Do you trust me?

three

-Zach POV-

"Do you trust me?"

She stared at me with mixed expression. I could see sadness and anger.

My training includes reading people. I could tell from their faces whether they are lying or hiding anything.

This girl was definitely hiding something. Something painful.

I moved closer to her.

"Gabriella?"

She looked at me intently.

"Do you trust me?"

She whispered. "Yes. I do trust you."

--

Gabriella POV

I cant believe I said that.

But this man has made me feel that I could indeed trust him.

He smiled at me and pulled the chair for me to sit like a true gentleman. A gesture I had never experience.

--

Zach POV

There is something about Gabriella Sanders. When she smiled, I could see her dimples. She still refused to look to me much. Mostly on her sandwich or the floor.

I think Im going crazy with my thoughts of her. Yes Ive met women. Slept with a few. Im not exactly a player but when you are in this line of work, you dont get serious with anyone. No time to and concealing identity is another thing to factor in.

I wanted to hold her. To let those anger and sadness dissipates out of her.

"Why did you choose to work here? And by your age, it means you didnt go to college."

Gabriella: I did attend college for a year and a half. I quit in my second year. And after going in between jobs for about 6 months, I saw the ad for HR admin and applied. And here I am.

"So you have been a HR admin all through 3 years? Didnt you have advances? Promotions?"

She shook her head.

Gabriella: I guess I wasnt very good to be given any.

"Nonsense. I could see how you work, your thought process just from this morning. You are good."

She blushed and looked down.

Gabriella: (whispered) Thank you sir. That means a lot.

There was certainly much more to this girl than meets the eye. I wanted to find out more about her.

"So why did you quit college?"

She looked down playing with the food in her hands. I could tell she was nervous to tell me.

"Its ok Elle, you dont have to tell me anything you're not comfortable with."

Gabriella: I had to sir. I had to support my sick father and younger brother.

She didnt say more and we sat there silently eating.

I broke the silence talking about the company. She had been here for 3 years, she might be able to give me insights on my mission.

Unfortunately, nothing of use to me. She seems to not know much about the happenings outside of her job scope.

We then dived back into the files and I try to understand as much as I could.

Gabriella POV

After a long session of conversations and work with Warren, I head back to my desk. He makes me comfortable. He is the first person who actually care enough to ask me about my life. I have been keeping to myself for so long that I forgot how to have actual conversations.

I stepped onto a puddle of water beside my desk. My entire chair was wet. It looked as if an entire bottle was poured onto it that it dripped onto the floor.

Shit. My bag!

I took my bag which was placed on the floor. Yes of course it was wet. Along with everything inside. My cell too. I cant turn it on now.

I was angry. Now I have to spend to get it fixed. I couldnt take it. The tears are threatening to fall. I dashed to the bathroom which I was glad was empty.

The tears ran furiously and I let it. It doesnt get any less painful the more I receive it.

I slapped myself.

"Come on Gabriella. Toughen up. You can do this."

I went out of the stall still to an empty bathroom. I washed my face and dried my tears. I put on my best smile, grabbed a bunch of paper towels to clean my chair and went out.

I didnt notice the person in front of me when I collided into him.

Zach: Gabriella?

I looked up to see my boss in front of me.

"Im so sorry sir? I didnt see you there."

As I turned to walk away, he grabbed my hand and pull me to face him. I felt tingles where he touched me.

Zach: What happen Elle?

"Nothing sir. Im... fine. Excuse me sir, I have to get back to work."

I let go of his grip and walked to my table.

I did see Stacy smirking at me as I walked back. I ignored her and went to clean up my chair and wiped up the water puddle. Since I couldnt sit on the wet chair, I had to stand to complete my work.

Zach: Ms Sanders?

I turned to look at him, along with the rest of the staff, who was standing outside his door.

"Yes Mr Ashton."

Zach: Could you bring your laptop and the files from just now in here?

He turned to walk into his office.

I quickly take the stuff and walked towards his office. I could feel the staff's eyes boring into me.

Zach POV

Her eyes were blotchy. She looked like she had been crying. But she smiled a very plastered smile and walked back to her desk.

I peered from the side and saw her using paper towels to wipe her chair and floor. She then started to do her work standing up.

Something was up. Her apprehension towards me. Her expressions. Her demeanor tells me something was off.

I walked towards my office and called out to her in front of all the staff to come into my office with the stuff I believed she needed to complete her work.

When she entered my office, I gestured for her to sit down. I started to give some desk room to her.

"Here. Now you have a place to work comfortably."

She stared at me shocked.

Gabriella: Sir, I have a desk. I could work there.

"Well I believe your chair is wet and you needed to complete these files asap. So I suggest you start working here."

Gabriella: I dont want to impose sir.

"Well you are not. Now get back to work."

She looked at me curiously trying to figure me out before starting work.