Love In Between
Chapter 9

**The day came when we saw each other again and it was at that precise moment that I understood everything I had avoided acknowledging until now. **

August 22nd

I am too nervous. I don’t know if it is because I will see him again, or because I have to show my best professional side in front of him. The only thing that is clear to me at this moment is that there are only a few minutes left until the clock strikes the agreed time. I look at myself in the mirror located in front of the sink in the bathroom of my office and I approve the makeup I’m wearing. Caramel-colored lipstick, natural shadow, and my hair in waves. I look at the tight black pants, the black t-shirt, my bracelets. Everything looks good.

I’m about to leave the bathroom when I hear a knock on my office door and I immediately go out. -I say loudly and there’s Ana.

-Serena, Gael has arrived. – She informs me and I nod.

-Okay, tell him to come in,” I let her know a little nervously and sit down in the chair behind my desk and then look for the list of pictures I need to take.

-Permission. – I hear him say and when I look up there he is in that tight enough jeans and white t-shirt.

He looks just as sexy as he did that day I first took a close look at him.

“Focus Serena! My subconscious is screaming at me.”

-Hi, Gael, welcome to “PubliMac.”- I tell him trying to sound as confident as I can and stand up to go to him and greet him with two k****s.

“F**k that’s hard…. Why?”

Serena, grow up… it’s been just a fun time, but you knew it wouldn’t last forever.

-Thanks, I’m impressed. – He comments looking around and I look at him confused.

-And that? I question.

-When you said you were a publicist I imagined a small office with a desk and you behind it, but not this whole place where you even have a photo and video studio? Besides, several people work here. Congratulations,” he says to me in a friendly way and smiled.

-It took a lot to get here, but I made it and well, now I have the pleasure of working in a campaign where there is nothing more and nothing less than Gael Martin- I say with a huge smile and for a moment we stare at each other.

-It’s no big deal. – He answers after a long pause and we avoid each other’s gazes.

-It is, and let me tell you that you look happy. I guess things with Delfina have improved. – I speak and I don’t even know why I said that.

-Yes, we have talked and patched things up. She has even accepted to be part of my working life a little bit. – He explains without looking me in the face. -What about you? How have you been doing these past few weeks? – He asks and I shrug my shoulders.

I can’t believe how cold we’re acting. Practically nothing ago we were tangling in a bed without even giving each other time to breathe.

-Well, very busy with various projects,” I reply.

“What am I going to tell him, that I’ve been spying on him on Instagram? That would be ridiculous.”

-Ya…- He mumbles and there is silence again.

-Well, let’s go to the studio. You have to try on the clothes we’ve chosen for today’s photo shoot. – I propose and she only nods.

As we leave the office, we walk down the hallway under the watchful eyes of the graphic designers who work with me and even Ana and the other girls who work in the PR and finance department. They are all watching him and I know they are holding back to ask for a photo.

-Excuse them, Gael,” I say as I open the studio door. -It’s not every day someone like you comes in. – I say with a chuckle.

-No problem, but who do you normally work with?

-Models, you know, people less famous than you,” I explain.

-But more beautiful than me for sure. He says seriously and just laughs.

-We can discuss that later. – I just answer and it’s him who laughs this time.

-For God’s sake,” Sara shouts when she sees Gael and comes running towards him to hug him.

-Sara, please control yourself,” I ask between laughs and Gael kindly hugs her, “I’m sorry, she’s your fan and my best friend,” I explain.

He doesn’t say anything to me and just talks to Sara while she explains how much she admires him. If only she knew what happened.

-Okay, my friend, I have to work, I ask him while laughing, then you make him up and keep talking, I ask him while I try to get him to leave.

-We’ll talk later,” she exclaims and he just nods.

-I’m so sorry Gael,” I say embarrassed and he looks at me with narrowed eyes.

-Did she know that…?” he tries to ask, but I deny immediately.

-Nobody knows. Now come and I’ll show you the clothes,” I tell him and walk towards the dressing room.

I start to show him the shirts, but Gael doesn’t seem to pay attention. He just stares at me as if thinking about something.

-Have you been well after that? he asks out of the blue.

I don’t want to answer his question, I just give him a blue T-shirt -Try this one on – I ask him and he starts to take off the T-shirt he is wearing. -Gael, in the dressing room. – I scold him and he smiles sideways.

-I think this is nothing compared to everything you’ve seen,” he says softly and I feel the temperature of the place increase drastically.

I would like to answer him many things, but the fact that Ana has entered the studio accompanied by a blonde woman, more or less tall, with blue eyes and the body of a Victoria Secret model doesn’t help me, especially when I suspect who she is. They walk over and suddenly the woman hugs Gael from behind.

-Sorry for the delay my love, I was at the mall, but I’m here now. – She says to him and out of nowhere she grabs his face making him turn around and plants a k**s on his face. -I’m sorry! You must be the publicist. I’m Delfina,” he says in a rather overbearing way and I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time.

It’s a painful sensation in my chest, it’s as if my heart was breaking. – I manage to say while Gael stares at me as the two of us greet each other.

That day I understood what I was trying to deny until that day. My heart was beginning to harbor deeper feelings for Gael.