Chapter 2. Family Meeting

KIRA

By the time we got home, it was already dark, and I could see the sky shimmering in the distance like jewels on black velvet. The house was stunning and looked like it belonged in a holiday romantic drama.

Ideally, life would operate in that manner.

The door flying open and the entire family squeezing me suddenly replaced the empty emotions, though. This time, my grandmother, grandfather, and a couple of my relatives continue their kind criticism.

“Let Kira breathe for a change,” Finally, granny murmured. “Joe, lead your sister to her room.”

Just like Granny asked, Joe took my bags. Right after us, little Bella came up. My cousin was only ten years old, and I missed her terribly.

As soon as we reached the doorway, my eyes widened in wonder.

“What happened to my room?”

“Well, Mom decided that if you’re still not coming with Joe, we should give you a room with one bed. Your room, since you left, belongs to Mom and Dad, being bigger. I hope that’s okay.”

My shoulders dropped.

“I think it’s all right...” I said quietly and stepped through the doorway. I didn’t even need the king-size bed.

Who would sleep in it? Me and my ego?

Bella whirled me around and sent me to the bathroom.

“Once you see the bathtub, you might have a different reaction.”

I just loved her sweet little voice.

“Until dinner is ready, you can take a bath. I’m sure it’ll relax you after the bumpy flight. Bella, let’s go,” Joe said and took little Bella by the shoulders. Together they went out before I said anything else.

Joe was right. I desperately needed a hot bath. A bubble bath, actually.

But right from the doorway, Joe looked at me worriedly.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You can fool my mom, but you know you can’t fool me,” he said, stepping towards me an inch.

I was not prepared to share with anyone what I did the night before. Not right now. Not to Joe, not to my mother. Not even to Granny, who was always giving me wise advice.

“I just need a warm bath.” I uttered.

Joe only gave me a wink.

“Before supper, call your fervent lover and catch up. You’ll feel better after that”

I almost laughed. What lover?

Yes, I would call a man who didn’t exist right away.

He eventually left, and I unpacked my suitcase and settled in for the week.

I glanced around. The room, although it was for one person, was welcoming. Even the reading nook by the window with the little library I absolutely loved.

Maybe it was the perfect spot for me to write. Since I got the job as a copywriter, I neglected my writing.

I undressed in the bathroom and jumped into the water. Now that I was alone, my mind wandered to this morning and the close call that resulted in my furious resignation.

Gabriel was a drama personified. Especially now that I’ve given up on his slogans for future ads and uncorrected texts. And if I added the fight I had with his mother, it all became the perfect reason for me to leave.

One last effort before I disappear for good. Gabriel had an important meeting with important people and needed presentation maps. Even with Stella’s words in mind that I was nothing, that I would drag Gabriel’s career down, I helped him one last time.

I refused his mother’s money, and even then I left. Her purpose was different, much more obscure, which if Gabriel knew, I didn’t know how much he would agree. But I didn’t stay around to find out.

Both last night and today, I was aware of it. I therefore drafted out a resignation letter that felt like a break-up memo after completing that work he gave me. I cried as I placed it on his desk and felt like a complete fool.

Thinking about it caused my cheeks to heat up and my eyes to burn, but I resisted crying.

I excelled at writing marketing materials. I’d look for a new position and I knew I would find it once I resumed my life.

And perhaps I might try dating real men if I wasn’t constantly staring at Gabriel Bates’ perfect body.

Keep your mind off of his body.

Too late.

My mind resented me because it quickly displayed a vivid image of how good-looking he was the day before, with his jacket flapping open and his hands in his pockets. With abs, I could bounce a brown cookie on and then frantically suck off any crumbs.

Don’t you dare, Kira!

I submerged my head under water to wash all those sinful memories away.

Gabriel was more attractive than he should have been. However, it was crucial for me to leave him in the past so that I could start the new year free of the burden of forbidden love.

I would have to prepare to break up with fake Brad at a certain point this week because I could no longer draw real-life examples of inspiration for him. In the spring, if I could bring myself to it, I might truly want to find someone real to date rather than spending all of my time on my boss, my most annoying enemy, and my puzzling passion.

The bubble bath was a blessing. I could calm my senses and my chakras.

As soon as I dried my hair, I felt even more human. And the smell of coffee and roasting meat drove me bonkers to the point where I went downstairs to the kitchen. There I walked right into their heated conversation.

“Joe, honey, I know her very well. Something’s going on with her,” Mom said, without either of them noticing I was at the top of the stairs.

“Mom, I asked, and she assured me nothing was wrong”

“Unlikely, to have told you the truth. A mother is never wrong.”

“I quit my job!” I said suddenly, silencing everyone. “If you’re so worried about me, well, that’s what happened,” I continued, looking at all the family members.

Dad had a questioning look on his face. Granny was smiling as if I had done the most wonderful thing in the world. Grandpa was quietly puffing his pipe and Bella... well, Bella was too young to understand.

“Finally!” Mom said, breaking the silence.

“I hope you left him with a lot of unfinished business!” Granny said, winking at me.

“Aren’t you disappointed in me?” I asked, advancing towards the kitchen. I sat down gently in my chair, pouring myself a cup of coffee.

“My dear...” my mother said, coming closer to me. “We were glad three years ago when you got the job. But in those three years, there was no recognition for you, no promotion. And when you think of the magnitude of your boss’s company, I find it hard to believe that you haven’t done such an excellent job that they would have rewarded you.”

“I did mom, but…” My boss was an ass I wanted to say but refrained myself.

“You were such a talented writer. I miss reading another one of your books, but I can’t because your boss has taken you over. Don’t you want something more from your career?”

Oh, and how he did it. With bedsheets and all.

And to be honest, I didn’t.

When it became brutally obvious that more wouldn’t be possible with Gabriel, I had to remove my damages.

But I was so unsure of my next move.

“Okay, let’s put the sadness aside. Who’s up for a snow fight? Did you see how beautiful the snow is?” Joe interrupted my train of thoughts. He always saved the situation when it got too tense. I glared at him with a greedy look.

“He who comes last is the laziest” I shouted and rushed out the door. The first snowball I made had Joe’s name written all over it. He got it right in the face but didn’t let it beat him. He attacked me with even more snowballs.

This family tradition always brought us out of our gloom. Well, in this case, mine.

Everything got so heated that we didn’t keep track of who was hitting whom.

Joe’s snowball hit me flat on my back. I prepared one last snowball as I laid there gazing up at the sparkling night sky because I needed my retribution. As a large male form approached, I jerked to my feet and threw the snowball with all of my strength.

White snowflakes stick to every inch of his pricey coat as a direct hit smashed all over his face and neck.

I realized in horror that it wasn’t my father and it wasn’t my brother, either.

It was Gabriel, and he was fuming with rage.