Chapter 53

My first day at work was going well. All the employees—at least on my floor—were so engrossed in their boss's return after weeks of absence and his demand for work summaries that they barely noticed me. Gabriel introduced me as Sofia Baker, a new team member.

The first half of the day passed uneventfully until lunchtime, when a guy from my floor approached my desk. "I'm Baylen," he said. "Everyone calls me Benny. Long story, but it involves eggs Benedict and salmon." He grinned. "A few of us are going to lunch—want to join?"

He gestured to a couple of others. One dark-skinned brunette with curls I envied waved.

I wanted to go, but I couldn't leave the building without my bodyguard. Gabriel had promised to be discreet, but I craved a normal day before adjusting to my new reality.

"I'd love to, but I can't," I said, offering a sorry smile. "I'm swamped with files. Maybe tomorrow?"

"Sure," he nodded. "We're just heading to the cafe upstairs for half an hour—we all have deadlines since the boss is back."

"Upstairs, in the building?" I asked.

"Yeah?" He gave a confused nod.

I smiled. "I think I can spare thirty minutes."

He grinned, gave his friends a thumbs-up, and I joined them. I'd never been in Gabriel's office building before, but the cafe was impressive.

We sat at a corner table. One of the girls, Eve, raved about the sandwiches while tying her blonde hair into a ponytail. Olivia, the brunette, filled me in on office politics and gossip.

I ordered a meatball sandwich (Eve's recommendation) and listened to Benny's nickname story when my phone buzzed. It was Gabriel: Where are you?

I texted back: Having lunch, cafeteria.

Mike noticed my distraction. He cleared his throat. "Sofia," he said, "are we hallucinating, or are you our boss's wife?"

My breath hitched. So much for anonymity. I mumbled, "I am."

"Ha!" Mike grinned. "Pay up, losers!"

"You bet on me?" I asked.

"Congrats," Ethan, the quietest of the group, said, playfully hitting Mike's head. "Now you've made her uncomfortable."

"I didn't mean to," Mike mumbled. "Sorry, Sofia. These idiots wouldn't believe me when I said you were the Sofia he married. I even showed them a picture online."

My cheeks flushed. Benny shook his head. "Don't mind him, Sofia. I was going to invite you anyway. Eve saw you when you arrived and wanted to invite you, regardless of who you are."

I smiled at Benny and Eve. "Thanks."

Olivia nodded. "We could make this a daily thing. But please don't tell our gossip to Sir. He'd fire us all if he knew we were breaking the 'no sex at work' clause—because Eve and Mike totally hooked up last week!" Eve yelped as Mike pinched her.

"We're not a thing," Eve mumbled. "It was a one-time thing."

"One time? A hundred rounds?" Mike smirked, then turned to me. "But yeah, we're not a thing."

I laughed. "Your secrets are safe with me."

"What secrets?" The voice that silenced the room belonged to our boss—and my husband.

Gabriel stood behind me, eyes sweeping the table. "What secrets?"

Mike, recovering first, held up his sandwich. "Sir, would you like some?"

"No, thanks," Gabriel frowned.

Olivia kicked him under the table.

"Sir, would you like to join us?" Eve asked sweetly.

"What a nice thought," Gabriel said, pulling up a chair between me and Benny.

Everyone in the cafeteria stared until Gabriel glared at them, silencing them. I glared at him as he feigned a smile.

"Shouldn't I join you more often?" he asked, as if he owned the place. Which, he sort of did.

"Y-Yes, Sir," Benny replied.

I whispered, "You don't have to pretend they know."

"Oh, they know," he said, turning to my new friends. "Now that you know she's my wife, I can tell you this: don't cause her problems, don't give her the 'newcomer' treatment, and absolutely don't hit on her. Got it?"

"Gabriel!" I exclaimed.

He continued nonchalantly, "And if anyone else hits on her, punch him, then tell me. Be my eyes and ears."

Silence, then Mike grinned. "Does that mean we're your special employees now?"

I facepalmed as everyone else giggled, except Gabriel, who seemed rather pleased.

That was my first day at work—pretty normal, except for that.