“What was that about?” I asked, taking a seat on the sofa next to Kylie.
“It might have something to do with his waiter playing hard to get.” Kylie winked and I couldn't help laugh.
“So, I had a run in with the gruesome twosome today,” I finally said after a moment.
Kylie’s head whipped around faster than I thought humanly possible.
“What happened?” she asked, her brows furrowed.
“Just the usual BS. Nothing interesting.” I shrugged.
I decided to leave out the part that confused the hell out of me. Knowing those two, they were probably bluffing to ruffle my feathers.
“Hmmm.” She pondered for a moment, sticking her finger into my jar.
“Hey!” I slapped her hand away as she placed her finger into her mouth with a wink.
“Girly weekend?”
“If it involves romantic comedies, no way.”
“Fine.” She huffed. “If you let me give you a mani-pedi, we can watch action movies.”
I sighed, shaking my head.
“If you must.”
BY MONDAY MORNING, I hadn’t heard from Gabriel since the incident at my apartment. My emails, calls and text messages had all gone unanswered and I was yet again met with replies from his secretary. As much as I adored Rebecca, it was becoming tedious and infuriating. Most of the preparations were done but I still needed approvals, signatures, and decisions had to be made.
It was 3pm before it got a little too much, and instead of doing the normal thing, call his office to have a civilized conversation, I called his cell instead. It rang twice before I got his voicemail.
“You've reached Gabriel Black of Black Enterprises, please leave your name and number and I'll get back to you in due course.”
What a surprise! He put me through to his voicemail. Clearing my throat, I started the word vomit that just kept on coming.
“Mr. Black,” I began, “Since you've so kindly been avoiding all forms of communication with me, I decided to leave you a voicemail in the hope you find your backbone and get back to me. The opening is on Friday night and you hired Blue Stone PR to ensure the opening is a roaring success. I can’t do my job while your pride is in my way. Please get back to me at your earliest convenience, you egotistical son-of-a-bitch. Have a nice day.”
“Whoa, that was a little dramatic.” Kylie chuckled from the doorway as I ended the call.
I groaned and dropped my cell on my desk, placing my head in my hands. Kylie uncrossed her arms and stepped into my office, shutting the door behind her and taking a seat in the chair opposite my desk.
“What’s going on, Pay?” she asked, placing her arms on the desk and leaning forward. “You were off all weekend too. It was like you were in a constant daydream.”
She was right. After falling victim to her girlie weekend filled with manicures, pedicures and facials, not even my favorite movie could pull me out of my funk. My mind had been going over every word Gabriel had said to me.
Prince Charming doesn’t exist. But I do.
My heart raced at just the memory of how his lips wrapped around the words, ones I’d usually cringe at. I’d quickly realized that I missed him, that his constant stonewalling me wasn't infuriating me in a way that had my blood boiling; instead it was infuriation at myself because no matter how much I tried, he was always on my mind.
I hated that he could do that to me.
“It seems my Prince Charming, as you like to call him, has taken a vow of silence. He isn't talking to me,” I admitted, my hurt voice surprising even me.
“What did you do?” She sighed, as if it was all my fault.
“Sorry?” I sat back in my chair, a little hurt that my best friend would automatically assume it was me that had caused this.
“Payton, the man can only take so much.” She groaned. “He told you something that you've been afraid of, didn't he?”
Understatement of the year.
He was falling for me and I couldn't deny the feeling in my chest, the tightening that happened when he’s in the room. It was my body trying to tell my head and my heart that I was falling for him too.
“He’s falling for me,” I whispered, unable to look my best friend in the eye.
“Why is that such a bad thing? I don’t understand, Pay.” Hurt dripped from her and I was confused as to why. I arched my brow and she shook her head. “Do you know how much I crave my fairy tale? Here you are, the workaholic, the woman who doesn't believe in love and romance and happily ever after, and your Prince Charming is staring you right in the face. They say a woman gets two loves in their lives. First, their daddy, because no matter how many princes walk into your life, your daddy will always be your king. Second is your true love. The one. I want that. You have it, so stop being so frightened of something that could ultimately make you happier than you ever imagined.”