The hum of the office air conditioning filled the quiet, as Lorraine sat at her desk, glancing absentmindedly at her computer screen. The familiar click of keyboards and the soft murmur of conversations usually provided her with a sense of routine, but today, she felt different—unmoored. The last few days had been hard. Her father, David, and her younger brother, Francis, had left for Manila, leaving her alone in the house she had grown up in. That sense of solitude clung to her, even here in the bustling office.
Her phone buzzed next to her keyboard. It was a message from Gabriel.
"Hey, how's it going?"
Lorraine sighed. Ever since she confided in him the other day, telling him how lonely she felt after her family left, Gabriel had been checking in. He was persistent, caring in a way she didn't expect, though they had started on rocky terms. Still, she appreciated it more than she let on.
She quickly typed back a response.
"It's okay. Still getting used to the quiet at home."
A moment later, the response came.
"Do you want to grab coffee after work? I'll make sure you're not alone."
She smiled a little to herself, thankful for his offer.
"Sure, I'd like that."
Lorraine tucked her phone away and tried to refocus on her work, but her mind wandered. Gabriel had been there for her the past few days, ever since her father and brother left. He was thoughtful in his own way, showing up when she didn't even ask him to, offering her companionship when she needed it most. She couldn't help but wonder what she would've done without him.
By the time the workday ended, the office was quieter. Most of the staff had trickled out, leaving only a handful of people finishing up their work. Lorraine packed up her things, glancing over at Gabriel, who was at his desk just a few feet away. He caught her eye and gave her a nod, standing up and grabbing his jacket.
"Ready to go?" he asked, his voice low but friendly.
"Yeah," Lorraine replied, smiling softly as she slung her bag over her shoulder.
Just as they were about to leave, the sound of heels clicking on the floor echoed behind them. Lorraine turned, and her stomach tightened when she saw Karina, Gabriel's ex-girlfriend, approaching them. Karina was dressed in her usual impeccable style, a tight-fitting blazer and a pencil skirt that screamed confidence. But her expression was anything but calm. There was fire in her eyes as she marched toward them, and Lorraine immediately felt the tension rising.
"Gabriel," Karina's voice rang out, sharp and pointed. "Can I talk to you for a second?"
Gabriel frowned, his body stiffening. "Karina, what are you doing here?"
Karina ignored his question, her gaze flicking between Gabriel and Lorraine. Her eyes narrowed. "What's going on here? Are you two leaving together?"
Lorraine felt herself go rigid. She opened her mouth to say something, but Gabriel stepped in front of her, blocking Karina's line of sight. His jaw was set, his posture defensive.
"Karina, this isn't the time for this," Gabriel said firmly, his voice low but stern. "We're just getting coffee."
Karina let out a harsh laugh, shaking her head in disbelief. "Coffee? Really? That's what you're calling it now?"
Lorraine's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but more than that, frustration began bubbling up inside her. She didn't want to be caught in the middle of whatever unresolved issues Gabriel and Karina had. She cleared her throat, trying to maintain some sense of composure.
"Karina, this isn't what you think," Lorraine said, stepping out from behind Gabriel. "We're just colleagues, and Gabriel was just being kind enough to check in on me."
But Karina wasn't having it. She turned to Lorraine, her eyes flashing with anger. "Oh, so now you're his new project? Is that it? He did the same thing with me, you know. Always trying to be the hero."
Gabriel's face hardened. "Karina, that's enough. Don't drag Lorraine into this. She's got nothing to do with whatever's going on between us."
Karina scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at Gabriel. "Oh, please. It's obvious what's going on here. You're using her as some kind of rebound. You're not over us, and now you're pretending like you care about her to distract yourself."
Lorraine's hands clenched into fists at her sides. She had been patient, but Karina's accusations were starting to get under her skin. She wasn't going to stand there and let Karina make her feel like she was just a pawn in their messy breakup.
"Karina, I don't know what issues you two have, but don't make this about me," Lorraine said, her voice firmer now. "Gabriel was just being a friend, and if you have a problem with that, then maybe you should take it up with him—without dragging me into it."
Karina's gaze flicked back to Gabriel, and for a moment, something in her expression softened. There was hurt behind her anger, a pain that hadn't yet healed. But she wasn't willing to back down yet.
"And what about you, Gabriel?" Karina asked, her voice quieter now but still laced with bitterness. "Are you going to tell me you're just friends?"
Gabriel exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. He looked at Karina, then back at Lorraine, and for the first time, Lorraine saw something conflicted in his eyes. But when he spoke, his voice was steady.
"Yes, Karina," Gabriel said firmly. "We're just friends. I'm not using Lorraine as some kind of distraction. I care about her, but not in the way you're thinking."
Karina stared at him for a long moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. Lorraine could see the tension between them, the unspoken words that still hung heavy in the air. But finally, Karina shook her head, her shoulders slumping slightly.
"Fine," she muttered, turning on her heel. "But don't come running back to me when this blows up in your face."
With that, she stormed off, her heels clicking loudly on the floor as she disappeared down the hallway.
The silence that followed was deafening. Lorraine stood there, her heart still racing from the confrontation, while Gabriel sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, clearly exhausted from the encounter.
"I'm really sorry about that," Gabriel said, his voice soft now. "She... she's still not over it, clearly."
Lorraine gave a small nod, her arms crossed as she tried to process everything. "Yeah, I gathered that."
Gabriel frowned, looking at her with concern. "Are you okay? I didn't mean for you to get dragged into all of this."
"I'm fine," Lorraine replied, though her voice was a bit strained. "I just didn't expect... all of that."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment, the weight of Karina's words still hanging between them. Lorraine glanced at Gabriel, wondering if there was any truth to what Karina had said. Was she just a distraction for him? Was he still caught up in his past with Karina?
Gabriel seemed to sense her unease, and he stepped closer, his expression sincere. "Lorraine, I meant what I said. You're not a rebound or a distraction. I care about you—really. I just didn't expect Karina to show up and... well, you saw what happened."
Lorraine nodded slowly, her eyes searching his. She could see the honesty in his face, but there was still a lingering doubt. She wasn't sure how she fit into his life yet—whether they were really just friends, or if there was something more simmering beneath the surface.
"I believe you," she said softly, though there was a part of her that wasn't entirely sure. "I just don't want to get caught in the middle of whatever's going on between you two."
Gabriel nodded, his expression serious. "I get it. And I promise, I'll handle it. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable because of my past with Karina."
Lorraine smiled faintly, appreciating his effort to reassure her. "Thanks. That means a lot."
He glanced at his watch, then back at her. "Do you still want to get that coffee? Or... I understand if you want to just head home after all that."
Lorraine hesitated, glancing toward the door where Karina had left. Part of her wanted to retreat, to go back to her quiet house and process everything alone. But then she thought about the loneliness that had been gnawing at her for days, and the idea of spending more time by herself felt unbearable.
"Actually," she said, meeting Gabriel's eyes, "I think I could use that coffee."
Gabriel smiled, a genuine, relieved smile, and together, they headed toward the elevator. As they walked side by side, Lorraine couldn't help but wonder what the future held for them. Despite Karina's accusations, she felt a connection with Gabriel that was hard to ignore. Maybe they were just friends for now, but something told her that their story wasn't over yet.
-----
As the elevator doors slid shut behind them, a quiet settled between Lorraine and Gabriel. But it wasn't the awkward silence that had hung in the air after Karina's confrontation. This time, the tension had dissipated, leaving behind a sense of calm. Lorraine felt the weight of the day slowly lifting off her shoulders, thanks in no small part to Gabriel.
She glanced at him, her lips curling into a smile. "You know," she started, her voice light and playful, "for someone who's had to deal with an ex-girlfriend storming into the office and accusing us of things, you're handling it pretty well."
Gabriel chuckled, running a hand through his hair. "I guess I've had my fair share of awkward situations."
Lorraine laughed, a genuine sound that surprised even her. It felt good to laugh after everything that had happened, the heaviness of her father's departure, the loneliness that had crept into her life, and now, the unexpected drama with Karina.
"Thanks," she said, her smile lingering as she glanced down at her shoes. "For standing up for me back there. I didn't really expect you to jump in like that."
Gabriel shrugged, his expression softening. "You didn't deserve to be dragged into that mess. Besides, Karina had no right to assume anything. And I... well, I care about how you feel."
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, Lorraine felt something shift between them. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was a warmth in Gabriel's voice that made her heart beat just a little faster.
"Don't worry about it," she replied, her tone more casual than she felt. "I'm just glad we got out of there before things escalated any further."
As the elevator dinged and the doors opened to the lobby, Gabriel gestured for her to go ahead. "Ladies first," he said with a small grin.
Lorraine rolled her eyes, but a playful smile tugged at her lips as she stepped out. "Chivalry isn't dead, I see."
Together, they walked across the lobby, heading toward the small café across the street. The early evening air was cool, and Lorraine breathed it in deeply, feeling more relaxed with each step they took away from the office. The sound of their footsteps on the pavement filled the comfortable silence between them.
Just as they reached the café and Gabriel opened the door for her, Lorraine's phone buzzed in her bag. She reached for it, her brow furrowing as she saw her father's name flash on the screen.
"I'll be right back," she said to Gabriel, holding up her phone. "It's my dad."
Gabriel nodded, giving her a quick, understanding smile. "I'll get us a table inside."
Lorraine stepped aside, answering the call as she leaned against the café's brick wall. "Dad?"
David's voice came through the line, steady but tinged with weariness. "Lorraine. How are you, sweetheart?"
"I'm... fine," Lorraine said, pushing down the emotions she'd been carrying around since he left. "How's Manila? How's Francis?"
"Manila's... busy," David replied, his tone careful. "And Francis is doing well. He's adjusting. We've been keeping busy."
Lorraine could hear something in his voice, something beyond the usual tiredness of a long workday. There was a weight to it, something he wasn't saying.
"Dad, what's going on?" she asked, her voice growing more serious. "You sound... different."
There was a pause on the other end, and Lorraine could hear the faint sounds of traffic in the background. Finally, David sighed.
"I didn't want to tell you like this, over the phone," he began slowly, "but I'm working for the Marinos now."
Lorraine's eyes widened in surprise. "The Marinos? As in... the Marino family?"
"Yes," David confirmed, his voice firm but wary. "It's not something I planned, but... they're offering good money. And after everything with the business back home, I didn't have much of a choice."
Lorraine felt her heart start to race. The Marino family had a reputation, one that even she, who tried to stay out of the darker sides of the business world, knew all too well. They were powerful, influential, and dangerous. Even though they were known for their wealth and generosity, stories about their ruthlessness weren't just rumors.
"Dad..." Lorraine's voice faltered, concern lacing every word. "The Marinos? Are you sure about this? They're... not exactly known for being safe to work with."
"I know," David said quickly, cutting off her thoughts. "I know what you're thinking. And believe me, I've heard all the stories. But I've met some of them, and they're... well, they're not what people say, at least not completely. They're generous, they take care of their own. But yes, they're dangerous, Lorraine. I won't lie to you about that."
Lorraine swallowed hard, her mind racing. She didn't like this. She didn't like it at all. Her father was tough, sure, but he was stepping into something bigger than anything they'd dealt with before.
"So, what does this mean for you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "How long are you going to be working for them?"
"I don't know yet," David admitted, his tone grim. "It's a long-term deal, but I've been promised that once things settle down, I'll be able to come back home. I just... I want you to be careful, Lorraine. The Marinos are good to their people, but they don't forgive betrayal easily. You need to be cautious about who you trust, even here."
"I will," Lorraine promised, her voice tight. "But... Dad, you'll be okay, right?"
"I'll be fine," David said softly. "I'll be back before you know it, sweetheart. Just stay strong, okay? You've always been strong."
Lorraine felt a lump rise in her throat, but she pushed it down, not wanting to show any weakness in her voice. "Okay. I'll try."
"I love you, Lorraine," David said, his voice filled with warmth despite the distance between them.
"I love you too, Dad," Lorraine replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "Stay safe."
With that, the call ended, and Lorraine stood there for a moment, staring at her phone as if it held all the answers to her growing fears. The Marinos. Her father was working for one of the most powerful—and dangerous—families she'd ever heard of.
And now, she couldn't shake the feeling that their world was closing in on her too.
Taking a deep breath, Lorraine pocketed her phone and walked back into the café. Gabriel was seated at a small table by the window, two steaming cups of coffee in front of him. He looked up as she approached, his brow furrowing slightly when he saw her expression.
"Everything okay?" he asked, leaning forward with concern in his eyes.
Lorraine hesitated, not wanting to dump all of her worries on him, but the weight of it was too much to carry alone. She sat down across from him, wrapping her hands around the warm mug in front of her.
"I just got some news from my dad," she said slowly, her voice a little shaky. "He's... working for the Marino family now."
Gabriel's eyes widened in surprise. "The Marinos? As in... the Marinos?"
Lorraine nodded, biting her lip. "Yeah. He said it was a good opportunity, but... I'm worried. They're dangerous, Gabe. My dad says they're generous to their people, but I've heard stories. I don't know what he's getting himself into."
Gabriel frowned, his expression thoughtful. "That's... intense. The Marinos are definitely not the kind of people you want to cross, but they are powerful. Maybe your dad will be okay. He's smart, and he knows how to navigate tough situations."
"I hope so," Lorraine murmured, staring down at her coffee. "But I can't help feeling like something bad is going to happen. I don't know why... it's just this gut feeling I have."
Gabriel reached across the table, placing a comforting hand over hers. "You're not alone in this, Lorraine. If you ever need someone to talk to—or someone to keep an eye on things—I'm here. Okay?"
Lorraine looked up at him, her heart warming at his gesture. She gave him a small smile, squeezing his hand gently. "Thanks, Gabe. That means a lot."
For the first time that day, she felt a little less alone.