Love In Between
Chapter 62

Gael helps me to sit on the small sofa in my office, and closes the door behind him. He squats down in front of me and looks at me, “Here,” he says handing me the glass of water Joel has brought him.

I take the glass and even with my hands shaking I drink some water in the hope that this will calm me down, but I think it will be impossible. The man’s presence has upset me too much, and his clear threat has made it even more so. -What were you doing here,” I ask in a whisper.

Gael reaches into his trouser pocket and pulls out my mobile phone, “You forgot it at home and I wanted to bring it to you. – He explains and puts the phone down beside me. -I know you and Max have had problems in the past, but what happened here isn’t normal. You’re still shaking.

-I was talking to Joel…. He was welcoming me and asking me about us when I walked in and he saw me with a hand on Joel’s shoulder and he’s freaking out. It almost broke his face… He’s obsessed with me and I don’t know what to do anymore. – I say nervously.

-That’s not what I expected you to say. Love. – He says, gently holding my face. -Please tell me what happened between you and him. I need to know so I can do what I need to do. – He says staring at me.

-I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me,” I explain and he denies.

-That’s my business. You just tell me what happened, why do you get like this every time you see him? – he asks me.

I’m so ashamed to tell him. I’m scared too, but I don’t want to lie to him. I love him and I know I have to trust – It was a while ago… – I start to tell him with my voice shaking. -It was one night during a photo shoot here in the studio, I was still with Peter when it happened. – I continue and I have to pause – Max and I were working together on that photo shoot and we were running late. We were talking about work when he started telling me that he liked me, that I drove him crazy, a lot of things that started to get things out of control. Joel had gone to take the model home because it was late and we were alone. Max came up to me and I tried to walk away; I told him I had a boyfriend and I didn’t want anything to do with him other than work. He insisted again and again until he cornered me against a wall and started kissing me forcibly. I tried to get away from him, but he was much stronger than me. He grabbed my hands with one of his hands and started kissing my neck and suddenly… – I try to say it, but remembering all that makes me very sick. -He tore my shirt and started touching me…” I say between tears.

-Honey… -Gael says to me while he hugs me trying to console me.

-If it wasn’t for Joel who had to come back because the model had forgotten her house keys in the dressing room, that a*****e would have raped me,” I finally confess and he hugs me tighter. -I hate him Gael… I never want to see him again, but he’s managed to be in control of the whole advertising campaign. – I tell him as best I can.

I feel his hands caressing my back in the middle of our embrace. He tries to reassure me, but something happens to him, “That son of a bitch won’t bother you anymore, I’ll take care of it,” he says without letting go, his voice full of anger.

I separate a little from him and look him in the eyes, “Love, I don’t want you to get into trouble because of me,” I tell him and put the glass aside so I can caress his face. -I don’t want you to be affected by this; I couldn’t bear it.

-And I’m not going to let anyone mess with the woman I love, do you understand? If that guy thinks he can do whatever he wants because of who he is, I’ll prove him wrong,” he lets me know and his threatening tone takes me by surprise.

-What will you do?” I ask and he gives me a shy smile.

-You don’t worry, he won’t bother you anymore. I’ll sort it out right now. – He says, standing up.

-Love, wait… Where are you going? – I ask holding his hand.

-You don’t worry honey, just make sure they don’t let that a*****e back in here. I’ll pick you up at three to go home, ok,” he says and leans over to k**s me on the forehead.

-I love you,” I tell him before he leaves and he smiles at me.

-I love you more, take care of yourself, okay? Look, my life depends on yours, huh,” he says before leaving.

His words alarm me, but at the same time they give me peace. I don’t know what exactly he will do, but the fact that he believes me and defends me like this makes me feel so much better.