Love In Between
Chapter 20

**I knew a little about the male ego. I knew that many men confused love with a woman’s sense of belonging. What I never imagined was that he would be one of them, I thought he was different.

I can feel his fingers tangle with mine as we hold hands and look for our assigned seats. Emanuel gives me a sideways glance and when he realises I’ve seen him he laughs making me laugh too. We look like two kids and honestly it makes me feel really good. We take our seats and sit in silence as the room fills up completely. I guess we don’t quite know what to say after he finds out that it’s Gael who has been in my life before and that he’s the one I’ve fallen unrequitedly in love with.

Slowly, Emanuel gets close to my ear and I must admit that it makes me very nervous – All the men stare at you, you look so, so beautiful – he whispers to me and this is what I love about him.

He’s a gentleman, he always makes me feel good and above all, he respects me, so different from what I’ve experienced with Gael. Ok, it was my fault that things turned out that way, but hoping that he would have fallen in love with me wasn’t crazy, was it?

-You’re always so cute. – I reply and leave a tender k**s on his cheek making him smile.

The lights go down to start the video presentation I’ve prepared with the premise of the new product along with the history of the company, and when it’s over Gael finally makes his entrance to the deafening applause of the audience. He makes a general scan of the crowd and for a moment his gaze seems to have stopped on me; I must be crazy. He takes a seat on a stool in the centre of the stage and this is how this press conference begins.

The media interest in the launch of the new device, how it will revolutionise the market, and future plans is incredible. Everyone wants to ask questions at once and it takes the intervention of one of the company representatives to keep things running smoothly. I can see the strain on Gael’s face, but I can also see the effort he puts in to make things run as smoothly as possible.

This press conference lasted more than an hour and a half. I look at Emanuel with some embarrassment and smile shyly. -I have to go and talk to my client to make sure they are satisfied with the work, do you want to wait for me here or do you want to go backstage with me? – I ask him looking him in the eyes and he smiles.

-I’ll take the opportunity to call the hospital and check on my patients,” he says and I give him a short k**s before leaving.

-I’ll be right back,” I let him know.

When I get to the side door backstage, I show my credentials and they automatically let me in. I look for Ivan among all the people here, until I finally find him; unluckily for me, he’s talking to Gael. I pluck up my courage and walk towards him.

-Hi, Ivan, sorry to interrupt,” I say shyly, but he smiles at me.

-Serena, you never interrupt,” he says enthusiastically and stares at me, “Your presentation is wonderful, you’ve advertised our product perfectly, congratulations,” he says happily and hugs me, which is strange for me, and I think it’s strange for Gael too; at least that’s what his look tells me.

A bit uncomfortable with the situation, I move away from him -Thanks, I’m really glad you liked it. – I just reply.

-May I speak to her for a moment,” Gael intercedes and Ivan nods immediately and then leaves. -Come,” Gael says to me quite seriously and takes me by the arm without letting me say anything.

-Wait,” I complain, but he doesn’t listen to me; he just keeps leading me until we enter a dressing room and locks the door behind us.

-What are you doing?” I complain as I adjust my dress, which has ridden up a little.

-What are you doing? Why did you come with him if he’s not your boyfriend? Are you trying to make me jealous or something? – He’s calling me and I don’t understand anything…

-Don’t think you’re so important Gael, why should I try to make you jealous? It’s been over between us for a long time, it never really started. – I clarify.

He paces back and forth as his fingers tangle in his hair, “Can’t you see,” he asks me with an angry tone, and boy am I confused.

-I ask trying to understand.

He walks towards me and places his hands on each of my shoulders. I don’t know how he manages it, but my body hits the wall, he’s got me cornered, I like you Serena, that’s it,” he says firmly and I try not to laugh at his cheek.

-I know, Gael, I know you like me, otherwise you wouldn’t have f****d me all the times you have; that’s nothing new.

-I don’t like seeing you with him,” he says angrily.

-It’s not my fault that you think you’re the macho man of Spain and think you can be with everyone,” I tell him and without giving him time to do anything I go to the door and open it to get out of here.

“He can’t be such an a*****e.”

**Not giving in to the charm of his gaze and the closeness of his skin has been one of my greatest efforts. I did everything I could to run away from that dressing room, I don’t know if it was right or wrong, I just know that it happened.