RC.

Ch4 ......... I

It's noon and still no sign of Gabriel. I guess I'll have to go to his office this afternoon after all.

Suddenly, someone knocks at my door. Speak of the devil and he shall appear! My former manager is staring at me.

Gabriel:"Hi Tayla. I was in a meeting, I only just got your message. We can go if you still want to."

T:"Ok let's go!"

As we walk through the corridor, the secretary stares at us. To be exact, she's actually literally devouring Gabriel with her eyes.

I guess his reputation is the same on all floors! He smiles at her and it seems to me that she blushes. When we stop in front of the elevator, he looks at me.

Gabriel:"It's nice to have asked."

I lie.

T:"Yes ! I thought it would be nice to meet up for lunch!"

Honestly...? Why can't I just tell him the truth?

                          | | | | | |

Gabriel slips into the elevator.

Gabriel:"Shall we eat Italian?"

T:"Why not !"

As we gradually go down, I fiddle with my bag. How am I going to go about this one...?

(I'll talk to him about it right away.)

T:"Gabriel, Mr. Carter would like us to talk about a file. . ."

Gabriel:"Uh-huh . . ."

He's half listening to me, typing something on his phone.

T:"A file he entrusted you with earlier this week . . ."

Gabriel:"Just a moment."

He takes his phone to his ear, gazing at his signet ring.

When the doors open out on the ground floor, the flood of employees snaps me out of our bubble like a sudden gust of wind.

I see Lisa, looking very busy with a group of guys in tie suits.

Gabriel puts his phone away at last and turns to me.

Gabriel:"Sorry. What were you talking about again?"

T:"Nothing ! Let's go to the restaurant."
 
I'll go easy on him. No need to jump at his throat with this file story! I'll just wait till we get to the restaurant.

                            | | | | |

In the street, we walk quickly. New York, at this hour, is like a big ant-hill, crawling with small hurried workers.

He opens the glass door of the restaurant, inviting me in. Despite what people say about him, he still has that gentleman side to him that makes him rather charming.

Felipe gives us one of his greatest smiles and places us at a table near the window.

Gabriel:"Would you like something to drink?"

T:"No, I'm fine ,I'd rather not. I have a busy afternoon ahead of me!"

Gabriel order's and then just looks at me, twisting his signet ring around his finger.

Gabriel:"This new job really does agree with you. You're all aglow."

(Oh !!)

It's so typical of Gabriel ... Making disarming compliments.

I feel flattered.

T:"Thank you. . ."

T:"Speaking of this new job ... Have you worked on the file Mark entrusted you with earlier this week?"

He seems surprised by my question. He frowns slightly. No doubt he was hoping for a whole different discussion.

Gabriel:"My team's on it."

I can sense a little coldness in his tone.

T:"Mr. Carter would like me to inform him of how you're getting on."

Gabriel:"We're doing our best."

(I feel like I'm annoying him.)

It irritates me a little to hear him saying : "We're progressing" ,"We're doing our best".
He isn't saying anything that I could transmit to Carter.

T:"I would need to know when you think you'll have finished . . . to keep Carter informed."

Gabriel:"Listen, with your post to replace, the new employee to train, we've fallen behind on the file."

(Is it just me or is he insinuating that it's my fault ...?)

Gabriel sits back nonchalantly against his seat.

Gabriel:"I can't give you a date yet."

Great ... Go explain that to
Mister I-want-it-all-and-now ...

We stay in a rather unpleasant silence until Felipe brings our dishes.

Gabriel:"Would Carter like to know anything else or can we start lunch?"

Wow ... Where did all the nice remark go: "You're looking good" , "This job is a great opportunity for you","A chance to move on ?"...

(I answer in the same tone.)

T:"I'm just doing my job, Gabriel. I'd like you to do yours."

We stare stonely at each other for a moment.

I don't know if having lunch together was such a good idea after all ... It's obvious that Gabriel doesn't much appreciate receiving orders from his former assistant ...