Chapter 5 Alice
CHAPTER FIVE
ALICE
We ride the rest of the way to work in total silence.
The air is full of static, and every time I open my mouth to say something, I think of all the ways I could embarrass myself, so I don’t say anything at all.
I’m not sure where my bravery came from, and now I have to figure out how to make good on my promise to resist him.
Gabe’s giant body is all but dominating his side of the limo.
He’s scrolling his phone, probably plotting mergers and hostile takeovers, but every so often, I swear I catch him glancing at me.
Not directly, just reflected in the glass.
I see the tiniest twitch of his stubbled jaw.
The smirk that equally irritates and turns me on.
I try to focus on the changing scenery out the window.
It’s a lovely morning. Spring in Texas means the air is heavy with the scent of blooming wildflowers, and the sidewalks are lined with people walking dogs and jogging and pretending not to stare at the millionaires riding to work in their limos.
Every second we get closer to the office, my heart rate doubles.
I am absolutely, one hundred percent certain that if anyone sees me get out of this car with Gabe, my life will explode.
“I can’t go in with you,” I blurt, which is hilarious because I was planning to ghost right out of the limo the second it stopped moving. “People will talk.”
He doesn’t even glance up. “Let them.”
“Easy for you to say,” I huff, shifting as the car glides to a stop in the lower-level garage. “You’re the boss. No one is going to have the balls to question your life choices. At least not to your face.” The last bit slips out before I can stop it, but Gabe finally looks over, a gleam in his eye.
“What people say doesn’t bother me one bit,” he says, and the way he says it, dark and slow, I almost forget my own name.
“Yeah, well, some of us have to work for a living.” I try to sound tough, but my voice cracks, and I instantly hate myself. “And I don’t want anyone to think I’m sleeping with my boss’s boss’s boss to get ahead at The Mercer Group.”
Gabe grins, wolfish, and my girly parts vibrate with excitement. “I admire your work ethic, Ms. Stone. Go ahead—I’ll give you a sixty-second head start.” He winks at me, and I hop out of the limo like my ass is on fire.
I speed-walk up to the elevator, hoping no one else arrives before I hop into the steel and glass enclosure.
I keep my eyes glued to the floor and power walk to the elevator banks.
I risk a glance behind me, just to make sure he isn’t following, but the limo is still idling, and Gabe is nowhere in sight.
My breathing finally levels out as I hit the elevator and jab the button with way more force than necessary. I clutch my purse so hard the handle nearly snaps. It’s fine. Everything’s fine. If I’m lucky, no one even saw me.
The elevator pings open, and I step inside, alone. Blessed, perfect isolation. I ride up to the 12th floor, try to pull myself together, and walk into the admin suite like I didn’t just dare the company CEO to make a move on me in the back seat of a luxury vehicle.
It takes about two seconds before the anxiety returns. Oh God. Did I really do that? I slide into my cubicle and settle in, open my laptop, and pretend to read my inbox. In reality, I’m trying to figure out how my life went so crazy in just a few hours.
“Good morning, Alice,” chirps Cindy, the office manager. She’s wearing her signature citrus perfume, the kind that gives me a headache.
“Good morning.” I try to sound chipper, but my voice is brittle and thin.
She doesn’t say anything about Gabe, or limos, or rumors. Not even a raised eyebrow. “I need the Dixon analysis on my desk by the end of the day.” I breathe a sigh of relief. It’s business as usual with Cindy, so I’m assuming no one saw how I arrived this morning.
“I’ll send it over as soon as I’m done.” I give her a smile before getting to work.
I type out the password to my work computer with shaking fingers, telling myself this is just like any other day.
I survive a full three minutes before I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
I look up, just in time to see Gabe striding across the glass-walled corridor on his way to his private elevator.
He doesn’t look at me. But for a split second, he slows down, and I see him tap something on his phone, and all three men he’s walking with stop and wait for him.
My cell phone buzzes in my pocket. Surely, it isn’t him. I pull it out and glance at the screen.
Unknown
I like feeling your eyes on me. I might have you moved up to my floor so you can watch me all day long.
I blink several times and type out my response before I’m able to stop myself.
Me
Arrogant much? I’m not even going to ask how you got my number.
I watch as his shoulders shake, and I realize I made him laugh.
Unknown
You never cease to amaze me, coffee girl. See you soon.
Me
Thanks for the warning.
Gabe glances up and winks at me before dropping his phone in his pocket and heading to the elevator. I tell myself I don’t care. I tell myself to get a grip. But all I can think about is the low rumble of his voice, the heat of his leg next to mine, the promise that this wasn’t a one-time thing.
The whole morning is so boringly normal. By the time noon rolls around, I’ve convinced myself that I imagined the entire early morning run-in with Gabe Mercer, and nothing out of the ordinary happened. I’m finally able to take a deep breath. Until an urgent email flashes up on my screen.
From: Gabriel Mercer
Subject: Earlier Discussion
Ms. Stone,
I have a very special project in mind. Please come up to my office at 1:30 pm to discuss.
- GM
Holy hell. Holy hell. I can’t believe he sent me that message.
I can’t exactly refuse my boss’s boss’s boss’ request, so I mentally prepare myself for the coming meeting.
At exactly 1:29 pm, I make the long, terrifying trek up to the top floor.
I step off the elevator and slowly drag myself down the hallway to the corner office.
Gabe’s admin, a terrifying woman named Ursula, gives me a once-over and then waves me in with one perfectly manicured hand. “Mr. Mercer is waiting for you.”
I take a deep breath and knock on his door.
“Come in.” His deep voice does crazy things to my insides.
I step in to find Gabe sitting behind his desk, and he stands as soon as I enter.
He’s all business, not a single hint of the man who pressed his thigh against mine in the back of a limo.
He nods at me and gestures for me to sit.
I smooth my skirt, fighting to keep my voice steady as I hold out the folder. “You wanted to see me, Mr. Mercer.” I tack on his name deliberately, just for the pleasure of watching that flicker in his eyes, dark and electric.
“I did, Alice,” he says, voice as smooth as velvet as he stares at me.
His attention is so complete, it’s like the rest of the world doesn’t exist. When he finally looks up at me, there’s a spark of amusement mixed with heat shining in his eyes.
“I’ll get straight to the point.” He steeples his fingers, and his eyes flick over me like he’s undressing me with his brain.
I can’t decide if I want to hide under the desk or climb over it and ravish him right in front of the entire city skyline.
Way to go, Alice. World-class professionalism.
“I need to discuss my special project.” Gabe’s voice is all business, but his eyes are pure, undiluted sin.
“Do you have plans tonight?” His eyes move slowly over me, leaving goosebumps in their wake.
My brain short-circuits. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out except a weird squeak.
Damn. Get your shit together. Gabe Mercer just asked me on a date.
“Actually, I do.” It technically isn’t a lie.
“I’m planning to order a huge pepperoni and pineapple pizza and watch the latest Traitors episode.
” I almost smack my head. I can’t believe I blurted that out.
He stares at me, completely silent, and for a split second, I think maybe I’ve broken the dude’s brain. I mean, he’s the CEO. He probably expects me to fall all over myself to have dinner with him, and here I am basically telling him I’d rather eat trash pizza and watch reality TV.
But instead of getting mad, Gabe’s mouth curves into that cocky half-smile that makes my toes curl. His eyes darken and linger on my mouth a beat too long.
“You’re in luck,” he rumbles, voice dropping so low it’s basically illegal. “I happen to know a place that delivers the best pizza in Worthington Hills. Your place or mine?”
Holy shit. How can I refuse? Honestly, I can’t.
“Mine.” My brain sprints a full lap around my skull as I try to sound casual. “I’ll see you at seven.” I walk back to the door and turn back to tell him, “Make sure you get the extra large with extra cheese.”
My heart pounds away in my chest as I walk down the hallway with the biggest smile on my face.