Chapter Seven - A soft spot

Aubrey

It was Monday morning, and I was heading into work, coffee in hand. I knew I had a busy day ahead of me. I wasn’t dreading it as much as I was on Friday because my time spent with Gabe at the gym has made me relax. We even grabbed a coffee after it. It was strange the two of us getting along. I am not sure how it will be at work, though.

I was ignoring how tired I was. That is what happens when I need to get up at five a.m. and only fell asleep about one. Plenty of caffeine, and I will be fine. I headed to my office to drop my things off before heading to the conference room where we were meeting this morning.

I grabbed my iPad and phone and headed through. I was the first one there, which surprised me. I thought Gabe or Kay would already have been here. I took a seat, sipping my coffee and waited for the others to arrive.

Suddenly the door opens and in walks Gabe. He was on the phone and didn’t look very happy. I don’t think he realised I was there.

“Jules, I have told you more than once we are done! Now, will you just leave me alone,” He snaps.

He was on a personal call. I wasn’t sure what to do now. Should I leave? Should I stay? I don’t want him thinking I was listening in on his conversation. I switched my iPad on and messing around with that, at least that way, when he gets off the phone and realises, I am sure I will look busy.

He was on the phone for another few minutes. The longer he was on the phone, the more annoyed he was getting.

“Goodbye, Jules,” He barks before hanging up the phone.

I kept my face buried in my device, not wanting to look up just yet.

“Have you been here the entire time?” He questions, annoyance still in his voice.

“Um, yes,” I said, looking up at him.

“Where the hell is Darren and Kay?” He asked.

“I don’t know, Sir, sorry,” I said softly.

He muttered under his breath, throwing his hands in the air. I don’t know why he was mad. We were here a little earlier than planned.

“Is every damn person useless these days?” He snaps.

I don’t care what shit he has going on in his personal life. He has no right taking it out in everyone else.

“We are earlier. I am sure they will be here soon,” I respond through gritted teeth.

It would seem he is back in jackass mode and I in bitch mode.

“Yes, well, they should be here by now, we are. I don’t see why they can’t be,” He said, glaring at me.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes at him. I was not listening to his crap this morning. He is the one that made us come in two hours earlier than planned! He should be thankful we all agreed to come in at this time.

“I don’t know what you have going on, Mr Hunter, but do not be taking it out on all of us because we have nothing to do with it,” I said firmly.

He did not look happy when I said that. He went to open his mouth to respond, but Darren and Kay walked in before he could.

“About time. Can we get to work now?” He snapped.

Kay and Darren looked at each other and then at me, confused. I shake my head and shrug. They didn’t say anything; instead, they sat down, and we got our work started. Gabe was sulking as we did. I swear he better not be like this for the rest of the day.

I should have known us getting along would be short-lived.

                                          ***

The day had been hell, and it wasn’t even two p.m. Gabe was acting like more than an asshole than usual. According to him, none of us was doing what we were supposed to be doing. He had to “fix” everything. He didn’t fix anything! He changed like one stupid tiny thing and said it was an approvement in our work.

Thankfully it was lunchtime now. Darren went out to get lunch, and I don’t blame him after everything, and Kay had locked herself in her office. I, however, had other plans. I was going to have a word with Gabe. What is he going to do, fire me? No, that won’t happen because he is the one that has been treating us like shit due to personal reasons. I am done letting him talk to everyone the way he has been.

I have had my lunch and a coffee. Now I was heading back to the conference room. I didn’t even knock. I just walked in. Gabe was messing around with his laptop, slamming his fingers against the keys. He looked up when he heard me coming in.

“Miss Winters, what do you want? Lunch isn’t over,” He snarled.

“A word, Sir,” I said firmly.

“A word? About what?” He groans.

“About the way you have been acting all damn day,” I said, “You need to back off because whatever you have going on is nothing to do with us,” I added.

I wasn’t backing down to him. Kay and Darren won’t stand up from themselves, so I will.

“Excuse me? Who do you think you are talking to? Do you want to be fired?” He snapped, standing from his seat.

He made his way over to me, standing only a few inches away. He was looking at me with a firm look, his stance confident. I don’t know if he was trying to get me to back down, but it wasn’t going to work.

“You have been acting like a complete douche, and we have done nothing wrong! You can’t expect us to do our work when you are looking over our shoulders constantly and acting like the work is wrong, when you know it isn’t,” I said, “You need to stop, or you won’t have a team to help you,” I added.

I was maybe pushing, but sometimes this is what is needed to make a change.

“I am beginning to think that you don’t like your job, Miss Winters,” He replies.

I was surprised by the tone of his voice as he spoke. He didn’t sound angry or annoyed. It was almost playful like. He took a step forward, and there was not much space between our bodies now.

“I enjoy my job, Mr Hunter,” I said, “I just don’t enjoy getting treated like crap, and that goes for my co-workers too,” I added.

“I am not sure if I believe you, but each time I see you, you do or say something that I could use to fire your ass,” He announces.

There was not a smirk playing on his lips. What the hell is he doing? He was mad at me only moments ago.

“Well, I do, and if you didn’t act like such a jackass, then I wouldn’t need to do or say those things, would I?” I question.

Gabe closes the only space left between us. He was that close I could feel the warmth of his breath on my cheek. Is there a need for him to be this close to me? I am beginning to think he likes to be close to me.

“Good point, Miss Winters,” He chuckles, “You are lucky that no matter how much you get under my skin, I still seem to have a little soft spot for you. Why do you think that is?” He adds.

What is his game right now? And a soft spot for me? Meaning what?

“I don’t know, Sir, why don’t you tell me?” I ask.

“Hmm, if I knew, I wouldn’t have asked you why, now, would I?” He replies.

“And neither do I, now are you going to stop acting like such a douche?” I ask, stepping back from him.

“I will think about it,” He winks before going to retake his seat.

What the hell just happened? I was confused now. I don’t know, but I have said my part, and hopefully, he will back off and make this day easier for everyone.