17. Lexi
17
Lexi
D ad seemed fine. I caught up with him on Saturday after my beach walk with Gabriel and then again on Sunday when he said he went to the flea market with Dean. He wouldn’t stop talking about how great Dean was, like he was trying to make a point. Dad was thrilled to find a few old pieces of furniture that would keep him busy for a few weeks. In the past few years, he’s found his peace in fixing up old stuff.
Lena’s fine, too. Dominic’s team fixed up her place so she could move back, but he keeps saying he’s not sure it’s a good idea for her to go there until my case was closed. Lena and Dominic are still not getting along. She’s grateful but gets annoyed if they spend too much time together. He pokes at her and then gets mad when she snaps back. There’s definitely something going on between those two.
“What’s on your mind?” Gabriel asks as we drive to Grain Inc.
It’s Monday morning, but an unusual and slightly sad one. This feels different from when Lena used to drive me to work. Gabriel and I talked for hours last night, going over my situation at Grain Inc. from every angle. He’s right—I need to leave the Maiers and this company, take some time off, and start looking for a new job .
It’s also a good way to avoid further questions from him. Gabriel has no idea how right he is. My life can’t be good next to the Maiers. After what Lucas did, no one can blame me for leaving.
“I can’t stop thinking about how everyone will stare at me after that video. I’ve been hiding at your place for a few days, but it’s time to face reality.”
“Do you want me to come with you?” Gabriel asks.
“No. That would make matters worse. Things are tense enough between you, Lucas, and Peter. It’s best to stay away.”
“It’s not me you should worry about. I can handle anything. You need to think of yourself right now. Mike is waiting for us in front of the building, and he’ll be your shadow today. Please listen to him. Okay?”
I nod and leave it at that. Mike is okay. He doesn’t bother me, keeps his nose out of my business, and looks scary enough to get the others in the office to leave me alone.
Gabriel reaches out and squeezes my hand. I’m becoming addicted to his touch. His hands have so many ways of caressing me—they offer comfort and solace when he strokes my cheeks or plays with the scar on my lip before kissing me. Or they completely envelop mine, pulling me along to the beach or leading me to bed at night. The same hands cup my breasts, teasing my nipples with playful pinches before I feel the warmth of his mouth on me. The large, firm hands that rest dominantly on my ass cheeks, lifting me off the floor to wrap around him or pressing me against the wet tiles in the shower.
Damn. I hope I don’t start blushing here next to him.
“Are you okay?” Gabriel asks. “You look a bit flustered. It kind of suits you.”
“I’m fine. I was thinking about the day ahead.”
He grips my hand harder, giving me a comforting smile. I think back to the last two days I spent at his house. Despite all the outside threats that brought me here, I’ve never felt so safe in my entire life. The last time I felt this protected and loved was probably in my childhood, when Lara was still alive and our parents were young and happy. Since Lara fell ill on her seventh birthday, the years that followed were filled with suffering, fear, anger, and a constant battle for survival.
Gabriel never dangled promises in front of me—no grand gestures, no whispered futures. He never asked me to pledge my heart and offered none of his own. Yet, in every hug of his, I felt a vow to keep me safe, a fierce protectiveness that warmed me from the inside out. For the first time, I’m living without a plan for tomorrow. But the search for the car that hit me and my dad is on hold, and that worries me.
I felt horrible when Gabriel asked me yesterday morning if there was anything else he should know about my past. I should’ve told him about the accident. Like my father, who wants to protect me, Gabriel would’ve said I should drop it. But I’m not ready to give up on getting justice for me and my dad.
“Here we are. There’s Mike. You’re good to go,” Gabriel says, letting go of my hand. I grab my bag and sweater from the backseat and give him a blank look. Should I hug him goodbye?
“It’s okay, we can hug. We’re together; everyone knows that,” Gabriel says as he wraps his arms around me. He plants a kiss on my cheek and gently strokes his thumb around my lips, making sure not to smudge my lipstick.
“Your lips are so naturally beautiful. You don’t even need lipstick.”
“I’m not ready to put myself out there,” I say, grabbing the door to leave.
A gentle hand closes around mine. “Yes, you are,” he replies, his voice warm. “And soon you’ll see what I see when I look at you. There’s something incredible about you, Lexi, a strength and a kindness that shines through even when you’re afraid. It’s captivating. And it deserves to be seen.”
Mike walks up to the car and opens the door for me.
“Thanks,” I say as I watch Gabriel drive away. “Ready for yet another great day at Grain Inc.?” I ask Mike with a smirk.
“At least there’s coffee,” he smiles back. “Gabriel said you should be done here in a few hours. Either he’ll come to pick you up, or I’ll take you to our offices.”
And… back to my cargo life. Well, at least it comes with handsome men to carry me around—one in particular.
I’m nervous about the next few hours. I’ll need to face Peter. Maybe even Lucas or that viper, Anita.
First, I go to HR and hand in my notice. It says I’ll be leaving at the end of the month and taking the remaining days off. Then I head to my cramped little office on the fifth floor.
I start gathering my stuff into the box HR gave me. I don’t have much—just a mug Lena gave me as a gift and a picture of my dad and me smiling. We took that photo after turning our neighbor’s rented garage into his workshop. Dad was over the moon when we finished, and we celebrated with pizza.
“Knock, knock,” I hear a woman’s voice behind the slightly open door. It’s Susanah, Peter’s assistant.
“Come in, please.”
Susanah, a petite woman in her fifties and the most down-to-earth person in this company, walks in with a sad look on her face. “I heard you’re leaving. I’m sorry.”
“Oh, that’s okay. It’s time. I don’t belong here anymore,” I reply, keeping it vague. She’s always been kind to me, but she’s loyal to Peter, so we can’t be confidants.
“Congrats on your new boyfriend. I’ve seen pictures of you two everywhere. I’m guessing he’s the one who sent the big guy in the hallway to look after you.”
I forgot everyone saw those pictures of us. Gabriel and I had fun going through them on Sunday morning. We both agreed Alice did an excellent job, though it was obvious we were into each other. Dominic called around noon to give us a shout-out for being the hottest couple around. Alice and Lena did a fantastic job pulling everything together in less than twenty-four hours. We looked totally in love, gazing at each other.
And those were taken before I genuinely felt like I was in heaven in his arms. Before I spent two incredible nights lying naked beside him, completely satisfied and in awe of his beautiful, strong, yet gentle body.
“Oh, right. Thanks. Yeah, Mike’s helping me with my bags and giving me a ride to Gabriel’s office later.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Susanah says.
“What do you mean?”
“Everyone at work found out about what Lucas did, even though he deleted that stupid video. Gabriel went after him hard. Peter pulled every string he could to get him out of jail. Lucas will be pissed if he sees you around. It’s good you have that guy in the hallway with you.”
I don’t know what Gabriel did, but I need to play along. All I knew was he was busy getting that video removed, and I had a hunch he might’ve threatened Lucas. Since he was with me the whole time, I figured he’d handle it or talk to Lucas later. I completely forgot that Gabriel has countless friends and an entire team of people working for him around the clock.
“Oh, that’s what you meant. That’s okay. There’s no need to worry about me. There won’t be any drama. I’ll be out of here soon. ”
“Peter insisted you speak to him before you leave. He’s in a meeting right now, but he’ll come down to see you. He said it’s better this way.”
I left Peter a message this morning, letting him know I planned to quit. He just texted back, “I understand. I’m sorry.”
Susanah gives me a rushed hug, looking emotional, and walks out with an awkward smile. As I check the drawers to make sure I haven’t left anything behind, I hear Mike’s voice from the door that Susanah left open.
“You can’t see Lexi.” His large silhouette is blocking the door, so I can’t tell who he’s with. God, I hope he’s not talking like that to Peter. But instead, I hear Lucas’s voice. “Get out of my way, you idiot.”
I head over to the door. I should let Lucas in before he causes a scene. “He can come in, Mike. It’s okay.” He knows better than to pull anything on me at work.
Mike lets Lucas in but remains standing by the door, holding it open with his hand while Lucas tries to close it. Visibly annoyed, Lucas gives up and steps inside the room.
“Stay there,” I raise my voice as I look at Lucas.
“Why? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of me.”
“No, but if you get too close, Mike will intervene. You can say whatever you feel like from there. Why did you come?”
“To tell you I’m sorry.” I give him a skeptical look.
“I’m sorry you didn’t like my joke,” he continues, smirking. “You and that bodyguard boyfriend of yours.”
Yup, that’s the Lucas I know… “It wasn’t a joke, Lucas. It was mean, cruel, and unnecessary. What did I ever do to you to make you act like that?”
“You? Nothing. You’re too dull to make any difference in my life. At least, that’s what I thought until you hooked up with Gabriel. By the way, you can tell that thug it’s not over. Having friends in the police won’t help him. I have connections who are even more powerful and dangerous. You picked the wrong side, and you’ll get hurt. Your weakness for bodyguards will cost you.”
As he says the last words, Mike walks in and steps up close, staring him down with his arms folded. Lucas snorts and backs off. “Get your dog off me,” he says, looking at Mike. “Idiot. Just a bunch of meatheads.”
He rushes out of the room, his threats still lingering in the air. Mike grunts, clenches his fist, and strides into the hallway. If they ever cross paths again, I’m guessing he won’t be so civil toward Lucas. The guy has it coming, anyway.
I go back to my drawers and check the last one. “Mike, I’m all packed up. Let’s get the hell out of here before things get heated,” I say.
“Can you stay for five more minutes?” I hear Peter’s voice as he walks into the office and pauses, scanning the room. The place looks sad now that I’ve removed all the colorful stuff and the plants. All that’s left is the table, the chair, and a bookcase.
“Hello, Peter.”
He doesn’t speak right away, making me feel like I need to fill the silence. His face doesn’t say much, but it’s definitely not a happy one.
“I took care of the paperwork with HR. IT already has my laptop, so there’s nothing left to leave or take,” I mumble.
“I’m sorry,” Peter says, echoing his text from this morning. “I should’ve taken better care of you. Tell your father I’m sorry. I’ll still help with your medical bills if you let me know. That’s the least I can do. And, of course, if you need recommendations for your next job interviews, count on me, please.”
Why does he insist on helping? What sins is he trying to make up for by being so generous ?
“Thank you, Peter, but I think I can manage. And my dad is doing fine. Thank you.”
“At least I did something right by bringing Gabriel into your life. You’re in good hands. Take care, Lexi,” he says, his voice trembling, then leaves before I can even respond. Wow! You never really know where you stand with the Maiers.
“Mike, we’re leaving,” I grab the box and shout so he can hear me from the hallway. It doesn’t matter where he takes me; I need to get out of here. Gabriel was right. I can’t stay here for one more day. But I need to find out what on earth he did to Lucas.
Giving the office a last scan, I head out to the hallway. Across the hall, I see Anita rushing over to me. Instinctively, my eyes turn to Mike, who’s a few feet away and comes next to me.
“Alright, Hulk, stand down,” Anita says as she strides over to me. She seems calm, but I know exactly what she’s capable of.
“Why don’t we go back inside, little mouse,” she says, smirking. “And this handsome fellow over here,” she adds, rubbing Mike’s chest as she passes, “… I guess we can leave him at the door so he can get a nice view of my ass. I’m feeling generous today, soldier.”
I give Mike a nod, hand him the box, and follow Anita back into the room, leaving the door open.
“You did good, country girl,” Anita says sarcastically, clapping mockingly. “You landed the coolest guy. I know it wasn’t part of the plan, but you caught on fast.”
I’m guessing she’s talking about Gabriel. I don’t answer. It’s best that she unleashes her venom, and I leave before it hurts me.
“I heard about your little performance for my dad in that little town of yours. I started asking around after I saw how he’s been fawning over you. People talk if you know how to ask the right questions. ”
I know what she means, but it’s scary to think what she makes of it. Yeah, I showed off my memory and math skills to Peter when he visited our local factory. I pitched him an upgraded inventory system, hoping he’d promote me, or take me to HQ. Peter thought I was great and offered me my current job. But how does she know that?
“And you know, it’s pretty strange how much money he gave you for your dad’s hospital bills. It got me thinking Dad looks at you in a not-so-parental way. Maybe he’s even seen you around the factory before and overwhelmed you with his generosity, so you’d say yes to him. What other dirt will I find if I dig deeper?” she says, looking me squarely in the eye, her grin gone.
“You’re crazy. And disgusting. Only a sick mind like yours can think like that. It’s your father, for God’s sake. You and I are almost the same age.”
“Are you saying I’m wrong?” she goes on, unfazed. “And switching from Dad to Lucas was another brilliant move. Sadly, my dork of a brother isn’t capable of keeping a woman around. And when you saw Gabriel—handsome, rich, strong, and available—you batted your lashes, and that was it. I wouldn’t even be surprised if you wrote your own threats. You’d do anything for a little attention.”
“How do you know about the letters?”
“I know everything that goes on in this company, little girl. And there are other things you should open your eyes to. Trust me, I only want what’s best for you. You know, us girls need to support each other.”
I can’t help but roll my eyes and let out a snort. This is just too much. So this is where the Good Samaritan was hiding—in Anita’s cold, twisted heart. “You know Gabriel well enough to realize he doesn’t fall for this kind of crap. I mean, you tried, and it didn’t work for you,” I throw back at her. She fucking deserves it .
“Whoa, there we go. You’ve got your claws out now. That innocent act wasn’t fooling anyone. And if you’re buying into what Gabriel told you about me, you’re even dumber than I thought. Did you seriously think you were the only one strolling the beach with him, hand in hand? Or cozying up to watch the stars in his living room or snuggling in his windowless bedroom? I bet he gave you the house rules, too. No snooping, right?”
I blush, and my mouth gets dry. I wasn’t expecting this. Gabriel told me he never had anything with Anita. I specifically asked him. He lied to me! What else did he lie about?
“You’re blushing, so I’ll take that as a yes. Refusing to work for me was a mistake, mousey.” Okay, she’s obviously pissed that I said no when she came to my office in my first month here and asked me to be her assistant. Of course, I said no. My target was Lucas.
“With my connections and your mind, we could’ve ruled the world,” she says in a serious tone. She’s just wasting her time and energy on me. We’d never be on the same page.
“I don’t think you’re a good person, Anita. I could never work with you.”
“Good people die poor and hungry. Or they end up being a burden for their kids, just like your dad.”
And here she is, unleashing her venom on me. This woman knows exactly what hurts me the most.
“Get the hell out of here,” I yell, pushing her away. She’s stronger and taller than me, but I’m so angry I could push her into the wall and kick her without even thinking.
Anita grabs my hands and holds them out, getting ready to take her last shot at me. Mike walks in and stands next to us, unsure of whom to grab and pull apart. Given his size, he could easily pick us up with one hand each, but he looks a bit intimidated by our screams .
“Stay there, soldier,” she yells. “And you, country girl, you’re the one who needs to leave. I run this place. And by the way, I wouldn’t be so sure about Gabriel if I were you. Once he’s over you, he’ll find the most brutal way to get rid of you. I know plenty of women he’s dumped. His jealousy drove him overboard with my brother. Don’t let that sad, melancholic air fool you. He’s not sad or lonely. He lives a dangerous life. His buddy Damien saves his ass every time.”
I quickly pull my hands back and step away, debating whether I should punch her in the face. But I need to regroup.
“I figured you knew nothing about him, mousey. Open your damn eyes. You’re in a den of poisonous snakes, and from what I can see, you’ve already been bitten.”