Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Gwendolyn
My phone vibrated on my nightstand. I glanced at it, then ignored it.
My eyes felt like someone needed to spit in them—dry and sore.
I’d been staring up at the ceiling for hours.
I hadn’t gotten much sleep either. Not after Malice had pretty much dismissed me when I admitted I needed something long-term. My chest ached.
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Honestly, I really had been foolish to think he’d want something more with me. I shouldn’t have even said that.
Then we could’ve had one amazing night together.
And from the kiss we shared, I knew it would have been amazing. Malice had my body humming with so much desire that I was ready to drop to my knees to show him appreciation for lighting me up in ways I’d never felt before.
No. Bad Gwen.
It wasn’t worth the heartache.
But you have that now anyway.
Yeah, and it was all my fault.
So, what I said was the right thing, since it cooled his jets completely.
When my phone vibrated again, I groaned and rolled over to snatch it up. I blinked at the screen with tired eyes.
Stasia:
Will you be free if I come to your house for lunch?
Gwen? Did you seriously work late the same day you moved all your things in?
I hadn’t.
When we’d gone back to the house, it was to find Greg, Felix, and Amelia eating ice cream at the table with Malice’s family. When Valentina took a look at us, she stood and ordered her family out of the house.
After they were gone, I’d sat at the table and eaten my weight in ice cream.
Felix had asked, “Are you okay?”
I’d nodded and looked at Amelia. “Are you?”
“I’m fine. He was creepy, so I’m glad you threw your fork and Malice did what he did.”
When I’d glanced at Greg, he’d said, “The kids filled me in. The twins thought your action was outstanding.”
“What happened after we left?” Felix had questioned.
“They had words, and there was a little blood, but Vincent walked their brother out.”
Greg hummed before he’d asked, “What’s got you upset, then?”
“Nothing.”
“I think it’s boy trouble,” Amelia had piped up.
“And that’s my cue to go to bed.” I’d stood with my bowl in hand to finish it upstairs. “Night, all. Love you.”
At least their chorus of goodnights and telling me they loved me had put a smile on my face. Until I remembered how stupid I’d been.
Now, I really needed my bestie to talk to.
Gwen:
If you don’t get your butt here, I’ll come kidnap you myself. And by here, I mean right next door to the Devil himself. When he said we had to move to his community I didn’t think it would be like this!!
Stasia:
OMFG!!!! There’s no escaping your sugar daddy now.
Groaning, I nodded.
Gwen:
I KNOW! So, see you soon for lunch.
I added the address and sent it off. I should call Malice to let him know, but I quickly shoved that idea down. I’d call the front gates instead and let them know I have a friend coming and to let her in.
I was sure I saw their number on the refrigerator.
Stasia:
Got it xxx
With another long, annoyed groan, I flipped the blankets back and clambered out of bed. I curled my toes into the plush rug under my feet and stretched. Then grumbled again, scrubbing a hand over my face.
“Stupid idiot.”
Why had I even considered the idea that Malice would want me in a forever type of relationship?
I didn’t have some magical vagina that would keep him around or make him want to come back for more.
To him, I was a one-night-of-fun person.
He wanted to fuck me out of his system.
Hell, maybe I should have done the same to him.
No, Gwen. Bad idea again.
My dumb feelings were already hooked on the man, and sleeping with him would just make them worse. Then I really would end up with a broken heart, and it’d be my fault in thinking Malice would stick with me.
Hell, he was probably fucking someone now.
Anger and sorrow churned my stomach.
The anger made me want to run to my computers to hack his systems so I could gain access to his computers to see what he was doing.
And the sorrow made me want to curl into a ball and cry.
Well, fuck that, sorrow. It got me nowhere.
If I did see him moving on with someone, then I’d have my answer, and I’d just work for him while trying to unhook my feelings from the douche.
Right. Decision made.
After I contacted the gate, I showered and dressed, then went down and made a cup of coffee. The kids were already at school, and it seemed Greg was still in bed, so the house was quiet as I trudged back up to my babies.
Sliding into my comfortable office chair, I wiggled the mouse to bring my computers to life. It took them a moment, giving me time to enjoy the goodness of my morning coffee before I set it down on my desk and got to work sneaking a look at my boss.
This is a bad idea, Gwen.
Shut up, brain.
I needed to see what the man was doing. If he was “doing someone” then I could move on. I could act like the diligent employee and ignore all the mushy stuff that my body and heart melted at any time he was around.
Since he’d given me access to his mainframe, it didn’t take me long to hack his home computer and turn on the camera. The room was empty. I tried his computer at the casino. Nothing.
Where was the Devil this early?
Could he be asleep?
No, that man lived and breathed work.
I slipped into the one he hardly used at the offices beside his club and froze.
He sat at his desk with Veronica standing beside him. His mouth was moving, but I couldn’t hear what was being said.
When I unmuted the mic, Veronica’s voice swept through my speakers. “Malice, I’m just saying that you seem a little tense.” Her hand slid onto his shoulder. “I can help with that.”
My throat thickened.
This was it.
This was exactly what I needed to see.
He’d tell her to get to her knees, and I’d seal my heart and change how I behaved around him.
My stomach twisted.
“I can do anything you need,” she said.
Why was he taking forever to answer?
He sighed.
Right, this was it.
This was when I would shatter.
It’s your own fault for falling for him.
Leaning over, I pressed my forehead to the desk. I didn’t want to see this, but I had to hear it.
“Malice?” Veronica pressed.
Answer her.
Tell her you want her.
Break me and let me try and find a way to move past this.
“Leave,” Malice ordered.
Slowly, I lifted my head.
“Darling, you’re too wound up. I can help.”
“I don’t want you, Veronica.”
“Then imagine I’m someone else.”
Oh my God, shut up and have some self-respect.
Malice ground his teeth together. “No,” he bit out and flicked fingers her way.
Only she didn’t get the message. Her hand slid from his shoulder and moved down over his chest.
I snapped my chair forward and hit the button. “He said to leave. So how about you listen to him?”
Veronica gasped, stepping back.
My throat closed and I froze.
The smile Malice wore was all teeth and arrogance—and wicked too. He tsked and cocked a brow. “Naughty, naughty, doll.”
“Sir, she’s spying on you. Do you want me to call Reaper?” Veronica asked, her tone smug.
“Get the fuck out,” he ordered sharply, and when she quickly scurried away, I smiled.
I heard a door shut, and Malice’s attention swung back to his computer screen. His next smile made my heart skip a beat.
“Doll—”
Shit, shit, shit. “Yeah, ah… I had to ask something, but it doesn’t matter. Got to go—”
“Don’t you dare,” he clipped.
Fuck my life.
I was the biggest idiot ever.
“Yes?” I asked.
His gaze went up and over the screen. “What, Vincent?”
“Why does Veronica have her panties in a twist?”
“Because my little doll interrupted Veronica’s attempts at coming on to me.”
“Huh? Gwen’s not even here.”
Goddamn.
“Hi, Vincent,” I called.
“She hacked my computer and camera,” Malice informed him with a smirk and a gleam in his gaze, like he was proud or something.
Vincent’s chuckle was loud, but it tapered off when he must have left and shut the door.
“I have a job for you, Gwen.”
“Okay,” I hesitantly answered.
“Are you able to hack a shipping company and redirect a shipment?”
“Easy as pie.” I sighed. “And now I want pie.”
His rough chuckle made my skin tingle.
Damn him.
He’s your boss who doesn’t want long-term. Remember it, you twit.
“I’ll send you the information,” he told me.
“Okay, later.”
“One last thing, Gwendolyn.”
Goddamn it. I’d nearly been free.
“I’ll be calling you later today. Make sure you answer.”
My brows pinched as I stared at him while he looked directly into the camera. “You’re my boss. Of course I’ll answer.”
That hadn’t changed. He paid my bills, after all.
“Yes, but this call will be regarding a date.”
“Huh?” I drew out, but he said no more. The asshole just smirked and shut the screen down on the laptop.
He couldn’t mean what I thought he meant.
No way.
I laughed at myself. That was crazy. He was messing with me. Probably because I stopped him from getting his dick sucked.
He wasn’t talking about a date with me.
Right?
A scream tore out of me when my phone rang. Shit, was he calling now?
On the screen was a number I’d saved when I contacted them. The front gate.
“Hello?”
“This is Kevin from the front gate. An Anastasia O’Meara is here to see you, but she’s not on the approved list.”
“I spoke to someone before, and they said they’d let her in.”
“Was it Luke?”
“Yes.”
“He’s new and currently on a break. He shouldn’t have told you that. I’ll contact someone to see if they’ll approve her.” He hung up before I could say anything.
I checked the time. Stasia was early. She must have gotten in her car and driven straight here, wanting to know everything that was happening.
When I didn’t get a call back after ten minutes, I pocketed my phone and walked downstairs. I opened the front door and stepped out, blocking my eyes from the sun with my hand. I looked down the street at the approaching car.
It wasn’t Stasia’s, but it was slowing near this house.
When it pulled into my driveway behind my car, I saw Torment and Stasia sitting in the front.
Stasia pushed her door open, got out, and slammed it shut. “He’s an idiot,” she announced loudly as she walked toward me.
Torment rolled down his window. “Don’t miss me too much, princess.” He blew her a kiss—not that she saw because she didn’t look back. Instead, she shot him the middle finger over her shoulder, making him chuckle.
“What happened?” I asked when she stopped in front of me. Torment backed out and drove off.
“Apparently, because my car isn’t on the approved list, I wasn’t allowed to drive it into the ‘community.’ Like, who the hell owns their own damn community? Torment had to come get me to bring me here.” She stepped back and let out a whistle. “This is sweet.”
Groaning, I nodded. “I know.”
“Why do you sound annoyed about that?” she asked.
“Come inside first. I’ll show you around. Then we’re eating the cupboards bare because I haven’t had breakfast or lunch yet.”
“Deal.”