29 Sexual Harassment

Gemma's POV.

At this moment, my phone rings. Jacob's video call flashes on the screen.

I avoid my colleagues' eyes and go to the break room to answer it.

Jacob isn't at work today. It looks like he's at home, the background showing a high-ceilinged villa, with a crystal chandelier overhead dazzling my eyes.

"Did you receive it?" he asks.

I take a deep breath. "You idiot, can you stop with your wild ideas?"

He doesn't get angry at my words. Instead, he laughs, "You're welcome, I know you like it."

"Come out. Let's meet tonight and have a proper talk."

"I'm busy these days. What about the weekend?"

"Fine, we'll talk this weekend then."

I hang up the video call, but when I turn around, someone startles me.

Luke is standing at the door of the break room. It seems like he's been there for a while, his gaze fixed on me.

I suddenly feel like I'm back in elementary school, caught by the teacher for not doing my homework, and my heart starts racing.

But then I think, I don't owe him anything, so why feel guilty? I straighten up, lift my head, and walk past him.

The huge bouquet on my desk is really taking up space, so I put it in the corner of the break room. Later, the cleaning lady asks me, "Gemma, do you still want this bouquet? If not, can I take it?"

"Of course," I reply.

The next day, Jacob sends flowers again, as if he doesn't understand the human language I was speaking. He sends flowers every day for a whole week.

The cleaning lady takes the flowers as usual, and by Friday, she buys me a small gift, thanking me. She sold the flowers to a nearby florist and made some extra cash.

I'm speechless. Just as I'm about to call Jacob, he calls me first, saying he's back.

"Where have you been?" I ask.

"Spent a few days at my grandma's."

"Getting money from her?" After all, his dad is about to cut him off.

"That's not all," he says.

I'm talking on the phone while walking towards the car dealership's door, only to see Jacob standing at the entrance.

He smiles at me. The call hasn't ended, and his voice comes through the receiver, "Hello."

I shove the phone into my pocket, walk over to him, cross my arms, and look up at him, "What's wrong with you?"

"What do you mean 'what's wrong'?" Jacob keeps smiling with that arrogant "I know I'm hot" look on his face.

I roll my eyes and then notice he isn't on his motorcycle today. Behind him is a Ferrari.

"Is that your car?" I ask.

"U nhuh, I went home to get it. It was my 18th birthday gift my grangdma gave me."

The world of the rich really is different. I suddenly remember that my 18th birthday gift was a discounted surfboard from Amazon, and for a moment, I feel a little envious of him.

But looking at the car, I ask, "Does your grandma know you're flaunting it like this?"

"She knows it," Jacob nods. "She told me that when you're chasing a girl, you need to be a bit flashy."

I once again feel the urge to strangle him.

"Let's go, and eat something," I say after a few seconds of silence.

I honestly don't know what's so great about a Ferrari. The chassis is so low that my back hurts sitting inside, and everyone on the street turns their heads when they hear the roar of the engine, looking at us like we're monkeys.

I randomly point at a restaurant on the side of the road, "Let's go here."

Jacob parks the car on the side, and we walk in together.

After ordering, I take a deep breath and start talking, looking at Jacob across from me, "There has to be a limit to joking. Stop sending me flowers."

Jacob looks at me: "I'm serious."

"But I can't be serious," I pause. "I don't want to be serious anymore."

"Is it because you've been hurt? So now you're scared? The Gemma Dawson I know isn't this much of a coward," Jacob says softly.

"Provoking me won't work. I am that much of a coward." I pause, "To be honest, right now I just want to focus on work. When I'm older, I'll go on blind dates, find a man, get married, and have kids... That's it."

"Only men who fail at male-male intrasexual competition go on blind dates," Jacob frowns. "What kind of good man could you find in the blind dating market? And your kids would definitely be ugly."

I'm really upset. "Jacob, we're discussing this seriously. Don't make it about appearances."

He crosses his arms, "I'm just presenting a possibility."

"Thanks, but I don't need your concern."

The food arrives, and the waiter places the dishes in front of us. "Enjoy your meal," he say.

I thank the waiter and pick up my fork, ready to eat.

But Jacob reaches out and grabs my fork, stopping me. "Gemma Dawson, tell me clearly—am I not good enough for you?"

"There are plenty of men who are good enough for me. Do I have to date every single one of them?" I take Jacob's fork with my other hand, twirl my spaghetti around it, and shove it into my mouth.

"But I'm the only one who likes you!" Jacob suddenly stands up, towering over me.

"So just because you say you like me, I have to date you?! And besides, how do I know you really like me? How can you prove it?" I stand up too, but given our height difference, I'm still looking up at him.

He grits his teeth and then smiles. "Fine, I'll prove it to you."

Over the next month, Jacob turns into a persistent shadow, almost like a ghost that won't leave.

He picks me up for work, drops me off, accompanies me shopping, and eats with me...

My colleagues are both envious and jealous, asking what magic I used to make such a young, hot guy so obsessed with me.

Though I'm speechless, I'm also a little touched.

Because I realize that despite his sharp tongue and temper, Jacob is actually quite thoughtful.

He'll say, "My hands are like pig's trotters," and then take me out for pork chops.

He'll tell me, "Your snot looks like two caterpillars," and then remind me to dress warmer because the temperature will drop tomorrow.

After saying, "Are your eyes just for decoration?" he'll pull me from the edge of the street to the inside to avoid passing cars.

Honestly, Jacob is a decent guy.

But... I can no longer find the courage to fall in love.

On the weekend, I don't work, so I'm out walking in the neighborhood garden after a meal when I happen to see Luke.

Luke is in sportswear, and he looks even better than when he's in a suit.

He walks toward me, casting a shadow over me.

I look at his hand, which seems to move freely now, and I ask, "Is your hand better?"

A breeze rustles the spring leaves.

Luke quietly looks at me and then says, "I want to talk to you alone."

I shake my head and turn to leave. "There's nothing left to talk about. We've said everything we need to say at the hospital."

"Gemma," Luke chuckles softly, "are you afraid of me?"

Yes, I am afraid to face him alone. I'm afraid my calm heart will start to stir again.

But I can't let him expose my fear.

I turn back to look at him. "What else do you have to say?"

"Are you and Jacob really together?"

I glance at him, then look away. Maybe he's just too bored and gossipy.

"Are you and Jacob really together?" Luke repeats.

"You know the security guard and the cleaning lady at the dealership are dating, right?" I say suddenly.

"What does their relationship have to do with you and Jacob?" Luke asks.

"Well then, what does my relationship with Jacob have to do with you?"

After saying that, I feel an immense sense of satisfaction.

Luke Shaw, who's always traveling for work and giving speeches at industry summits, is finally rendered speechless?

As I savor the moment, Luke suddenly steps closer.

He wraps his arm around my shoulders and leans in, his face rapidly closing the distance, just a fraction of a second from his lips touching mine.

I don't have time to dodge, and just as I'm about to open my mouth to bite him, a large hand grabs my arm from behind and pulls me away.

I stumble back a couple of steps, and before I even turn around, I hear Jacob's voice behind me. "Mr. Shaw, do you have a special hobby of sexually harassing other people's girlfriends?"

The wind blows, and a few young leaves fall from the treetops.

I instinctively shrink my neck.

Luke frowns, "Are you saying—"

"Gemma and I are dating. Her boyfriend is me," Jacob says.

Luke remains silent for two seconds, his gaze shifting between me and Jacob.

"Is that so?" Luke turns to look at me.

"Yes, We are together," Jacob answers.

"I want to hear it from you," Luke says, ignoring Jacob, his deep gaze fixed on me.

The tension rises, and I can barely breathe.

Jacob's eyes are also on me now.

As I feel myself practically combusting under the heat of their stares, I instinctively rise onto my tiptoes and make an unbelievably bold decision.

I stand on my toes, grab Jacob's arm, and then... kiss him on the cheek.

The air grows quiet once again.

Jacob is the first to react. He looks down at me, his eyes full of disbelief. Then, his smile spreads gently across his face, his eyelashes fluttering slightly, like the wings of a butterfly.