Gemma had really enjoyed meeting Michael Han earlier that night. He'd asked her out for another date and she explained she wasn't looking for a relationship right now. She'd held love in her heart for Charles for such a long time that she knew it would take time before she was over him.
She wanted to forget all about the bad interaction between them earlier in the day. Gemma made herbal tea for relaxation and turned the television to one of her favorite dramas. She needed to do things that would set her mind at ease. She was wearing an old pair of soft pajamas and she curled up under a soft plush blanket on the couch to watch her favorite show.
There was a loud pounding on her door, as though the person were going to pound the door off the hinges.
She hurried to the door and took a peek in the eye hole. It was Charles, but he looked disheveled. He didn't have his suit jacket, his shirt was wrinkled, and his tie was loosely hanging on.
"Let me in, Gemma!" His voice slurred,letting her know that he had been drinking.
"Charles, how about you come back tomorrow after we've had time to calm down? Gemma asked diplomatically.
"I am calm!" Charles yelled back.
Gemma knew if he kept yelling he would attract the attention of her neighbors. She sighed and opened the door.
He immediately grabbed her and pulled her close. He squeezed her tightly against him, as though he wanted to rub her into his bones. His face buried in her hair, breathed deeply of her scent. She gently pushed away from him.
"Charles, why are you here? You still have meetings tomorrow. You weren't supposed to fly back until Saturday." Gemma reminded him.
"You left me. Everyone always leaves. And then you went on a date with that man! What are you thinking, Gemma?!" His pitiful words suddenly became animated in anger when he reminded himself of why he'd rushed back to Shanghai.
"How do you know—wait a minute! Charles, you had me followed? How dare you?!" Gemma was really angry. Charles has never been on the receiving end of Gemma's anger and it surprised him. Gemma was always so thick skinned he'd forgotten she was as human as anyone else.
"I...wanted to be sure you arrived safely so I sent one of my men to protect you." Charles admitted quietly.
"Sit down! Now!" Gemma scolded and pointed to the sofa. Charles sat obediently.
Gemma moves to the kitchen in agitation. She poured from the teapot for Charles. Not because she felt like being a gracious hostess, but because she was so angry she'd like to scream. Besides, he needed to sober up. She took the teacup to him and glared down at him.
"Drink. You need to sober up. This is becoming a bad habit. You don't want alcohol to start controlling you." Gemma muttered.
"I don't need a mother!" Charles snapped back, hating to admit the truth in her words.
"Are you sure about that? In any case you won't find it in me. We really are done, Charles." Gemma affirmed.
"Why, Gemma? Why do we have to be done?" Charles asked.
"Because we aren't good for each other. We have loud arguments entirely too much. You claim to be a man of self control, but when you're angry your temper rages. It's more than I realized. And I'm no better, apparently. I've never met anyone who could make me so angry." Gemma admitted.
"It's because you love me." Charles stated matter of factly. Anyone else would've called him arrogant for his claim, but arrogant though he was, Gemma knew his assessment was correct.
"Be that as it may, love isn't always enough. I'm sorry but it's for the best. And quit having people follow me! I'm a grown woman, not a child!" Gemma insisted.
As Charles finished his tea, she took the cup to the kitchen.
"It's getting late. You need to be going." Gemma informed him.
He reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Let me stay, Gemma. Let me be with you tonight and make you forget that man in the airport and anyone else!" Charles insisted, gently pulling her closer to him.
"I'm not interested in the man from the airport. He just happened to be a nice guy. That's all. And no way are you staying the night, and we absolutely are not going to be together in the way you mean." Gemma insisted.
Charles gave another gentle tug of her hand, knocking her off balance, and scooping her in his arms.
"Charles!" She shrieked.
He placed her on the sofa and leaned over her.
"You don't mean any of this, Gemma. You love me. And you still want me. Do you really want me to go?" He whispered in her ear, and then trailed kisses from her ear to her neck.
"I...I...we shouldn't." She whispered.
He sucked her neck and then moved to her lips, silencing her. He kissed her long and hard, his tongue invading her mouth. His kiss invading her rational thought. He felt her soften against him as the last of her resistance melted away.
"Do you want me to stop?" He whispered against her skin where he'd been kissing.
"No." She whispered. It was enough. For now he'd be satisfied. He'd not won the war, but he'd won this battle. He'd win her back. He wasn't sure what he would do if he couldn't.