I take a deep breath, open the door slowly and stand in the middle of the room. Gabriel's head was bent down, he wasn't set straight like he always does, talking about bad posture all the time.

I slam the files on the desk to get his attention. He glares at my face with a big scowl.

"We should start working as soon as possible. We're late for our schedules and the reputation of the company isn't bright," I explain, I intend to keep this as professional as possible. I'm not interested in his private life, I lie to myself again.

"I'll call for you once I check those files." He murmurs taking his gaze back to the papers in hand.

Maybe I imagined, or maybe it was there, but I could swear I saw a glitter in his eyes when our eyes met.

His last words made it clear that I'm dismissed, So I walk to the door with slow steps. One leg at a time Andrea, but I never listen. Do I? I stop in my tracks and look at him with determination, it's not like he can see the fire in my soul.

"What's wrong?" I order more than ask, maybe it was a wrong start.

"Why do you think anything would be wrong?" He leans back on his seat, "let me make it clear, you can't leave whenever you want then come back and act like you care,"

"What do you mean act? I have always cared and never stopped caring," I note, my intentions of keeping the conversation professional crushed by my own stupidity.

"You're my friend Ga-"

"friend?" he says with a scoff, "friends don't leave when you need them the most,"

"Please cut the bullshit," I laugh bitterly, "when they're treated like shit they do leave and some even stop caring but I didn't stop,"

I walk toward his desk and point with my finger at him accusingly, "you moved on with your life and I was left in the shadows, what did you expect? me to stay there until you remember I'm left behind?"

"Is that what this is about?" He asks and I bring my hand back to my side with a questioning look on my face, "you're scared I would leave you alone even though you know I would never,"

"BUT YOU ALREADY DID," I point out frustrated with his stubbornness and childish behavior.

"I tried my best to keep you by my side when bailey entered my life but you always want the spotlight. You only think about yourself," He shoots, a moment of silence fell on us that describes how deep his words went. Neither of us dared to break it afraid that we would ruin the last beautiful thing that we had.

"You ungrateful brat, after everything I've done for you and for your company you still call me selfish? How dare you?" I spit at him.

he's wrong if he thinks I would break down in tears because he's too weak to admit he's wrong.

"You know what? I'm the stupid one who tried to reach out to you after everything you've done. I feel sorry for you because like this you're really going to make me stop caring for good." I finish and storm out of the room after catching the look of regret on his face.

I walk harshly to my office, stumping my legs rather than walking normally. I feel so dumb that I tried again, I sit on my desk and take deep breathes to calm my temper. piece of shit, I curse at something.

I stay there not doing anything, just overthinking the details of that conversation when the door opens, Gabriel appears with his tall body.

"Just let me explain," He starts and I raise my eyebrows at him, "it's not easy, okay?"

"I'm sorry, I have some problems and I was pissed-you came–"

"You don't get your anger out on me. I'm not your punching bag," I say not buying his apology.

"I'm deeply sorry for everything I've ever done to you," He looks me dead in the eyes with an apologetic expression, "I'm sorry that I betrayed your trust. I'm sorry that I couldn't get past my ego and come apologies sooner, I'm sorry that I called you selfish when you're the most caring person I've ever met and finally I'm sorry for being the biggest asshole to you,"

"I-" I say but sigh when I catch his hopeful face-"I don't know Gabriel, I need some time,"

"Oh," he breaths, a scowl managing to appear before he wiped it off. I wouldn't be surprised if he thought it would be that easy to bring things back to normal, like a magic dust that will grant him whatever he pleases.

"Yeah, of course, take your time," he mumbles, his shoulders dropped animatedly as he turned to leave. I felt my heart tightening with guilt, a feeling I shouldn't be having in this situation.

"I didn't mean we can't start talking now," I say, my voice unsure but my chest warning up to the thought of seeing the pearls in his eyes shining with happiness.

He turns, unable to wipe the grin from his face.

"What about hugs?" He mutters slowly, trying the ground he's walking on.

I lift my eyebrow to which he smirks at, I couldn't help but smile amused.

"just testing my luck,"

I stand up after a long sigh. "Let's get this over with before I change my mind,"

He roped his arms around and squeezed, swinging slowly. I hug him back, enjoying the warmth of his embrace.

"Now that we are on acceptable terms, tell me what's wrong" I break the hug and stand in front of him.

"We can have lunch together and I'll tell you everything, I missed it," He says smiling.

______________________________

We walk to a near restaurant and sit across from each other.

"So tell me, what happened?" I ask getting impatient.

"bailey has been acting so weird lately and even with all the red flags around me I never thought bad of her but then I found out that she has another phone," He stops, giving me time to take the information I'm getting in.

"Ohhh maybe she's a double agent," I say the first thing that comes to my mind since I'm used to doing so around him.

"I thought so too, can you believe that?" He says with a shocked impression, "Until I saw her with Blake though and the possibility of her cheating became higher than her being a CIA agent," He shakes his head in disappointment.

"I confronted her about Blake but acted smart and never mentioned the phone to see if she's hiding it from me," He informs me proudly and I snort at the word smart.

"Well, Hercule Poirot let me beat this cheating hoe up. I only need your blessings." I declare cracking my knuckles.

"Calm down tiger we don't have any solid proof yet, " He utters taking a sip from his drink.

"You amaze me everytime you speak amore, the phone is liquid?" I say sarcastically and roll my eyes.

"what do you want me to do? Go up to her and be like: 'hey bailey can you let me see your second phone I think you're cheating so I need proofs to let Andrea beat you up' " He retorts sarcastically. I love when he plays along.

"We need a plan and your smart brain," I remark, the last part sarcastic for sure.

We discuss the plan for straight an hour. Everytime we come up with something there had to be a flaw but once we settle down we go back to work. And I paid the bill like an independent woman after beating Gabriel for trying to take my glory, I had to beat someone anyways.

"Andrea, Matia is waiting for you in your office," Says Ashley the moment we walk in.