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)
“Grab your coat. I’m taking you to dinner.”
“Sir, you don’t need to do that.”
“I know, but I insist. Come on.” He held out his hand, and Nora glanced at it for just a moment. What was going through her head as she hesitated? He waited.
Then, she slid her hand in his, and he couldn’t help but wonder if she felt it too. Did she feel that power between them? That magic? What the fuck was happening to him?
He was going to have to fuck soon. That could be the only explanation as to why he was feeling this way. This had been the longest time he’d gone without sex. Women were so openly available to him, and he usually took full advantage of it.
They walked out of the building together, and he went straight to his car, helping her into the passenger side. He couldn’t resist reaching in to slide the belt across her chest, and securing her into his car. She didn’t complain. He walked around the other side, and climbed into his car.
“You have a nice car,” she said.
“I know.” He turned over the ignition, and within seconds, they were pulling out of the parking lot of his building and heading toward his favorite Italian restaurant. There was never a wait for him, and his table was always reserved. He never cooked for himself.
Handing his key to the concierge, he helped Nora out of his car and led her inside the restaurant. The maître d’ was already there with a smile and took him straight to his table.
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to get a table at this place?” Nora asked.
“No,” he said. He looked at her. “Did your boyfriend or husband wish to book you a table here?”
None of the information he gathered on her mentioned a partner. No husband, no boyfriend.
“No, no, I don’t have a husband or a boyfriend. I overheard one of the men in the lunchroom complain about it. He wanted to take his wife for a special anniversary dinner, and she always wanted to come here.”
“Who?” he asked, curious as to who might have wanted a table.
“Larry from Accounting.”
Gabriel knew Larry and made a note to get Trudy to send him to his office. He liked to take care of members of his staff, especially those who raised concerns. It was Larry that alerted him to George’s associations. Larry had overheard one of his conversations with Gabriel’s dad and put two and two together.
He would make sure Larry got to take his wife on that anniversary dinner. The man was in his late fifties, had five children, and still loved his wife, who was his childhood sweetheart. He got the full story and Larry was a good guy. Never once strayed from his marriage. Nor had his wife. They were good people.
“I’ll take care of it.”
“Larry doesn’t need to be fired,” she said.
He looked at her and frowned. “You think I’m going to fire Larry?”
“That’s what it means by taking care of it, doesn’t it?”
“No,” he said, laughing. “I’m going to make sure Larry gets my table, and he can take his wife for that anniversary dinner.”
“Oh,” Nora said.
Her cheeks turned a delightful shade of red. She was adorable and sexy.
“I’m so sorry.”
“Please don’t worry about it. I am sure there are a lot of people who think the worst of me.”
She winced. “It’s just that you have a reputation for not taking fools gladly.”
“I know.”
“And you fired Clarice.”
“I fire those who do not deserve the job they have been given, Nora. I’m not a tyrant. Those who wish to keep their job, can. I’m a fair man.” He gives people plenty of opportunities to either prove themselves or fail. It was not his responsibility to see they succeeded. That was on them.
“Now, what would you like to eat?” he asked.
Chapter Three
One Week Later
Nora couldn’t believe she was standing in Gabriel’s office, helping him pick out a suit. They all looked the same to her.
In fact, ever since she had spilled coffee on herself and taken a tumble on the boss himself, her life had changed a lot. In the last seven nights, she had not eaten at home. It would seem she and Gabriel tended to stay behind a lot.
She was getting caught up on work, as her boss had just decided to quit, and Nora had considered going forward with the promotion. She was the only one on the floor qualified to take on the role.
Trudy had conducted the interview and told her she had the job. This included a slight pay raise, and she had to come in early. It didn’t matter to her. She was already in early and leaving late.
Three staff had quit, as they didn’t like the task of sorting and delivering mail. She still had to deliver all mail to Trudy for Gabriel.