Chapter Seven #2
People mingled. There was a lot of fakeness.
Money was donated. Items were auctioned off, and it was all for a good cause—children.
However, no one knew he always matched his donation with that of a local animal shelter.
He’d rarely come across big events for dogs.
All charities were good causes, and he got it, but he’d always loved dogs.
Another thing about him that Abigail didn’t know was that he would go to animal shelters from time to time, and just play with the dogs.
He wanted to have a dog of his own, or a dozen.
The only problem was, he worked so often and it didn’t feel right to force a dog to stay with him, when they could have amazing homes elsewhere. He was a busy man.
With his tuxedo on, he was ready to go. Carl was waiting for him in the parking lot, and then he sat back on the drive to Abigail’s apartment. Sharleene had already texted him to let him know she was done with Abigail, and had left. He’d paid her.
Now, as he arrived at Abigail’s apartment, he pulled up to the curb, and there she was, standing at the top of her apartment steps, looking like a goddess.
Her dress was a mixture of lace and opaque cream and red.
It showed off a great deal of skin, yet still left enough to the imagination.
She looked absolutely stunning. He couldn’t help but admire her.
Sharleene had curled her hair, and it fell like ringlets around her face. Her makeup was flawless and not overbearing, nor over the top. She looked like a dream.
“How do I look?” she asked, holding her hands out and giving him a twirl.
“You look amazing, but you are missing something.” He made his way up her steps and pulled out the velvet box from his jacket. He opened it, and Abigail gasped.
“I can’t possibly wear those.”
“They’re for you, and I’m not returning them.” He took the necklace out of the box and handed the box to her to hold. He slid it around her neck and flicked the catch into place.
Next was a bracelet, and of course matching earrings, and he slid the bracelet on her wrist. As for the earrings, she could do them in the limo.
“There’s no way I can possibly accept these. They’re too much.”
“They’re more than enough.” He kissed her cheek. “We could argue about this later, but we need to get going.”
Abigail slid her hand into his, and he walked her down the large steps, into the waiting limo. She didn’t argue with him but slid the earrings in place and tossed the velvet box across the limo, so it landed on the other seat.
“Roman!”
“You’re not taking them back. Consider it my gift to you.”
“You’re kidding. There’s no way people even give this as a gift.”
“I’m not most people. Stop being a royal pain in the ass, and just accept it.”
She chuckled, but there was no time to argue, because they were at the gala. There was press, and Abigail was nervous.
“What if they take a picture of us?” she asked.
“And if they do, people at work won’t think twice about the fact you’re my date at a charity gala.
You’re here on business. That’s what everyone knows.
Only we know that by the end of the night, my dick is going to be so deep in your pussy that you won’t know where you end or I start.
” He pressed a quick kiss to the corner of her mouth, and then stepped out of the limo.
It felt good to have Abigail on his arm. He knew he was going to need to test her limits. Their fling was not a fling. It was the real fucking thing.
His desire for her wasn’t waning, and he doubted hers was for him. They were fire together.
The press took pictures, but they were more interested in the celebrities rather than the businessmen. He played the field, but he rarely gave the press the time of day. They arrived at the gala, and as expected, no expense was spared.
Every year he got the invite, and he remembered when his grandfather had been invited. They didn’t care if he showed up, just that money was donated, or something was auctioned off. That was how it went.
Waiters passed with large goblets of champagne, and he took two, handing one to Abigail.
“This is large,” she said.
He chuckled.
“We’ll have to mingle. Do the usual rounds.” He noticed several men were admiring Abigail.
Abigail’s gaze was on the surroundings.
“It’s really impressive, and the artwork is astounding,” she said.
That was his Abi, in a room full of powerful men and celebrities, and she was more interested in the décor.
Her kind of loyalty could not be bought.
He knew other rivals had attempted to snatch her away from him.
Not just as his PA, but when she had been in other parts of his company, making a name for herself.
Abigail Gardner was a respected woman. Companies wanted her expertise. She had not wavered. He knew every time she was contacted. He even knew the amount that was offered, sometimes double what he paid her.
From that time in the elevator all those years ago, to each offer she turned down, his interest had grown in her. Over the years, he had known his fair share of women who liked to jump into the easy option. Not Abigail. She stayed with him all the time, through thick and thin.
He looked past her shoulder, and the moment he caught sight of Brad, her ex, he wanted to kill the fucking bastard.
Of course, Brad would be at this event. His firm did this as part of their charity work, to give them a good image, even though they helped men and women with some of the worst reputations.
They fought for people who created bad working environments, sexual harassment cases.
They were not a law firm Roman liked. Some people there were good.
There was a time he had an account with them, but that had ceased when he heard they liked to blackmail their way out of problems. That didn’t sit well with him.
Brad had spotted Abigail, and Roman wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her in close. He got a smile for his troubles.
Roman was certainly marking his territory.