“You’re a hypochondriac, Fiona,” Cheri said. “You know it. We all know it. The next time you’re really sick will be the first.”
I thinned my lips.
Ellie leaned in towards me. “Forget about all that. Did he ask you for your number?”
“What?” I scoffed. “No. Of course not. When has a man ever asked me for my number, Ellie?”
Seriously, I didn’t know what had gotten into all of them.
Am I really this pathetic when it comes to men?
Casting a hopeful glance at Gabe once again, I noticed that for the first time he wasn’t doing the same.
FIONA
I’d spent the better part of a week shopping for my interview outfit, a black three-quarter-sleeved, ruched dress with an A-line silhouette and a pair of cute black heels to match. Even though I wasn’t in the kind of position that demanded impeccable attire, I wanted to make the best impression possible.
With my wardrobe in order, I arrived and parked outside the gleaming steel-blue structure that was the headquarters of Hawkins Biotech at precisely fifteen minutes until nine in the morning. It probably goes without saying, lateness is a huge pet peeve of mine. I can count on one hand the number of times I've been late in my life. In fact, I only have to use one finger and that time it wasn’t even my fault.
Anyway, I’m never late.
After walking my way across the parking lot, I tugged at the handle of the large glass entrance and walked inside. Immediately, I felt a chill against my skin as an air-conditioned lobby breeze hit me. I made my way towards the bank of elevators, the sound of my heels clacking across the marble echoed off the lobby walls. After pressing the button to go up, I reached inside my purse to get my compact. I pulled it out of my bag, and the elevator doors opened a few moments later.
Drawing my eyes up, I froze in place as its sole occupant came into view.
Gabe.
Dressed quite differently from our talkative flirt at the bar, Gabe stood with his back against the elevator wall in a casual pose. With one hand inside the pocket of a perfectly-tailored silver suit, he smirked as our eyes met once more.
“Well, well… Fiona.”
I hesitated for a moment, just long enough so the elevator doors began to close. Gabe pushed himself off the wall and reached for it, hooking his hand around the door. As he did, they snapped opened again with a pulse in the opposite direction. I smiled and slid the strap of my purse over my shoulder as I stepped inside.
“Thank you.”
“Not a problem.”
After I entered, I turned towards the panel full of buttons and pressed the one for my floor. As I did, Gabe spoke up from behind me.
“So now what? Are you stalking me?”
I thinned my lips as his line of questioning picked up right where he left off at the restaurant. What a rude thing to say.
“No,” I replied with a disdainful tone. “I am not stalking you. Do you remember the interview I mentioned to you?”
“Ohhhh, so this is where the big interview is?”
I did a half-turn towards him, rubbing my forearms in an effort to warm myself from the chill in the building.
“Yes,” I replied. Still a bit annoyed at the stalking comment, I did my best to shrug it off. After all, if he happened to be an employee, there was no sense in making enemies. I tried to change subjects. “Do you work here?”
“No,” he replied, as he assumed his previous position against the elevator wall. “I just like to ride the elevator all day long in a suit and tie.”
I frowned at his nonchalant reply. “In other news, I see you haven’t lost your ability to charm.”
“And I see you still enjoy it,” he quipped.
I smiled and shook my head just a bit. If nothing else, the brief interlude of banter took my mind off the remainder of my morning. Although I was prepared, I never enjoyed situations like this. So the distraction was welcome, unlike the first time we met.
“Got the planner I trust?” he asked as he looked me up and down, searching for any hint of it.
“Yes,” I replied, as I patted the soft leather of my oversized purse.
Gabe smiled and gestured towards my outfit. “Nice to see you loosening up. Showing both of your forearms and what’s this, calves? A bit risqué for an interview, don’t you think?”
I pursed my lips at his incessant teasing.
“Well, you noticed,” I replied, with a teasing tone of my own. “It must be working. Right?”
As I finished speaking, Gabe’s smile vanished from his face. His expression darkened as he eased off the elevator wall. I swallowed at the sudden change in his demeanor. Without thinking, I reached down towards my charm bracelet, rolling my fingertips over the smooth stones.