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)
His grandfather had waved all rights, all shares, everything. The startup money had been a gift, to which all relevant finance had been paid, much to his parents’ annoyance. Gabriel was in the clear. His parents had no claim on his company.
He would have done anything to have his grandfather for one more day. He knew what the old man would say. It was high time for him to find a woman to settle down with, have kids. To enjoy the fruits of his many years of hard work.
Gabriel didn’t settle down. He played, hard. No woman was allowed to think long term with him. He enjoyed playing with them, and they got plenty out of the arrangements he made.
Now, as he waited for Nora to remove her skirt, he felt that ache build in his gut. From the moment he’d seen her, he had known she was different, and after everything he learned about her, he was right. This woman was a fighter, or as much of a fighter as one could be during a coma. He knew her own family had taken from her and left her ass on the streets, while they lived in her home and off her income.
“You really don’t have to do any of this,” she said.
“I insist.” He was more than happy to help her.
This interaction had been building, but he wasn’t about to tell her he moved right into position when he saw the women act that way. He’d used their bullying to his advantage, and weeks of figuring out how to get into this woman’s world had finally opened up.
Trudy knocked on the door and he turned to offer her a smile. His PA knew all about his interest, and he saw the smirk on her face. It was why Nora was their now permanent mail delivery person within Building C. It was his only chance to see her, without her knowing she was being watched. She was stunning.
“I have what you need, sir,” she said.
When they were alone, he was back to being Gabriel. In the company of anyone else, he was the boss.
“Thank you, Trudy,” he said.
She stepped in and held out the package of clothes. “Are you okay, Nora?” Trudy asked.
He watched as Nora offered her a smile.
“Yeah, I spilled my coffee.”
“She was tripped,” he said.
“Tripped?” Trudy asked.
“I’m sure it was a mistake.”
“I fucking doubt it. That bitch Clarice,” he said.
Trudy knew exactly who he talked about. Nora didn’t know that Clarice and every one of her friends had attempted to pay him a visit. They wanted him to know they were available. Trudy was there to intervene. They were already treading on thin ice, and now he’d fired them.
They had threatened sexual harassment, but seeing as that trick had already been played a time or two, he knew how to protect himself, and he did. He had no doubt Clarice and her friends would attempt a settlement.
Anger flooded him thinking about what they did to Nora, and they should be lucky he had only fired them. He was tempted to destroy their lives and make them completely unemployable. They should be glad he was too distracted by Nora to deal with them.
“It was time for her to leave. The complaints about her work were starting to mount. It was only a matter of weeks before she would be fired.” Trudy tutted. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. Thank you.”
So polite.
That was what he didn’t get. Life had dealt Nora a few hard knocks. Losing both of her parents at a young age, her home, her college, her future stolen from her by her aunt and uncle. She had to live on the streets, and from the deep background check he had done on her, that hadn’t been a picnic. She helped young girls get off the streets, and a few boys as well.
Some of her paycheck went to help people who were trying to make a life for themselves. She volunteered at a local homeless shelter every Sunday. This woman, by all accounts, sounded like a saint.
Yet, as he looked into her eyes and saw a hint of darkness, he also felt the teasing of the light. She had not let what happened to her cloud her judgment. She hadn’t gotten cold. It hadn’t extinguished that light from her eyes. She was strong.
“Thank you, Trudy.”
“Lunch will be ready in five minutes,” she said, before backing away, taking Nora’s clothes and leaving.
Nora looked down at the clothes she had been handed, and Gabriel, without a word, gave her privacy. The temptation to peek was so strong, but he kept his shit together. Nora needed to trust him. He was not going to fuck this up. This was the start he was hoping for.
“Thank you,” Nora said, holding out his jacket for him to take.