MEANT TO BE SOLELY MINE

CHAPTER 2 (PART 1)

GABRIEL'S OFFICE

The loud bang of Gabriel's fist against the smooth surface of the wooden desk made Esmeralda's heart leap into her throat. "I said you are fired. I want you out of my dorm before the night runs out," he roared, his voice echoing in the small office.

That was the terrifying situation Esmeralda met as she entered his office later that day. She had gotten there, thinking Mr Gabriel called her over to hand out her pay check since it was already the end of the month, only to hear him say she was dismissed. Esmeralda hoped it was some kind of sick joke and she asked again to be sure but the man didn't have that patience. He flared up hitting the desk with his fist.

"Please, forgive me, sir. My family depends on me. They are in debt, and this is the only job that provides me with enough money to support them. I don't understand how they-"

Gabriel cut her off, his voice dripping with disdain. "I don't fucking care about your family's bullshit. Just get the hell out of here."

Tears began to well in Esmeralda's eyes as desperation washed over her. "Please, Mr. Gabriel, my life depends on this job. I... I don't have anywhere to go. I don't know what to do. Please, be kind enough to change your mind. I'm begging you. Just tell me what I did wrong, and I promise I won't repeat it."

Her voice trembled, the weight of her circumstances threatening to crush her spirit. "Or is it about the incident earlier today? I already apologized to the couple. Please, Mr. Gabriel, I'm really sorry."

Gabriel regarded her with a smirk, the corners of his mouth curling up as he pronounced her name, "Esmeralda." He leaned back in his chair, his expression unfazed. "It's not about what happened today," he clarified. "I already told you not to worry about that. I have forgiven you for that."

Esmeralda's heart sank further, confusion mingling with her fear. If it wasn't about the incident, then what was the real reason for his decision?

He adjusted himself in his seat, fingers steepled as he leveled a fierce gaze at her trembling form. "I'm firing you because you act so dumb and naive, and I'm sick of it."

Esmeralda's heart raced, confusion washing over her. How could those two words-dumb and naive-be the reason for her dismissal?

"I can stop being dumb and naive if that's what it takes to keep my job," she blurted out, surprising herself with her own determination. Since when had she ever considered herself naive or, worse, dumb?

"I promise to change this aspect about me." She was desperate to hold onto the one job that provided for her family.

Gabriel stood up, moving toward her with a predatory grace. He saw her desperation as an opportunity to get what he wants.

"Since you desperately want to keep this job, there is something you can do to change my mind," he said, pausing to gauge her confused expression. "You can give me something I have always wanted, something I have fantasized about."

Esmeralda's confusion deepened. "And what is that, sir?" she asked cautiously.

He smiled inwardly, his hand rising to stroke her face. "You are a very beautiful girl, Esmeralda, and I have always fantasized about having you right here in my office since you started working for me."

Gabriel had always been a sly old fox who got what he wanted. While he ran a fabric store, he also owned an illicit underground club, maintaining a socialite facade to uphold a respectable image. The fabric store served as a perfect cover for his main business. He employed many girls-those that appeared dainty and humble he kept at the fabric store and those who looked tough and seem as if they could handle any situation, he introduced them to the underground business of the club. Not everyone working at the club was aware of its illicit activities.

Gabriel has always loved young vibrant girls and hence employs them so that he could get into their pants and being rich was a pique on his own because he has easily gotten into the pants of almost every girl under him.

Esmeralda instinctively recoiled from his touch, her instincts screaming that something was very wrong. He couldn't mean what she thought he did.

"What are you saying?" she asked, her voice shaky but steady, desperate for clarification.

"Don't act as if you don't know what I mean. I want you." His voice dropped, filled with a twisted urgency, as he leaned in to kiss her, attempting to force himself on her.

Esmeralda's heart raced, and she cursed in Mexican. "¡Qué el carajo! (What the fuck). Get off me, you bloody idiot!"

She pushed him away, but he gripped her tightly, his hands trying to get under her dress. That violation ignited a fierce strength within her, allowing her to shove him back before delivering a sharp slap across his face.

Gabriel staggered back, shock and pain flashing across his features. He gritted his teeth, anger boiling over. "Get out of my office, you whore!" he screamed, his face flushed with rage.

"You disgust me, Mr. Gabriel," she spat, grabbing her purse. In a rush of anger, she added more Mexican curses, "Para infierno con su trabajo, gilipollas!" (To hell with your job, asshole.)

Esmeralda stormed out of his office, heart racing, fully aware she had just lost a well-paying job.