Love In Between
Chapter 22

**I refused to believe that human beings were creatures of such shallow and predictable feelings. In my mind I had a different concept of how we realised we were in love with someone, but perhaps Emanuel was right. Gael’s reaction last night had been a typical reaction of a man who didn’t realise what was happening to him.

The next day: 18 November

I must admit that I had a hard time getting over yesterday’s situation. Emanuel’s k**s made Gael understand that last night, he had spent the night with me, and I can’t even think of what he must have imagined without laughing at the situation. If only he knew he’d left me on my doorstep without even trying to get through.

I move the chair behind my desk with my legs and stare at nothing while my mind runs through everything that happened yesterday…

-Hi, skinny,” Joel interrupts me as he enters my office.

-Hi, how are you feeling? But, sit down,” I suggest when I see him hesitating whether to sit down or not.

He takes a seat and then leans his body against the desk and looks at me smiling. -So, you and the little doctor,” he asks sarcastically and I can only roll my eyes at his comment.

-Shut up Joe,” I say trying not to laugh as he hates when I call him that.

-Flaca, don’t call me that. – He scolds me and I can’t help it, I laugh and he laughs too.

-Okay, then don’t bring Emanuel into our conversations any more,” he replied immediately.

-I just don’t understand why you haven’t given me a chance. We get along so well, we know each other so well…” He justifies and I give a sigh.

-The Emanuel thing isn’t serious, okay? It’s just a favour he’s doing me to…” I try to say, but I decide to keep quiet, as I don’t want him to know about Gael in such detail.

-Does that mean you and him?

-I sentence and he’s about to say something to me when Ana knocks on the door even though it’s open.

Her face scares me, it’s like she’s seen a ghost or something -Serena, Gael is at the reception… I can’t believe it, he’s given me a rose,” she says as if it’s crazy and I open my eyes wide.

-A rose? What’s it doing here? As far as I know I don’t have anything in my diary with him today,” I say confused and look at the calendar on my computer quickly.

-I don’t know, he just told me that he came to see you and that he won’t leave until you take care of him. – He tells me firmly and I arch my eyebrows.

-Tell him that I’m busy and that he should be too, since he launched a new campaign yesterday and he’s supposed to be promoting it. – I explain and both Ana and Joel laugh at my comment.

-I’ll tell him, but I don’t think he’ll mind too much…” He comments and I snort, trying not to lose what little patience I have left.

-Tell him to come in. – I finally sentence, and Joel clearly understands that he has to leave while Ana goes to get Gael, with a stupid smile tattooed on her face.

I read the emails while I’m waiting for him and I don’t know how it happened so fast, but there he is, standing under the door frame with a rather large bouquet of red roses.

I look at him a little confused and seeing that I don’t say a word, he decides to walk in and close the door behind him.

-Hello, Serena,” he greets me, and without further ado I have to stand up, as he is not following the usual protocol when someone enters my office. -This is for you. – He adds handing me the bouquet of roses and I can only look at him confused.

-And why did you bring me this?” I ask rudely as I take the roses and then leave them on the desk.

I try not to be nervous as I watch his eyes roam over my body covered by this black dress I’m wearing. I take a deep breath until his eyes return to mine, “I had to apologize for what a bastard I was yesterday,” he says taking me by surprise and ignoring his comment, I sit down in my comfortable chair inviting him to do the same in the chair on the other side.

-For what exactly? For cornering me in the dressing room yesterday? For your incomprehensible jealousy scene? Or for interrupting me when I was with Emanuel,” I ask crossing my arms.

-For everything,” he answers bluntly and I lock my gaze with his.

-You didn’t have to come all this way and interrupt your busy schedule for that,” I let him know and he leans his body towards the desk.

-It’s already noon, I have a space in my schedule and I’d like to invite you to lunch,” he says firmly and I look at him doubtfully.

-Maybe you should invite your future wife, I’m sure she has many details to tell you about the wedding,” I reply immediately and his smile appears.

-Let’s say that Delfina and I are over for good,” he says as if it was nothing and I don’t understand what has happened.

-What, it’s over again, how long will it last this time,” I ask sarcastically.

-This time it’s for good, I don’t think he’ll forgive me for calling him Serena when I was making love to him last night and saying I love you,” he informs me, leaving me speechless.

**Definitely, Emanuel knew perfectly well the individuals of his own s*x. What I don’t know if he knew was how confused I was at the moment. More than confusion, it’s mistrust that I feel towards Gael right now.