Chapter 101
No, it was more than that. None of the leading men in those dramas could hold a candle to Gabriel. But who was the woman in his arms? What did she look like?
Finley Sackler waited by the car, his mood lifting as he caught sight of Gabriel carrying Teresa back, his face radiating pure joy. He promptly opened the door for them as they approached.
Gabriel, holding Teresa, gently placed her in the car before shutting the door. He then walked around and got into the seat.
"Where did you get hurt? Show me," Gabriel immediately inquired as soon as they were in the car.
Downplaying her fall, Teresa replied, "It's nothing, just took a little tumble and twisted my ankle," her face shining like the fiery sunset sky, endearing and incredibly gorgeous.
"Left foot or right?" Gabriel asked, already kneeling on one knee in the confined space, reaching out to check her leg.
"The left," Teresa replied, surprising herself with her own ease and lack of resistance as she watched him.
Gabriel lifted his gaze to meet hers, a satisfied smile curving the corners of his thin lips. With gentle hands, he reached for her left leg, slipping off her boot and sock to assess the injury.
Teresa winced and sharply inhaled when he delicately moved her leg, her features crinkling with pain. Noticing her discomfort, Gabriel frowned empathetically, thinking to be more careful as he cautiously examined her ankle.
"What happened? Did you trip, or did someone bump into you?" Gabriel asked while inspecting her ankle for any sign of swelling.
His memory flashed back to the phone call; he was certain he had heard a motorbike whizzing by her.
Teresa rested her head on the leather cushion, slanting slightly in his direction as she focused on him. He was a carved masterpiece, unlike any other man she knew, and she couldn't help but adore him for all his edges and curves.
"Yeah, a motorbike zipped by too close to me. It must have startled me," she replied, regaining her composure as Gabriel’s gaze bore into hers.
"Finley." Gabriel's voice dropped a notch, his hands still gently massaging Teresa's ankle.
"Boss," murmured Finley, sitting in the passenger seat, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.
Between Gabriel and Teresa, such amiable and tender interactions were rare. So naturally, Finley dared not intrude.
"Find out whether it was an accident or intentional," Gabriel commanded.
"No need," Teresa cut in, brushing off the concern. All her life, any harm had been mere pranks, nothing serious, “I'm new here; I don’t have any enemies. Who'd deliberately hurt me with a motorbike? Besides, if it was on purpose, I’d be more than just sprained."
"Just to be sure," Gabriel insisted, locking eyes with her.
She met his gaze and pursed her lips, relenting with a soft, "Fine, have it your way."
Watching Teresa suddenly so agreeable and sweet, Gabriel felt a warmth spread through his body. He couldn't resist, bending down and pressing a kiss to the top of her foot...
"Gabriel!" Teresa felt a mix of shock and an impulse to scold him, but as she began to speak, his lips tenderly met her skin, halting her words.
With a sudden blush, her already rosy cheeks turned as red as a ripe tomato.
The moment Gabriel looked up at her after kissing her foot, she swiftly turned her head away, glancing out the window, overwhelmed with embarrassment.
Gabriel watched her and chuckled, “Looks like you might have a sprained ligament or possibly a fracture. We need to get to the hospital to have it checked out.”
His voice was deep and resonant, seductively attractive to the brink of doom.
“Oh, okay,” Teresa murmured in a soft tone, without daring to look at him.
Gabriel smiled, carefully slipped her sock back on, and after gently resting her foot down, he sat back and then, with one long reach, swept Teresa into his embrace.
"Hey, Gabriel, let go," Teresa wriggled subconsciously, or perhaps out of habit, in his arms.
Refusing to let go. "Since we've already shared a bed, what harm might an embrace cause?" Squeezing her closer, he murmured to her in a low, rumbling voice, like a weeping child begging for attention.
Suddenly, Teresa turned her head to glare at him, "You..."
She was about to scold him, but remembering that Finley Sackler and the driver were still in the car, she held back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
"What’s wrong with me?" he teased with good cheer.
Teresa gave him another glare but then dismissively turned her head to look out the car window again.
Up front, Finley Sackler was practically shrinking in his seat, his skin crawling with goosebumps from Gabriel's words.
He had never imagined, an illustrious boss like Gabriel displaying such a doting, cutesy demeanor in front of his wife. My God! It was truly eye-opening. If the world were to find out what their formidable boss was like with his beloved, people’s jaws would drop.
“Keep cool! You heard nothing. Yeah, nothing at all!” Finley thought to himself.
He took a deep breath and steeled his heart, trying his best to be an impervious bachelor amidst a shower of public displays of affection.
The car drove on smoothly and swiftly, reaching the hospital in just over twenty minutes.
Gabriel leaped out of the car as soon as it came to a halt, crossed over, and opened the door to let Teresa out. They moved swiftly in the direction of the outpatient facility.
Before arriving, Finley Sackler had already called ahead to have a doctor ready to see them.
This hospital belonged to the prestigious Harriman family's pharmaceutical group, renowned as their finest private medical facility. The Garcias also held a significant stake in the hospital, ranking as the largest shareholder after the Harrimans themselves.
"Gabriel!"
Just as Gabriel had not gone far, cradling Teresa in his arms, a vibrant female voice suddenly rang out.
Startled by curiosity, Teresa’s gaze darted toward the source of the voice faster than Gabriel could react.
It was Dakota Clinton.
Teresa was taken aback; it was none other than Dakota Clinton, the internationally acclaimed bridal gown designer.
Dakota, the daughter of Aaron's uncle, was Aaron's cousin, so it wasn't surprising that she knew Gabriel.
