval sofas were placed  in opposite corners  with  opaque glass center tables complemented  the cream and sand colored marbled floors,  enough to provide seats for more than  three dozen people.

I  looked up and I saw a massive Swarovski   crystal chandelier hanging  in the middle overhead. The over all interior was very modern and elegant with no  other  added unnecessary glitzy decorations whatsoever. I approached the reception desk, the huge half circled desk  was made of wood with carved designs, polished brass and marbled top, where three uniformed female  staff were seated.

I told them that Jacob was expecting me. The receptionist punched on the phone   to  call and confirmed my appointment then nodded her head,  while they spoke and acted efficiently and at ease, It didn't escape me to notice that they were openly eyeing me from head to toe with curiosity from the moment I entered the main lobby. I ignored it and followed someone who led me to the manned entrance gates with card access security system, and showed me the way to the elevators. Gabriel's office was on the 36th floor, but I have to meet Jacob on the 35th floor.

I was in awe, realizing how vast Gabriel's fortune were, not to mention the massive extent of his power and dominance in the corporate world. He was the king in his own territory, It was perhaps a mistake for me to insist to see him in the first place. Of course, why should he waste his time to see me? Someone who never belonged to his world, I suddenly felt so stupid and 'small', but I knew I was doing it for Jeremy, and with that, nothing else should have mattered.