Love In Between
Chapter 61

2 days later: 7 January

I don’t usually complain about Mondays because I really love what I do, but today everything is different. I’ve left one of the most handsome men in the world in what is now our home. It’s definitely not crazy to prefer staying in bed with him to coming to work, but I also can’t lose everything I’ve worked for because of the strong way I’ve fallen in love. Balance. Life is about balance, is it possible? At least I’ll try.

-I’ll try, until you come back,” Joel exclaims as he sees me enter the office.

I laugh at the exaggeration of his comment and hug him, “Don’t exaggerate, it was just a little less than two weeks. – I defend myself.

-He asks, taking me by complete surprise and I have to pull away to look him in the eye.

Not everyone was supposed to know what Gael and I are up to, let alone our courtship. -How do you know,” I ask in a whisper.

For some reason he laughs, “Well, your little boyfriend marked his territory the day he came over and that a*****e Max was with you in the office,” he explains, leaving me stunned.

-I speak louder than I should, but I really didn’t expect such a thing.

-Of course he did. – He basically made it very clear that he doesn’t want me to try anything with you; apparently he’s noticed what’s going on with you. – He explains and I have to laugh at how childish Gael can be sometimes.

-I apologize Joel,” I say, placing my hand on his shoulder, “Sometimes Gael can be very exaggerated. I just ask you not to say anything to anyone, I really don’t want this to become popular,” I explain and he smiles.

-Don’t worry, I won’t say anything… and no, Gael doesn’t exaggerate. If you were my girlfriend, believe me, I’d do exactly what he’s done. You don’t realise it, but you can make any man fall for you. – He talks to me in that special way he always has to tell me things. -Just tell me he treats you well. – He asks me and caresses my face with his fingers.

I want to say yes, that Gael treats me like no one else has ever treated me, but I see Max walk through the door and I feel myself freeze.

His face is angry, and I know how he can act when he’s like that. “So you’re the a*****e with her,” he exclaims, and the next thing I see is the way he grabs Joel by his shirt and pins him against the wall.

-Max, let him go,” I shout, “You’re not the one to tell me anything, let alone treat him like that,” I demand and grab his arm with the sole intention of getting him to let go, but he pushes me, causing me to fall to the ground.

I make an effort to get up from the floor, but my heels don’t help me to do it easily. This has to end… With difficulty as my right ankle hurts, I stand up and when I look up; I realize that Gael is entering the office and he is watching everything that is going on here. What is he doing in the office at this hour?

-What’s going on here?” he exclaims and intercedes between Joel and Max. -He shouts at Max, staring at him.

Max takes two steps back and looks at me-I told you I didn’t want to see you with any a*****e. You know very well that I love you and that you will only be mine. – He says walking dangerously towards me.

-You’ve gone crazy…. You need a psychologist urgently. – I tell him, taking two steps backwards and bumping my back against the wall.

-Get away from her right now if you don’t want me to bring the police into this,” Gael warns him and he just looks at him.

-Don’t get involved in this, Gael,” he threatens.

-I’ll get involved as much as I want, and you should know that I’m breaking the contract with the company you work for right now. What’s more, I’ll talk to whoever I have to talk to in order to get you fired. – He warns him.

Max’s sly smile sends shivers down my spine, “So much interest in this little woman? Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her charms like a fool too? – He asks, then looks at me. His filthy hand holds my chin and he laughs, “If you’re a bitch that drives all men crazy…” he says and I try to get out of his hand, but it’s Gael who beats me and hits him with a closed fist on the left side of his face.

-Let her go now and get out of here,” he says firmly and Joel intends to make him feel threatened.

He smiles a sly smile and looks at me, “You and I aren’t finished yet,” he warns me and finally turns to leave.

I watch him leave the office and inevitably my legs shake. I’m so scared that I can only hug Gael with all my strength. -Shhhh… calm down, I promise he won’t come near you again,” he says very confidently.

I feel like asking him a thousand questions, but right now I can’t even speak. My body doesn’t respond…

-Joel, please get him something to drink… he’s in a very bad way.

I hear him say and it’s true; I’m very sick. What I can’t bring myself to tell him is that it’s because all the memories of that damn night when that a*****e tried to molest me have come back to my head. I don’t want to go through that again…. I don’t want him around anymore.