Velora

Episode 3

14

“Old man, you’re the one pulling the drama. How can a girl be my babysitter? At least say something logical!” Gabriel started protesting loudly.

“She may be younger than you, but she’s sharper and far more composed than you’ll ever be. Now stop making a scene in my office and go home with your babysitter,” Ethan snapped, his patience gone.

“I still have some dignity in this society!” Gabriel shot back, folding his arms across his chest. “Who makes a girl the same age as his girlfriend into his babysitter? No. Absolutely not. Old man, I’d rather jump off the roof of this ten story building than accept this girl as my babysitter. And that is Gabriel’s final decision!”

“Just look at yourself,” Ethan snapped. “Hair a mess, drool on your face, barefoot… standing in my office in your nightclothes and you’re telling me you’ve got dignity in this society? You can’t even figure out how to tie your own drawstring properly, yet here you are bragging about your so called honor!”

“Sir, it’s time for your meeting,” the secretary reminded after knocking on the door.

“Mm-hmm… I’ll be there,” Ethan replied with a nod, signaling that he was leaving.

“Well then, Miss Emily, your job starts today. Okay? I’ll get going now. I trust you’ll be able to handle this blockhead,” he said with a teasing smile before turning toward the door.

“Old man, this is injustice!” Gabriel cried out. “I will never accept her as my babysitter!”

Emily folded her arms and muttered under her breath, “He’s whining as if someone’s forcing him into marriage… God, what a walking time bomb.”

“All right, I really must leave now,” Ethan said, ignoring Gabriel’s protests as he walked out. He gave Emily one last smile before heading off to his meeting.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Emily demanded, following right after him.

Gabriel had been strolling lazily at first, but the moment he reached the elevator, he suddenly broke into a sprint. “Bye bye, Babe,” he grinned, waving playfully.

“Where are you going, Gabriel? Gabriel! Gabriel, stop the elevator!” Emily rushed after him, but by the time she reached the doors, they had already slid shut.

“Oh no… it’s not Gabriel, it’s a walking disaster. Wait no, that’s too soft. He’s a full blown catastrophe!” she muttered, pacing in frustration. “What do I tell Mr. Cole now? No, Emily, you can’t just give up. You finally landed a job after all this time. You’re not going to lose it because of one spoiled brat.”

Her expression hardened as she whispered to herself, “All right, Gabriel… now you’ll see what Emily is capable of.” A mysterious smile spread across her face.

Inside the elevator, Gabriel frowned. “What the hell? Why did it stop all of a sudden?”

“Hello Gabriel… my name is Emily, and I’m your new babysitter.”

The elevator doors slid open unexpectedly on the 4th floor. Gabriel’s eyes widened in shock as he found Emily standing right in front of him, smiling sweetly while introducing herself.

“Hi… kid… you stopped this elevator, didn’t you?” Gabriel raised a brow, suspicion written across his face. Emily just kept smiling and nodded.

“Yes. And please, stop calling me kid. I’m twenty years old,” she snapped, clearly annoyed by his constant teasing.

“I’m twenty-five,” Gabriel shot back proudly, emphasizing every syllable as though his age alone made him superior. “Do you honestly think I need a babysitter?” He expected her to laugh, or at least deny it.

But Emily leaned in slightly, her gaze sharp. “Yes. I do. A spoiled man-child like you needs it more than anyone.”

Gabriel blinked at her boldness, stunned into silence. “You… a twenty year old girl… just called me a twenty five year old spoiled?”

“Exactly,” Emily replied firmly, locking her eyes with his without the slightest flinch.

“Okay then… watch how this so-called spoiled kid gets rid of you, Miss Babysitter.”

Gabriel leaned in so close that Emily instinctively took a step back, her heart skipping.

His lips curved into a sly, mocking smile, and his eyes gleamed with mischief.

Emily swallowed hard, realizing for a second that maybe she’d picked the wrong fight. But almost immediately she steadied herself, gathering her courage. “I don’t run from challenges,” she said firmly. “Once I take on a responsibility, I see it through to the end.”

Then, with sudden cheekiness, she reached up, pinched his cheek, and lisped teasingly, “Okay, little baby… let’s go home. Your babysitter will make you some porridge.” A confident smile spread across her face as she grabbed his hand and started pulling him forward.

“Fine, my darling…” Gabriel answered smoothly, a sweet smile flickering across his lips the kind of smile that only meant trouble. An idea, sharp and devilish, had just sparked in his head.

Before Emily could guess what was coming, Gabriel slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him.

Her eyes flashed in anger. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” She shoved his hand away, her voice sharp with fury.

But instead of being fazed, Gabriel’s mysterious smile only deepened, as if her rage was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

“Before you start a game, darling, you should know your opponent well.”

With those words, Gabriel suddenly tightened his grip around Emily’s hand and yanked her toward him. She stumbled, crashing against his chest like a fragile doll caught in the arms of a stone hearted man.

Emily’s anger erupted. Her palm cracked sharply across his cheek, the sound echoing in the hall.

For a moment, silence. Then Gabriel’s lips curved into an unsettling smile as if he had been expecting the slap all along.

Emily froze, unsettled by his calm reaction. That smile shouldn’t have been there.