9. Controlling Gabriella

Max stared as the pen fell from Gabriella's grasp. Aren't the fingers of a pianist usually stable? Then, why was that girl's hand shaking so much?

"What's wrong?" the man asked while raising an eyebrow.

“I-I don't know. My hands are out of control,” Gabriella replied softly. A single tear flowed down as the girl's eyes flickered. Great anxiety had risen in her heart.

After racking his brain for a moment, the man finally sighed. "Ah, it might be the effect of the drink you drank yesterday."

"Will my fingers keep shaking?" Gabriella asked before turning her head around with a very honest face. It unexpectedly touched the CEO's heart.

"Of course not. It's only temporary. You just need to eat and rest. Tomorrow morning, your hands won't be shaking anymore,” Max explained with a flat face. He felt duplicity now. Since when did he soften in front of the girl?

"Now, do you want me to help sign this contract?" the CEO asked after remembering his ultimate goal.

Gabriella was silent for a moment. After one blink, she replied, "Yes."

Max took a pen and put it between the girl's fingers. After that, he squeezed in and clasped the icy hand awkwardly. Now, the CEO knew that her tremor was not a trick.

For a few seconds, the two of them froze in that pose. Max was confused because the hand in his grip wouldn't move, while Gabriella was still having trouble adjusting the direction of the pen.

"What's wrong?"

“I'm afraid that my signature might get messed up,” Gabriella replied, signaling that she was being cautious.

"Then, let's train here first." Max closed the folder and put the girl's hand on it.

"How does your signature look?"

"Why did you ask? You've seen it before,” Gabriella muttered, staying focused with the tip of the pen. The scratches she made were far from neat.

“Smile emoticons? Is it really your signature?" Max exclaimed wide-eyed.

Gabriella turned her head spontaneously with an uncomfortable frown. The tears had stopped spilling from her eyes.

"Why do I lie? You can check my ID if you don't believe it."

Max nodded his head. He'd checked the ID card last night but missed the signature part. He was too focused on the written information rather than meaningless scratches.

"So, is your signature like this?"

Max moved Gabriella's hand to draw two tiny circles and a curved line just like the one he had seen before. However, the girl furrowed her brows and shook her head weakly.

“The curve you made is too wide and flat. It looks like a forced smile.”

A sudden sigh escaped from the CEO's mouth. The girl was indeed strange.

Again, Max repeated three strokes. However, Gabriella still didn't accept the results.

"The curve of her lips are correct, but ... her eyes are too big."

Max took a quick breath and turned his head to wait for Gabriella's gaze. "Are you playing with me?"

"No, I just don't want my signature to look creepy."

"Listen! I don't want us to argue anymore. We agreed to sign this contract. So please, don't get into trouble again. Understand?"

Gabriella lowered her gaze and nodded silently. She kept silent even as Max moved her hand across the paper.

"Satisfied or not, your signature is already on the contract."

Max quickly pulled the pen and folder from Gabriella's hand. He didn't want to take the risk of letting her touch it too long.

"Now, eat and then rest! Tomorrow, I will fulfill my obligations as written in the contract.”

As Max left the room, Gabriella stared at the sumptuous food in front of her. In the past, if she was presented with that table, her heart would have been enthusiastic and happy. But now, the food seemed tasteless and unappealing to either her eyes or stomach.

The girl looked down and sighed. She wanted to follow her heart to reject the food from the arrogant man, but her mind whispered something else.

"Right, I have to keep eating and move on. Ah, what will happen to me next?”

After a moment of silence, Gabriella's hand finally shot up for the teapot. With all her focus and effort, she poured the content into a glass. Milk spilled on the tray before it fell into the right container. Cautiously, she lifted the glass and drank its content.

Thereafter, Max returned to the room. Since Gabriella had just eaten three pieces of melon, she looked up at him in surprise.

"Why did you come back?"

"Where should I go? This is my room. I've always slept in this bed."

Gabriella blinked and came to her senses. She was in a place where she shouldn't be.

While the host was pulling something from the wardrobe, the girl tried to get out of bed. Unfortunately, Gabriella's legs were still not energized. Instead of standing straight, her body sagged and fell on her knees.

The IV tube was not long enough so the pole fell on her head. The girl's fuss and soft moaning immediately caught the CEO's attention.

"What are you doing? Jeez .... Can't you not cause trouble?" Max grumbled as he lifted the girl's body and sat her on the edge of the bed.

"I told you to eat, but why did you get out of bed?" he scolded while hanging the IV bag on the end of the pole.

Before Gabriella could answer, the man was already clutching her head, tugging at the girl's long hair like he was looking for something.

"Where did the pole hit?"

Hearing the unfamiliar concern, Gabriella spontaneously furrowed her brows. As soon as her face was brought back up for examination, her eyes flashed with astonishment.

"What are you doing?" Gabriella asked, suddenly freezing Max's hand on her cheek. After flickering, the boy continued his observation shamelessly.

"I don't want people to misunderstand when they see you covered in wounds," he replied casually.

"But, why are you checking my face? It hit my head," Gabriella implied as her hand raised to the left side of her head.

"Why didn't you say earlier?" Max grumbled as he lowered the girl's face back. Once again, he pushed her hair aside.

"Does this hurt?" he asked and pressed on the red-looking scalp.

"Akh! It's painful!" Gabriella shrieked while distancing herself from the man. "You pressed it on purpose."

"No. I just wanted to make sure. It's good if it hurts. That means, I don't have to worry about people finding out."

The girl snorted in annoyance. Straightening her hair, she glared at Max.

"By the way, why do you only eat fruit?" the CEO interrupted as he watched the table.

"Don't pay attention to me!"

“Hey, I'm being nice to you. Appreciate my efforts!”

"If you are nice, you wouldn't screw me," the girl said without thinking. Her lips just closed tightly after saying the word.

"Are you that annoyed that I enjoyed your body?" The man had aligned his gaze with the girl.

"Of course."

“Then, blame that damned stimulant! I wouldn't be willing to screw a girl like you if it weren't for that drug.”

Gabriella's breath roared again. Even though she had signed the contract, her heart still had not forgiven the CEO.

"It turns out, you're really a coward who's afraid of responsibility," she quipped with frozen eyes.

"Responsibility?" Max squinted. "What do you expect? Could it be ... you are aiming for the position of a CEO's wife?"

"I don't want to be the wife of a lecherous man like you."

"Then, what do you want?" Max raised an eyebrow in defiance.

"You admit your mistake and kneel before me."

Suddenly, the man spread a smile.

"Is it true? If I do that, you will stop criticizing me?"

Gabriella fell silent. She was still quite aware of whom she was dealing with. The CEO of a well-known company who was certainly not on her level. Last night's incident wouldn't go anywhere.

"Yes," the girl answer dryly.

"Fine, I will do it as long as you tell me who your boss is."

Gabriella's brows furrowed again. "My boss?"

"Tsk, how long do you want to play? Come on! Tell me the person who ordered you to come here, the mastermind behind the destruction of your house."

Gabriella shook her head without changing expression.

"Nobody gave me orders," she answered spontaneously. “I'm confused why you keep pushing those absurd thoughts. I'm not a messenger."

A thin curve formed on the man's lips. "You think I believe?"

"What is the proof that I am a messenger?"

Unexpectedly, Max took out a white cellphone from his pocket.

“How do you explain this message? Is this not a solid evidence?"

With a deep frown, Gabriella read the message on her cellphone screen.

“Good job, Gaby. Now, get out of the house and take your payment. I'll wait at the usual place at two tomorrow afternoon."

The girl's eyes widened at the unknown number.