I didn't want some new accident cropping up later that would force me to apologize or play the bigger person.
But I hadn't expected that, after I turned down the lunch, Gavin would wave his hand and announce he was treating the whole company to dinner.
A head start on celebrating the IPO, he said.
By the time I'd changed clothes and been dragged inside by other employees, most people were already seated.
The chair to Gavin's left sat empty, a pink clutch resting on it.
Anna's.
I went straight to the farthest corner and sat down, right beside the service entrance where the food came out.
Gavin didn't glance my way the entire time.
Even as the dishes started arriving, Anna's bag stayed in the seat to his left.
And she herself sat on his right.
I understood now. This was my punishment for refusing Anna's apology lunch.
Once the food came, he peeled shrimp and served her.
Whatever she couldn't reach, he picked up with the serving chopsticks and set in her bowl.
He poured her juice, then slid a straw into the glass before handing it over.
The looks my coworkers were giving me had turned to pity and gossip.
I kept my head down and ate, saying nothing.
Then Anna came over to toast me, and I coldly begged off, saying my stomach was upset.
That, finally, earned me one glance from Gavin.
Just one, and then he called Anna back.
Halfway through the meal, one bite of something spicy set my stomach churning.
Anna saw the look on my face and, smiling sweetly, fished a glass of iced lemon water out of the ice bucket.
"Eunice, since you're not drinking, have this instead!"
She held it out.
I didn't take it.
Then her hand slipped, and the whole glass of ice water dumped straight onto my thigh.
My pants were soaked through in an instant, the cold so sharp it sent a shudder through me.
But Gavin slammed his chopsticks down.
"Eunice, what is wrong with you? You wouldn't take the coffee, you wouldn't take the toast, and now you won't take the lemon water either! Knocking it over on purpose, just to pull some manipulative little act and smear Anna?"
He hadn't said a word to the one who'd actually caused it, yet here he was, blaming me with no chance to explain.
I gave him one cold look and, under the watching eyes of my coworkers, spoke evenly.
"When my stomach hurts, I can't have coffee, I can't eat anything spicy, and I can't drink anything cold."
Gavin froze for a beat, his brows knitting together.
"That dish you just ate was one I ordered specifically for you. It isn't spicy at all! Keep this up and you've gone too far!"
"That dish is very spicy."
He didn't believe me. He took a bite, and his face changed completely.
Gavin flagged down a server and asked them to bring me some warm water.
He said not one word about why the dish had been so spicy.
My stomach twisted in waves of pain, and I couldn't hold back the urge to throw up.
As I stood to leave the private room, I bumped into the server carrying the warm water, sending them stumbling.
Gavin assumed I'd done it on purpose and smashed his glass down on the spot.
"Eunice, if you're not going to eat, then go home and rest!"
Everyone watched me clutch my stomach and run out, and not one of them dared say a thing.
Behind me, Anna said in a small voice,
"Mr. Gilbert, is Eunice upset? Should I go smooth things over with her?"
Gavin's voice was strained with impatience.
"Leave her be. It's a bad habit we've spoiled into her. She'll come around on her own in a couple of days."
I ducked into the restroom and threw up until I could barely stand.
That dish had looked mild, but it had chili extract in it.
Anna had done it on purpose. No question.
I didn't go back to the private room. I hailed a cab straight home.
That night, Gavin came back from a private dinner, just the two of them, with Anna.
"We've got an early flight tomorrow, the timing's too tight, so Anna's sleeping over at our place tonight. You take the couch."
"You're making me sleep on the couch?"
There were three bedrooms in the house.
And he actually wanted me on the couch?
