Taming The Lockwood

Three

Damn.

He stood there, panting, his hair completely disheveled yet somehow still so-perfect looking, a furious look blazing across his face. His eyes held a glint of coldness and his hands were clenched into fists at his side. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up half way and his tie is loosely undone around his neck.

"Raphael." He growls out angrily, ignoring my presence completely as he stalks his way towards his brother.

"Awww Gabey I'd have preferred a much warmer welcome." Raphael's voice holds onto a tone of amusement.

"Why are you here?" He seethes, arms moving to cross over his chest. I watch as his biceps bulge out, the tension in the air growing thicker by the second.

I am a literal pig in the middle.

Raphael gestures to all the papers on the desk, "Thought I'd help you out. Besides, this has been fun, I'd hire you on the spot Miss Evans, and I have no doubt Gabriel would agree." He claims, turning back to me, watching his brother grow increasingly furious out the corner of his eye.

I turn towards Gabriel, helpless. For a hot second, he stares at me, slightly taken aback before he orders, "Get out." His voice is tight as he tries to keep control of his words. His eyes on me makes me flush incredibly and I open my mouth in surprise. "I-i-" I began, stuttering out.

Raphael pouts, effectively saving me from any further embarrassment, "That's no way to speak to a lady, dear brother. As you should know." He points out, standing up as Gabriel towers over him.

I stand up quickly, leaning down to grab my bag. "I'll just-"

"You've got the job. I'll see you first thing tomorrow. Don't be late and don't forget my breakfast." Gabriel cuts in, his words silencing me. His gaze moves over my body, and I suddenly became super self conscious. I was most definitely not the skinniest of all and I was proud of my curves, but there was something about him that made me want to just hide myself. Something in his previous gaze I couldn't place my finger on.

Placing my bag back on my shoulder, I nod, "Thank you, Mr. Lockwood, and um Mr. Raphael," I glance over at Gabriel, biting my lip nervously as I see him glower at my final words.

Turning around, I hurriedly make my way out the cosy office, hitting the ground floor button on the elevator as my mind runs over the last few minutes.

I still have so many questions and no idea where to start.

I got a job?? A job?

Most importantly, what on earth do I get a moody CEO for breakfast?

There's no way I'm going to be able to keep this job. I resolve and decide to tell my mother the news when I feel secure enough to.

***
As soon as I reach my apartment, I kick open the door, slamming it shut behind me and drop my bag on the floor. Lazily, I amble to my bed, collapsing on top of it, my eyes droopy from the lack of sleep I got last night.

Just as I am about to succumb to the blissful sleep that awaits me, the shrill sound of my phone ringing jerks me awake, a dull ache settling in the space between my eyes.

Groaning loudly, I bury my head under my pillows, pull my duvet and comforter tightly around me and wish for any sort of help from the awful migraine I could sense growing.

Whoever's calling is relentless and just as the call ends, another one picks up.

I let out a muffled shriek in my pillow, kicking and fighting off the fuzzy blankets consuming me. Unsuccessful, I land on the ground, my arse throbbing in pain as it makes contact with the wooden floorboards.

Wincing, I crawl across the floor and past the threshold into my living room, grabbing my phone from my bag. Curling up into a ball, I look at the screem, the words No Caller iD are sprawled across it. I pick it up, holding it to my ear.

"Hello?" I breathe out, exhausted. Whoever it was better be grateful for the assault course I had just endured for them.

"About time. How long does it take to pick up the fūcking phone?" A gruff voice speaks out and my toes curl at the sound of his voice right beside my ear. Gabriel continues, disallowing me the chance to respond and apologise for my bruised arse.

"I'm going to text you with a list of details I would like you to have complete before you return to the office tomorrow morning. Don't forget anything and don't mess up, otherwise I will have no choice but to sack you." He threatens. "Do you understand?"

"Yes Mr. Lockwood." I reply in a small voice, still shocked by the whole situation.

"Good." Comes his reply before the sound of the line being cut off graces my ears.

What was the point of that phone call?

Sighing, I stand up and stretch my limbs, massaging my numb backside as I make my way back to my safe haven, diving under the covers. Stripping off all my interview clothes, I leave them in a pile beside my bed, grabbing a soft pillow and cuddle it to my chest.

I clear my conscience of the day's events and the sound of my phone beeping, alerting me of a new message disturbs me. I decide to check it later and take advantage of the peacefulness of the calm before the storm that I could sense the arrival of.

Everything is perfect.

Or so I think.

***
Rain patters against the windowpanes. I could hear the distant sound of thunder and horns honking, which, to my ears amplified enormously.

Searching for my phone, I squint at my alarm clock.

10:35PM

I open my messages and the first thing I see is an extremely message from Mr Lockwood.

Miss Evans,
You start tomorrow at 6:30AM, I do not expect any excuses for tardiness.
I like my coffee black, no milk, no sugar.
Ask the workers at Florence's Delights for my usual breakfast and tell them you're my new PA.
Ring Jorgo and ask for a dinner reservation at 10:30PM for two.
I would like a full brief of my events for the day and a lunch reservation made for two at Riztoz at 12:30PM.
Finally, I will be there at 7 AM, talk to George about setting you up before I arrive.
Do whatever you need to do to make all of this possible,
Gabriel Lockwood.

Well.

He's definitely not beating around the bush.

I can do this. He's just testing me.

With that thought, I set a couple of alarms and go back to sleep, the sound of the rain falling lulling me back to my previous state. I needed every bit of sleep I could get for the tiring day that awaits me.

***