The Divorce

Chapter 14

I had forgotten how to breathe.

The baguette was lodged in my throat, and I urgently needed water to soften the dry bread, that was scratching my windpipe. Not to mention that something else was scratching my chin, his rough stubble.

I couldn't breathe through my nostrils as the overwhelming smell of my boss and his cologne, made me dizzy.

To be honesty, I was frozen scared trying to register what had happened, and what to do.

I could feel his firm grip on  my lower back, his fingers so hard against my spine I thought he was going to dislodge two discs.

But just as quickly as it started, his soft lips vanished, leaving my semi open still gasping for breathe because of the baguette, not because of his rude kiss.

Suddenly I felt new hands on me, strong arms interlocking at my stomach and applying intense and strong pressure to my abdomen. 

This was definitley going to leave a bruise.

 Whatever the person did, worked because my baguette came flying out, and over the railing and onto the ground.

"What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to kill her?"

My stomach dropped hearing the voice, and judging by Gabriel's glare at the speaker, he wasn't too happy seeing him.

However I was, I turned around, "Fern!" I said, surprised pleasantly with him arriving, and also assisting me not choke on my damn bread. "You're here!" I said grabbing the glass of water on the table that was definitley not mine and skulled it, coughing.

I wrinkled my nose, oh yuck it was sparkling water.

Fern however, was glaring at Gabriel who matched him back and I looked between them trying to see what I had missed. 

Gabriel recomposed his face as he sat back down, "When did you arrive?" he asked as he picked up his phone.

"I told you not to play these games." Fern said, irritated as he stared at his boss.

Gabriel lifted his eyebrows and stretched out his legs, slightly slouching in the chair, "I thought I was your boss, if you don't like it, then you can leave."

"She has a right to know." Fern added. 

"Me?" I asked, even though they were both ignoring my presence, "What do I need to know?" I asked, the kiss the last thing on my mind now with this new unfolding drama.

When Gabriel didn't answer me, Fern turned to look at me. The man looked exhausted, his hair was sticking up and he had dark circles under his eyes and judging but the suitcase a few metres behind him, he must have just arrived.

"We can talk later." Gabriel said, "My grandmother is still on her morning stroll." he said getting up, "and I have business to attend to." 

"No." I said irritated, "I want to know what concerns me now. There's clearly something going around and I would like to know."

"And I said later."

"Well then I'm going to half a day to lodge a sexual abuse complaint because I did not consent to that in anyway." 

"She has a point" Fern said before looking at me, "I'll help you sue him and we can split half." He joked, or I think he was joking? His face didn't look like he was joking

Gabriel sighed, closing his eyes for a long moment before sighing, "Fine." He muttered, "In the office."

I followed Fern and Gabriel as they walked inside, Gabriel leading and Fern a few steps behind and then me, another few steps behind. There was a tense awkwardness between everyone that only amplified when Gabriel shut the office door shut.