Having stayed up too late the previous night, I groggily woke up the next morning only to find that it was already past nine o'clock in the morning. I was late for work!
I rushed out of bed and hurried toward the guest room, but to my surprise, Gemma had not gone to the office. Instead, she was in the kitchen, cooking. The thing was she had not cooked for the last three years.
"Are you awake?" she asked when she saw me enter the kitchen. Then she walked to the dinner table and placed a beef burritos on it. "You came at the right time for breakfast."
“No, thanks. I’m already late for work, I said as I hastily brushed my teeth.
I was ready to leave when Gemma's voice stopped me, "You don't have to be so worried. I've already taken care of it and asked for leave on your behalf.”
I froze for a moment as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.
She walked up behind me, wrapped her arms around my waist and leaned against my back. “I’m sorry. I was too busy yesterday and forgot your thirtieth birthday. I promised to make it up to you today.”
In my mind, I imagined myself pulling her hands away cruelly from my waist, just like she had done to me the night before.
It seemed like such a simple gesture, yet I stood there for a long moment, unable to do it.
After breakfast, she insisted I get in her car. When I sat I sat in the passenger seat and flipped down the sun visor and a few photos slid out.
I picked them up. They were the pictures of Gemma and her ex-boyfriend. In one of the pictures, he leaned over as if he wanted to kiss her, his lips barely an inch to her face, while Gemma smiling happily.
I could not help but recall that last year during her team building event of her company I also had proposed to do a similar post with her, yet she pushed me away with a distaste look on her face. “This is a public setting. Can you be more mindful of our appearances? Keep your distance from me, please.”
When she saw me staring at the photos, Gemma’s expression shifted a bit and said, "There is nothing interesting to see about those photos. They are just some photos that were taken by a colleague who was bored and fooling around.”
"So, you keep some random photos in your car, huh?" I asked and looked at her. "Two years ago, on your birthday, we had a picture together. I thought it was a nice one, but you didn’t like it and threw it in the trash.”
“Did I?” She feigned nonchalance. “I don’t remember.”
Without a word, she drove to a nearby dumpster and stopped. Then she looked at the photos in my hand with a fleeting hesitation before saying, “Throw them away. I don’t care about these.”
“They’re cute. Why do I have to toss them away?” I said and slipped the photos back into the visor.
Gemma gave me a strange look as if she was trying to figure out who I had become and maybe she was right because in the past I would have been jealous. Gemma would scold me for it, “Why are you acting so petty for just a small matter like this? You’re a grown man, not a child.” Then I would argue with her.
However, now I really did not care that much.
"Alright. " Gemma froze a while before she finally hit the gas, driving really fast.
We arrived at Swan Lake. This scenic retreat was perfect for relaxation and leisure and it was located on the outskirts of the city.
There was also a vineyard here. It was known for its fine food and wine.
I had told her many times before that I wanted to have a vacation and visit this place together, but she always declined my invitation, citing that she was busy with work.
However today, she took me here. After she parked the car, Gemma turned and gazed at me, then said, "I've cleared my schedule for the next two days because I want to spend those days with you."
Yet, before I could respond, her phone rang.
I took a quick look at her phone screen and saw it was her ex-boyfriend's name, Stefano Micheli, glaring there.
When I saw her hesitate, I promptly urged her, "Answer it. Maybe it’s something urgent at work.”
Gemma answered the phone and a woman’s voice came through. “President Bronson, something terrible happened. Stefano had an accident at the office and needs to be taken to the hospital. Please come right away!”
When Gemma ended the call, there was a look of panic on her face, "I …."
"No … no. Don’t worry about it,” I immediately said, because I did not want to hear her excuses. "If you feel the need to go, then go. It’s serious when someone gets hurt. As the company president, you should check on him. After all ….”
“Thank you for understanding!” Gemma cut my word before I could finish.
She seemed thankful about it. She looked at the car door and said, “Once I confirm he’s okay, I’ll come back right away. We still have two days away. You won’t mind to wait a little bit, right?”
I didn’t answer but got out of the car and watched in silence as she drove away, leaving me there.
Actually, before she cut my words, I was about to say. "Though you can choose not to go. After all, there are plenty of others in the company who can handle it. It doesn’t have to be you.”
Yet, she had left already. She drove away so fast that in the next second, even the tail of her car disappeared from my sight.
At the front desk, the receptionist who handled the check-in, looked at me in confusion, "Are you here alone?"
Without realizing it, my voice was a bit hoarse, "Yeah, it's just me. Though, can you give me a room with a king-size bed?”
