by Ciara Cole
But now he couldn’t take it anymore. Having her this close felt like he’d been in the ocean for the past eight weeks and had finally broken the surface for air. Gabrielle Black. Gabrielle. A beautiful name for a beautiful, memorable woman. She’d walked into his office that first morning and he never wanted to risk her leaving and not getting to see her again.
If only she’d known what he’d been pushed to do. How after a few days of not getting her to call him since what happened in the men’s room, he’d gone back to the bar. He’d been surprised to see her best friend waiting tables. He’d asked a few questions and found out Ayana worked there and that the staff even knew Gabrielle and that she was well-liked by them.
He’d been contemplating what step to take or if he should even just let it go, when the security monitors he used for the main entrance areas showed her on his screen. It hadn’t taken long to piece everything together and the next thing he knew, he was offering her a job.
She made him want her so much it made his head go dark, but Adam realized that her body wasn’t all he craved. He could spread her across those sinfully inviting sheets and she’d melt beneath him willingly and yet, he suddenly felt he couldn’t settle for just that. Was he crazy or just losing his hold on reality? Gabrielle had made it plain she wasn’t interested in anything he had to offer. Outside of work, at least.
He watched her straighten her disheveled clothes, then dip to grab her shoes and step into them. She seemed to have recovered from her quivering state earlier, and now she looked angry and, lord help him, even sexier than ever.
“I’m not your plaything, Adam. If you’re so bored, why not ring up Kiera? She was all over you last night and you seemed to like it.”
“I didn’t. Not even close,” he growled. Don’t you get it? I don’t want her, I want you. I always want you.
He’d fought his attraction for her for so long, yet now he felt like he’d run out of moves and couldn’t connect his emotions to her in the right way. Maybe he just wasn’t ready to face her rejection if that was what was coming.
Before Gabrielle, all he really did was walk, talk, eat, sleep and breathe business. He’d only dated supermodels and never more than once. The thought of committing to something deeper had never been an option and yet, somehow he was finding the idea more and more enticing. With the right woman, could he possibly consider love and romance as more than just an irony?
Stifling a deep sigh, he resisted the urge to reach for her as she gathered up her things he’d set on the dresser. She was burning to leave, and he could tell he couldn’t keep her any longer, so he said, “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
Chapter Eleven
Gabrielle woke up Thursday morning with the most horrible cramps. They were far more painful than her worst period cramps. She could barely move for half an hour, but then she checked the time and saw she was running late for work.
She wanted to call the office and say she couldn’t make it in today. But she was worried about skipping out on Adam, because they had this big signing today.
Now that they were finally getting along, she didn’t want to take it for granted. After that episode at his place, he’d shown a far more considerate side. They got on far better and Gabrielle had to keep fighting off her growing feelings. Any kind of physical contact or familiarity was seriously avoided, especially on Gabrielle’s part. She’d let Adam play her body like a piano more than enough times. Just thinking about the time in that bedroom when she’d been ready to just fall on her back and let him take her, she wanted to cringe. He’d pulled away and left her panting, and the ache still throbbed between her legs when she thought of his kiss.
Instead of reaching for her phone to call in sick, Gabrielle drew up from her reserves and rolled out of bed. Adam needed her today of all days, so she just had to suck it up. So far, she’d been able to hide it from him that she hadn’t been feeling that well. She was so close to the finish line now and couldn’t let anything set her back. Even though she’d thrown up every morning last week, after a bath she felt better and managed to make it to work.
Now with these new stomach cramps, she decided she’d definitely have to make a doctor’s appointment.
But that could wait till later. Now she had to get ready or she’d really be late.
***
Gabrielle expelled an inner sigh of relief when the meeting ended without a hitch. She’d noticed Adam’s worried frown settle on her a few times, but there was no opportunity for any private exchange between them, thanks to the VIP clients and top execs of the company present.
As Adam was stalled by one of the female execs just as he made to leave, Gabrielle chose that moment to make her escape. Gathering up the materials she came with, she headed out of the boardroom. She was surprised to meet Scott in the hallway and gave him a warm greeting, which he returned. But as she tried to side-step him, he blocked her with a teasing grin.
“First time I’ve seen you all week and you’re in that much of a hurry to get on your way?” he asked, pushing his hands in his pockets, eyes twinkling.
“It was a long meeting,” she said by way of explanation. Over the past weeks they’d drawn closer, but it was nothing more than friendship. She knew his reputation for serial dating around the office and wondered why no one seemed to put him in check, despite the strict policies of the company against employee relations.
But then he was never obvious about it, above his normal flirting such as now. This time, he was intent on getting Gabrielle to go out for a meal with him.
“Not even dinner?” he asked, cocking his head and smiling, before his eyes narrowed on her face as she sighed wearily. “You’ve been looking off color lately. Boss not driving you too hard, is he?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” Gabrielle said, lips pursed together as she thought of never letting Adam see any of her weak spots, or giving him reason to complain.
“I can almost see how wound up tight you are,” Scott said, and Gabrielle looked up at him, feeling grateful for the sincere concern in his voice. “At least let me help you decompress. Come on, don’t make me beg, Gabrielle. When do you get off?”
“She gets off when I tell her to.”
Gabrielle turned and saw Adam, who looked just as unamused as his tone sounded. “Don’t you have work to do?” he asked her, and Gabrielle ducked her head and went off to her office without bothering to answer. She could hear Adam speaking to Scott. “I warned you about fooling around, Scott.”
She didn’t wait to listen for more and sped away. With all her so-called bravado, she didn’t really like standing up to Adam unless necessary. Something about him was so compelling it made her feel so weak and gooey. So stupid, she berated herself with a huff. Though she hated to entertain any softened heart where Adam was concerned, she had to admit he had his good points. Lately, he’d cut down on her workload and sometimes let her go home early if she’d finished her tasks.
He was beginning to treat her like a real employee, not some laborer. A small smile drew across her lips, to be replaced by a groan as she felt suddenly queasy again. Suddenly the pain was everywhere. Her skull, her stomach, her groin. Gasping, she felt powerless to keep from slumping down over her desk in a faint.
Adam walked into Gabrielle’s office and saw her asleep on her desk. Her hair fanned out across the papers scattered about. He hadn’t realized how tired she was. He’d noted her strained features during the meeting and had been worried. But seeing her smiling with Scott had made him angry. Almost as quickly, he’d felt stupid for his actions. He’d come in to tell her to leave at the normal hour today, as he planned on using a temp for the rest of the day.
He walked to her desk and resisted the urge to gently shake her awake, while stroking his hand through her dark glossy hair. “Ms. Black, you’re at work, not a boring science class. Just what do you think you’re doing?”
She made no sign that she’d heard him, and Adam frowned. Without thinking, he rested his hand on he
r neck. “Gabrielle? Gabrielle!”
Her skin was cold and clammy to the touch. He gently drew her body up but it felt heavy and limp. He thought of her fainting the other night at the banquet. Adam’s chest tightened as if a huge fist was clenching around it. He had to get Gabrielle to the hospital, fast.
Chapter Twelve
Gabrielle was seated on the edge of the hospital bed as Adam returned with the doctor. She didn’t even turn to them when they appeared, looking lost as she stared ahead of her unseeingly.
She hadn’t been able to take in much of anything, not since she woke up an hour earlier. Adam had been bustling about after everyone, be it the nurses or doctor, as he tried to make sure she was going to be okay. Everything seemed to be happening from a far distance, even as she heard Adam ask the doctor if they could try to do some CT scans.
“There’s no need for a CT scan,” the doctor said while looking over her results. Then he asked Gabrielle, “You’ve been tired lately, haven’t you?”
“I noticed that, too,” Adam said. “I’ve given her less and less work, but she never looks any better. You should have told me if you were under too much pressure.” Adam was talking to her in that same angry tone he’d been using since she woke up, but she vaguely sensed his anger was directed mostly at himself.
“Well, you should slow down,” the doctor said with an amiable tone when Gabrielle still didn’t say a word.
Adam turned to her with a quelling look. “You hear that? No more arguing with me when I tell you to go home early.”
“You’re pregnant,” the doctor suddenly uttered, eyes still the chart in his hands.
“Exactly. That what I’m trying to….what?” Adam asked in shock as he turned to the doctor. Even Gabrielle’s eyes widened and she finally looked up at the doctor’s bespectacled face.
“You have anemia from your pregnancy,” the doctor added. “I’ll prescribe iron supplements for you – make sure you take them. Congratulations.” He gave a cheerful smile to both of them, and then strode out of the room.
Adam stared after the departed doctor, before slowly turning to Gabrielle to see her in just as much shock. “Gabrielle?”
Suddenly, she burst into tears.
Adam went to her in an instant. “Don’t,” he said gently. “Why do you have to cry?”
She fought off his circling arms. “Go away! Leave me alone!” She turned to the bed and flattened her face in the mattress as she pounded her hands into it, moaning, “This has to be a dream. It has to.”
“Gabrielle, it’s okay,” he said, and gently patted her shoulder as he sat down beside her. It was amazing how calm he felt. “It’s mine, isn’t it?”
He wasn’t sure how he knew, he just did with an insurmountable gut feeling. Watching her cry as if her life was over was very distressing for him.
The next moment, she sprang up, eyes suddenly wide with hope as she faced him. “What if the doctor got it wrong? Let’s try a different hospital.”
Adam shook his head sagely. “No. First, accept the fact.” He tried to gather her close but she pushed at him fiercely.
“Don’t touch me!” she said, crying harder than ever. Using gentle strength, Adam drew her in his embrace and patted her hair as he rested her head on his chest. He kissed her temple soothingly and felt her rigid body start to relax even though she didn’t let up her tears.
He knew she was in shock and he couldn’t blame her – he was sure the reality would set in for him much later. But right now, he just wanted to hold her. He felt her fists occasionally pummel his chest as she sobbed, but it hardly made any effect. Adam was ready to let her take it all out on him, and he could handle the blows from her small fists. What he couldn’t handle, he realized suddenly, was the thought of ever letting her go. Not now, not ever.
Just over two months ago, he’d closed a major contract. The transaction was with a fast rising technology company, and one Adam had been chasing after for months. He’d gotten more than a fair deal and that had been no surprise to him.
Being a certified genius, he had complete confidence in his numbers game. He’d graduated from college early, as a teenager. Based on his intuitive luck and rock solid calculations, he’d managed to grow his financial business at breakneck speed.
Yet all the success and smarts made him stand out all the more and for that he never really had many friends or people he could really be himself around. There’d only been Jake, and Jake was more like family now. He’d been as happy for Adam about the deal as if it was his own company winning it, and it had been his idea to get Adam to go out to celebrate with drinks.
Their man-date had ended with Adam meeting a woman who’d made him start to question the things he’d counted as important. Even without doing anything, Gabrielle became his anchor. It was baffling in the sense that he couldn’t even explain when and how it happened. It just did.
Just like an alchemist who knew what compounds mixed, Adam felt he and Gabrielle just fit. Now, it was up to him to make her think and feel the same.
Chapter Thirteen
The next few days saw Gabrielle going through different stages of emotions. Fear, joy, awe and then courage, heightened by the belief that she could face the future.
There was no doubt who the father was – she just hadn’t expected his reaction. Adam had made his intentions clear from the moment they found out. Even when she’d firmly stated that he should leave her alone and stay out of her life, he didn’t budge.
Inside his car, as they drove away from the hospital that fateful day they’d first been told she was pregnant, he’d given her a steady look and said, “I can leave you alone for now, but I’m not going to stay out of your life. We need each other, Gabrielle, and I’ll be the first to admit that.”
Those words kept ringing in her ear even now, days later. He’d given her the rest of the week off, but Gabrielle had shown up the third day. “This time, I’m going to start what I finish,” she told him adamantly as she stood in his office that morning. “Unless you tell me right now that I’m fired.”
“You still have three weeks to go. I don’t plan on firing you even if I could,” he said, before leaving his desk and coming to take her shoulders in a gentle grip. “I understand why this may be important to you, but are you sure you’ll be okay?”
Gabrielle nodded. “I’ve been taking my medication and following the doctor’s orders. If I get too swamped, I’ll let you know.”
Adam frowned, looking undecided.
Gabrielle added, “Look, it’s a very important time for A.B. Financials, what with the big contracts newly closed. You may find a new replacement, but I’ve been working on the deals longer and I should stick with this. Once the trial period is up in about a month, I’ll see what’s next.”
Little did Gabrielle know what could change in a month. For the three weeks left, she put her best into work while still focusing on her health. She was glad Adam gave her the needed space outside of the office. Though he constantly checked on her through calls, texts and such, he respected her wishes and didn’t push too hard.
But each day, he made her resolve weaker. She didn’t want to need him or anyone, but with the pregnancy becoming more and more of a reality as she began to show, she couldn’t keep herself aloof. She really didn’t want to face this all alone, but could she open up to Adam?
When her probation period was up, she felt a sense of achievement knowing that she’d finished something for the first time in a long while. Whether she got the job or not, she’d at least know she could stick at something for as long as needed without giving up.
That day, she stood in Adam’s office and awaited his decision.
“I’m not saying whether I’m giving you the job or not,” he told her, making her stiffen. He then raised a hand in a bid to keep her silent. “Let me finish. You’ve proven to be a valuable asset to the company. But hiring you as an employee will give rise to a few complications. I only suggest that we talk and consider the bes
t alternative.”
“What are you talking about?” Gabrielle couldn’t hide her frustration. Did she get the job or not?
“Gabrielle, you’re pregnant. With my baby,” he said, causing her to snatch in a harsh breath as she met his piercing gaze. “I’ve tried to give you enough time to wrap your head around it. I’m happy you chose to keep the pregnancy, and what’s more, that you don’t intend to shut me out of it. You know I’m more than happy to take responsibility. But are you sure that’s enough?”
“I don’t know,” she said, while half-glaring at him. “I’m not willing to make any demands on you.” I’m a strong, independent black woman. Did he think she was going to “cash in” just because she was having a baby for a billionaire? Most women would think they’d hit the jackpot, but Gabrielle knew she’d never choose money over love. She needed far more than he could ever offer her, and she couldn’t dare tell him that.
Adam regarded her for a few moments, before saying calmly, “That’s why I’ve come to a decision. You’ll be joining me on a trip to Thailand in a week.”
“What?” She let out a disbelieving laugh.
“I’ll set up all the arrangements. We’ll be gone for a month. You’ll be taking the time to rest and rejuvenate. So will I, since I haven’t taken a vacation in years.” He suddenly smiled, blasting Gabrielle with that rakish movie-star charm.
“Why would I go on a vacation with you?” She shook her head at him in wonder.
“Because we need to spend more time together. And I chose Thailand, because I needed a location that’s off the beaten track. Away from too many distractions like the tabloids or whatever. Just me and you.” As he spoke, he moved forward and made to draw her into his arms.
Gabrielle sidestepped him, as alarm bells rang through her. Since she’d discovered she was pregnant, she’d been noting all those changes her body was experiencing that she’d never really understood before. One factor was the way her hormones lifted off to Mars each time Adam touched her or was close.