Chapter 8 Gabriel #2
She looked back at me, more curious than before. “How did anyone who has a heart to donate even hear about our findings so quickly?”
I leaned back in my chair and shrugged. “Good news travels fast.”
She took another sip of her drink, nodding thoughtfully. “It’s not really good news, though.”
“Sure it is. Now that we’ve discovered what they’re doing, they’re forced to fix the issue, and the ocean can recover.”
I could see the wheels turning in her head, the doubt taking root, growing deeper. “Who donated?”
I took a long sip of coffee, using the time to think. “It was anonymous.”
A sly grin played at the corners of her mouth. “Was it you, Gabriel?”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “No, it wasn’t me.”
She looked at me with dull, teasing eyes that revealed it was a joke.
I shook my head. “Aren’t you at all curious about how much your raise will be?”
She pressed her lips together and looked down at her feet. “Yes. Sorry. I’m just having a hard time believing this is happening. How much is the raise?”
I leaned forward in my chair with a big smile, letting the moment drag on. “On top of your current salary, you will be earning an extra two thousand dollars each month, before tax of course.”
The look of surprise on her face was priceless. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth as my words sank in. Her big, green eyes glistening. “Are you serious?”
I nodded. She let out a small laugh that sounded somewhat choked as she moved her hands to her chest.
“And your bonus is ten thousand dollars. I’ll make sure you get a check in a few days.”
If it wasn’t for the chair, she would have collapsed to the ground.
This was life-changing money for her, pocket change for me.
I used to blow her bonus in a single night and not even remember it the next day, but that life was over.
I had a normal life now, well, sort of. She fanned herself with an open hand as joyful tears streamed down her cheeks.
She stood up abruptly and came around the desk, her arms outstretched.
Before I could stand to meet her, she was on me, her tears wetting my face.
“Thank you,” she whispered. My skin tingled as her words brushed against the side of my neck.
I wasn't used to contact like this. It was almost too intimate for comfort.
An unseen cloud passed in front of the sun, and the bright room darkened.
“You’re welcome,” I replied softly as she pulled back from me, leaving her tears on my face, her hands resting lightly on my shoulders. Somehow, her bright smile and happy tears made me feel better than dominating Victor and earning a million dollars overnight.
“Hey, we can buy you a new lamp now,” she said with a disbelieving laugh, motioning to the lamp I broke in my lust for her.
“We can buy a lot more than that,” I said.
We sat there for a moment, looking at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between us.
She flushed, a pink tinge coloring her cheeks as she laughed slightly, her fingers brushed against the fabric of my shirt she wore.
Her eyes fluttered, then she pulled back as the curious gleam in her eye took over again.
“So you have no idea who donated? What do you know?”
“Nothing,” I said with a perfect poker face.
Her eyes narrowed, and she stood up. I guess it wasn’t perfect. Her persistence was making me uneasy.
"We don't always need to know the source of our blessings to be grateful for them." I looked past her, as if there were something curious far in the distance. “Honestly, I think we just manifested it."
Clearly, it wasn't the answer she was hoping for. She looked at me suspiciously, but there was a lightheartedness to it. “It seems like you know something I don’t.” A cute smile formed with her accusation.
“Really, there is nothing to say. It was anonymous,” I said with finality in my tone.
A look of sad confusion flashed across her face but was gone so fast I couldn’t tell if that’s really what I saw. She was more perceptive than was good for her. “So, what will you do now?” I said with optimism.
She just sat in her chair playing with a loose thread on her big shirt. The silence stretched on. I realized it wasn’t in contemplation of what new life she might lead, and I moved close to her.
“Gabriel, I know this seems strange but I… never mind.” She tore her gaze from me. I saw something new in her for the first time. For a moment, she just looked like a sad little girl.
I crouched down. “What is it?” I asked softly.
She kept her eyes away from me and sighed.
“I feel like... I feel like you aren’t telling me something, but I want to trust you.
I don’t really know what to think.” Hope mixed with fear twisted on her face, and I had no idea what to say.
I just stared into her big green eyes, and they stared at me.
“Will you promise to not lie to me?” she whispered.
I took her weak hand in mine. “Of course.”
She studied me for a long moment, then finally, she relaxed and smiled.
I don’t know why she was so torn up, why this was surrounded by such strong negative emotion, but I wanted my words to be true as much as she believed they were.
I came here for a new life, but I was already falling back on old ways.
Extortion, now lying. She had just lied to Henry, yet now she was asking me not to lie to her, but that was different.
“Truth is usually a long story,” I said.
“It always is, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't tell it.”
She knew something was off.
I let out a long breath and stared at those big eyes that demanded honesty.
“The truth is, Sophia, I like you and want good things for you.
The world is a dark place, I want to take any chance I can to lighten up just a small part of it, for myself and those I care about. Especially when they deserve it."
There was no trace of apprehension on her face now. She took a moment, her fingers nervously clutching my hand, before her lips curled into a warm, understanding smile. "Well, that's quite the confession," she said quietly.
Every part of me screamed to leave it at that. I had told her a truth. The most important aspect of the truth. The details didn’t have to matter. But it felt wrong. Goddammit.
I kissed her on her forehead. “Let’s get you home. You need to get ready.”
“Ready for what?” she asked.
“Lunch. I’m taking you out for lunch.”