The Diamonds
1196 Words
I sat on the bed's edge, my skin still moist beneath the soft towel as I drew the package nearer. The small box was wrapped with a pale pink ribbon, the name Pandora embossed in silver letters.
A present.
For me.
My fingers shook as I untied the ribbon. Inside the first box was a jewelry case, luxurious and velvet, the type the rich use to keep items worth a fortune. I slowly opened it, my breath catching as the light struck it.
A Pandora diamond Van Cleef bracelet with delicate pink stones, sparkling like tiny stars.
My heart raced.
Then I spotted the other two.
The second bracelet was a thin, heart-shaped diamond piece, elegant yet breathtaking.
The third was a purple bow bracelet, completely adorned with diamonds, shining brilliantly, almost enchanting.
Three bracelets.
Their unique designs.
My jaw dropped as I delicately ran my fingers over them. They felt cool against my skin, but exquisitely beautiful. Stunning in a thrilling way.
Then I noticed the additional box. I opened it, and my eyes grew even wider. Matching diamond earrings and a necklace, arranged perfectly.
Inside the lid lay a card.
CHEER UP, LILA, AS YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR GRADUATION, GABRIEL.
A smile wriggled onto my face before I realized it. For the first time in ages, I felt… warm. Acknowledged. Remembered.
But the smile quickly vanished.
Why did Gabriel give me such gifts?
Was it out of pity?
Or something deeper I wasn’t ready to acknowledge?
I wasn’t accustomed to receiving gifts like these gifts that radiated wealth, thoughtfulness, and significance a man expects from my dad.
I picked up my phone, planning to call him, but heard footsteps approaching. My mother’s voice floated down the hallway. I panicked, quickly hiding everything back in the boxes and shoving them into my closet just as she entered.
“Lila?”
“Yes, Mom?” I replied, striving to sound composed, calming my breath.
She walked in, her heels softly clicking on the floor. “I thought something might be wrong since you didn’t come downstairs.”
“I was changing,” I said. “Just relaxing for a moment.”
Her gaze softened. “You’ve had a lot on your plate these past few days.
I forced a small smile. “Better.”
Get ready so we can go shopping.
“I will.”
She smiled and exited, gently closing the door behind her.
I waited until I could no longer hear her footsteps before releasing a long breath. I took out my phone again, opened Gabriel’s contact, and called.
He answered on the first ring.
“Lila?”
His voice calm, deep, and always steady made something within me tighten.
“Did you… purchase something for me?” I asked cautiously.
Silence followed. Then, “Did you like them?”
Like them?
They were the most elegant things I had ever had from a man.
“Gabriel, they’re too luxurious.”
“No,” he replied simply. “They’re not.”
“But why?” I pressed. “What’s the reason?”
“You’ve been upset,” since you broke up with Cole he explained. “I wanted to change that.”
My heart heated up once more, in a way that terrified me. I shouldn’t feel this way about him. I shouldn’t let him get close. Yet he was here, doing things that Cole never managed, not even on his best days.
“Thank you,” I muttered.
I wasn't done talking whenhe hung up.
I stared at my phone confused, when my mom came in are you ready honey?
Yes mom I said
Then let's heard out, youre driving Lila mom! As she passed the car key to me.
“Lila! I forgot to tell you earlier, your cousin Gabriel of you to employ you as his personal assistant, after you done graduating.
A thrill coursed through me, not out of fear but rather excitement. There was something about Gabriel that felt like stepping into a tempest that could engulf me.
I slipped into the dress he had left for me earlier—a simple yet elegant white slip dress, soft to the touch and luxurious. It gently embraced my skin, making me feel… transformed. Not like a student. Not like a shattered girl mending from a breakup.
More like a woman.
As I descended the stairs, I found Gabriel already waiting in the dining room. He was standing by the window, hands tucked into his pockets, wearing a black shirt that accentuated his chest and shoulders perfectly.
He turned when he heard my footsteps.
His gaze traveled over me slowly, methodically, almost as if he were trying to imprint every detail in his memory.
“You look better,” he remarked.
“Thanks to you,” I responded without considering my words.
His jaw tightened slightly a reaction so subtle I almost missed it.
“Take a seat,” he instructed softly.
Dinner lay between us steaming steak, vegetables, and wine. All arranged like an intimate dining experience for two.
We ate in silence for a moment before he finally broke it.
“Lila, I know about Cole.”
I froze in place.
“He’s been reaching out to your friends,” Gabriel continued, his eyes focused on the table. “Trying to find ways to contact you, seeking information on your whereabouts today.”
My heart raced. “Why would you know that?”
“Because I told him to stay away.”
I stared at him, astonished. “You did what?”
“He’s not good for you,” Gabriel stated firmly. “He doesn’t deserve to have access to you. Not any longer.”
His tone was anything but gentle.
It was far from soft.
It was possessive quietly, dangerously possessive.
Something stirred within me, a blend of fear and something else I was reluctant to identify.
“You had no right,” I whispered.
He looked up, locking eyes with me, and his voice dropped even lower. “Maybe that’s true. But I won’t apologize.”
The air between us thickened.
“Why is this so important to you?” I questioned, my voice shaking.
His eyes darkened, his expression inscrutable. “Because you’re not as alone as you think.”
I swallowed, at a loss for how to respond. My heartbeat was loud, nearly echoing in my ears.
Then, out of nowhere, thunder roared outside, startling both of us. The windows rattled from the sheer force of it. The storm that had threatened all day finally unleashed its fury.
The rain fell heavily, and lightning streaked across the sky.
Gabriel rose slowly, approaching me with deliberate steps. He halted just behind my chair.
For a brief moment, he said nothing. The tempest outside continued, wind howling as if mirroring something deep within me.
Then his voice emerged, low and shadowy.
I turned toward him, bewildered and anxious.
“Finish your meal,” he said gently. “After dinner… I’ll share everything with you.”
My breath caught in my throat.
The storm outside was trivial compared to the turmoil gathering inside this house.
And within me.
- Writer
