132 Mr. Moneybags

It had only been fifteen hours since Angela left her apartment with Gael last night, but it felt like she hadn't been home for days when she entered the apartment with him along with the plumber and the building supervisor who came to inspect the damage.

She explained what happened and how it started while they checked her bathroom. Several minutes later, the plumber and the supervisor talked for a while, glancing at Angela now and then as she faced the tall window and watched the view outside.

Waiting in the living room with Gael, she did not like the suspense. She had a bad feeling that the repair would take longer. He observed while she was in deep thought, but he didn't say anything and just waited with her patiently.

The supervisor and the plumber came out of her bedroom and addressed Angela, telling her what needs to be done.

"What do you mean it will take weeks?" she questioned in shock. 

The supervisor looked uncomfortable delivering the bad news, so his voice was low and apologetic as he responded, "The walls have to be torn down to fix the pipes. A temporary fix is only a short term solution—the best approach is a permanent fix. The flooring also needs to be replaced along with the walls. This is to ensure that there won't be any molds or mildew. The contractor will come by later today to give me a quotation, and then they will start working as soon as possible."

Angela was dispirited at the news. "What am I supposed to do until then? Obviously, I can't stay here while the bathroom is getting fixed."

The supervisor swallowed as he briefly glanced at Gael who stood behind her with an expressionless face. "I'm afraid that you'll have to stay somewhere else temporarily while the construction is happening. The water's main source has to be shut off, so there won't be any water supply for a while. We do have an available apartment that we can offer in the meantime. However, it's in a different building—in Johnson's avenue."

"But that's thirty minutes away…" Angela averted her gaze, imagining how she would manage going back and forth every day. While staying in a different apartment wasn't a problem, shouldn't she have to check this apartment from time to time? All her stuff is in here. Would she have to move everything? How would this be possible when she needs to write?

"Also… that apartment won't be available until two days later," the supervisor added hesitantly.

Letting out a sigh, she buried her face in her hands, feeling resigned because of her situation.

Seeing her state, Gael nodded at the supervisor and signaled him to give them some privacy. When they left, he faced Angela and leaned against the back of a chair as he asked, "What's wrong?"

She didn't want to talk about it, but she answered him anyway. "I've been putting off the ending for almost two weeks now—it's for a book that I'm working on."

"I can't end it. I've tried so many things, but I just can't."

"Does this happen every time you're ending a book?"

"Yeah… but not like this. I'm usually set on every story I'm working on, and most of the time, my only problem is that I'm too attached to the characters and story that writing the ending is hard. But this time… I'm not sure how to end it. And now this happen. I just think that this situation—this change would cause me more delay."

Digging his hands in the pockets of his jeans, he replied casually, "Maybe this change will help you."

Angela had been looking away until now. She lifted her gaze and met his gentle stare, crossing her arms in front of her as she waited for him to continue.

Seeing that she wanted to hear more, Gael added, "I don't know anything about writing. But I do know this: 'We cannot become what we want by remaining what we are'."

Her mouth fell open, and she scoffed at what she heard, a small hint of a smile dancing on her face when she questioned, "Did you just quote Max De Pree to me?"

A grin threatened to show on his face, but he suppressed it. "I may have read a book or two from him." He cleared his throat and straightened up.

"Anyway… He's not wrong. Maybe you need change… maybe then you'll be able to find the ending you want," he added.

Angela softly chuckled. Gael was smart, and she already knew that. But she was still impressed that he read books about leadership.

"What were you supposed to do today?" he wondered.

Scanning her living room, she let out a long sigh as if thinking about her day was already tiring. "Stare at the computer all day until something comes up. Why?"

He checked his phone for a minute. Then he contemplated for a bit while he stared at her and said, "Cancel that. You're coming with me."

Surprised at the sudden invitation, she raised her brows in question. "To where?" 

…

Angela didn't know how Gael always did it. Because like a dummy, she left the apartment with him and got inside his car even though she asked him where he was taking her, but he didn't answer. Well, he did, but "just wait and see" wasn't much of a response, really.

Why did she trust him this much? If it were any other person, she would have probably adamantly demanded until she got some answers—maybe she wouldn't even have left her apartment.

They reached one of the busiest districts in Mayne City. And to her surprise, he entered the parking lot of a movie theater. She drew her brows together as he parked and got out to open her door for her.

"Why are we here?" she asked, alighting the car and checking out the place.

"Why else? To watch a movie." He nodded towards the entrance of the movie theatre and started walking.

The crease between Angela's brows deepened further as she followed him inside. "Why are we watching a movie all of a sudden?"

"I've read that it helps to overcome a block."

"When did you read that?" She looked at him curiously. "Wait… Was that what you checked on your phone earlier?"

Gael only glanced at her for a few seconds before he headed towards the movie notice board to check the 'Now Showing' titles.

Annoyed that he ignored her question, she kept the frown on her face and stared at him with her arms folded in front of her chest. She tried to figure out what was going on in his head that she couldn't read. 

Then a sudden thought came across her mind, and she gasped. "Did you just trick me into going on a date with you?!"

He froze for a second and chuckled at her accusation. Scratching a non-existent itch on his temple with his finger, he turned to face her. "I'm only trying to help. I never said anything about a 'date'. But I don't hate it… Fine. I'll go on a date with you," he muttered with a playful smirk on his face.

Angela scoffed. Even him being cocky was attractive. How annoying!

She had so many things to say, but her childish side came to take over. "It's only a date if you're paying." Regret came in a nanosecond. She didn't really mean what she just said. After all, she could pay for herself. It was a foolish thing that she blurted without thinking because she felt tricked by him.

However, Gael just found her response adorable. A sly smile ghosted his face when he confidently told her, "Fortunately, my pockets are deep. Don't worry, Angel… I got you."