Chapter Twelve
Gabriel's POV.
"I can't believe you actually did it, Gabriel. I honestly didn't think things were going to work out, but boy am I glad you didn't listen to me when I doubted you," Camila said as soon as we stepped out of the meeting room.
She and I had just come out of a meeting with an executive from Allure, and despite the existing tension between my family and the CEO, they finally agreed to collaborate with me for our next collection.
"I told you I had what it took to convince them, Camila. The last thing I'm going to do is inherit any of my father's issues with people in the industry, and if I have to appear calm and obedient to get what I want, so be it," I responded, and she simply rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, congratulations to you, Mr. Wilson. I'm very proud of you," she said with a small smile.
"Thank you, Ms. Castillo," I responded.
"Now that we're done chasing Allure and have successfully gotten what we wanted, it's time for us to do what we usually do after a successful collaboration. Since I paid for dinner and drinks the last time, tonight's drinks will have to be on you, Gabriel," she mentioned suddenly, and I was momentarily confused until I remembered that Camila and I had a tradition we liked to uphold after a successful event or collaboration.
Since she and I have been together as friends and colleagues for almost ten years, we have had the habit of spending an entire evening eating, drinking, and sometimes even playing games together after we achieved something we had considered quite difficult.
It was something I had suggested years ago, and Camila, being the good friend she was, always made sure to play along with my requests.
"Camila, dear, I'm going to have to ask for your forgiveness this time," I said, knowing very well that I was going to upset her with what I was about to say.
"My forgiveness? And why is that? Did you do something wrong?" she asked with a confused look on her face.
Just when I was about to respond, we arrived in front of my office, and both Camila and I walked in. After we did, I walked straight to my table to pick up my jacket before turning to face Camila again with an apologetic look on my face.
"I can't spend the evening with you today, Camila. I already have plans," I said to her, and almost immediately the words came out, and her face completely changed.
"And what exactly is that even supposed to mean? You know very well that we've done this together for almost ten years, so why would you suddenly have other plans? Unless it's a life-threatening situation, you cannot possibly cancel on me, young man!" she snapped back at me.
I sighed, knowing that she would be even more outraged when I told her why I had to cancel.
"Fortunately, it's not life-threatening, but I did have a prior agreement to meet up with Antonia today, and because I already agreed to meet with her, I can't possibly just cancel. Please understand," I responded, and if looks could kill, I'd be dead right now.
Camila didn't say anything at all for the first few seconds. Instead, she started to pace back and forth, until eventually she stopped pacing, turned in my direction, and went off.
"Let me get this straight, Gabriel. You're canceling our hangout to go out and meet with your fake girlfriend? Really? And you're even going as far as mentioning that you already agreed with her, which is why you can't cancel? What about me, then? We've had our agreement for years, and yet you're willing to cancel on me for a girl you haven't even known for up to a month!"
She was visibly pissed, and I understand why. "I know it sounds crazy, and I know that I'm to blame, but I really need to meet up with Antonia today. Something seems to be going on with her, and since she's now publicly attached to my name, I need to check up on her to make sure everything's alright," I explained, hoping she would understand.
She scoffed. "So, checking up on her, can't wait till tomorrow? I mean, if you're so curious to know if she's doing something wrong, you can easily call her over the phone and ask her questions. There is no need for you to meet up with her on such an important day when she's not even your real girlfriend," she retorted.
I had a feeling that nothing I said was going to convince her that my decision made any sense, so instead of trying to convince her now, I made up my mind to just apologize and find a way to leave without getting something thrown at me.
"I get your anger, Camila; I really do. Which is why I'm going to spend the entire week apologizing to you and making it up to you. Just please try to understand me today, and I promise that from tomorrow we're going to get those drinks, have dinner together, and I'll even throw in a gift for you since you're the best secretary and best friend a man could ask for," I said to her.
Her frown deepened. "Not only is your fake model girlfriend now more important than me, but you're also thinking of giving me the rest of the week as a consolation prize when you should be doing that to her instead," she said, the disappointment evident in her tone.
I was about to say something else and apologize to her again, but she raised her hand to halt me. "Save the apology, Gabriel, and go have fun with your girlfriend. And you don't have to make it up to me or buy me a gift. I don't need your lame consolation," she added, immediately turning away from me and walking out of the room.
I wondered to myself for a few seconds if I should follow her to continue apologizing to her or just let her be. Eventually, I concluded that there was no point in following her. Knowing how she was, she most likely didn't want to see me right now, and if I continued to bother her, she would only throw a fit.
Letting out a tired sigh, I pulled out my phone from my pocket, dialed Antonia's number, and thankfully, she picked up on a second ring.
"Hello," she greeted.
"Hey, Antonia. Where would you like me to pick you up? Are you at the agency, your apartment, or somewhere else?" I asked.
"I'm at my cousin's. I'll text you the address," she responded, but before I could say anything else to her, she hung up on me.