Taming The Lockwood

Nine

"-So I've decided to effectively move you into my office for the forseeable future. I would like to work closely with you on the brief for Project Eden. You being down the corridor would be too inconvenient for the both of us, and with George gone, it'll be harder to communicate." He finishes, leaning back in his office chair and fingering a pen with one hand.

The top two buttons of his dress shirt are undone, exposing a patch of toned skin and his hair looked like it had had a thorough see-to. He pushes a folder in my direction across his desk and turns his attention to his telephone as it begins ringing, dismissing me with a flippant wave of his hand.

It's mid-morning and after ordering me to transcribe a recording, Gabriel had sent for me. But George hadn't come- much to my disappointment. He had apparently been promoted to the marketing department and so was under different leadership. Inconveniently, the marketing department was on the very bottom floor so meeting up with him would be restricted to lunch time or out of work hours.

"Yes." He talks into the mouthpiece and I can sense his hot gaze on me as I take the folder and traipse to my new desk adjacent to his.

"What does he want?" His voice grows increasingly louder.

I take a seat in my new chair, sinking into the plushness of it. It didn't help that I was wearing a cosy white blouse and my natural instinct was to curl up in a ball. I had, however styled it with a black corset belt and black fitted pants so thankfully there was no room for gymnastics.

"You have one fūcking job. Do it." He growls down the line and slams the phone down.

I gulp.

***
I peek over the top of my computer at the lion in his natural habitat. He's sifting through my new brief, and saying that I'm anxious would be an understatement. For some reason, I really want to please him, perhaps, the prospect of securing a promotion would keep me motivated.

Or maybe it's for some other reason. My conscience jeers.

"Is there a problem, Miss Evans?" Gabriel asks without a glance in my direction. He continues flicking through my brief.

"Seeing as though we're practically office buddies, I think we should get to know each other." I murmur, deciding to break the silence.

"I don't mix business with pleasure, Miss Evans, and I don't ever plan to." He fixes me with a hard look and turns back to his work at hand.

"Not in that way. Like...what's your favourite colour?" I ask.

"I assure you, such information won't help you win anything over me." He speaks slowly and plainly.

"Oh for God's sake, you're such an arrogant prick." I utter under my breath.

A few moments of tense silence later, he breaks it. "Black."

"Huh?"

"Black is my favourite colour." Like your soul.

His gaze is smouldering.

"Red, if you're wearing it." The temperature in the room seemed to have heightened drastically. He's staring at me intensely, as if he's trying to memorise me. And I'm utterly startled by his revelation.

"This is when you're supposed to tell me yours."

"Green. Like a darkish green- emerald even." I look up at him, surprised with how compliant he was being.

Like the colour of his eyes, you mean.

Oh shush.

"What's your favourite food?" I take advantage of his calm mood.