Windows of the Heart

Her Day One begins with reviewing and setting up the appointments for Mr. Han, reading, editing, and replying to his e-mails, and completing reports from meetings that Marissa turned over to her. She was busy discussing some matters with her staff when Mr. Han came in. In a powerful voice, she called for Gabrielle and asked for the day's appointment.

"You are going to have a lunch meeting with a certain Mr. Howard Borja, who wish to invest in your company, at Namoo House in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, sir." In a mild husky voice while taking off his coat, "Anything else?" she replied, "Also, Mr. Kwon Nam-Joon, our VP for Marketing is asking for an audience with you at 3 pm, sir." "I see, well then, instruct Louie to tell my cousin to meet me here in my office at 4 pm," and looking intently at how Gabrielle was dressed, added, "both of us will go to that Namoo House to meet this certain, as you said, Mr. Borja, is that all?" Gabrielle nodded.

Mr. Han was busy conversing over the phone when Gabrielle handed over a note reminding him of their lunch meeting. Somehow annoyed by Gabrielle's disruption, he ended his call with a soft gentle goodbye in Korean, "Ne, Tanjung-e boja" (Yes, see you later). As he stood up, Gabrielle was already behind to aid him on his coat and was secretly amused thus thanking her softly.

Upon arrival at the Namoo House, a receptionist met them leading the way to Mr. Borja's table. While conversing over lunch, Gabrielle was taking important notes significant to their discussions; Mr. Han can't help but notice that she barely touches her food. He cannot tap on Gabrielle though his eyes were glued on her Mr. Borja became aware of the situation so he offered Gabrielle some food on a plate. She nodded and scooped a spoonful while still intently listening and writing down the important lines of their conversations. Then the two men shake hands and agreed to meet again after his proposal is reviewed. After Mr. Borja left the meeting, Gabrielle was about to rise from her seat as a signal for them to leave when Mr. Han grabbed her hand.

"We're not leaving this table until you finish your meal, Gabrielle. You only had a scoop and I will not let you go back to work without eating," he ordered with concern.

And so, in obedience, she ate while Mr. Han watched her closely. He finds Gabrielle truly so beautiful and finds that she has beautiful brown eyes, too which he overlooked during their first encounter in his office and somehow felt an uncertain feeling of attraction to her; while Gabrielle at that spontaneously felt so conscious that her stomach seems to flutter.

Then Mr. Han whispered, "I saw you up-close until to this moment, 'neomu aleumdawoyo' …... silence between them..." it means you are so beautiful!" with a serious stare at her. Gabrielle coughed, thumping her chest, so conscious and bewildered by his statement and sticky look.

Then Mr. Han takes away at once his gaze, having realized his careless unconscious comment of that instant, then unmindfully poured some juice into her glass to distract her from what he just said. Gabrielle then suggested that she had her fill, held, and drank the juice given to her then asked his permission for use of the restroom. "I'll be waiting at the lobby," he reminded.

In the restroom, Gabrielle was uneasy and tensed at the way Hyun Ki gazed at her. She felt conscious of that look, her heart beating heavily and her stomach seems to have butterflies fluttering inside. Is this right? She kept asking herself, for she is his Executive Assistant and his new employee at that! She set aside this conscious feeling and hurried out to the lobby thinking she's taken too long to have him wait. But Hyun Ki had been patiently standing there, his strong silhouette leaning by the wall with his hands in his pocket and when he saw her, he beamed at her, his dimples so appealing and with that captivating smile, she felt like melting. He led her to his car, opened gentlemanly the door for her, and when they were both seated, he took the seat belt at her side, with his face almost touching hers. Gabrielle cannot seem to help her feelings overcome her, because, at that moment, she could smell that manly scent of his cologne so, inviting her for a kiss.

Hyun Ki gently pulled the seatbelt, speaking to her intimately, "Always wear the seat belt for safety, okay?" still out of words but nodded.

While in the car, feeling erratic at that moment, she was so into herself that she missed what her boss is talking about. "Are you all right, Gabrielle? You seem to drift, so I guess you did not hear a word from what I am asking?"

She quipped, "sorry sir, but beg your pardon?" Hyun Ki touched her face, to feel if she has a fever. Gabrielle was moved by his caring attention, slightly moved away, and assured him she was well; then repeated her question, "what is it you've asked, sir?"

Hyun Ki took a glance at her and asked, "What's your nickname, I mean, how do you wish to be called?" she quipped, "Rielle, that's how I'm called at home and by my friends, sir."