Eight- On a mission
1744 Words
Gabriela parked her car in the parking lane she saw down the street, she made her way to the address she held in her hands in form of a card. In front of her stood a high rise building designed to be corporate in looks, the afternoon sun gleamed in its glass windows.
The day before yesterday had her reeling in shock. She made up an excuse to her head doctor for being absent and leaving her work unfinished, for that she was asked to stay home for a day.
A day suspension, that is what her supervisor called it.
But to her, it was a blessing in disguise, because in a second her life became suddenly unrecognizable to her, she was confused with the events happening in her life.
The reoccurrence of her Parent's mistake. She witnessed everything go down in the same manner, but she won't let herself caught up in all of this.
She was so depressed after she signed that contract that ruined her life in an instant. Despite her parents' plea, she stayed in her room all day sulking in depression.
Marriage wasn't a thing she cherished so much, she watched her biological parents deteriorate under it.
If there is anything about getting married it scared her.
Slinging her purse to sit properly on her shoulder, she walked through the entrance of the company.
She stole the business card of Mr Damien company from her father. She aimed to see if she can speak to the son of Mr Damien to see if he can convince his father to annul the wedding.
He doesn't seem too happy with the idea of a marriage, or sad either. His expression had a blank touch to it, with his piercing gaze tearing through anyone who cares to look at him.
She has never felt more uncomfortable when he stood next to her that day, collecting the pen from him their hands brushing each other
If she could recall she removed her hands with a moment younger than a second.
The little incident left her hand tingling, for a reason she wasn't aware of.
Nicholas to her was someone she barely knows, marriage with him doesn't look too viable to her, if there is anything it was, it was a curse on her part.
She would just have to convince him that marriage based on a business contract wasn't her cup of tea.
Any type of marriage wasn't her cup of tea.
Coming out from her brief reverie she familiarized herself with her present surrounding. With a swift glance, she observed the whole area noticing various workstations.
Towards her left was the receptionist desk she took a few strides in that direction. Behind the polished desk was a man with a slightly chubby face, thin-lipped and brilliant blue eyes.
He raised his head from the work he busied himself with to acknowledge her presence, after an excruciating moment of awkward staring at each other, she decided to speak up.
"Good day, I would like to see Mr Nicholas," she stated.
He gave her a flummoxed stare that left her uncomfortable.
Why was he looking at her in that manner, was something wrong with her appearance.
She had a little check on herself, before facing him with a glare.
He cleared his throat and averted his stare from her, "Do you have a scheduled appointment with him?" She was sure she had no appointment with him.
Had she forgotten how these posh offices work?
A bit hesitant about her reply, she responded, "No, I don't think I have an appointment with him"
He glanced at her for a while, "I'm sorry if you don't have a scheduled appointment with him, you can't meet him." he said.
"Is there anything you can do, it is urgent." She hoped her tone matched the urgency in her word, if she doesn't see Nicholas today she won't be happy this was the only time she needs to dissuade him from this plan. Their parents suddenly think they can control their future, without their consent, she wants to prove to her he was Dad wrong.
"I'm not responsible for scheduling his appointment, so I know nothing about it" his response diluted her spirit, she wanted to speak to Nicholas to clear off any misunderstanding and know her stand in the decision, weighing her choices to go ahead with this marriage. She wanted to see his reaction and if he wanted to change his mind to stop the marriage from happening either way.
"Is there no way to go about it?" she pressed further.
"No one that I think of" he replied quickly. The road was starting to darken up a bit for, she should have cross-checked her luck today before coming out today. She went a bit closer to him
"I am a friend of Mr Damien and I want to speak to him it is a matter of urgency. Please call him and tell him Gabriela wants to meet up with him" Plea laced her voice, her expression too spoke the same language, she fiddled with her finger and hoped it worked. The receptionist sighed loudly and wondered, doesn't she ever give up.
He picked up the phone and spoke to Nicholas secretary.
"Can you tell Mr Nicholas, Ms Gabriela would like to meet him," he asked, the owesin on the other line.
Gabriela watched him nodding and speaking to a person over the phone. He stopped the call and gave her a sad look. Her little hope plummeted. She stared at him wanting to hear what was being said and done about her situation.
"He is in a meeting right now. So you can't meet him now. It would take long before he is out. I suggest you make yourself comfy in the meantime. She told me his schedule is not as tight today so she could fix you in." He said and with the little light at the end of the tunnel, she hoped she would see him.
She made herself comfortable in the lounge just about the corner. She engrossed herself with her email, she had a lot to read and reply to. She flexed her cramped fingers and continued typing her response. Her back was a bit stiff so she relaxed into the chair and checked the time on her wristwatch.
"Gabriela?" she heard her name and fluttered her eyes open and saw a familiar face, she stood up and went to the caller.
"Dad," she said a bit surprised at his sudden presence. Why is he here, how? She thought inwardly. Curious stares and glances were being thrown in her direction.
"What brought you here? How did you find this place?"
Questions, that was what he asked, questions she can't answer.
"Just wanted to have a word with Nicholas." The truth was what she went for, lying has never been her speciality, so she sticks with the truth.
His expression changed a bit, his gaze never leaving her, for a moment she could see the suspicion lacing his gaze.
"Nicholas? what for?!" he asked slightly annoyed.
Mr Vincent knew how difficult it was on his part to agree to this marriage, to speak the truth he was blackmailed into it. He never wanted to compromise his daughter life by getting her married to a reckless man like Nicholas, but he had to. To save her from finding out the truth, the truth from her bitter past, Gabriela was his life so he ensures he lived for her. He ensured all the decision he made for her was for her good, though he was against the marriage so was she. It was surprising to see her here in a bid to see Nicholas.
"I just wanted to have a few words with him about our 'marriage. Have been giving it a lot of thoughts lately and have decided to speak to him." What do they call saying the truth but covered with layers of riddles, that is what she was doing now?
Somehow she ended up telling her Dad what she is here for without saying her real intentions.
"What then is holding you from seeing him?"
"He is busy and I don't have an appointment with him. So I have to wait," she said her shoulder slumped.
"Nonsense, come on. Come with me I have the green card around here." He urged her, she smiled picking up her phone. She trudged behind him.
" Miss where are you going to? You are not allowed in there" the receptionist stopped
her.
"She is with me. Any problem with that?" her dad questioned.
"No sir, forgive me. Please you can go ahead" he gave her a crooked smile.
"Yes, anytime she visits please just take her to the person she would like to meet. She is quite busy too and I wouldn't want you to waste her time. Is that clear?" his tone was a bit condescending.
"Yes sir" the receptionist nodded his voice shook.
She caught up with her Dad and gave him a curious look.
"Can I ask you something?" She started, "Of course ask away."
"What are you doing here Dad? I thought you would be in your company."
"I was, but I had to come here to finish business with Mr Damien," he replied.
Mr Damien? "Nicholas?" She asked.
"No, His father." He answered she nodded to that, had it been she knew her father would be here, she would have scheduled her meeting for another day.
But he wedding was surprisingly scheduled for next week, she desisted from making any preparation on it, she resolved to stay farther away until she solved the issue at hand.
And this was the only time, she would be suspended therefore having a break from work, so she was going to use it to save her future.
A future with no marriage.
The elevator slid open and she exited, walking along with her father, he went over to a woman sitting over a desk typing on a computer, a coffee mug sat beside her computer.
She looked extremely messy, with her pens and files flying over the place, she slightly groaned when she saw them though it was subtle Gabriela heard it visibly she was irritated.
Her Dad spoke to her and she nodded to each word they said, she wasn't interested in their discussion so she looked around the floor they were in.
She saw different wooden doors leading to someone's office, a double-doored room towards the end.
Maybe a meeting or board room.
She took a glance at the workstations stabled on the floor, different staff took their place behind the desk. Some of them stared at her shamelessly, their gaze curious. First, it was the receptionist and now the staffs, why do they keep staring at her.
She huffed inwardly at them, who cares if she is being stared at?
You do, her mind answered. That holds some truth, but it wouldn't deter her.
A part of her told her, her dressing was a cause for this unwanted stare everyone here breathed corporate, she ...?
Normal faded jeans, a simple strap in sandals and a cotton sweater.
It seems a bit odd for an office visit, but that what was made her comfortable and she wasn't going to change it for anyone.
Looking back to her Dad and the messy woman, she noticed they were done with the conversation.
Her Dad walked over to her, "She would take you to Nicholas office, you would stay in there till he is back from the meeting. I would not want any scrutiny from anyone on you."
She nodded appreciating his efforts
.
"I need to go, there is a meeting going in and I am quite late, make yourself comfortable and don't touch anything Gabriela. I know how restless you can be?"
He was right, especially when hungry.
"Dad don't! not here," She playfully cautioned.
"I would be leaving now," with her forehead bent he placed a kiss on it, patting her in the back before leaving her with the woman who had an inscrutable expression on her face.
She looked confused, and her attention was mainly focused on them, she watched her dad retreating figure and faced the want, whose distance for was growing by the minute.
Noticing how lost she was, Gabriela cleared her throat startling Gina
Gina was her name on her badge, Gina collected herself giving her a tight-lipped smile, it resembled a grimace on her side.
"Let's go, sorry for keeping you late." She apologized, it sounded monotonous to Gabriela's ears. It was like she said it every other day.
The door came ajar and with one sight she was left in awe.
- Writer
