Serpent's Kiss

Chapter 9

Lunch went smoothly. I looked over the documents that I had given her this morning and she indeed had made them perfect. She moved some things around that would make the presentation run more smoothly later.

“These are perfect, Gabby. Thank you.” I looked at her from across the table.

I looked at the waitress as she approached. “Good afternoon, Mr. Blackwell, miss.” She smiled warmly at us.

“Good afternoon,” Gabby spoke softly to her. I listened as Gabby ordered her drinks and her food. She ordered a sirloin salad and a loaded baked potato soup. I ordered my food, and we chatted back and forth.

After lunch, we sat at the table chatting back and forth. “So, Gabby, where do you see yourself in ten years?” When she was getting ready to answer, the snake himself strolled up to our table.

“Well, good afternoon Dante. Who is this beautiful woman you’ve conned into having lunch with you?” He looked down at Gabby with the most charming, sly snake-like smile I had ever seen. I had the sudden urge to lay him out, my fists clenched under the table. It was hard to control my anger around him.

“Jax, this is Ms. Hart, one of my employees. Ms. Hart, this is Jax Temple” I introduced them, my tone flat.

I wanted to punch him in the nose when he lifted her hand from the table and placed a kiss upon the back of her hand. When she smiled and greeted him, my stomach flipped. His eyes cut to mine and I knew the game he was playing. He wanted her. I kept my composure somehow.

“Well, Gabby, do you have any plans for dinner tonight?” He asked her, taking a quick glance at me.

Gabby looked across the table at me and back up at Jax, I knew she could feel the tension between the two of us. I watched as she shifted in her seat some. “I don’t, but I am very busy, if I am being honest.”

“What could possibly be more important than allowing me the pleasure of taking you out to dinner?” He smiled down at her.

I cleared my throat, causing Jax to glare over at me. I knew it annoyed him that I was interrupting him and it brought me great pleasure.

“As it is always a pleasure to run into you, Jax, we are discussing business matters with very limited time. You understand how these things can be,” I told him with a polite smile.

“You’re making your employee work through her lunch? Pity.” He gazed back down at her, “If you were my employee I would take you out all the time and not make you work at all.”

“Well, that is kind of you, Mr. Temple, but I do enjoy a constructive lunch. It keeps my brain from getting too sluggish.” Gabby fired back at him. I felt a smile creep across my lips.

“Well, I could think of other ways to keep your brain from being sluggish.” He handed her his card. “If you ever would like for me to take you out for dinner, call me.” He picked her hand up and placed another kiss upon it. “I’ll see you soon.” He turned to me, “Dante, enjoy your lunch.” Before strolling off whistling.

I let out a sigh, looking at Gabby across the table. “What a creep. I feel like I need to sanitize my hands now. Ugh.” I watched as she dug into her bag and used hand sanitizer, causing me to chuckle.

“What?” She looked up at me rubbing in the sanitizer.

“Nothing, I just didn’t expect that from you.” I watched her pour more of the sanitizer into her palm. It was probably too much and a bit of a dramatic play, but I enjoyed watching her make a big deal out of it.

“Well… He seems very full of himself.” She rolled her eyes.

"That he is." I chuckled again.

We finished lunch and we went back to work. The marketing strategy meeting ran smoothly. I glanced over to Gabby a few times as she was taking notes. She watched everything intently, taking it all in and learning how some of the things were run.

At the end of the day, I watched through the window of the office Gabby gathering her things and getting everything ready to leave. She walked over to the door and I made myself appear busy. When she knocked softly, I looked up at her.

“Heading off for tonight?” I looked her over slowly.

“I am, is there anything else you would like me to do?” Her eyes locked onto me.

“No, we should all be good here. I will see you tomorrow. Have a great night.” I smiled at her.

When she turned, I couldn't help myself as I called her name, “Gabby?”

“Yes?” I watched her immediately turn around to me, her eyes hopeful.

“Good job today, with everything.”

She smiled. “Thank you, have a great evening, Mr. Blackwell.”

I watched her pick up her things and leave the office. My eyes followed her until she was out of view. I leaned back into my office chair and let out a long sigh.