Chapter 11

I didn’t see Gabriel for the next few days, but I didn’t care. I barely thought about him, completely occupied by the new portrait I’d begun painting. It took a full day of sitting before the blank canvas before inspiration struck, and then it consumed me. Before I knew it, it was Saturday evening. Gabriel called that afternoon to remind me to be dressed by seven; the call lasted less than thirty seconds. He’d been busy, it seemed.

I knew he loved being on time, down to the second, so I was ready at seven—a few minutes late, but a little wait is always healthy for a wife. At 7:15, Luma came to check on me.

After a final glance in the mirror, I left the room with her. When I descended the stairs, Gabriel was downstairs, talking on his phone and impatiently tapping his shoes on the floor.

He didn’t look at me until I was almost at the bottom, turning only when he heard the click of my heels on the final step. He glanced at me, then away, but his eyes immediately returned and stayed. He said something on the phone—something like "I'll call you later"—and disconnected without taking his eyes off me.

I walked to him, standing before him. Even in my tallest heels, I was shorter.

“You don’t do compliments,” I smiled.

A slow smile spread across his lips. “I don’t do compliments.”

He didn’t need to. I knew I’d impressed him. I was wearing a pink, one-shoulder satin gown, fitted to my abdomen and flowing freely to the floor. My hair was in loose curls, my makeup minimal, letting my freckles show. If they didn’t fit into his billionaire society, that was his problem, not mine. And even if his gaze lingered on my overall look, I knew the showstopper was the thigh-high slit on the right side, revealing my leg with every step.

I clutched my tiny bag tighter. “I’m ready to go.”

“You don’t need a coat!”

“I’m okay.”

“It’s cold outside.”

“No, I’m okay.”

“Okay,” he breathed, leading us outside. I didn’t miss the way his hand lingered softly at my back, even though nobody was watching. I didn’t miss the butterflies fluttering at his touch, or the way I craved more throughout the ride to the gala. So much more.

The charity was for koala bears.

Chapter 11 (continued)

And I couldn’t help but notice how all eyes turned to us upon entering, and the hushed whispers no one tried to conceal.

“Why is everyone looking?” I whispered, wrapping my arm around his.

“I’m famous, Freckles. Surely this isn’t the first time you’ve noticed?”

I suppressed the urge to roll my eyes, politely smiling at people I didn’t know.

“Aren’t you donating money?” I asked, keeping the conversation going.

“I usually don’t come to these things. My presence is enough.”

“But I love koalas!”

“I don’t. Don’t pout,” he mused. I smiled, barely looking around before spotting Arthur. I didn’t have to search for him; he was already staring.

I would have given him only a passing glance, but my eyes lingered a few seconds too long, noticing the dark bruise under his eye that someone had poorly concealed.

“I’m assuming you know nothing about the black eye on Arthur Geller, hm?” I looked at my husband.

“What black eye?” He smirked, and a warmth filled my heart.

“Someone called,” I said. I could see a group of women nearby, and I had no idea how they knew me or why they were calling. “So, join us.”

“That’s Anna, Zach Davis’s wife. Zach and I work closely, and when I met her yesterday, I asked her to keep you company so you wouldn’t get bored while I attended to business.”

I looked at him, surprised.

He dismissed it. “Go on.”

“Gabriel, you didn’t have to do that.”

“What? Talk to Anna? Don’t worry, we’re close. And she’s nice.”

“No. I mean, yes, that, and the black eye on Arthur.”

Gabriel squeezed my hand reassuringly, a small smile playing on his lips. “I had to.”

My smile widened as I squeezed his palm in thanks. I didn’t miss the way he froze for a second, but he didn’t acknowledge it as I turned to join the women, knowing his eyes were on me.

GABRIEL (continued)

“Why don’t you just stand by her for the rest of the evening?” Zach teased, and I glared at him. “What? You can’t take your eyes off her for a minute?”

I continued glaring. Zach was the closest thing I had to a friend in the business world.

“You’re just keeping an eye on her. Arthur tried a little stunt on her this week.”

Chapter 11 (continued)

“Hm, I know,” he grinned. “A little birdie told me all about how you fired him.”

“When the f*ck did you start smiling so much?” I frowned. “It’s annoying, and it makes me wonder how Anna puts up with you.”

He chuckled quietly. “Well, guess what, d*ck, she happens to be fond of my smile.”

“Yeah,” my sentence trailed off when I turned to where Sofia was and didn’t see her. All the other women were there, but not her. “Excuse me.”

I quickly scanned the room, realizing I couldn’t see Arthur either. I probably shouldn’t be so paranoid, but I had insulted the man and fired him in front of his employees, and I knew his ego was infamous.

“Hey, where’s Sofia?” I asked Anna, my eyes still searching.

“She just went to powder her nose. She’ll be back in a mo—” I wasn’t listening; I was already heading to the restrooms.

I knew Zach was following, not far behind, because of the worried look on my face. And rightfully so, because the first person I saw outside the closed restroom door was Arthur.

“Don’t react,” Zach warned, and I listened. I had no interest in making a scene. I leaned against the adjacent wall as Arthur’s eyes studied me.

“Waiting for someone?” he asked, his tone unpleasant.

“My wife.” My jaw tightened. “You waiting for someone?”

“Yeah,” he sneered. “Your wife.”

“You b*stard. I told you to keep her name out of your mouth.” My fist clenched, and I punched him in the jaw. Zach sprang forward, his hands wrapping around me, holding me back.

“Or what? Or what?” Arthur screamed, reeking of whiskey and god-knows-what else.

While I tried to break free from Zach’s grasp, Arthur swung at me. That’s when Zach let go, and I hit him with such force that he fell to the floor and didn’t get up.

I was just caressing my knuckles with a proud half-smile when the bathroom door opened, and Sofia stood there, wide-eyed, consciously ignoring Arthur on the floor. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” I feigned a smile, pressing my eyes in reassurance. “Ready to go home?”

“No,” she said, walking to me and wrapping both hands around one arm. “I want to dance.”

“Okay.”

She tried to smile but couldn’t, so she walked back to the party, trusting me to follow.

Zach looked at me strangely.

“What?”

He shook his head, smiling. “Anna makes me smile. Sofia? She makes me dance.”

“A**hole.” I playfully punched his stomach and followed her outside.