Angel Switch

Chapter 7 – The Confession

‘Oh my G, please come to the elevator now,’ thought nervously of the man standing beside him. Just like Liam, they both look gorgeous in a business suit. I wanted to roll my eyes at him because he’s too handsome to be afraid of him.

I smirked, remembering how Nina described him as a ‘crazy maniac about time.’ I looked for the elevator. I think I could still squeeze into the crowd trying to have their heads low, so I dashed towards it, but then he raised his voice again, making me halt abruptly.

“Nathalie, where do you think you’re going?” He seemed to be losing his patience with me, and he was gawking at me as if I was some kind of stupid person standing in the middle of the lobby.

I blinked, trying to understand everything. For the first time in years, countless years, I have learned many things, I could speak languages he could imagine, and I have seen the development of technology from the very beginning. Yet, today, I looked like an i***t trying to comprehend what he wanted me to do.

“Nathalie,” That was the third time he called my name.

“What?” I snapped, then I heard gasps.

‘Gee, girl, in the private elevator,’ somebody’s thoughts from the crowd said.

I sighed, holding my patience, as I understood where he wanted me to go...  Of course, to the other elevator. He could have just said it instead of making me guess. I held my head high, smiled, and walked towards them.

“Nathalie, I’m glad you’re back,” Anton said as we walked together to the private elevator. “I’m Anton, by the way,” he introduced himself, offering his hand for a handshake. I accepted and smiled. Nathalie’s eyeglasses were helpful because I avoided direct eye contact with him, although I couldn’t avoid the touch. I needed to respond to that shake hands.

Liam, quiet and observing, went to the elevator first, then us. Anton pressed the button on the top floor, then turned to me.

“Listen carefully, Nathalie,” Anton said as he took his planner, “this is Liam’s schedule today,” He started telling one by one the time, schedule, and people he should meet. He was almost done reading the agenda when he interrupted his brother.

“Who do you think you are?” he scowled at me. His voice roared like thunder inside the elevator. He stepped forward, which made me step backward, and I could hear Nathalie’s heart pounding as it would jump out of her chest. I swallowed as I looked down. I shouldn’t look at his face. It’s distracting me.

“What do you mean?” I asked, pushing the brim of my eyeglasses. I felt relief when he stopped walking towards me.

“How would you remember everything when you’re not writing it down,” he glared, taking the planner from Anton, tossing it to me. I almost stopped the time to catch it, but I got lucky it landed perfectly in my hands. I saw his brother widen his eyes in disbelief at his brother’s actions.

‘What is wrong with him?’ he pondered as he looked at me apologetically.

I returned the planner to Anton, flipped my hair, which I don’t know if it was some sort of Nathalie’s habit or something else.

“Are you mocking me?” Liam irked, and I could tell he was trying to meet my eyes like he was trying to prove something. It’s frustrating already that I couldn’t read his mind, but thanks heaven, the elevator door opened.

I took a deep breath before speaking as I stepped out of the elevator. When he and his brother got out, I started to repeat everything to him in detail.

“In fifteen, you have a web meeting with Mr. Tanaka. He’ll be updating you on the status of the vaccine they’re developing. At ten, Ms. Joyce will give you a full report of the budget for next year. She made an appointment at ten just in case you have a question, but if you prefer to review it first, she’ll leave the docs and will wait for your call. You’ll have a lunch date with Miss Hailey….” I stopped, and I couldn’t help but pull a face.

‘Oh no! Don’t tell me you forgot… you’re doing great already, and what’s with the face, Nathalie?’ Anton said nervously in his thoughts.

“Is this important?” I asked, surprising Liam. Any moment now, he’ll probably hit my face for being nosy of his personal life. “You have a meeting with Maya’s teacher,”

‘What on earth is she saying?’ Anton opened his planner, and it wasn’t in the schedule.

Liam narrowed his eyes and thought hard. He frowned, “Corynne’s the one who usually attends to those things,” he uttered, and I think I somehow made him sad. “How did you know about it?”

I glanced to the ceiling because no one had really mentioned that. I did not answer his question, letting him guess the answer. I was the secretary, after all.

Anton opened his office door for him, and I didn’t need to look for my own space. It is just outside his private office.

“Call her teacher and tell her I can’t come,” he said, walking inside the office. I followed him, and again, I almost bumped into him when he suddenly stopped and turned around. Even Anton had to close his eyes as if he imagined our collision, which I was glad didn’t happen.

“What now?” he was scowling at me again.

“What should I tell her teacher?” I asked, almost whispering, and glanced at him with high hopes it doesn’t include lying to the teacher.

“Tell her my schedule is full, and I have a meeting at twelve,” he muttered, checking his tie on the mirror. He mumbled something about the tie, so I walked to him.

“Let me,” I said, fixing the knot for him, but I made sure I avoided looking at his gorgeous face. I have fought all sorts of demons and even faced Lucifer during a fight. I never faltered, but just having Liam around me was like losing a battle without knowing who my enemy was. His dazzling eyes have the power to make me forget something, and our closeness now makes my physical body weak. “There!” I said, tapping his chest by mistake then turning my back on him.

To a being like me who could name thousands of emotions, I was afraid to pick one word to describe what was happening. This could be a diversion, and I needed to be ready. Before leaving his office, I glanced at him as he sat down on his swivel chair and got ready for his web meeting.

As I sat on my chair, I started writing down his schedule, remembering every detail, including the lunch date with Ms. Hailey.

“Hmm…” Think, Ashriel! Think!  I had to think of a way that doesn’t involve lying. My brows raised when I came up with a solution. He doesn’t need me to hover around while he goes on a lunch date with Ms. Hailey, so I think it would be okay to go to Maya’s school on my lunch break. I will meet her teacher for whatever concern she has, hoping he doesn’t mind.

Anton went out of Liam’s office as soon as he started his meeting with Mr. Tanaka. He walked gracefully in my direction, and from here, I could hear his thoughts very loud and clear, making me want to smile. Still, I pressed my lips and continued to focus on opening Nathalie’s files on the computer, hoping to find something significant, but so far, everything was work-related documents.

He sat quietly on the chair in front of my table.

I glanced at him and wondered. He has the same eyes as Liam’s, almond-shaped and honey-colored, but they were not as dazzling and powerful as his. Every time our eyes meet, it’s like he’s sucking my powers away from me. I feel weak. They have significant features that anyone could tell right away they are brothers, but I could tell Liam is different. I was afraid that his touch would be the end of me.

Hmm... Either Liam is a distraction or a diversion to draw me away from the real threat, I have to find out. I have to be careful.    

Anton twitched his lips as I took a quick look at him again.

“Coffee?” I offered as I opened another file. It contains Liam’s one-month schedule, plotted carefully by Nathalie more than a week ago.

He shook his head. He had something to say, but he couldn’t. He took a deep breath.

“I’m gay, Nathalie,” blurted Anton, and he has been misinterpreting that I was interested in him physically as I steal glances.

I nodded, acknowledging what he said.

“Didn’t you hear me?” he asked as he looked around, making sure no one heard his confession. “I’m gay... kinda gay gay!”

“I know,” I uttered in a low voice and looked at his surprised reaction.

“How did you know?” he stared at me without blinking and placed his hand over his mouth. 

“You have just told me, Anton,” I wanted to add, you have been screaming those words since we got in Liam’s office.

 “I’m glad we’re clear on this,” He sighed. “I don’t even know why I’m telling you this,” he shook his head in disbelief.

“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me,” I smiled at him.

“But tell me, is being gay bad?” he asked like he was trying to arouse my curiosity.

“Hmn...” I mumbled as I minimized the word document. I took off my eyeglasses and met his eyes. I wouldn’t say I liked to do it, but he seemed confused about something. He has to say it, or else he would be troubled for the rest of his life. “What’s bothering you, Anton?” I started asking.

“Er... well, I’m... gay, and I can’t even tell my family because my parents won’t approve of my gender preference. My family’s religious, and I always hear them people like me would wind up in hell, and I really like someone, but I can’t even have the courage to tell him because of my brother and our status.”

He was panting after his long speech, and then he started to wonder. After a while, his eyes widened in surprise that he had just shared with me his deepest secret. He immediately covers his open mouth with his hands.

“No one knows how we will be judged, Anton,” I told him, taking off my eyes on him and opening the Word again. I had to prepare my resignation letter.

“How did that happen?” He was still flabbergasted as he stared at me, putting on my eyeglasses again.

I raised my brows, “Which one? Your confession or the going to hell stuff?” I asked him, but this time I just glanced at him.