Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 165(@200wpm)___ 132(@250wpm)___ 110(@300wpm)
There was no way Gabriel was going to love her. He was so far out of her league, it wasn’t even funny. Arriving back at her floor, she got to her desk, and at first she just frowned. The truth was, her heart was breaking, and this was not a good sign nor a good feeling. A broken heart meant she had done the unthinkable, and that was not good.
There was no way she could be in love with Gabriel. It was just not right. They were not compatible. She had to make a break.
The very idea of looking for a brand-new job did not appeal. Maybe just … focusing on her job, and ending this with Gabriel. That was what she needed to do. The temptation to leave and call in sick was strong, but she was not a quitter. Even though at times throughout her life, it had felt like she was a quitter. She wasn’t.
Squaring her shoulders, she pushed all thoughts and pain of Gabriel out of her mind, and instead got to work. There was no reason to stop for lunch as she had lost her appetite anyway. Clicking her tongue, she got stuck in her work. The time ticked by, and she made her usual deliveries. As she had already made the first mail delivery to Gabriel, she didn’t need to make a second trip, which was a welcome relief.
She helped her employees, tackled problems, and made notes of the supplies that would be needed.
It was a little after two, when the floor seemed to go quiet, and she spun around to see that Gabriel had entered the mail room. She felt her cheeks start to heat. Since she had taken over, the only time he ventured down here was after everyone had left. She didn’t want gossip spreading.
He walked up to her. “In my office, now,” he said.
Nora looked at him with a frown. He didn’t say anything else but spun on his heel and left. He’d done this on purpose. Gabriel knew she wouldn’t want to make a scene, and by ignoring his demand, that would get people gossiping.
She offered a smile at everyone, and then walked toward the elevator.
Do not fall in love with this man. It is too dangerous.
Nora had to keep reminding herself to always keep her feet firmly on the ground. This is what she needed to do. Feet firmly on the ground. And yet, she felt ready to run.
Her feelings for Gabriel were not going away. They were not casual. Having sex, being around him, seeing the man beneath the corporate mask, she was falling for him, and this was going to end badly for her. She knew this, and yet she got on that elevator and felt her heart race. She felt a tightening in her stomach.
Gabriel didn’t move.
Neither of them made a sound.
The elevator was taking its sweet time getting them to his floor, and she wanted to scream at it to go faster. The sooner this was over and done with, the better.
Finally, the elevator opened, and she stepped out, hoping to see Trudy. The other woman was gone.
Gabriel took hold of her arm, and marched her into his office. “Why did you leave?” he asked, pulling her around to face him, and this time not letting her go.
“You had company, and if you remember, we’re keeping this a secret.” She wanted to ask him so many questions, but she kept them to herself.
Why was his ex at his workplace? What were they talking about?
So many questions.
“This fucking secret thing again. You didn’t want anyone else to know about us. I’m keeping to your agreement but that doesn’t mean I agree with it.”
She nibbled her lip and clasped her hands together, not exactly sure what to say to him.
“I think I should get back to work.”
“Damn it, Nora. You know that was an ex, right? You know that,” Gabriel said.
She glanced down at the floor and nodded. “Yes.”
“She was trying to convince me I was the father of her upcoming baby,” Gabriel said.
This made Nora jerk. She took a step back. “What?”
She hadn’t even considered the thought of Gabriel cheating. This was … had he cheated? Did it count as cheating if they were not really together, together?
“I’m not,” Gabriel said. “I’ve not been with Maya for months. She had her details crossed, and trust me, I cover all my tracks. I always wear a rubber, and there is no way that baby is mine. She wants to try and argue with me, but as I explained, our brief time together ended when I caught her giving a blowjob to my father.”
Nora gasped. She had taken a step back but Gabriel closed that distance.
“She did that?” Nora asked.
“Yes.” He took a deep breath. “You had good parents. I had a great-grandfather who was more of a parent than my own. My own parents keep trying to take my company from me. They’ve ran my grandfathers into the ground, and now they’re after mine. They use anyone at their disposal. They had gotten to Maya, offered her the life of a queen, all she had to do was get pregnant. Seeing her with my dad made me realize I couldn’t trust anyone.”