Chapter 55

Have I mentioned how sexually frustrated I was? Because I was. Very. And my fingers don't excite me anymore after Gabriel worked his magic on me. I don't just need a release; I need a release from him. I was so desperate for one that a part of me wanted to fling open the office door and suck him under the table.

This need intensified when I had lunch with my new friends every day and watched Mike and Eve make eyes at each other. Not lovey-dovey eyes. The "let's-have-sex-in-the-filing-room" kind of eyes. I wanted those eyes.

But the man I wanted them from seemed to have taken a vow of celibacy. I had seen him hard, felt him hard (sharing a bed does that), so I knew I wasn't the problem. His refusal to act on it was frustrating.

"We're going to grab drinks this weekend, right?" Ethan asked the group generally, but I was the first to nod. Maybe I can go to a bar and let a total stranger hit on me. Then I'll tell Gabriel so he'll finger me and give me a mind-blowing orgasm in a fit of jealousy, like he did the first time he saw me with James.

Yeah, he'll never agree, but jealousy was exactly what it was.

"Let's get dressed together," Eve proposed.

"I'm so in," Mike chimed in.

Eve rolled her eyes. "I meant us girls," she said, dismissing him. Turning to me, she added, "Sof, you should totally come over. Liv and I share an apartment, and we girls can get dressed together." Olivia nodded in agreement.

I smiled. "Sounds like a plan to me."

We were returning to our desks after lunch when I spotted a familiar face at the reception desk. I must have stared a moment too long, because Olivia whispered in my ear, "He's Zach Davis. Super hot and totally your type. Unfortunately, he's taken."

"His wife is my friend," I told her, frowning. It felt weird hearing how hot Zach was and that girls swooned over him. It made me wonder if there were girls in this office who found Gabriel hot too. I mean, of course they did—have you seen the man? But I wondered if they ever considered making a move, or thought they had a chance with him.

"Right. I keep forgetting you're the boss's wife and his friends are your friends." She shook her head, and before I could respond, Zach's eyes landed on me.

His eyebrows furrowed. "Sofia?" he called, and almost everyone's attention turned to me.

I waved awkwardly, but he came over and gave me a half-hug. "What are you doing here? And where's that idiot husband of yours?"

More eyes turned our way.

"Keep your voice down," I whispered. "Not everyone knows I'm his wife."

He looked confused but lowered his voice. "Why not? You're like… the queen of this place. Own it."

"Yeah… I mean, people who know, know. I just didn't want to broadcast it; I don't want people to treat me differently," I told him.

"Differently?" His eyebrows knitted together. "Why would they treat you—Oh. You're working here?"

"Mm-hm." I nodded.

"Your husband let you get a job?" More confusion and disbelief laced his voice.

"He wouldn't, that's why I'm working for him."

"Ah. So he can keep his eyes on you." Zach clicked his tongue as if it all suddenly made sense. "Maybe he's not such an idiot after all. You know, after the Italy chronicles, I really was doubting his sanity."

"What happened in Italy?" It was my turn to be confused. Gabriel had mentioned that he couldn't come to my hometown sooner because he'd gone to Italy with his brother, Damien, but I didn't know what they'd done there during those six days.

Zach put his hand around me, leading me toward Gabriel's office, completely disregarding the information I'd just given him. "What happened in Italy stays in Italy, baby."

"You have until I count to three to remove your hand from her shoulder," Gabriel's voice rang out from behind us.

Startled, I jumped before turning to him. Zach, ignoring Gabriel, grinned, his hand still on my shoulder. "We bonded while she was recovering. I used to talk; she used to listen. It was sweet."

I think Zach always approved of me but never initiated a friendship like this. A greeting with my name and maybe a handshake were the extent of our interactions until I was kidnapped. It was as if something had shifted in him toward me, and he was suddenly much friendlier. As if a kidnapping was what it took for him to accept me as Gabriel's wife.

I chuckled nervously. "Not much to do when you can't talk back."

"Hands off, Davis," Gabriel warned again. "If you don't, Anna will…"

"Careful how you finish that sentence," Zach's demeanor changed; his hand was off my shoulder, and he was glaring at Gabriel.

Gabriel smirked. "Was just about to say she'll end up a widow."

I rolled my eyes at both of them. Zach, as playful as he could be, was so stiff when it came to his wife. And then there was Gabriel, who enjoyed staking his claim on me every chance he got, regardless of who was around.

Zach's smile mirrored Gabriel's. "I was just telling Sofia how adventurous Italy was. Especially that time when you jumped in front of a gun."

"You did what?!" The shriek escaped me before I could stop it. He jumped in front of a gun?! Was he dumb?

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "It wasn't like that. And the gun didn't have any bullets."

"He didn't know it didn't have any bullets," Zach added innocently, though I knew he was feigning it. "He found that out after the shot was fired."

My mouth hung open. "Gabriel… you could have died!"

"But I didn't," my husband muttered, turning quickly to his friend. "Is there a reason you're here?"

"Yup. Dinner at my place tomorrow. It's Anna's birthday. I'll set up the barbecue. Be there at 7 sharp, hm?" Zach replied, turning to me. "Pleasure as always, Sofia."

I gave him a faint smile and Gabriel a pointed look before he walked away.

"You jumped in front of a gun?" I asked, lowering my voice in case someone was listening, though no one was around.

"It wasn't like that, Freckles."

"Then how was it?"

"Well…" he paused. "Yeah. I jumped in front of a gun."

I shook my head, disappointment outweighing my anger.

He sheepishly added, "It was to save Damien's life."

I shook my head again, turning on my heels and leaving. I was mad. He could have died; I could have been left with that kidnapper, and life would look entirely different now.

I didn't tell him that, just ignored his texts for the rest of the day. After work, I went somewhere I had no business being: a sex toy shop. I'd never been to one before, and I knew I was being judged by my driver and my bodyguard, who, while always maintaining a respectable distance, were always watching. Creepy.

I tried not to think about that as I browsed the dildos, picking up a long pink one. I would have paid cash under any other circumstance, but I had something far more sinister in mind today. I handed the cashier the shiny black card tucked in a corner of my wallet for months—Gabriel's Amex.

About five minutes after leaving the shop, my phone buzzed. "Freckles, what the fuck?"

This revised version corrects grammar, punctuation, and flow, making the narrative clearer and more engaging. It also removes unnecessary repetitions and clarifies ambiguous phrasing. Note that I've left the sexually explicit terms as they were written, as it's part of the character's voice, but this might need to be adjusted depending on the intended audience and platform.