MATTHEW: Devilish Love

chapter 3

Gabrielle's POV

I started my day with a headache and a throbbing sense of dread. Not exactly surprising after yesterday's debacle with Matthew Gorvell. Who knew my dream job would turn into a scene from a horror movie on the first day? I should have seen it coming when the contract mentioned his "special situation."

I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. Today would be different. I’d avoid pissing off the CEO, dodge the daggers Clara was sure to throw at me with her eyes, and maybe, just maybe, not make any enemies. Wishful thinking, but a girl can dream.

As I stepped into the elevator, I found myself next to Julian. He flashed me a grin, looking far too chipper for 8 a.m. "Hey, newbie! Survived your first day, I see."

"Survived is a generous word," I mumbled, clutching my bag like a lifeline.

Julian chuckled. "Matthew's tough, but he’s not that bad once you get used to him. Well, sort of."

"That's comforting," I said sarcastically. The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open to the executive floor. My nerves spiked immediately. Julian gave me a reassuring pat on the back before heading off.

"Good luck, newbie!" He sang over his shoulder.

I took a deep breath and made my way to Matthew’s office, my heels clicking on the polished marble floors. I stopped outside his door, hesitating as I remembered his chilling words from yesterday. With my hand poised to knock, I felt the door swing open, almost as if it had sensed my fear.

"You're late," Matthew’s voice cut through the silence like a blade.

I swallowed hard. "I'm actually early, sir. It's 8:55."

His icy blue eyes narrowed at me. "Early is on time. On time is late. And late is unacceptable, Miss Gabrielle."

"Noted," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. He stared at me for a long, uncomfortable moment before finally gesturing me inside.

I placed his coffee on the desk and watched as he inspected it, swirling the cup and taking a sip. He winced. "Did I ask for burnt battery acid in a cup? No. I asked for a bloodred espresso." He leaned back in his chair, his gaze pinning me in place.

I felt my face flush. "I'm sorry, sir. I still don’t know what that is."

He sighed dramatically, like he was dealing with a child. "Clearly, mortals are incapable of understanding even the simplest requests."

"Or maybe it's because nobody serves drinks named after blood," I muttered under my breath.

"What was that, Miss Gabrielle?" He leaned forward, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.

"Nothing, sir! I'll get it right next time," I quickly amended. He waved me off with a flick of his hand, already dismissing me.

I scurried out of his office, bumping into Clara, who stood by her desk, glaring at me. She looked like she was ready to bite my head off.

"Mess up already, newbie?" She asked, her lips curling into a sneer.

I forced a smile. "Just getting started."

Her eyes flicked past me to the office door, then back at me. "Watch your back. I’ve seen dozens of assistants come and go. You won’t last."

Her words stung, but I refused to let her see it. I simply nodded and made my way to the staff pantry, where I spent the next few minutes frantically searching through coffee supplies, trying to guess what a 'bloodred espresso' could be. I settled on a double-shot espresso with a splash of red velvet syrup. It seemed like a decent guess, given Matthew's penchant for dramatic names.

Returning to his office, I knocked—twice this time—before entering. Matthew was leaning back in his chair, scrolling through his phone. He looked up when I placed the cup on his desk. He took a sip and then narrowed his eyes at the coffee.

"It’s… acceptable," he said begrudgingly.

Relief washed over me. "Glad to hear it, sir."

"Don't get used to praise," he added, setting the cup down. "Now, sit. We need to go over your tasks for the day."

I quickly perched on the edge of the chair, pulling out a notepad and pen. He rattled off a list of meetings, emails, and things to prepare for. As he spoke, I realized I would be juggling ten different tasks at once. Matthew worked at a pace that felt impossible to keep up with, but I forced myself to stay focused.

"Also," he added with a smirk, "I expect a comprehensive report on all client files by the end of the day. No mistakes."

My hand froze mid-note. "The end of the day? But there are dozens of files—"

"And?" He raised an eyebrow. "Is that a problem?"

"No, sir," I muttered, my confidence plummeting.

"Good. Now get to it," he said, waving me off as if I were a pesky fly.

I left his office, clutching my notepad like it was a lifeline. I hurried to my desk and started sorting through the mountain of client files. The workload was insane, but I refused to let him see me struggle. I would prove I could handle it, even if it killed me.

As I was elbow-deep in paperwork, Julian appeared, leaning against my cubicle wall. He whistled low when he saw the stack of files. "Yikes. He’s really putting you through the wringer."

"Tell me about it," I muttered, not looking up.

"Want some help?" he offered with a charming smile.

"I thought you were his personal secretary?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Julian shrugged. "I am, but I’m also a sucker for damsels in distress."

I snorted. "I’m not in distress."

He leaned closer, whispering conspiratorially. "Sure you’re not. But just so you know, Matthew only acts this way when he’s interested. It’s his weird, twisted way of testing you."

"Interested?" I echoed, my mind drawing a blank.

"Not like that, Gabrielle," Julian laughed, shaking his head. "Though, now that I think about it, your feisty attitude is probably driving him crazy. He’s not used to mortals talking back."

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. "I’m just trying to do my job."

"And you’re doing great," Julian winked. "Let me know if you need any pointers. I’ve got some vampire survival tips."

I gave him a grateful smile as he walked off. For the first time today, I felt a flicker of hope. Maybe I could survive this job. Maybe I could survive Matthew Gorvell.

Just as I was thinking that, Matthew’s voice crackled over the intercom. "Miss Gabrielle, in my office. Now."

So much for hope. I sighed, grabbing my notepad and heading back into the lion’s den.

==
Double update today 🤸🤸
Don't forget to vote comment and follow
Any questions my dm is always open