Tangle (BWWM)

Chapter 1 - Who's the Boss?

Today was the day... Was she nervous? Well, of course she was! Was she going to show it? Gabrielle sighed to herself. The correct answer would be, "Hell no, she wasn't gonna show it!" with a fist pump reaching to the heavens. However, realistically, she wasn't so sure. It was not that Gabrielle lacked confidence. Oh no, she exuded that.

She was more than pleased with how she looked that day. Gabrielle smiled at the fact that her sandalwood toned complexion glowed in the golden light of the morning sun. Her clothes emphasized her curves, but in a professional manner. Her pumps added a few inches to her average stature. Her make up was light and natural, her full lips slightly shiny from the light tinted gloss she applied. Her big, brown eyes held the necessary strength and excitement. And her curly hair was neatly pulled into a ponytail that settled at the top of her back. She knew she looked good!

It was just that... Well, she was uncertain of what the day would bring.

Gabrielle Thompson worked for the famous Dragonoff Corporation in the New York branch. One of the owners (also the CEO), Vincent Dragonoff, would be in town to check on them. She received a request from the man to see her today, but why would the owner want to talk to a lowly worker in the design department? She'd been working for the corporation for eight years undetected by any other higher-ups. So for the biggest fish in the pond to pick her out from the school of thousands...? It was unbelievable, to say the least.

Gabrielle parked her car in the underground garage at the Dragonoff Corporation building. When she was safely parked, she sat in the seat for a few minutes, taking calming breaths. Releasing her tense grip on the steering wheel, she finally decided to grab her red leather messenger bag and step out to make her way to the garage elevator.

When she stepped in, she looked down at her navy-blue pumps. It was the fiftieth time for the morning that she checked for scuff marks, and she was certainly glad to see that they were still in pristine condition after her drive to work. In the reflection of the metallic elevator walls, she looked at her blurred silhouette.

From what she could see, her navy-blue blazer and pencil skirt were also still in pristine condition. She looked down for confirmation and smiled when she saw not a wrinkle in sight. Her white buttoned-down shirt was also still starched and pressed, and her blue necklace untwisted.

The garage elevator arrived onto the lobby floor of the Dragonoff Corporation building. She stepped out, the light hitting her golden-brown skin in the just the right way to make her seem like she was glowing. The lobby receptionist, an older woman named Mary, whistled lowly when she sauntered through. "Well, well, well! Good morning to you!"

She laughed in response. "Good morning, Mary."

"Gabrielle, you look amazing! You wear a business suit very well. Are you giving a presentation or something?"

"Girl, I didn't tell you?" The older woman shook her head, a puzzled look crossing her features. Gabrielle shifted her bag on her shoulder before leaning in closer to Mary. "The big boss asked to see me."

"The big boss? Wait... Vincent Dragonoff asked to see you? What for?"

The younger woman shrugged. "I really don't know. I haven't done anything out of the way lately." She had run through dozens of reasons and scenarios in her head, but none of them made much sense to her.

Gabrielle was an ant in an enormous colony. Between the thousands of employees at the New York branch and the thousands at the original branch in London, it seemed pretty spectacular that the CEO even knew who the hell she was. "Whatever it is, I hope it's nothing bad. I can't afford to lose this job right now."

Mary pursed her lips in thought. "I don't think that the CEO would come all the way from London just to fire you, Gabrielle. That seems a little out of the way. It has to be something good!"