Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 452(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 301(@300wpm)
He backed away from the glass door. “This is bittersweet.”
“What is?” I glanced over my shoulder at my guards as they surrounded us. “I’m sorry, but could you give us some room?”
The big, muscled guys bowed their bald heads and stepped back several feet, enough that they could charge at anyone attacking me, but far enough where they wouldn’t hear what we were talking about.
“Jasmine, first I want to tell you I’m sorry,” Gabe said.
I scrunched my face up in confusion. “For what?”
“Just promise me you won’t be mad and you’ll try to understand why I’m doing this.”
“I can’t promise you that if I don’t know what it is.” I placed my hands on my hips. “But I’ll try my best.”
He formed his lips into a grim line and nodded. “Chase came to Lan last week and offered me a deal.”
I froze in my spot. My breath caught in my throat. “What was the deal?”
Gabe kicked at a rock on the ground.
“Gabe? Just tell me.” I was starting to get worried.
“He bought the restaurant.” Gabe directed his attention back to me. “He offered to sign over ownership to me if I could get you to do two things.”
I formed my hands into fists and gritted my teeth.
“He wanted you inside of Lan for dinner and by yourself, no guards,” Gabe said. “And he wanted you to agree to stay in there with him for at least thirty minutes so he could talk to you. Tonight.”
I shifted my view to the street as cars sped by and couples strolled hand-in-hand along the sidewalk. “That’s it?”
“Yes.”
“And then you’ll own Lan?”
“Yes. I had a lawyer look over the whole contract and he couldn’t find any loopholes or deception in it.”
At least not the deception in regard to lying to me.
I closed my eyes, hoping it would be enough to calm me down.
Gabe could have told me this last week. He’d talked to me over the phone every other night and never mentioned this.
I felt stupid, dressing up for him and in the end he swindled me into a date with Chase. Nevertheless, my heart pumped with fear and eagerness at the thought of being alone with Chase, and I hated myself for it.
When will I get over him?
“Please say something,” Gabe said. “If you want to slap me, I’ll let you.”
I opened my eyes and shook my head. “I wish you had just told me this when you found out.”
“I wasn’t sure if you would understand.”
“That’s bullshit.” I rolled my eyes. “If anybody understood why you would do this it would be me. Just like you, I’m supporting my family. I get that you dream of moving your parents out of South End, and that owning the restaurant would help you do it.”
Gabe’s mother and father were good people with bad luck.
They’d had him in high school, married, and dropped out to work. Over the years, more births filled their house. Gabe had three sisters and one brother. His parents worked hard, sometimes two jobs each at a time.
Going to Gabe’s place was like stepping into warm world of love. They hugged nonstop, always had cheery smiles, greeted me at the door with refreshments, and always inquired about my life.
Eventually, Gabe’s dad was injured during a factory job. A hung-over forklift driver ran into him. He’d lost his leg and had been in a wheelchair ever since.
“I went to my parents about Chase’s offer,” Gabe said. “They both told me not to do it. That I’d lose you and in the end you were worth more than anything the restaurant and its profits could give me. My mom’s pissed at me right now.”
I smiled. “Should I tell her not to worry?”
“Only if it’s true.” He gazed at me with sad eyes.
“It’s true.” I went to him and clasped my hand into his. “You’ve been my friend and spoiled me with gourmet food for years. I’m just mad you didn’t tell me.”
“Would you have still come?”
I stared at the ground. “I’m not sure. Good point.”
“Fuck. You don’t have to do this.” He guided me away from the door, but I stopped him.
“He’s not going to end this unless I talk to him. The more I avoid him, the more I think he’ll figure out ways to get to me.” I shrugged. “It’s time to yank my big girl undies up and deal with him.”
No more running into my apartment before he gets out of the limo and avoiding his phone calls or emails.
The last few times he’d texted me I replied that the next time I would talk to him it would be in hell while it was raining flowers.
He replied with, That’s all?
“Do I still have a chance for a future date or am I pushing my luck?” Gabe asked.
“Let’s discuss that after my thirty minutes with Chase. Then I’ll know what type of punishment you should receive.” I playfully wagged my finger at him.