PUNISHMENT

I dropped by earlier than I normally do to check on Gabriel. It has been a while since the last time I visited him, I was busy with my new signatured bag business and needed to be hands on with it. Although I keep him posted everyday, seeing him personally and spending time with him was a different thing. 

I missed him a lot. Not just our private time together, but also all of him. That's why I decided not to go to the shop today and spend quality time with him. 

But the enthusiasm and positiveness I felt from the minute I woke up today, evaporated the moment one of the servants informed me that Gabriel wasn't around and was at work. Feeling sober for not being able to see him, I stayed in the living room and distracted myself with magazines while killing time. 

I don't have any other plans for the day, so might as well wait for him until he arrives home. My attention shifted from the magazine I was holding to the main door when the buzzer rang. A servant rushes towards the door to see who's at the other end. The minute she closed the door, my eyes lingered at the beautiful bouquet she securely held in her arms.

'I never imagined Gabriel to be so thoughtful of me. Maybe he has a hint that I would come today, that's why he decided to send me flowers. That's so sweet of you, honey.'

With haste, I marched to the servant light-spirited and overflowing with unadulterated joy. I can't take my eyes away from the bouquet of flowers. They are beautifully arranged and will definitely sweep every woman's feet. 

"That's so sweet of Gabriel. He didn't even bother to tell me in advance that he'll be sending me flowers. He was really full of surprises! This was really unexpected! But, I loved everything about it! Thank you for this, Honey!" I uttered gladly and was about to get it from her, when she suddenly took a step back and looked mystified at me. 

"I'm terribly sorry, Miss Lucy, but…" 

"It's fine. I'll call Gabriel later to extend my deepest appreciation to him for this beautiful surprise he sent me." 

My eyes were glittering as I marveled at its beauty. Gabriel never gave me any flowers before, not even the time we started our relationship. This was the first, so I'm really ecstatic and utmost thrilled with it. 

"But, Miss Lucy…" 

I interrupted her again. "Yes I know. I was as shocked as you are, in a beautiful way that is" I extended my hands and waited for her to hand it to me. 

"But, Miss Lucy. These flowers aren't for you. It's for…"

"WHAT! Say it again!" I heard it clearly but my mind failed to accept everything she said.

'This must be a prank or something. Gabriel must have advised the servants to pull a prank on me and connive with his pranking. You're so playful, Gabriel. Don't worry, I'll play with you later, we'll play together the minute you arrive.' 

"This bouquet was sent for Mrs. Levine, Miss Lucy."

A wicked grin flashed at the corners of my lips as realization hit me. The flowers weren't from Gabriel then, it was from someone else. Angelou must have a secret lover or something, who's unafraid to flaunt their relationship and have the balls to send it here anyway. 

"I see. So who was it from? Who sent it to Angelou?"

I am dying to know the sender's name, because this will definitely give me an edge. I could use this opportunity to further increase the gap between the two. 

"The delivery man said that the order was made at the Levine Empire, Miss, by Mr. Levine himself." 

This totally took me off the hook. It caught me off guard. My eyes literally popped open as disbelief and confusion filled me. It took me a while to recover from the incredible shock.

"That's nonsense! You're talking nonsense! How could it be from Gabriel? You must be mistaken! You must have heard it wrongly! Gabriel won't give Angelou such a thing! Everyone here knows their status and who Gabriel really loves and adores! It's me, not her! Let me see that!" I scolded her deliberately.

Without waiting for anything, I snatched the bouquet and took the note that was placed at the side. With a trembling yet driven hand, I forcefully opened the small envelope and read the content with my eyes. 

'Fuck you, Gabriel! Why must you shame me this way? Why do you have to give her something this beautiful and elegant, and yet with me, not even a strand? I hate you for hurting me this way!' 

G.L.

The initials from the note confirmed that it was indeed from Gabriel himself. And it was definitely for Angelou because it was her fucking birthday yesterday. 

Because of spoiled emotion and the feeling of being slapped with reality, I threw the bouquet back to her and headed back to the living room to get my things. Afterwards, I grumpily and angrily marched my way out of the door and headed to my car. 

'You lying son of a bitch! How could you do this to me? How could you shame me this way? Do you think you could get away with this, huh Gabriel? Well wait for me there! You'll see this side of me you've never seen before!'

***

I'm in the middle of a meeting with my top executives when one of my secretaries apologetically barged inside the conference room that distracted everyone's attention. I gazed at her disapprovingly. Every secretary I have, even the ones under them, knows that I hate being interrupted especially when I am in a meeting. 

"This must be something important, Savannah, for you to interrupt. Disturbing everyone while in the middle of an important meeting wasn't something that pleased me, you know that well enough" I pointed out stoically. Not leaving an eye off her as I waited for whatever it is that she was about to say. 

"I sincerely apologize, Sir, for interrupting you this way. But someone at the ground floor lobby is making a scene and adamantly demanding to talk to you. The securities weren't able to stabilize her. According to the lobby personnel, the woman threatens to disclose something unseemly and scandalous if she wouldn't be allowed to see you at your office." 

My jaws clenched after hearing everything. I could feel my veins contracting in wrath with this sudden information. Whoever this person might be, they will pay dearly. Not just for obtrusion and deliberately intervening my time, but for having the guts to create an outrageous scene inside this prestigious and well-respected ground. 

"Send her to my private office, my other private office. And have some security to guard her, making sure she doesn't leave. I'll properly deal with her in a while." 

"Right away, Sir." 

My full attention was taken away from me by this untimely and ridiculous incident. I lost interest with the meeting, thus ending it earlier than it was supposed to be. As I head towards my other private office, several questions enter my mind. I wasn't sure who the woman was and what her purpose was either, but she will definitely be punished for the damage she'd caused. 

The moment the guards opened the door, my furious eyes landed at the one sitting comfortably on the chaise. She was unmindfully reading a fashion magazine and wasn't fully aware of my presence. Seeing her, even without looking at her face, I already knew who the infiltrator was. 

"Lock the doors. Make sure no one will disturb me again" I authoritatively commanded the guards, which made her glanced at me with mocking features, before placing the magazine back on the table. "What's your problem? Why the fuck create a scene here?" I asked cynically after abruptly loosening my tie. 

"You're my problem! You and those stupid flowers of yours!" She barked like a mad dog, eyes protruding with seething anger and jealousy. 

"Why? Did they bite you?" I asked sarcastically before making my way towards the bar section. 

My words even made her angrier. I heard her heels tapping loudly on the well-polished mahogany vinyl plank flooring, heading its way towards me. 

'I know exactly why you're reacting this way, Lucy. Your eyes betrayed you already. And I perfectly knew how to tame you, bitch. I'll give you what you want. I'll make sure you will behave properly, like a little puppy, right after I punish you. A punishment that will not only make you senseless, but will surely blow your mind away. I'll show you who's the boss here, bitch.'