Chapter 12

Gabriel arrived at his mother’s house, feeling a wave of comfort as he stepped through the familiar doorway. The scent of his childhood lingered in the air, mingling with the aroma of his mother's cooking. Despite his demanding role as a CEO, he never missed their biweekly dinners—a sacred tradition he cherished dearly.

“Hey, Mom,” he greeted warmly, presenting her with the strawberry and banana trifle, one of her favorites.

Nora's face lit up at the sight of the dessert, and she enveloped Gabriel in a warm hug. “Gabriel, dear, it’s so good to see you. Come on in.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they set the table together, the rhythmic clinking of dishes a familiar melody of their routine.

As they settled, Nora gently broached the topic. "Why haven’t you been picking up your calls, Gabriel? I've been trying the home phone. You know I worry when I can't reach you."

Gabriel sighed inwardly. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ve been preoccupied with work, and I moved out of the mansion for a change of scenery. I’ve been staying elsewhere.”

Nora raised an eyebrow but chose not to press further, letting her son have his space. "Still, learn to call your mother, Gabriel. You had me worried sick."

“I know, Mom. I’m sorry,” Gabriel replied, remorse evident in his voice. “I’ll try to be more communicative from now on.”

Nora patted his hand reassuringly. “That’s all I ask, dear. Now, let’s enjoy our dinner together. Tell me, how’s work been treating you lately? Good?"

Gabriel nodded, launching into a detailed account of his recent endeavors. "We've been working on finalizing the deal for the new commercial complex somewhere downtown. It's been a challenging and tiring process, but I'm confident it will be a significant asset to the city."

Nora listened intently, her eyes glimmering with pride. "That's wonderful, dear. You've accomplished so much already, and I have no doubt you'll continue to thrive."

Gabriel's expression softened at his mother's words, a sense of gratitude swelling in his chest. "Thanks, Mom."

Nora gave him a warm smile, and he felt a surge of warmth in his chest, a sense of pride washing over him at his mother's compliment.

"Mom, has Dad reached out to you recently?" he inquired, bracing himself for her response.

Nora rolled her eyes slightly—a silent acknowledgment of her ex-husband's persistent attempts to reconcile and reconnect. "Yes, he has," she admitted.

"I know he means well, Gabriel, but these gifts and letters don't change the past," she lamented, her tone tinged with sadness.

Gabriel couldn't help but notice the fresh bouquet of dahlias adorning the kitchen counter, a quiet reminder of his father's grand gestures.

With a pointed look, he questioned his mother about them, already anticipating her response.

"Why keep accepting these gifts if they only bring you pain?" He asked her.

Nora offered a wistful smile, her gaze lingering on the vibrant blooms. "It'd be a waste to throw away such beautiful flowers. Besides, your father is the one who wronged me, not the flowers."

Gabriel nodded in understanding, though he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. Despite his attempts to mediate between his parents, he knew their relationship remained fraught with unresolved tension and hurt. He could understand where his mother was coming from, but also his father. He could only just hope they resolve their differences sooner than later.

As they savored the remaining dessert, Gabriel's thoughts wandered to his intriguing neighbor, the headstrong yet captivating flight attendant who had occupied his mind for years. Without thinking too much of it, he asked a question that caught his mother off guard, nearly causing her to choke on her spoonful of trifle.

"How does one win over a stubborn woman, Mom?" Gabriel inquired, his curiosity evident in his voice.

Nora blinked in surprise at her son's unexpected question, then quickly recovered with a knowing smile. "Are you talking about Sigourney? Is she back?" She asked, her eyes lighting up with anticipation.

Gabriel avoided her gaze, feigning nonchalance. "Please just answer the question, Mom," he replied, trying to steer the conversation away from his personal life.

But Nora couldn't contain her excitement at the prospect of her son being smitten with someone who seemed immune to his charms. Her eyes sparkled with delight as she probed further, ignoring Gabriel's attempt to deflect.

"Come on, Gabriel, don't play coy with me. Is there someone you're interested in?" She pressed, her curiosity piqued.

Gabriel rolled his eyes at his mother's persistence, attempting to maintain his composure. "No, mum, I'm asking for a friend," he lied through his teeth, though Nora saw right through his facade.

With a knowing smile, she continued to ask a series of questions, skillfully dodging Gabriel's attempts to redirect the conversation.

Gabriel couldn't help but chuckle at his mother's tactics. "Mom, you're avoiding the question," he remarked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Nora feigned innocence, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Am I? I suppose a mother's curiosity knows no bounds," she replied with a mischievous grin.

"Oh, come on," Gabriel groaned.

Nora's giddiness dialed down as she transitioned into a more serious tone, her maternal instincts kicking in as she began to offer Gabriel advice on wooing a stubborn woman.

"It's all about subtlety, Gabriel," Nora advised, her voice gentle yet firm. "Women like her would appreciate genuine gestures, not grand displays of affection. Start small, show her you're sincere, and she'll come around."

Gabriel couldn't resist a playful jab at his mother, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "I'm sure you would know what stubborn women want, Mom," he teased, his tone light. "Considering you're one yourself, judging by your current situation."

Nora rolled her eyes once again with a mock sigh, shaking her head at her son's remark. "Oh, give me a break," she replied, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Gabriel couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that perhaps, with her insights, he could find a way to break through the walls and barriers Joslyn had built around her heart.

❀ ❀ ❀

As Gabriel arrived home later that night, he spotted Joslyn just returning from the store, a grocery bag in her hand. Remembering his mother's advice on not coming on too strong, he opted for a more relaxed approach. With a friendly smile, he greeted her, "Hey, Joslyn. Just getting back?"

Joslyn glanced up, meeting his gaze briefly before responding, "Yeah, just grabbed a few things from the store." Her tone was casual, with no indication of further interest in continuing the conversation.

"So, Jos, how did you find the chocolates and wine I gifted you?" Gabriel inquired, his tone light.

Joslyn's response dripped with sarcasm, "Ah, the infamous landlord's attempt at building solidarity. I've never heard that one before. Is that the new strategy, or just a one-time gesture? Is that how you get chummy with all your residents?"

Gabriel chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Hey, I was just trying to be nice."

Jos shrugged, her expression skeptical. "Sure, sure. I've lived in apartments before, and let's just say the landlords weren't exactly sending out care packages."

Gabriel found himself enjoying their banter. "Consider it a pleasant surprise then. Not all landlords are cut from the same cloth."

Joslyn smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I see. So you're the exception, huh? The generous landlord who showers his residents with chocolates and sparkling wine?"

With a shrug, he played along. "I like to think of myself as an influencer in the world of property management."

Raising an eyebrow skeptically, Joslyn replied, "Oh, an influencer, huh? I'll believe it when I see other landlords following suit."

Gabriel chuckled, leaning against the doorframe. "Well, you never know. Maybe I'll start a whole new trend."

Joslyn laughed, shaking her head. "Sure, Gabriel. I'll be waiting for the day when all landlords start delivering gourmet treats to their residents."

Gabriel raised an eyebrow playfully. "Well, maybe landlords spoil tenants they like with gourmet treatments. Must be why your landlord picked you."

Joslyn shot him a pointed look, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Well, you can inform my 'landlord' that I'm not one for unnecessary special treatment."

With that, she pivoted on her heel and strode away, leaving Gabriel both bemused and entertained by her sharp retort.

Gabriel rubbed his hand over his face, a mix of frustration and amusement playing across his features. As he watched Joslyn disappear down the hallway, he couldn't help but think about how he'd have to come up with some genuine strategies to win her over. The usual charm offensive clearly wouldn't cut it with her. He sighed, realizing that winning Joslyn's heart would require a different approach altogether.

Gabriel walked the rest of the way towards his own apartment, his mind still reeling from the encounter with Joslyn. After unlocking the door, he wasted no time heading straight for the shower. The cold water cascaded over him, washing away not only the grime of the day but also the unwanted arousal and frustration stirred up by thoughts of Joslyn.

Afterward, dressed only in sweatpants, he collapsed onto his bed, his mind still occupied by the sassy woman living in the same building and on the same floor as him. Gabriel had thought that securing the apartment closest to her would work in his favor.

However, as of now, it only served as a form of torture to him because although Joslyn was so close by, she couldn't have been more unattainable to him. And despite his best efforts to push her out of his mind, she seemed to have taken up a permanent residence there.

Gabriel's phone pinged with a text from his mom, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the message.

Mother Dearest: ‘Text your father and ask him to stop sending me gifts, and tell him I already had my favorite dessert earlier today courtesy of you.’

The message was accompanied by a picture of yet another strawberry and banana trifle.

With a shake of his head, Gabriel typed out a response. ‘Just accept the gift and eat it, I know you will anyway.’ He sent it off before leaning back on his bed with a laugh at his mother's predictable reply, indicated by the eye-rolling emoji she sent in return.

Gabriel's phone buzzed with a notification from his best friend Colin on Instagram. After replying to Colin, he found himself scrolling through Joslyn's profile, having stumbled upon it months ago. Like always, each photo drew him in further. He couldn't help but admire the scenic backgrounds of the selfies she posted from each country they flew to together, her radiant smile capturing his attention.

However, as he gazed at a photo of her in her flight attendant uniform, a rather inappropriate thought crossed his mind. He imagined her in the uniform, but in a different context, one that was decidedly more intimate and involved her bent over on his bed. Heat surged within him, but not to his cheeks. Instead, it pooled lower, beneath the bands of his sweats.

As Gabriel's gaze lingered more on Joslyn's photos, desire began to cloud his mind, weaving fantasies that he knew were inappropriate. But before he could dwell further, a notification from Colin interrupted his train of thought.

Snapping out of it with a jolt, Gabriel realized he was royally screwed, caught in a web of desire and longing for a woman who doesn't give a flying fuck about him.

With a frustrated sigh, he placed his phone on the bedside table, the weight of his conflicting emotions pressing down on him. Groaning inwardly, he rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the dirty thoughts. Another cold shower seemed like the only solution to clear his mind and regain some semblance of control over his wayward thoughts. Gabriel found himself questioning his own intentions, wondering if his attraction to her was merely sexual or if there was something deeper at play.

As he lay on his bed, the cool fabric of his sweats offering little relief from the heat coursing through his veins, Gabriel couldn't escape the truth staring glaringly at him in the face. He was falling for Joslyn, hard and fast, and there was no turning back. The realization filled him with both excitement and apprehension, unsure of where all this, and the effort he's putting, would lead him.

As he drifted off to sleep, his thoughts were consumed by visions of Joslyn, her smile etched into his memory.