46

AUDREY
I froze. I wasn’t expecting that. Gabriel had a fiancée? Had he ever planned on telling me?
“It’s not really my place to say this, but you should just talk to Gabriel more about this matter. But you and him?” He chuckled. “Start talking.”
“Well.” I cleared my throat. I was still dazed at the bomb Coulson Stark tossed to me. Why didn’t Gabriel tell me? “I’m sorry about this morning, Mr. Stark, and I’m sorry because I know he’s the boss. I don’t want it to look like—”
“It’s fine, Audrey,” he cut me off. “I just want to hear it from you.”
“I guess.” I looked down at my lap.
“Don’t be bothered with Carla. She’s just a past case Gabriel was trying to get rid of,” he assured.
“I was just surprised, that’s all.”
“You have every right to be surprised, but hey, why won’t you just come with us for dinner tonight? Our parents want to see him, and it’s their anniversary today. Didn’t he tell you?”
Oh, I guess that’s why he’s coming home. “Maybe I shouldn’t, Mr. Stark—”
“Just Coulson.”
“Coulson.” I cleared my throat. “But that’s family time, though Gabriel asked me to dinner tonight. I wondered why he asked me despite the occasion.”
“No, there’s going to be friends and some guests. You should move your plans to our house tonight.”
“I don’t really know.”
“I’ll tell Gabriel, of course. Don’t worry,” he said. “For now, you better stay here. I need your help with something.” He pulled his drawer and grabbed a folder. Then I suddenly remembered that Charles had mentioned his name.
“Coulson? Can I ask you something?”
“Yes?” He opened the binder’s cover.
“Did Gabriel tell you about the house in Phoenix? My friend kind of mentioned you to me.”
“Scott, I guess?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm.” He placed the binder in front of me. “That’s actually what I’m going to talk to you about.”
“Wait. How much do you know? Gabriel does things I don’t understand, like letting you know about this matter.”
“My brother doesn’t hide anything from me, but it seems he’s very smitten with you, Audrey. Is that reason enough? Actually, this is the first time he showed some heart. Not even with his ex-fiancée.”
I looked up curiously at him. “What do you mean?”
“He’s a very complicated person, hard to read, but I support him. Now, if you please.” He pointed out the first page so I could look at the document. “This document came from the land registry in Phoenix, and it’s curious enough that it’s not updated in their records. I mean, what Scott showed you about the three-million-dollar mortgage is unofficial, and there are no actual due dates listed.”
I frowned. I read the documents and followed the details Coulson was saying, and he was right.
“The Scotts are only rushing you so that they can take over the house. But I didn’t say this so that you can relax. I said this because I want you to know Charles Scott is probably lying to you. He can’t submit any registry because you have to do it yourself, which you didn’t, of course. Your signature is the only thing that’s missing for them.”
I could not speak for a moment. I didn’t exactly understand why Charles had to do that. “And the contract he showed me?”
“Unofficial. It means it’s not valid. At least not yet, but he can have it updated anytime when you sign.”
I sighed. “I would never sign anything I don’t understand. But the house is the only thing my mother left me. I can’t lose it.”
“That’s why you have to decide now, Audrey,” he pressed. “Gabriel can pay more than what your father loaned from the Scotts. Think about it before it’s too late.”
I lifted the folder and secured it with my arms. “Thank you for telling me, Coulson. It really means a lot.”
I guess there were no more options but to accept Gabriel’s proposition. Although I knew he had to answer me first.
***
Gabriel was already alone when I returned to my desk. It was noon, and I knew he was supposed to be in a lunch meeting. I saw him sitting in his chair, unmoving in his glass office.
I texted Chelsea that I’d be late for lunch and go with Jacey without me. I crept into his office, and he immediately felt my presence.
“Is everything all right?” I asked.
He spun around and looked up at me with an inexplicable expression on his face. He stood up and strode toward me, then pressed me against his body, sniffing my hair. I could hear the gritting of his teeth.
“Say you’d never betray me, Audrey,” he whispered harshly.
I searched for his eyes. “What’s going on? Why the question?”
“Say it.”
“Why would I betray you?”
“That’s not the correct answer.” He cupped my face and possessively claimed my mouth, and at that second, he was like an angry, hungry lion eating his prey. His breath was momentarily driving me crazy, the scent of his perfume mixing with his body heat. He slightly bit my lower lip and pulled it in his mouth.
“Wait.” I glided my hands on his chest. I could never get over the power he possessed over me. He was sexy as hell. Just a simple, hot kiss. I was already floating in outer space. “Gabriel, what’s going on with you?”
“Don’t break my trust, Audrey,” his voice was like a warning. “At least not you.”
I sighed. “How could I do that to you? You probably know more about me than me.”
He nodded. “I trust you,” he murmured. “Call off your lunch. I’ll cancel mine. You’re staying here with me. At least for an hour, Audrey.”
My shoulders fell. Looking at his impossibly gorgeous face convinced me enough to comply.
“I’ll call for delivery.” I smiled. “What would you like for lunch?”
“You know what I like.” A small smile finally appeared on his lips. “It’s up to you.” He glanced at his wristwatch. “We have less than an hour. Hurry and come upstairs.”
I nodded. “Okay.”
Upstairs meant his suite on the uppermost floor. I’d been there thrice to pick up some things, but I never really stayed or tried to look around. But it definitely looked like a personal space extension of his office whenever he was staying late.
The boss asked me to stay, and I told her I wouldn’t come. I called for lunch delivery at Mercy’s, a Mediterranean restaurant Gabriel really liked, only a block away from the office, then called Jones and requested to take it upstairs.
Hurriedly, I used the executive elevator towards the upper floor that connects to Gabriel’s chamber, and I immediately found him in front of the stereo, holding a remote control. He was only in his white dress shirt. His silk necktie was tied undone. A bottle of uncorked champagne and two empty glasses were on the center table. A song titled ‘Anthem’ by Connor Bvrns and Bonn was playing. The melody was somber, yet I fell in love.
As soon as he put the remote control down, Gabriel rushed to me and picked me up, wrapping my legs around his waist and his hands supporting my buttocks. I held onto my shoulder.
“I can’t wait anymore, Audrey. I’ve been very patient, but I already want to claim you. But of course, we won’t do anything you don’t like.”
“I want you, Gabriel,” I confessed.
“Then kiss me if you do.”
I grinned, then lowered my head to sweetly kiss his firm mouth. Suddenly, he walked to the couch and tossed me on the cushion. Gabriel settled on top of me without breaking the kiss, and he was already unbuttoning his shirt.
The song, our breaths, the sounds of our mouths, and the rustling of our clothes’ fabrics were like my own personal music. I became highly conscious of my body as my skin is ultrasensitive.
But enough about me. I wanted more of him. I wanted to taste him.
Boldly, I sprang up and swiftly rolled over on top of him. I might have kept my virginity, but I already had two boyfriends I met in college. I was lucky enough that they were decent—how I still had my purity, but it didn’t mean I was too innocent.
I knew and did things. Something I learned from my past relationships, and I was craving those for him, or maybe even more…