Taming The Lockwood

Fourteen

Who would've thought a hair cut could change your whole perspective on life?

I was definitely a changed woman and the bold outfit choice I had put on this morning simply illustrated it- consisting of a warm beige jumper dress that reached mid thigh, a roll neck, short sleeves and a black belt tightened around my waist. I was feeling super confident.

Though waiting for Gabriel this particular morning had set my nerves on fire.

A very small part of me hoped he would notice or compliment my change of look, but I had learnt to expect otherwise.

Erm why do we care about how he reacts anyway?

I power my desktop on and rest my head in the palm of my hand, cupping my face, tiredly. "Hmm...What's on today?" I mutter to myself, tapping in my details and bask in the sound of my nails hitting the keys.

"I think you'll find your new task to be very interesting."

At the arrival of a new voice, I jump up straight on my seat and hold a hand against my chest, calming the beating muscle beneath. "Jesus flipping pancakes."

"That is a sight I do not want to behold." Gabriel stands before me, his hair wet and effortlessly styled, his eyes on me. He's dressed in a crisp suit, and I can make out the stubble that grows across the lower portion of his face. He cocks his head to the side, placing a finger against his chin, speculatively. "You look different."

I stir in my seat, glad he made some acknowledgement and tuck strands of my hair behind my ear as a surge of heat rushes through my body. "You could say that."

He drops a folder down on the desk, disregarding me completely, "Enjoy planning."

I stare at the folder and read the post-it note attached:

Charity event planner

I stare harder at the folder, squinting my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things. I blink. I look up at him and back at the folder again.

"You're asking me to plan a charity event?" I enunciate each word as it passes my lips.

"There's a difference between asking and ordering, Nora." He cockily retorts.

"But- I've never planned an event in my entire life and there's a reason for that." I stubbornly hold my ground.

"Are you opposing my decision?" He taps a finger impatiently against his bicep, arms folded across his chest, the latter pushed out in an almighty attempt at highlighting his dominance.

"If you want to put it that way."

"Don't forget, Miss Evans," he randomly drops his pen on the floor and brushes his shoe against it, "All it takes from me," I watch his demonstration, filled with amusement. He continues, pressing his foot down on the pen and with a terrifying crunch, breaks it into pieces. He looks back at me, expectantly, this time crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yes sir, I'll get started on it." I yield, opening the folder slowly and begin reading the brief.

From the corner of my eye, I watch his eyebrows relax into their normal position on his face and a victorious smirk overcomes.

Oh, I'll give him a taste of his own medicine.

He walks back to his desk and leans back in his seat, arms gripping onto the arm rests with his legs spread out as he takes in his work for the day. He looks up at me as though he senses my attention on him and his dark eyes hold mine for the split second that I am entangled in his vision, before I look away, startled at being caught obviously ogling him.