ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ

Chapter 6

Amelia

Hectic Monday did wonders for my body. It brought me much-needed peace, not letting me focus on anything else but work. A mountain of paperwork was waiting for me on the desk, which was practically covered with contracts, mail and an inbox full of unread emails, from people for whom non-working weekends do not exist.

I took the folder and went to the kitchen to get two coffees for me and Gabriel. That was our ritual for the beginning of the week, when together we would create a plan and program for the following week, harmonizing our agendas.

After knocking, I walked in and found Gabriel engrossed in his laptop.

"The coffee has arrived!"

I said with a laugh, even though my body was still shaking with some strange tremors. He locked eyes with me, glancing quickly at the coffee, and picked up the paper bag with his right hand.

"Here's a hot pastry from patisserie Le Montre!"

Our favorite French bakeries in town. While the smell of freshly brewed coffee and buttery pastries swirled around us and danced the most beautiful steps on our senses, I settled in the chair across from him.

"The working week can't start any better than this."

And indeed it was so. After scarfing down Le Montre's delicious buttery rolls, we opened our organizers and began our meeting. After some time and a lot of paperwork later, we were coming to the end of our little meeting.

''That would be all.''

I said in a slightly higher tone than I had planned. The truth is that I was thinking about whether to ask him what happened with Brooke, as I also didn't want to interfere too much in his private life. But since I was their matchmaker, I think I had the right to at least ask.

"Gab, don't mind me aski. . .''

"Amy, actually. . .''

We said simultaneously. I immediately felt a shift in the air. He probably thought I'd ask already by now.

"You go first."

He told me, putting his hands in his pockets and leaning on the table, since we had already gotten up from our chairs.

"Please don't hold it against me, but Brooke told me that you left her abruptly on Friday, leaving her hanging. At first I couldn't believe it, because I know how long have you been chasing her. It just doesn't look like something you would do, especially to Brooke. Again, I am sorry for interfering, but you know that I have a freedom do ask you anything.‚‚

Gabriel let out a long sight, looking at his shoes, and after a good ten seconds spoke.

"I don't mind, of course. Honestly, I thought you were going to ask me earlier. The thing is that. . . one of my friends got into an awkward situation with some guys so I had to leave right away.''

He scratched his head as he spoke, not making constant eye contact with me.

''I'm really sorry. I know I blew it but I just couldn't explain it to her at the time, I had to go right away.''

Something in his voice didn't convince me, but I didn't want to press him further.

"I'm sorry that it happened right after I left, so I couldn't step in to lighten the situation, she felt humiliated. My only advice is not to wait too long before contacting her. But I believe that you'll work it out. Just a friendly advice. The longer you wait, the greater the chance that she will resent you. So give her a visit some time soon.''

I went to the door and when I grabbed the doorknob, I remembered that he also wanted to ask me something. I turned to him and he was somehow absent-mindedly looking at my departing figure.

"Sorry, you wanted to tell me something too."

"Ah yes."

He went to the table and pulled something out of the drawer, then handed me a beautiful champagne-colored invitation with stylish gold lettering.

"This morning I received an invitation to a charity event on Wednesday. Normally they don't send this late, but when they heard about our collaboration with 'Reese Tech', they put us on their guest list. This job really opened many doors for us.''

"Well, that's great news. This is a chance for us to increase the circle of our clientele.''

I said reading the gold engraved letters on the glittering paper.

''That's right. Thanks God that we have established a fund for humanitarian funds, so we can use them at a charity event for one of the auctions. You know that they have various works of art as a way of collecting funds. This time collected funds go to orphanages.''

I hugged that invitation, clutching it tightly to my chest, crumpling the paper a bit. My eyes glazed from unshed tears.

"I always dreamed of being able to help someone. Our little is someone's whole world.''

"This is just the beginning. I'm sure.''

He said, patting me on the shoulder, to which I offered him a smile from one ear to ear.

"Pumpkin, I know you ate  butter rolls, but you didn't tell me you also ate your lipstick before that. It got all over your teeth. Silly you and your red lipstick.''

"Damn, I hate when that happens."

I smiled, rubbing my teeth with my index finger.

"Is everything okay now?"

I asked him, showing him my teeth as if I were at the dentist.

Gabriel came closer and after squinting his eyes gave me confirmation.

"Ay ay captain."

Since he was very close to me, I saw a cut on his left cheek. Without thinking, I raised my hand to touch it, but Gab grabbed my wrist and shook his head.

''What happened to your-''

''Don't.''

He cut me off in mid-sentence.

''It's nothing.''

At that moment, a quiet shiver started to rise on the surface of my skin. This brought back memories of Friday and my encounter with the shadow.

He held my wrist longer than he probably wanted to and after a few moments of silence he let go a little more roughly.

He cleared his throat and turned, walking to his desk.

"So I'm picking you up on Wednesday at seven."

I looked at him blankly, because it took me a few moments to understand what he was talking about.

''Yes, yes, charity event. Wednesday at seven. Deal.''

I forced a smile and went out. After I got to my office, I sat down in my chair and turned towards the city that never sleeps until my body calmed down for unknown reasons and that strange chill disappeared from my pores.

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