Tangle (BWWM)

Chapter 7 - Asian Meals and Good Vibrations

A/N: Hola mi gente! Checking in with my lovely readers, hoping all is well. The picture above is an example of the outfit that Gabrielle is wearing (or at least something is similar). Note, I have no idea who the lady in the pic is, but she's rocking that outfit!

This chapter is being used a bridge to carry the story into the next phase. It's gonna start to pick up from here. Fun times ensue! xD All right, all right. Enough blabber. On with the show! (Friendly reminder to comment and vote <3)

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All he could do was stare at her as she spoke. She was an absolute vision while she presented her work to him and the Board of Trustees. Her outfit was perfect. He would never cease to be impressed by her style and grace. Today she wore a nicely pressed coral colored, three-quarter sleeved button-down shirt, a gray tube skirt and some black pumps. The color of the shirt made her brown skin appear to glow! She'd accessorized with a golden necklace, earrings, and an elegant wrist watch. And her curly brown hair was neatly piled atop her head. Needless to say, the woman was fantastic.

And no nervousness! She was giving the presentation like she was made for this life. Truly, she was his perfect match, the way she expressed herself. It was a far cry from the timid young woman he saw eight years ago when she first began working for Corp. Pride swelled in his chest as he recalled that day.

He'd just arrived at the recently opened New York branch, and was greeted by Mr. Robertson. The two men had gone to speak in Robertson's office, and there she was, searching for something on his desk. Since Robertson was an amiable, gentle man, this was no problem for most of his employees. He was like their work-father. But by the timidity in the woman's posture, he could tell that she was green. However, regardless of her shyness, which usually would cause him disinterest, she had managed to peak his curiosity. It wasn't until he'd flown back to London that he figured out that this could have been the woman that was foreseen for him by the old fortune teller woman.

And he'd waited eight years for everything to fall into place...

He would happily admit to anyone that Gabrielle Thompson was the woman that he would give everything up for. And they hadn't even had their first date yet... That would soon be rectified.

"Is there anything you wanted to add, Mr. Dragonoff?"

His name being called pierced through his mind's haze and pulled him back to the present. He blinked repeatedly in semi-confusion. "I'm sorry?" he muttered. Vincent noted the look of irritation on Gabrielle's face. She had not failed to notice the way that his eyes glazed over, his concentration on things other than the meeting and her presentation.

"Was there anything you wanted to add to this presentation?" she repeated her question, her voice sterner this time.

He had to admit, her authoritative voice was sexy. It left him torn between wanting her to dominate and command him, and wanting to assert his own dominance on her as a reminder of who the true alpha was in this room. Before his thoughts could slip back to anything inappropriate, he cleared his throat. "No, Ms. Thompson," he said, clasping his hands in front of him on the long table. "You've explained it all." His voice was lowered to its smooth baritone, and he gave her an award-winning smirk.

She had to resist rolling her eyes. He really attempted to flirt with her then and there? During her presentation?! Gabrielle was beginning to think that he took her for a complete joke, and she didn't appreciate it too much.

When Vincent heard those thoughts crossing Gabrielle's mind, he straightened up a bit. The last thing he needed was to have his love cross with him. She'd given him a chance to prove himself, and prove himself he would. He cleared his throat and sobered up. "Thank you, Gabrielle, for the presentation. You've done a wonderful job today." The Board agreed with him, going as far as giving her a small round of applause. The smile on her face made him feel butterflies in his stomach.