15. Gianna

“I want you to do your absolute best as usual. Surpass mine and the clients imagination. Okay?”

I smile reassuringly. “I have never disappointed you, and I wont start now.”

My boss smiles, “I trust you.”

A knock on the door interrupts our discussion. “Please come in,” my boss answers.

The door opens, and a man dressed in a gray suit walks in.

“Perez?” I whisper in shock, seeing my former date. I gape at him, but he doesnt spare me a glance. His eyes fixed on my boss behind me. I watch as he walks in and stops beside me in front of the desk.

“Good morning, Andrew,” he says.

I hadnt even noticed that my boss was standing. They shake hands, smiling at each other.

“Morning, Perez. Im happy you could make it.”

“This is a very important project to me. Of course, I wouldnt miss this meeting. I value my time.” My boss looks at me with raised eyebrows, as if asking me where my manners are. I quickly recover from the shock and stand up.

“Perez, this is Gianna. Shes my best architect, and she will handle your project.”

Perez finally turns to me, smirking. He stretches his hand out for a handshake. “Im pleased to meet you. I demanded the best, and Im glad I’ve got you.”

“Thank you,” I finally get out, forming words. Hes doing a good job pretending that we dont know each other. Because how am I supposed to explain to my boss that our new client is my blind date? A blind date I thankfully havent heard from since that night.

“Can you proceed to the conference room? Perez has some things he wants to discuss about the property.”

“Okay.” I lead the way, feeling Perez following me closely behind.

I look back only to see my boss on his computer. “Are you not coming with us?”

His head snaps up. “He specifically requested a meeting with his architect. I still have some things to work on.”

I meet Perezs eyes, but his eyes are already on me, and hes smiling. I force a smile at him to be polite and walk out of the office.

Great! Im going to be alone with him. This is going to be the height of awkwardness.

On getting to the conference room, he sits in front of me. His eyes never leave mine.

“I have a lot of crazy ideas I want to do for the property.” He breaks the awkward silence in the room.

“I will try my best to translate your ideas into a reality, Mr. Perez.”

“Call me Perez. After all, we arent strangers.” He crosses his arms, smirking. “Lets stop the pretense. We are the only ones here.”

He leans forward, hands on the table, asking, “Werent you bothered that I didnt keep in touch with you after that night?”

“Nope. You are under no obligation to keep in touch with me.” When I didnt hear from him, I had simply been relieved.

He raises an eyebrow, looking offended by my words. “I was busy trying to find out more about you, especially after you told me you were an architect. I made sure to find your company because I wanted no one else.”

So, he knew. “I dont know what to say,” I confess.

“Im not here to make you uncomfortable. Im just here because I trust you.”

I feel a sense of pride and smile, “Thanks for choosing my workplace. Im sure someone like you has other options.”

Going by his dress, his fancy car that night, and my boss referring to him as a big client, I dont need to put two and two together to realize that hes wealthy.

He straightens up, still smiling. “Okay, lets get back to work.”

We spend the next thirty minutes discussing the ideas he wants for his club. I jot them down, chipping in some of my own every now and then. After reviewing the contract and some of his extravagant ideas, he stretches his hands.

“I think thats all for now. If I have any other ideas, I will communicate them to you,” he states.

“Okay, great.” I start to pack up. Its already near closing time, and I need a shower.

“So, how have you been?” he asks, breaking the silence.

“Ive been good. And how have you been?” I ask back politely.

“Stressed. But Im energized today because of you.” He winks, making me uncomfortable. He checks his fancy watch. “Is it time for you to go home as well?”

I nod, heading towards the door. “Yeah, it is.”

“How about I take you home?”

“That wont be needed. I still have some work to finish,” I lied, wanting to escape any awkward situation with him.

“Then I will wait for you.”

“What?” I wasn’t expecting that.

“Is that so surprising?” He shrugs. “I came here because of you. That should tell you I want to spend more time with you.”

There it is. How am I supposed to escape him now?

“Uhm, I will just get my things from my office and meet you downstairs.” I need to buy some time to figure out what to do.

“Let me follow you. I want to know what your office looks like.” He clarifies, seeing my questioning gaze. “Also, it would help me to reach you instead of going to your boss first.”

We walked together to my office in complete silence. I opened the door only to find a surprise. My office was decorated with different kinds of balloons and a banner that said ‘Happy Birthday’ on it.

There was a huge cake on my desk, a huge bouquet of hydrangeas, and three wrapped presents.

“Wow!” Perez exclaims behind me as he steps into the office, echoing my thoughts.

He gives me a questioning look. “Is today your birthday?”

“No, it was a few days ago… I dont know how or who put this up.”

He smirks, giving me somewhat of a knowing look.

What does he know?

“Are you sure you dont have a boyfriend or a secret admirer or something? This is huge,” he teases.

To say Im confused would be an understatement. Im flabbergasted.

I walk to my desk and pick up the flowers. I take the card attached to it, which reads, Happy belated birthday to the woman who makes my day. Your admirer, Chris.

Chris?

Im beyond shocked. Why make a fuss about it after I said I don’t do birthdays? We are just becoming friends, and then he pulls this.

Anyone could misunderstand this. Like how Im reading too much into his gesture.

“These are lovely.” Perezs voice snaps me back to the present. Hes holding another card which came with the cake.

“Chris White?” His head snaps up. “Your secret admirer is Chris White?” He starts chuckling and shaking his head. “Typical of him.”

My ear perks up at that. Im no longer offended that he poked around. Im now curious. “You know him?”

He nods, smirking. “He was once my best friend before we drifted apart.”

“Oh!” I dont recall seeing him around when I used to visit Nala. That must mean they drifted apart long before Nala and I became friends.

“I thought he would have changed by now, but I guess not.”

“What do you mean?” I know I wont like what he has to say, but I cant help but be curious.

He points at the decorations and flowers. “He loves to spend on and spoil his women. He will make you feel so good about yourself before he dumps you.”

His words settle harshly in my ear, downing my spirit. But I school my features to appear unaffected. “Well, Im not one of his women. Im just his sisters best friend.”

He looks interested. “You are Nalas best friend? Interesting.”

I busy myself by arranging my desk and then picking up my bag.

“Arent you going to take your gifts? I will help you with them. You shouldnt let such a kind gesture go to waste.” He carries my cake before I can tell him not to bother. I sigh and carry the flowers and presents.

I guess I have to set new boundaries with Chris. He doesnt need to shower me with gifts; it will just blur the lines.

This time, instead of the fancy car, Perez had a private car with a driver. When we approached, Perezs driver immediately jumped out of the car and collected the cake. He put it in the passenger seat. He came back and helped me carry the presents to the car.

Perez opens the back seat for me. I mutter a ‘thank you and sit. He soon sits beside me, and the car starts moving.

He looks down at my hand, clutching the flowers. “You must love these flowers.”

“They are my favorite.” I still dont know how Chris learned my favorite flowers. The last time he came over, he didnt bring them up or ask.

The car pulls up at my apartment, and Perez opens the door for me.

“Thanks for the ride,” I tell him and his driver.

“Its my pleasure.”

His driver carries the cake while Perez carries the presents.

“At least I will get to enter your apartment this time,” he says.

I can only offer him a smile as the elevator dings, and I walk to my door.

My apartments light is on, which is strange because I turned off the lights before leaving this morning.

It only implies one thing. Chris is inside since he has a spare key.

But if Perez sees him, he will know about us, and Im not sure how I feel about that.

“Wont you open the door?” Perez asks, looking stressed from carrying the presents.

“Y-yeah.” I hesitantly place my hand on the doorknob and turn it open.

The scent of Chris’s cologne blends well with my air freshener. Usually, it makes me feel relaxed, but now Im anxious. I was anxious about the two former friends meeting and Perez discovering my lie.

“Where should I put this?” he asks, his eyes roving over my place. I dread walking into my living room.

“You can just put it there,” I whisper and point towards the table at the corner of the room. He and his driver oblige.

His driver excuses himself, but Perez is still stalling. If everything was normal, I would invite him in for a cup of tea but not now.

“Gianna, is that you?” Chris’s voice calls from the living room, and I freeze. The sound of approaching footsteps coming nearer.

Perez looks behind me, recognition flashing through his face.

“Perez?” His voice is laced with shock and anger.

“Oh, Chris, fancy seeing you here.” Perez brushes past me, grinning.

The sound of a crack and Perez stumbling backward beside me snaps me out of my stupor.

The sight that greets me when I turn is unbelievable. Perez is gripping his bleeding jaw, and Chris is glaring daggers at him.

He stops towards Perez, holding him harshly by his collar. “What the hell are you doing with her?”

“Chris?” I call, taken aback by his sudden anger. I have never seen him so out of it. Were they ever really friends?

He doesnt listen to me, backing Perez harshly against the wall. “Why are you not saying anything, you bastard?” he snaps, his eyes red with rage. What are you planning?”

Perez keeps quiet just looking at Chris as if he has gone insane.

“Say something!” Chris yells, startling me.

When Perez just smiles, he drags him by his tie like an animal towards the door. Why is Perez not fighting back?

“Get out!” He yells.

I touch his arm, but he wiggles my hand away. “Chris, stop this!”

“Let him be, Gianna,” Perez says. “He needs to vent his anger.” Hes still smirking.

What the hell is wrong with these two?

“Gianna? You have the guts to say her name?” He yanks the door open and throws Perez out as if he weighs nothing. “Dont ever come near her again. Otherwise, I will kill you with my own bare hands,” he threatens. His voice leaves no doubt that he means every word he says. And that alone brings shivers down my spine.

Perez stumbles away, and I move to help him. Only for Chris to hold my hand and stop me from leaving. His harsh gaze settles on me. “Where do you think you are going?”

“Let me go. You are acting irrationally.” His grip on my hand tightens, hurting me. Im sure my skin is red from his grip.

He pulls me back in and slams the door closed, startling me, and making me take a step back.

The Chris in front of me scares the hell out of me. “What is going on with you? How can you do that to him?”

“What is your relationship with him?”

“Answer my question first.” I stand my ground, refusing to cower in his presence. Hes the one acting out of it.

He clutches his hands at his side. “What relationship do you have with Perez that he gets to come into your house?”

“Hes my client.”

“Client,” he says as if the words sound ridiculous in his ears. “You invite every one of your clients into your home?” He scoffs. “He was even carrying the presents I bought for you, Gianna.”

He says my name in a derisive manner. The same way he used to call my name in the past. It angers me.

“Dont talk to me like that,” I warn, done with his nasty attitude.

He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He opens his eyes and scans the mess he has made of my house. The floor is stained with blood. Two of my chairs are upside down.

He runs his hands through his hair and cusses. His eyes soften when they land on me. “Im so sorry. I dont know what came over me.”

I shake my head, not moved by his apology. “No, you knew what you were doing. You even threatened to kill him. What’s going on?”

He places one hand in his pocket. “He…you wont understand.”

“I want to understand. You cant cause a scene and make a mess in my apartment without giving me a tangible reason.”

He knows I’m right. “That man is dangerous. You shouldnt be around him. He wants to get back at me by using you.”

I scoff, finding his explanation ridiculous. “If anyone is dangerous, its you. Did you see the way you acted? I was scared of you.”

He looks so regretful. “Im sorry. I’m so sorry. I didnt mean to scare you,” he apologizes profusely.

“Why did you lose your temper?”

“Its a long story. I dont want to go through that right now. I just want you to stay away from him.”

“No, you dont get to tell me what to do. You have overstepped your boundaries twice today.”

“How?”

I point at the cake and gifts. “Whats the meaning of these?”

“I had planned to send them on the actual day but was so busy I forgot. I thought you would like them now,” he explains.

“I dont celebrate my birthday, and if I even wanted to, you will be the last person I will accept gifts from.”

His jaw rolls. “That was cruel.”

“Im just stating facts. We are nowhere near sharing gifts. You just made things more complicated. Nala knows, Perez knows, and it’s all just too much.”

His eyes flash with anger. “I dont give a damn what Perez thinks. Stop mentioning him.”

I throw my hands up in frustration, “You know what? I had a long day at work. I dont need you or anyone else to add to my stress.” I walk to the door and open it. “Please leave and carry your things with you.”

“My things.” He repeats bitterly. “I got those for you because I care.”

His frustrated voice makes my heart clench.

“Why do you keep throwing my kindness back in my face? I thought we had gotten past this.” He sounds so pained and disappointed.

“We had until you caused a scene in my apartment and demanded that I stay away from my client. You have absolutely no right to do that.” I snap. “So, if you really care for me like you said. Leave me alone.”

He doesnt say anything, but his expression conveys what hes really feeling at the moment. If eyes could kill, I would be dead right there. He grabs his suit jacket and brushes past me out of my apartment.

On closing the door, I lean against the door and heave a sigh. What was that about?

My stomach grumbles, and my eyes fall on the cake. Curiosity gets the better of me, and I start to open the presents one by one.

The first present contains a heart-shaped diamond necklace with matching earrings and bracelet. My heart flutters at the beautiful sight. I had told him to take them away without even thanking him.

I opened the next wrapped present, which turned out to be silver stilettos. I immediately open the last one. Its a white satin backless cowl neck midi dress.

I try on the dress and the shoes. After much difficulty, I try on the necklace and look at myself in the mirror.

Everything fits me perfectly, like they are made for me. He did his research.

I remember Perezs words. “He loves to spend on and spoil his women.”

The mere thought of Chris getting these for another woman hurts my heart. The thought that he might seek comfort in the arms of another woman makes me angry.

I forgot to lay down the rule that I should be his only partner. I dont share. I cant for health-related reasons, nothing else. I dont give a damn what he does with his life as long as he doesnt give me some disease.

He had complained that I was being cruel to him. If only he knows thats the way I selfishly protect my heart.

I would be damned to let him in and have him break it again.