Falling For The Man I Married

Chapter 18: The 'Love' endearment

"Why are you late?"

The first thing my boss asked me, the moment I walked into his office. His face was masked by old 'Gabriel's demeanour.

I put the coffee on his desk and tried to behave normally as I smiled at him.

"I'm sorry, Sir. My mom called me late last night, so I sleep late. It won't happen again."

He stared at me for a few seconds before his lips curled up in a devilish smile.

"It's okay 'love'. Since it's your first time being late, I'll just let it pass."

Huh! To hell with the professionalism---- I raised my eyebrow at him.

"Don't call me that, Mr Wilsons! We are in the office and we've already talked about it!"

"Oh, yes love. We already talked about the deal, but calling you love wasn't included in it. We agreed that we will keep our relationship in this whole building and that's your idea. Well, I have mine too. We will call each other the 'love' endearment whenever we are alone."

"Huh! Why didn't you tell me that last Saturday night?" I bit my lip to control my voice from rising.

"Don't raise your voice to me, we're still in the office. I just want you to know that you can talk to me any way you want outside of this company, but I am your boss while we're still inside." his voice turned back into cold and serious.

Honestly, I was taken aback at his sudden change in tone. From being playful to being serious again? Is he suffering from an identity disorder?

"Yes, Sir." I straightened my body but never thought about apologizing. Why would I? He started it.

"Did you bring my schedule, love?"

-'Again? Is he playing with me?'-

"Mr Wilsons, I thought---"

"Madi, listen. This is a part of the deal. I have to call you that endearment, so I can avoid calling you by your last name in front of her and my family. You just have to play the role. And I don't see anything wrong with that. We will only do it when we are alone and not in front of the employees here."

I sighed as I nodded. "Okay. But please Sir, avoid calling me that in public especially in this building with so many people eyeing our moves."

"Okay, but I want you to start calling me that now, Madi. You should also practice yourself."

My eyebrows joined in a line. "And why do I have to practice calling you 'love'? I'm not a forgetful person."

"Madi, let me remind you again. Whether or not you have signed a contract with this deal, you have already agreed on this. And what if I tell you that I'm going to kiss you now, in your office and in the cafeteria while you eat, if you don't start calling me 'love' right now?"

"Huh!" my heart pounded faster inside my ribcage as if it just came from a marathon.

"Ohh... see? Now I know how to make you agree every time we have an argument like this."

Guess what? He's now grinning. What a bipolar, right?

"You can't do that! You're not my boyfriend!" I whispered-yelled at him, but he just laughed again.

How I wish this carefree side of him was real and not just for the contract.

"You really made me laugh, love," he said still laughing while shaking his head.

"And what funny thing did I say that made you laugh?"

I asked acting annoyed, but honestly, I'm happy to know that at least I can be one of the reasons why he's now laughing.

"Love, when you accepted the deal, that means, in that very moment, I became your boyfriend and you too became my girlfriend."

"Oh, God!" I slapped my forehead. "But it's not for real!"

"No, love. It's for real. I told you we're going to get married."

"Wait! After we got married---"

"You're going to move in with me."

"What?" my voiced rose an octave higher.

"Yes. We're married, where would you like to live after that--- in your apartment? Absolutely not, I won't let you."

"But what about the ... you know... the.."

"What? Say it, my love." he smiled teasing me. He stood up and walked slowly towards me. He sat on the edge of his desk two steps away from me and crossed his arms over his chest.

My eyes watched his every move.

"You already know what I am talking about, do I have to say it out loud?" I said feeling irritated as my face slowly turned into a shade of pink.

"Is about sex? Is that what you mean?"

"Yes. About that. If I go live with you, I should have my room. No kissing and no that... that--- argh! No sex!"

"What about our marriage? Aren't we going to consume our marriage---"

"Mr Wilsons!" I shouted horrified by his question.

He suddenly became serious at stared at me.

"One more time you called me 'Mr Wilsons', love and I promise you won't leave this office without me kissing that sweet lips of yours." he warned me with his authoritative voice.

And I swear, if we're not just talking about this freaking kiss, I won't back down with his voice.

"Argh! You can't do that!" I glared at him.

But he just chuckled and got up again.

"What are you doing?" I asked feeling nervous for the very first time.

"You said I can't kiss you, so I'll try and prove it to you now."

I wish I could smack the devilish grin on his face.

He started taking a step forward while I started taking a step back.

"Oh my God, stop right there!" I shouted as I brought my hands forward in a stopping position.

"Why? I'm not doing anything."

He acted innocently as he put his hands on both of his pants pocket.

"Gabriel we are in your office!" he was surprised by me calling his name. But he smirked again after a while.

My back now hit the cold wall behind me, and my eyes widened in nervousness.

"So, the end of your stepping backwards, huh?"

"Gabriel, please?" I plead as I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Please what? Say it, love."

I didn't know how many times I took a deep breath at that very moment before I decided to shout what he wanted.

"Ok fine!" I put my hands in a surrender position. "Stop this, 'love'!" I glared at him as his smile changed into a wide one. His body was just an inch from mine. I can almost smell his minty breath and the smell of his aftershave along with his cologne.

"Good. See? It's not difficult right, love?"

I rolled my eyes.

And since we're both busy on one side of his office, we didn't notice when the door opened and even the person standing exactly at the door.

"Yes, my love, it's not difficult." I continue to glare at him, but the sudden sound of things that fell to the floor caught our attention. It's a white folder.

"Sandy?"

"Ms Aguilar!"Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

We both mentioned her first and last name in unison but in a different tone. Mine was in a question form, but him in an accusing tone.

But Sandy, of course being Sandy, lowered her head in nervousness. And I couldn't help shaking my head. Why is she so nervous?

"You don't know how to knock, Ms Aguilar?" Gabriel returned to his arrogant self. So far from his playful side earlier.

"I'm sorry, Sir, but believe me, I knocked more than five or six times, but I didn't get any answers so---"

"So you let yourself in without my permission?"

"No Sir, I'm sorry." she lowered her head again.

I don't know but I grabbed Gabriel's hands and shake my head on him. Silently telling him that he doesn't need to worry about Sandy because she's on me.

"I have to go, Sir... I mean 'love'." I raised my voice purposely to tease him and to let Sandy know. "I'll leave your schedules on the table, love."

And I gave him a slight nudge in the stomach, causing him to winced in a bit of pain.

"Ohh... I'm sorry, my love, did I hurt you that much?" I asked grinning. I was now back to myself... again.

He glared at me but didn't say anything.

"Okay, bye love, call me if you need me." and I winked at him before dragging Sandy out of his office.