Chapter 27
CHAPTER 27
GAbrIEL
I rest my elbows on the arms of the chair, my fingers steepled against my chin. I stare out the door onto the office floor and watch those I work alongside, on their screens, telephones or having conversations with one another.
Since uncovering Leah’s secret, I’ve been trying to build a rapport with my employees.
A knock sounds.
“Gabriel, are you coming to pizza night?” Tony, one of my managers, pops his head in.
“I am.”
“Great.” He disappears.
Leah has organised team lunches and evenings out as I try to engage more with the teams. Not that I didn’t before, but this is different somehow.
“Morning, Gabriel. Can I get you a coffee?”
Leah laughed the first time it happened.
“You’re creating a community. The staff room no longer goes silent when you enter. Have you noticed?”
I have, and now I’m being asked how my weekend was, not just my thoughts on the latest market trends. Apparently, my engagement is good for staff morale.
I started Frazer Investment as a boutique hedge fund. We’ve grown from twenty-two to over one hundred and fifty employees in eight years. But as Leah pointed out, one evening, over dinner. I’ve left her and Amanda to deal with the staff while I’ve been caught up in growing the business. I’m not blind to the fact that the professional environment and our success have attracted men like Callahan and his millions to my firm.
Leah has and continues to have an immense impact on this company and on me.
A bunch of flowers walks past my eye line, making its way across the office floor. I jump up. What the hell is he doing here?
I watch the sneaky rat enter Leah’s office.
Before I can stop myself, I’m across the room. Fortunately, those around me are paying little or no attention. To them, my presence is normal.
Leah’s door is closed when I arrive, so I knock and enter, not waiting to be invited in.
Leah is standing by her desk, her hip resting against it, holding the largest bunch of flowers I’ve ever seen.
“Gabriel,” my brother’s voice chips in, breaking my stare.
“Caleb,” I say shortly. “Why are you here disturbing my staff?”
I know I sound petty and childish, but I can’t help it. Not after the other night. I know Leah said there is nothing between her and Caleb.
“Caleb brought me some flowers,” Leah says, placing them down on her desk. She tilts her head.
I turn to my brother, who is sprawled in a chair opposite. “Why are you buying my girl—Leah flowers?”
Leah’s eyes flit to the door at my near slip-up. I promised we would keep our personal life out of the office. Only my family need to think we’re in a relationship.
“Because I’m a sap,” he says, winking at Leah. He laughs when I let out a growl. “Seriously? Okay.” He holds up his hands in surrender. “A group of children were selling them for charity outside. I couldn’t simply walk past. What woman doesn’t like flowers?” Mr Smooth says. “I was on my way here, so I bought two bunches. One for Amanda and one for Leah.”
I turn around to see Amanda returning to her desk, sporting an enormous grin. An identical bunch of flowers are in her hands. Only hers are now in a vase. My hands unfurl, and I refrain from grabbing my twin by the collar and yanking him out of the office. That’s not who I am, and since when have his actions bothered me? It’s not the first time he’s bought Leah or Amanda flowers. That’s part of his persona.
I turn on my heels and head to the door. “Stop distracting my staff members.”
I know I sound petty. Leah’s rigid posture and pinched expression reveal her true feelings. I pause at the door, unable to help myself. “You wanted me to remind you to pick up a large bag of green lentils,” I say, enjoying the flush that spreads up her neck.
“Thank you,” she splutters.
“Lentils?” Caleb asks, sounding baffled.
“Yes. I make a killer lentil bolognese,” Leah says, recovering quickly, her attention returning to my brother, but there is a slight tilt to her lips.
I must admit, I’m impressed, if not a little annoyed. But with no further reason to stay, I leave my brother and my communications officer alone.
I enter my office and drop myself onto my chair, running a hand down my face. What the hell? I’m not the person who storms into someone else’s office and interferes in their meetings. Regardless of the meeting’s lack of authenticity.
“Hey, what was that about?” Caleb says, coming uninvited into my office and dropping into the chair opposite my desk.
“Nothing,” I say, leaning forward and pretending to study something on my screen.
“Horse shit, brother. What’s going on?” Caleb says, leaning forward. He’s always been good at reading me. Whether it’s the fact we shared a womb for nine months, who knows?
“Nothing,” I say, looking up. “I just don’t want you harassing Leah. She’s been through a lot lately,” I add, knowing my excuse sounds weak even to myself.
“Are you jealous? Because you know, I’d never go there. I know you and Leah are together.” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. “Maybe flowers weren’t the best option. I’m sorry. The kids wouldn’t simply take a donation. They wanted me to take the flowers. I should have thought.” He’s genuine in his statement, and I feel like a heel for making a big deal out of the flowers. He’s correct. It’s a kind gesture and is very much in Caleb’s nature. At least with the women, he’s not in a romantic relationship with. My brother’s a player. However, he’s also one of the most thoughtful people I know when it comes to thinking of others. He’s a mixed-up contradiction. This is why, even with his playboy image, he has women falling over themselves to be with him.
“Sorry, it’s been a long week,” I say, dropping back against the chair. “What are you doing in this part of town?”
Caleb runs a hand down his face. “Can’t I pop in and see my brother?”
I raise an eyebrow, and he grins.
“I had a meeting. It finished early, and I wondered if you fancied grabbing lunch?”
I look up at the clocks adorning my wall. Where has the morning gone? My preoccupation with Leah making me completely oblivious to the fact that it’s already lunchtime.
“Sure,” I say, getting up. Lunch is easier than evening drinks and busy bars.
“Really?” Caleb grins at me and stands. “Wow, I can’t believe you’ve agreed to have lunch with me without me resorting to blackmail. Who are you? What have you done with my brother? Leah is clearly having an effect on you.”
“Ha Ha,” I say, glad the office door is closed. “Don’t push it. I can still sit down and order takeout.”
Caleb pulls a face. “You work too hard.”
“I would say you don’t work hard enough, but I know that’s a lie,” I say, grabbing my jacket and following him to the door.
“I know how to work and play,” he says, grinning at me.
“As long as you keep your playing out of my office,” I warn, my gaze shooting to Leah’s office door.
“You really like her,” Caleb says, catching my attention.
I ignore him. I refuse to discuss Leah and me with him.
“Ignoring me. That has to be a good sign.” He chuckles.
“Shhh,” I hiss. “I promised no one in the office would know until she’s ready.”
“So, when do I get to meet this new woman of yours?” He exclaims loudly, just as the lift door closes, before gripping my shoulder and squeezing.
I glare at him, making him smirk.
Caleb lets out a belly laugh. “You know you two aren’t going to be able to keep your relationship a secret for long. Mother’s party is coming up.”
I groan and shake my head.
“At least this year, you’ll have someone to keep all those social climbing piranhas at bay.”
My brother is finding this far too amusing.
“Why me? Why not you? I understand Harper is too young, Elijah is married, and Kat, well, she’s female and in a long-term relationship.”
“That probably wouldn’t deter some of them.” Caleb laughs. “However, I’m the bad boy. My reputation proceeds me. While you’re the moody, quiet, incredibly successful, dashingly good-looking, identical twin of said bad boy .” The elevator opens into reception, and we step out. “I take it you’ve seen Harper’s latest endeavours,” he mutters as we step out onto the busy street.
“Mother’s about to burst a blood vessel.”
I nod. I’ve seen the newspapers. She calls herself an influencer , but our youngest sister also enjoys getting her name splashed across the headlines with her antics. She’s in pain, and I get it, but the current self-destruct button she’s hitting is not helping her, only fuelling the fire.
We sigh in unison.
“Have you heard from Kat?” Caleb asks suddenly as we arrive at the restaurant.
“No,” I say, realising it’s been a while since Kat and I last spoke.
Lunch is not as arduous as I feared. We find a quiet table and discuss both his work and mine. He fills me in on the latest project he’s looking to undertake, a redevelopment of one of the city’s poorer areas, filled predominately with old warehouses and empty shops. Caleb, for all my ribbing, is a shrewd business mind and one of the few people I trust with my money other than myself.
“So, how’s it going with Leah?” he asks
“Why all this sudden interest in Leah and me?” I ask, taking another mouthful of food to stop myself saying something I shouldn’t .
He quirks a brow in my direction. “I don’t know. The fact you haven’t dated in, let’s say, forever, and now you’re in a relationship with someone from the office, something you swore you’d never do. Why the hell is she wearing an elastic band around her wrist instead of the silver bracelet she always wore? I asked if that bastard of an ex took that back too. I can’t believe what a jackass that guy turned out to be.”
I smart at the level of annoyance my brother has on Leah’s behalf. I’ve observed her missing bracelet but didn’t think it was appropriate to inquire. People often use elastic bands to lessen their anxiety levels. Caleb doesn’t have the same level of boundaries. He doesn’t answer the question, and I jump in before I can help myself.
“What happened to her bracelet?”
Caleb looks up and frowns. “Oh, apparently, it’s in her drawer. It was a present from him. She doesn’t want any reminders. Not surprising. She said she just needs to get around to buying herself a replacement but hasn’t with everything that’s gone on.”
I remind myself to make sure a replacement is arranged.
We finish lunch, and I head back to the office. Lighter in step and in mind. I drop into my chair and pull up the St Clare website.